Wolf tightens his grip on the bowstring in his hand, barely able to contain his desire to unleash the arrow aimed at his brother’s heart. “My business is none of your concern.” Though he tries to sound disinterested, a waver in Wolf’s voice betrays him. Cyrus’s words are far more accurate than he believes, their implication sharper than any weapon that might pierce his heart. “Did you come back to bury your beloved second in command?”
Cyrus can almost feel the tip of the arrow honing in on his chest like a wild dog sniffing out its next meal. “I hated Falcon,” he confesses, slowly raising his hands up in surrender. “Her death brings me no sadness. I’m here to speak to you—per Iris’s instructions, mind—on behalf of the Ddraigs.” Cyrus hears Cane’s barely quashed gasp at the mention of her name. He loves her still.
He’s obsessed with her is more accurate, Suryc replies, quickly adding, You didn’t really think I’d go far away, did you?
“And what could those overgrown reptiles possibly have to say to me now? They made their opinion of me very clear already,” Wolf grumbles as he slowly lowers the bow and inspects the mask-less visage of his brother with a frown. “So, they discarded you too, little brother? Did they discover how weak and pathetic you truly are?” Loping over to his brother’s side, Wolf carefully paces around Cyrus slowly, eyes gleaming with hatred. “Did the Ddraigs finally realize that they chose the wrong brother?”
“I came with a message from Iris.” Cyrus’s voice quivers as he attempts to swallow his fear. Though years have passed since they were children, Wolf still holds power over Cyrus the way a bully never releases a victim from his torment. That familiar tremor of self-doubt quakes through his spine under Wolf’s scrutiny, and Cyrus desperately tries to cover his insecurity with false bravado. Puffing out his chest, Cyrus forces his body to stand tall as he announces, “She is bringing the other Ddraigs out of the Pith. They are searching for other Cadogan warriors. The Ddraigs believe a war is coming between us and Déchets, and they want to be prepared for it. Iris asks that your people remove their masks and be ready to share their true names with the Ddraigs once they are here.”
“What of the naming bonds? We’re just supposed to share our true names and bind our minds together, all because the Ddraigs want us to?” Wolf questions, enjoying the way his brother’s hands tremble at his sides.
“I think it’s different for Cadogans,” Cyrus muses, seriously considering Wolf’s question. Even though he’s been away from Iris for a while, Cyrus doesn’t feel connected to her mind, nor has he experienced any side effects from her prolonged absence While Wolf paces impatiently around his brother, Suryc answers Cyrus’s unvoiced questions.
When you went through the Dadeni rituals to connect yourself to me, I breathed my fire into your very blood, Cadogan. That’s why you see those dark etchings that shimmer in the sunlight on your arms and face now. Our connection has altered your very soul. I’ve burned away all human-to-human naming bonds you’ve formed before our meeting, like a purifying wildfire. You are a new creation now that you are joined to me. Suryc’s words turn jealous as he continues. I’ve stopped you from creating new connections as well. I will only allow you to form a naming bond with another human if you ask it of me now, and I will never allow you to bond with another Ddraig. You are mine, now and forever.
A shiver dances along Cyrus’s spine as he comprehends the strength of his bond with Suryc. “It is a powerful, dangerous thing to befriend a Ddraig,” he whispers under his breath, turning a watchful eye on his brother. Cyrus knew of the terrible headaches, hallucinations, paranoia, and eventual madness that could come from human to human naming bonds left untended. If Wolf is still bound to Iris because he knows her true name, how long will he last in her absence?
Suryc offers a slight nod to Cyrus, confirming his fears as he replies, no doubt Wolf is suffering the headaches already. The longer he and Iris are apart, the worse he will get.
Can we break their bond somehow? Cyrus demands, noting the unusually glassy gleam in his brother’s eyes.
There’s a way, but it cannot be done here. In fact, I’m beginning to wonder if it can ever be done at all, Suryc answers cryptically, offering no other explanation.
Wolf sneers, turning away from Cyrus in derision as he scoffs. “Why should we help the Ddraigs? Surely we can survive an attack from Déchets! We’ve lived for years in hiding, and our old ways have worked well—”
“You can’t seriously believe that what we’ve done up to now has truly been living, right? We’ve survived: a brutal, limping, mere whisper of life, but we have not thrived.” Cyrus barks out a laugh as Wolf scowls. “It’s time to change the rules, Brother Mine.”
“Why should any of us trust your scaly monsters?” Wolf demands, his fingers clenching into a fist in his anger. “They suddenly appear from the depths of the Pith, and we’re supposed to follow them blindly? How do you know that they are even on your side at all? Maybe you’ll wake up one day and be their next meal.” Wolf sighs, his eyes growing unfocused as he imagines such a fate for his brother. “I’d pay good money to watch that horrible creature you trust so blindly devour you.”
Cyrus’s smile is rueful as he whispers, “I’m not following the Ddraigs, Wolf. I’m trusting Iris. I’d have thought you would too.” Cyrus gasps suddenly as Wolf’s fist drives hard into his stomach.
“You expect me to believe that she would send you here on such an ‘important’ mission? She hates you even more than I do!” Wolf snarls as Cyrus
