Chapter 2 #2
“Maybe there's another explanation. I don't believe Myantha tried to kill Briar—maybe Calla Lily was a pawn too? Someone could be forcing her hand. She gave such a good hug.” Yuki shrugged. Her grip around herself tightened. “I miss my sisters.”
“Calla Lily is a traitor and must not be trusted.” Bryn reached out and grabbed Rhielle’s arm as she passed him. “Briar, I can—”
“She’s over there.” Rhielle removed his hand from her arm and stepped back. Stooping, she hefted up the ottoman and carried it to pile on top of the bureau now perched precariously on the couch.
“I’m fine, and we aren’t leaving without the others.” Briar crossed to him and took his hand, then turned it over to reveal tattered cloth and bloodstains. “Did someone try to stab you?” Her brow creased.
A part of me hoped they had. The bastard deserved some pain for what he’d done to us and our kingdom.
Yet, he scoffed. “Only a flesh wound. This is far more important.” His auburn hair was wild and unkempt, and a scrape along his arm and a rent in his formal gray robe suggested someone had tried to stab him and mostly failed. It was less of a wound than what I wanted to inflict on him.
He said, "Briar, everything I've done, I've done to protect you. You must believe me.”
“Now isn’t the time.” Briar’s nose wrinkled. “I want to hear everything once we’re safe.”
Who is he? I linked to her once more, not sure what this connection between us was but grateful for it nonetheless.
He’s like my great-great-great—hell, I’m not even sure how many greats—grandfather. Briar’s hands rested on her waist.
He’s your family? I bit back a scoff, but the truth sat hard in my stomach. She was an Aureline. Did she know what that meant? And I’d jeopardized not only my kingdom but all of Nytheria. Are you sure we can trust him?
I don’t know for certain, especially after this. Her forehead lined, and she frowned. But I need to know why he told me not to tell anyone that I was from his line and what me being crowned has to do with all this chaos.
My lungs worked more easily again, but the fact that she had hidden him from me still gave me pause. Perhaps there was more she hadn't told me or thought to tell me.
My heart stung a little at the betrayal, but I pushed it away.
Even with everything, I would’ve made the same decision.
She was meant to rule by my side. We will speak of this further when we’re in private.
We were going to run out of time. “Veralt, see if you can spot any movement through that exit, but don’t open the door.
There’s a mirror in one of the drawers.”
Veralt grunted an agreement and rummaged through the drawers. When he found the slim mirror, he carried it to the door. He dropped down to the floor and slid the mirror under.
The guards on the other side of the main entrance battered the door again. BOOM! From the shouts and yells on the other side, a decent crowd had formed. But not all of them were there, which was the problem.
I gritted my teeth. “We’re moving to a safer location.
If you can see in the shadows, help guide those who can’t.
If we get into a fight, the sightless ones need to find a wall and get down.
Do not stab or strike anyone unless they’re attacking you or you’re certain they’re your enemy.
” The last thing we needed was friendly stabbings.
“We don’t have much time,” Vyraetos said from the center of the room.
He was next to Silus and Elara and had his hand to Elara’s throat as if taking her pulse, her head resting on Silus’s shoulder.
Briar’s friends blocked my sister mostly from my sight, so all I could really see was her dark and now-thinned hair.
"The princess needs to be stabilized. She requires rest and warmth.”
I took Briar’s hand—I refused to be separated from her—and the two of us pressed past Quen, Thalira, and Yuki. “We’ll get her somewhere safer and warmer as soon as possible. Is she bleeding? Everyone, check yourself for blood or anything that needs to be tended so we don’t leave a trail.”
Briar sucked in a breath, and a moment later, I saw what had startled her.
This was the first time I’d seen Elara up close without her glamour.
She looked so frail, even bonier than I had expected, her skin paper-thin and bone white.
Bruises and sores marred her hands, and likely her sleeves hid far more.
Her wings twitched, the muscles so atrophied that, without a miracle, she would never fly again.
What was it with the two most important people in my life keeping secrets from me?
Silus's gaze flicked in my direction, but I knew he couldn’t actually see me through the darkness. His jaw was so tight, I was surprised his teeth hadn’t broken, and I had no doubt that, as soon as we were safe, he’d be having a word with me. He likely blamed both Briar and me for this.
The sense of urgency to get out of here rose even more within me.
“Vad, I’m fine.” Elara’s voice was strained, and she slurred her words. Silus held her tighter, his cheek against the top of her head.
Briar slipped to the other side of her and placed a hand on Elara's arm. Her lips pressed into a tight line as her brow furrowed with concern. She needs rest and treatment.
I know. I squeezed Elara's hand gently, feeling how much more delicate her bones were. Had she withered even more since we’d last spoken?
Icy fear ripped through me. Her pulse throbbed in her throat, but it was threadier than it should be.
My lack of shadows and magic coursing through my veins struck me like the spear through my wing.
No longer could I offer her my own strength.
Of all that had changed, why did that have to be taken away?
How was I to keep my sister alive? She couldn’t even draw a little shadow power, and she was fading fast.
I became aware of a stinging pang on my head as blood rolled down my cheek.
Feck, the crowns. As precious as these crowns were, running and fighting while wearing them was a hazard.
"Briar, we need to put the crowns somewhere safe.
" I reached up and removed mine, guilt twisting inside me at the thought of leaving them behind.
Elara lifted her hands weakly. "I can hold them. Let me at least do that. Those were our parents'."
I hesitated, then nodded. With Silus carrying her, the added weight wasn't an issue. "All right. But if you must choose between your life and these crowns, remember your life is more important."
She took my crown and settled it on her chest. Then she accepted the second one from Briar. "It won't come to that."
“Which way should we go?” Veralt pressed with a gruff voice.
I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts of all the conflicting emotions swirling in my chest.
The absence of my shadows ached throughout my body, in a way similar to grief.
In the absence of my glamour, I’d noticed other developments, too.
My claws and fangs were longer, and my wing talons had grown as well.
They gleamed in the dark. Never had they been this defined, even under the glamour.
What else had changed from the loss of my magic?
“If you aren’t going to tell me, I’ll go my own damn way with Rhielle, and we’ll leave your asses behind,” Veralt growled.
Rhielle smacked his arm lightly. "We're not leaving Briar."
"We can take her with us. I’ll throw her over my shoulder," Veralt said.
My gaze snapped to him, and I snarled, baring my teeth. No one would take my mate.
Before I could say anything, Briar stepped toward him. She arched a brow and balled her fists. "Try to take me from him, and I will rip your throat out."
“Silus, put me down so you can move faster,” Elara mumbled.
“No way.” Silus shook his head. “I’m carrying you the whole way.”
“We need weapons.” Briar bit her lip and looked around.
My attention homed in on Thalen, who was still standing with Myantha and scowling.
“Bind her. We’ll interrogate her when we get to safety.” Maybe we needed to gag her as well. It was risky to keep her with us, and she would probably try to alert the guards once we made our way out of this second door and toward the royal family’s quarters.
“No. Please.” Myantha lifted both hands and blinked despite not being able to see. “I didn’t do anything. And don’t leave me behind. I swear I didn’t do it!”
Thalen's shoulders tightened, his whole body becoming tense. “She has answers.” Thalen looked in my direction despite not actually being able to see me, his words fast and almost desperate. “I’ll make sure she behaves and will handle it myself if she doesn’t."
“Fine. Keep her close, Thalen. Don’t let her near Briar.”
Myantha nodded meekly. Thalen's brow tweaked, but he remained silent.
I pointed at her. “If you betray my beloved, I will destroy you without a second thought, and I will ensure you suffer.” Then I looked at Thalen. “I need your dagger for Rhielle since she can see in the darkness.”
Nodding, he handed it to me, and I passed it to Rhielle. Briar still had her dagger, and I had my claws. Since they insisted on being out, handling any other weapon with finesse would be challenging. Everyone who could see might as well be armed.
Another thunderous crash rocked the door, rattling the furniture barricade. The dresser slid forward several inches, its legs scraping against the couch.
"Feck them. They're breaking through!" Rhielle darted forward, pressing her shoulder against the furniture pile. Briar joined her, bracing herself against the shifting mass and pushing one of the velvet chairs back into place.
I moved quickly to help them, ignoring the burning pain in my wing as I threw my weight against the barricade.
A jagged crack appeared in an upper door panel as another impact shook the frame.
The dresser wobbled precariously, threatening to topple.
Angry bellows rose as someone shouted for more light.