Eona - Alison Goodman [177]
“We have been here before,” Ido said, eyeing him steadily. “You will not kill me while you can use my power.”
I flung my hand out at the plain below. “Kygo, Dillon is coming to destroy us. I cannot stop him by myself.”
He glared across at me. “Why didn’t you tell me the boy was on his way? Why are you keeping secrets with this whoreson?” He jerked the Dragoneye’s head back even more. “Tell me everything, or I will cut his throat and be done with it.”
“I am telling you everything,” I snapped, my fear blazing into anger. “I made him call Dillon because I wanted to protect you!”
“From what?”
“From me, Kygo. I know what ‘the Hua of All Men’ means. It is the Imperial Pearl. I was hoping the black folio would have another way to save the dragons.”
Kygo’s jaw clenched, but it was not in shock.
Ido’s labored breathing broke into a harsh laugh. “He already knew it was the pearl, Eona. You can see it in his face.”
Ido was right: Kygo knew. I felt the last few weeks shift under me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I gasped.
Kygo narrowed his eyes. “Why do I need to be protected from you, Eona? Are you about to rip the Hua of All Men from my throat?”
“He does not trust you,” Ido said. “That is why he did not tell you.”
“Hold your tongue, or I will cut it out!” Kygo pressed the sword harder against Ido’s skin. The Dragoneye froze under the blade.
“It is not me who wants the pearl, Kygo. It is my ancestor.” I dug my knuckles into the pain that clamped my skull, desperately searching for the right words to make him understand. “The red folio was written by Kinra. She was the last Mirror Dragoneye. The one who tried to steal the pearl from Emperor Dao.”
“You lied even about that? Kinra was a traitor!”
“No, she wasn’t, I am sure of it. She was just trying to save the dragons.” I took a deep breath. “She is in my mind, Kygo. In my blood. Whispering, driving me to take the pearl and save the dragons. She’s even in my swords. Remember at the village inn? She tried to take the pearl then. But I have always stopped her, always held her off. I have always kept you safe!”
“She is in the swords? In your mind?”
“Not all the time. Just when I am too close to the pearl.”
“She is there when we kiss?” His hand went to his throat. “When you touch it?”
“Yes.”
His voice hardened. “Is everything between us just this Kinra driving you toward the pearl?”
“No!” I stepped forward. “It is me. With you. I swear it.”
“And what about me, Eona?” Ido said. “Was it an ancestor or you wrapping your legs around me in the cabin?”
Kygo stared down at him. “What?”
“She never told you about my visit to her cabin on the boat, did she?” Ido said.
“Kygo, that is not what—”
Ido raised his voice over mine. “We used the compulsion power to save the boat from the cyclone.” His smile was a taunt. “You know the power I am talking about, Your Majesty.”
“Is that true, Eona?” Kygo’s voice was ragged.
“We saved the boat.”
“Did you take pleasure from him?”
I could not help the rush of hot truth to my face. “It is in the power, Kygo. I know Ryko told you about it. We saved the boat; that is what matters.”
“What if she did take pleasure?” Ido said. “She is an Ascendant Dragoneye, not one of your concubines. She takes whatever she wants. It is her due.”
“It was not like that!” I clenched my fists. “It was the power that created it. I did not seek it.”
“Do not hide behind your power,” Kygo said. “You are using it for your own ambitions. Your own pleasure.”
“I am not. I have always placed my power in your service. You know that’s the truth.”
His jaw set in disbelief.
There was one way I could show him I was loyal.
I jabbed my finger at the bloody slaughter in the distance. “That black folio can control my power.”
“Eona, what are you doing?” Ido half rose on his knees, stopped by the blade. “You will destroy us.”
I ignored his plea. “Anyone with royal blood can use it to bind a Dragoneye’s will.”
Kygo’s blade dropped from Ido’s throat. “What?”
“Your blood and the folio can