Page 113 of I Summon the Sea

Phaethon.

An Eosphor.

“Not bright like the Eosphors. They are the only dragon speakers, masters of howling, crawling across the vault of the skies.”

If Jai is pretending to be one of them, to host a second soul in him, then he’s a damn fine actor. Not that there aren’t any fine actors out there. Maybe I’m seeing one of his hidden talents.

And yet…

And yet, what if it’s true, and I just spoke not to Jai but to an alien creature? What are the clues I should look out for when it’s Phaethon speaking?

Well, strange, incomprehensible words seem to be preferred,check. A cruel twist of those fine lips,check. Insults and oracular-sounding declarations,check. Gold flashing in his eyes? Alsocheck.

Could it be that simple?

I mean, none of it makes a lick of sense. He sounds crazy. Arkin, Neere, everyone is saying so. He’s lost his marbles.

But what if…? What if it’s Phaethon who is the insane one, not Jai? How about turning this on its head and actually believing Jai?

Tru knows about this. Arkin, too. I wonder who else. I doubt many people do. Does the king know? Hard to believe he wouldn’t. These strange fits aren’t exactly something you can keep under wraps.

How much does the king know? What is his connection to Jai?

“My word.” Amaryll is coming to stand beside me, a glass of wine in her hand. Her cheeks are flushed. “That’s one scary man. Pretty, though, I’ll give him that. Mm… dreamy.” She puts a hand on my arm, then gasps. “Wait, what’s thatthingon your shoulder?”

She leans forward to look, squinting myopically, and I take a step back as the darakin flaps his wings once, almost clocking her in the face.

I gesture for her to stay back. Is she blind? Can’t she see what I’m carrying on my shoulder? How many drinks has she had?

“Oh, goodness. Is that a dragon? A tiny dragon. You get all the scary pretties, don’t you? First Athdara, and then this… this… is it a young drak?”

I sigh. I’m starting to think she wouldn’t recognize a darakin if it bit her in the ass right now. And is she comparing Jai to a dragon?

“Come, it’s time for the ceremonies to start.” She reaches for me, and Remi snaps at her. “Goodness me. Stop that. Bad dragon.”

The darakin doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to leave, and my arm is getting tired. Can I dump him on a chair somewhere?Shoo him until he takes off? Would he become aggressive if I tried?

Glancing back, I scan the crowd for Jai one more time, but can’t spot him anywhere.

And without warning, the darakin does take off, flying low over the crowd, eliciting squeals and curses.

Well, then.I shake out my arm. There goes my escort—and my token, if you can call Remi that—for the night. I might as well follow Amaryll, who has neither.

Wise girl.

Yet, worry for Jai is eating at me. It shouldn’t. It can’t.

Blood. Voices. Words I don’t understand. A malice that is seeking a way out.

I have no need for this concern. No need to lose sleep over him.

“The king will make a speech!” Amaryll is drinking from her glass as if it’s water. “Exciting. Okay, not really. I’m not what you’d call a fan of the fae king,” she says, way too loudly, and I shush her as best I can, grabbing her arm and shaking her. “What? As if it’s a big shock for everyone here.”

Amaryll…

“If he had a family,” she says, “and had to leave them, walk willingly to his death, would he do that? This isn’t all right.” Now she’s gone from laughing to tears. “It’s so frustrating, having to pretend I’m all right with what’s happening. But it’s also exciting being here. Am I going mad?”

Well, she wouldn’t be the only one, and why does that make me think of Jai again?

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