Chapter 43
Sage
“B oop,” Kaleb said as he pressed the meaty pad of his finger against my nose, smooshing it in.
I finished tying the scarf over the bottom half of his face and then gently took his hand and lowered it to his side.
Reaching up with his free hand, he squished my nose again.
“Boooop!” he repeated, his voice higher pitched this time.
His breath, which smelled like the bottom of a barrel, washed over my face. Scowling, I batted his hand away.
Artemesia snickered. “Do it again.”
Sighing, I took a step back, out of Kaleb’s reach. I eyed my highly inebriated siblings. The two looked like willow branches swaying in the wind. One soft push and they’d surely fall over.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get him back to his room,” Artemesia said, slinging her arm over Kaleb’s shoulders.
“Mhm,” I replied with a degree of skepticism, shooting Von, who was tidying up after my siblings, an unimpressed glance. He looked as if he were tempted to laugh.
“She will,” Kaleb said with a hiccup. He tipped his head and looked at her, his eyes no more than slits.
He smiled drunkenly. “It’s so nice having another sister.
” He lowered his voice. “One who isn’t so bossy.
” He rolled his shoulder inward, trying to hide his thumb as he pointed it at me and whispered loudly, “ Some sisters—not saying any names—are really bossy.”
“Alright,” I interjected, maneuvering around them so I could open the door. “Let’s get you two back to your rooms, shall we?” I glanced over my shoulder, meeting Von’s gaze. “I’ll be back shortly.”
A wicked grin. “I’ll hold you to that.”
“I’d expect nothing less,” I retorted playfully then gently steered them out. We walked to the room across the hall, and I knocked.
Not waiting to be called in, Kaleb opened the door and slurred, “Harps, I’m baaaack.”
Lyra, Harper, and Ryker were all inside. The three of them were sitting on the bed, chatting. Ryker’s muscles stiffened.
As soon as Kaleb saw Ryker, he said, “No thank you,” and turned around to go back out the door.
I caught him by his shirt. “Kaleb, come on. You can’t drunkenly wander around this place. You’ll get us all in trouble.”
“See?” Kaleb said to Artemesia. “Absolute stick-in-the-mud. ”
She nodded in agreement.
I squinted at them both. Drunkenly, they smiled back.
I sighed.
After some arguing, Kaleb finally agreed to stay in his room, but only if Ryker left, which Ryker was fine with doing.
Ryker was a loyal, good friend, and the discord between him and Kaleb was uncomfortable for us all, although I understood it. Ryker had crossed a very big line with Fallon; still, I wanted to hear his side of the story. I also thought he should know about the effects of surrenderberries.
Lyra got up to accompany him back.
“It’s alright. I’ll walk him to his room,” I said, and she nodded. I looked to Ryker. “I was hoping we could have a word?”
“Alright,” he answered, voice like gravel.
We stepped out into the hallway, silence lingering between us.
A few doors down, we entered Ryker and Lyra’s room.
It was much like the one Von and I were staying in.
I noted there was a bed made on the floor beside the actual one.
Without a doubt, I knew Ryker was the one who had offered to sleep there so that Lyra could have the bed for herself.
I leaned against the wall beside a painting of rolling hills, my arms threading loosely over my chest. Oxygen rushed into my lungs as I stole a deep breath. “So . . . you and Fallon.”
Broad back facing me, Ryker plucked a jug of water from a wood cabinet and poured some into a cup.
“The whole thing is a mess, Sage. I like Kaleb; he’s a good guy.
I never intended to hurt him or get between him and Fallon, but things .
. . they just happened that night. I know it might sound unbelievable, but in some ways, I didn’t even feel like I was in control of myself.
I don’t know what happened, and by the time I did, it was too late to take it back. ”
“I know the feeling,” I spoke softly, watching as Aurelius’s ghost entered the room, gold ichor seeping from his wrist. He held it out in offering.
He’s not real, I reminded myself, looking back at Ryker.
The apparition disappeared.
I cleared my throat. “And no, it doesn’t sound unbelievable at all. Ryker, there’s something you should know. The berries you and Fallon ate that night might be partially to blame for what happened.”
Ryker turned to face me. He leaned against the counter, cup in hand. “What do you mean?” he asked curiously.
“Artemesia told us that there are berries called surrenderberries. They grow at the base of mountains, and they tend to loosen one’s inhibitions. If you and Fallon consumed them . . . it would have made it increasingly easy to give in to your wants.”
Ryker sat with that for a moment then said, “That would explain a lot of things. Still, it does not excuse our actions.”
“Although it does help explain them,” I countered.
“I suppose,” he answered. Lowering his cup, he peered down at its contents.
Silence lingered.
I broke it. “So what do you plan to do about Fallon?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged a large, bulky shoulder.
“She wants space right now as she tries to figure things out with Kaleb, so I’m doing my best to give her that, but gods, it’s hard .
” He rolled his neck back, exposing his prominent Adam’s apple, and looked up at the ceiling, his eyes searching for answers among the exposed wooden beams.
“Give things time,” I suggested softly, kindly.
“If you and Fallon are meant to be, then you will. And if she is meant to be with Kaleb, that means someone else is out there waiting for you. I know it might be hard to see right now, but things will work out as they are supposed to, Ryker. Have faith.”
“Thank you, Sage. I’ll try to remember that.” He gave me a small smile, his rich brown eyes lacking their usual vibrancy.
Ryker and I chatted for a bit after that until I remembered that Folkoln and Von were both alone and technically unchaperoned. If a maid or someone became aware of this, it wouldn’t bode well for the rest of us.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” I said to Ryker, before I left the room and returned to Harper’s.
I knocked lightly, then stepped inside. Kaleb was sprawled across the bed. A string of drool rivered down his cheek as he snored loudly—so loud it was a wonder the floor above hadn’t lifted off.
Artemesia was still awake but barely. She was telling a story to Harper and Lyra about the biggest fish she’d ever caught. Half of what she said was unintelligible. The three of them were seated on the floor.
I made my way over to them.
“Thanks for looking after her,” I said to Harper as I lifted Artemesia’s arm and hoisted her up on her feet. She wobbled at my side.
“No problem. How’s Ryker doing?” Harper asked.
“He’ll be okay.” I looked at Kaleb. “They all will.”
Harper nodded in reply, her attention drifting to Lyra, watching as she stood up. Uncrossing her legs, Harper stood as well. “I’ll see you in the morning,” she said to Lyra, and the two shared a sweet, tender kiss.
The love between them was as strong as ever.
After I said good night to Harper and Lyra, I helped my bumbling, stumbling mess of a sister down the hallway, toward her and Folkoln’s room. When we reached the door, I tapped it with my foot.
From inside, boots swiftly crossed the floor, and the door swung open.
Folkoln looked . . . stressed. Tendrils of smoke floated around him, twisting and turning as if they were in agony. His hair was tousled back, as if he’d swept his fingers through the midnight-black strands multiple times.
“Hello, mate ,” Artemesia slurred sarcastically.
“You’re drunk,” Folkoln stated, pupils narrowing into slits.
“No,” she said, feigning seriousness. “I’m not.”
“Uh-huh,” Folkoln said, his gaze shifting to mine. “Did she tell you?”
“She did, but I sort of figured it out when you growled at me,” I answered with a slight shrug.
“Sorry about that,” Folkoln apologized.
Artemesia hiccuped. “Oh look, there are two handsome bastards now. However will I choose between the two? I know . . .” She reached across, her hand latching on to Folkoln’s pec. She gave it a squeeze then whisper-yelled to me, “Gods, this one is hard .”
Her hand lowered, but Folkoln caught her wrist. “Careful, love,” he warned.
“ You be careful,” Artemesia slurred, her body swaying unpredictably—back and forth, back and forth. I tried to stabilize her, but then she swayed ahead and nearly face-planted.
Folkoln caught her, his arm tucking behind her legs as he swept her off her feet. She lowered her head to his chest, eyes closing.
I followed as Folkoln carried her over to the bed, gently laying her down with such tender care, I wondered if he thought she was made of glass. I had never seen the God of Chaos act so . . . careful.
“What do you plan to do about the bond?” I asked, standing beside him, watching as Artemesia curled in on herself. She let out a small yawn then nestled further into her pillow, her long braids spilling across it.
“I’m trying to figure that out,” Folkoln said as he pulled up a blanket from the end of the bed and placed it over top of her .
“You two are from very different worlds. She has a life here, one I can’t see her leaving,” I said, thinking of all the people who relied on her.
I couldn’t imagine the weight of what that must feel like, but I knew the loyalty and love she felt for her people.
I had seen it firsthand. No, Artemesia wouldn’t leave them. Of that, I was sure.
Folkoln turned to face me. “It’s too early to think about that. I think she and I need to learn more about one another first.” His starless eyes shifted back down to her. “Then we’ll figure out the rest.”