LUNA

49: Dagger and Light

Zagreus's dagger sheathed on my right thigh is radiating hot energy that didn't burn me. It became heavy all of the sudden. Napatingin ako dito pero wala akong ginawa. Hindi ko ito pinakailaman. Hindi ko ito kinuha o hinawakan man lang. The question in my wary expression was evident, but the ear-ringing growl of the dragon took all of my attention in one moment.

Lahat kami hingal na hingal na at halata sa mga mukha ang pagod.

But we can't stop here.

We can't.

Everything's a mess. We don't know what's the real deal about prince Tiberius—- to me.

The demons aren't here, but I know they didn't leave the area. They've continued their ritual. And I do not know whether Zagreus has gotten himself a crown or has gotten himself in trouble for trying to do treason to his own father. His dagger is right here and burning. Almost alive. Like it's trying to tell me something, but does he think I have all the time in this world to decode what he wants to convey to me? No. I do not have the time.

"Do we kill the dragon?" Ryon asked warily. All of us are trying to get some air in. "Do we kill it? Do we kill a royal blood?"

A problem. Lumunok ako ng laway at binigyan tingin sina Cayden at Sage.

"We can't" Ika ko. My voice hard. "We witches can't" I heaved in a heavy breath. Cayden and Sage glanced at me. "But we're the only ones here who don't carry a whole kingdom on their backs"

Hindi maganda ang mga tingin na pinukal saakin nina Sage at Cayden.

"So we kill it" It was Zarax who interpreted my words with a rough voice. "Because it'll be less hassle if a non-royal blood kills a royal blood"

The coven around me shifted. Ramdam ko ang kaba nila mula dito sa pwesto ko.

"The witch kingdom wouldn't even try to defend us," Piper's words struck everyone. Naiitindihan na nila ang gusto kong ipahiwatig. "If the dragons want revenge if we ever kill their prince Tiberius, the higher witches will simply hold back and give us up in order to sustain peace between the two kingdoms"

Margot glares at me. "If either these two males kill the prince.." She glances at Sage and Cayden--- the former's eyes are on me. I can feel how Sage is giving me an intense look from his place, and I don't intend to meet it. "It'll be a harder process. Royal houses will do their best to protect their blood. In other words.."

"War" Nym finishes the sentence. "It means war"

Everyone's eyes are strained in front of me. One sniff and I knew better than to force them into this. They smelled of rage, disbelief, and denial. Wala namana kong planong isali sila sa plano ko.

"You want to sacrifice the coven" Acey's voice was low, yet the steel in it was evident.

I give them an impassive face. "No," I said, "Hindi ko hinihingi ang tulong niyo. Sino bang may sabi na ang buong coven ang papatay sa dragon?" It didn't occur to me that I unconsciously grasps Zagreus's dagger around my fingers. I felt weak--- weaker, but the dagger seemed to grow more powerful each second. "Ako ang papatay sa dragon"

That's when Sage have clenched his fingers around my arm so tightly. Pero naunahan na siya ni Pandora na magsalita.

"Buntis ka, Sahar"

"I can fix that" I said, glancing up at Sage. Mirroring his hardened expression. "I'll do the ritual for the baby now. Mas maaga na ito lalabas mula saakin-- I'll make sure the baby will leave this belly of mine first before the punishment"

"Hindi mo gagawin 'yan" Matigas na sambit ni Sage saakin.

"Hindi mo ata naiitindihan posisyon mo ngayon dito, Sahar" I bared my canines at Cayden.