Chapter 21 Briar #2
He huffed a quiet laugh, his tone stern even as his gaze softened.
“All I’ve ever wanted is for my granddaughters to be safe.
I promised Ember that, if your life was threatened, I’d inform her, and I had to follow through on my word.
I didn’t want to argue with you about bringing them back here.
I do apologize that it took so long—finding a portal with lingering residual magic and then stabilizing it long enough to function was no small feat. ”
“It nearly caused a riot when Gage, Kendric, and Xavier realized they couldn’t join us because there wasn’t enough magic.” Ryker smiled. “Although, I have to admit, this may be the most elaborate distraction anyone’s ever come up with to avoid talking about fae magic.”
A faint smile tugged at my lips. It felt like lifetimes had passed since I’d gotten the butterfly tattoo.
Ember had wanted to talk about it right away, but I’d put her off.
Then Many-Greats had tried to whisk me away before the guards could kidnap me, but they’d grabbed me and brought me to the bridal competition.
As frightened and confused as I’d been that night, none of it compared to now.
Elara squatted by Ember. “Why don’t we all gather in our makeshift sitting area to discuss our plans? We don't have much time.”
“Sounds good.” I took a deep breath and stood.
Ember moved to help me, but I shook my head. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
She bit her bottom lip like she was taken aback, but I gave her a tender smile. If I had to lead without Vad, I couldn’t show weakness. He deserved that from me.
Rhielle and Quen flanked me, and Myantha took the spot next to Thalen.
“We’re going to get him back.” Rhielle squeezed my arm. “We won’t let anything happen to him.”
Quen snarled. “I’m going to enjoy killing each one of these traitors and calling them cowards and pyre pots!”
I forced a smile, though I knew their words were merely for comfort. I couldn’t feel Vad anymore, but I couldn’t feel Ember or Ryker either, so I was trying to hold on to hope that he wasn’t dead.
I chose a crate in the center of the seating area. Ember took the spot next to me, and Ryker crouched on her other side. Many-Greats sat opposite me, his expression severe but his gaze unusually gentle.
Quen sat cross-legged on a nearby crate, her crimson eyes looking at me with concern before she returned to murmuring with Elias. Vyraetos knelt beside her, holding fresh bandages and salve, gently motioning toward her wing.
Rhielle stood with her arms folded tight, though her usual glare had dulled to quiet observation. Veralt rubbed her shoulders, jaw tight and brow furrowed. Myantha hovered protectively near Thalen, who stood rigid and on high alert.
Elara sat on the other side of me with Silus taking his usual spot at her side. Siray had dozed off upright, arms folded over her chest like she was on guard even in sleep. Kaylen sat against the stone wall, her posture stiff and her knuckles pale as her hands rested on her knees.
It should’ve comforted me to see them all alive, to know we’d survived for now, but that comfort couldn’t reach past the missing presence that ripped out my heart.
I focused on the first thing I wanted to address. “I can’t feel my wolf at all. Can you two still sense me?”
“Not really.” Ember shook her head, her hands on her waist. “Your link is there, but so faint and cold it’s almost nonexistent. That’s one reason I had to see you.”
“I don’t understand what happened to my wolf.” I fought back tears. If I had my wolf, maybe we could’ve gotten out of the trap, and Vad would be here with me now.
Elara stood and quickly walked toward the supplies.
“I have no answers.” Many-Greats shook his head. “Your wolf shouldn’t have been impacted by the loss of fae magic, since it’s from Earth.”
I bowed my head, struggling to wrap my mind around all these things. All that genuinely mattered to me right now was Vad. If he was still alive, every second counted to get to him.
A gentle hand pressed against my shoulder. I looked up to see Elara had come up behind Ember and me. She knelt and offered me a small bowl of dried fruit and nuts. Tears had stained her face, and she looked as if she had aged years. “You should eat.”
Here I was, being selfish. Of course, Elara was impacted by the loss of Vad as well, and here she was, taking care of me. I turned and hugged her, and my arms wrapped all the way around her narrow frame. I could feel the bones in her back and shoulders.
Neither of us spoke. The sadness between us was too raw for words.
She was my sister, too, though we weren’t blood.
Ember knew what to say to soothe me and remind me that I wasn’t alone, but Elara understood far better what made Vad special, and I knew we would both give all we had to get him back and stop Colm.
We pulled apart, both wiping at our eyes. I cleared my throat and took the bowl from her hands, nodding in thanks, even though I wasn’t sure I could eat. My stomach felt like a hollowed-out cavern, but not from hunger.
Elara took her seat again with a tear running down her cheek.
“You should definitely eat, Briar,” Ember said. “And then, when you’re feeling up to it, we’re going to leave. Many-Greats thinks he can get us through the portal one more time—”
“No.” The word cracked through the air, firm and final, and more like a growl.
Ryker blinked in surprise. Ember lifted her brows, clearly not expecting the resistance.
“I’m not leaving Vad, or any of my family and friends here.”
Ember brushed her hair behind her ear. “Briar, they told us what you’ve been through, and it sounds like hell.”
“So what?” She always tried to protect me, but she couldn’t anymore. Everything had changed. “I’m—”
Eyes glowing, Ember glanced at Ryker.
Oh hell no. She’d better not try to get him to alpha-will me home. “Don’t you dare,” I seethed. “I won’t be forced to go back to Earth.”
A low voice cut through the conversation. “You’re not taking her anywhere.” Thalen now stood near the shadows behind the crates, eyes bloodshot but hard. “Not after everything she’s done for us. She nearly died here, yes, and now that it’s convenient, you think you can just whisk her away?”
“Don’t you dare talk to my mate like that.” Ryker leaped to his feet.
Touching his arm, Ember tilted her head. “It’s not about convenience. She’s my sister, and—”
“She’s our queen.” Thalen's voice cracked like stone splitting. “She’s the reason most of us are still alive, and I made a promise to my king and best friend that I would protect her. If she wishes to remain here, then I will fight to keep her here.”
“She is part of our pack.” Ryker clenched his hands.
Thalen came and stood right in front of me and glared at Ryker and Ember. “She chose Vad and everyone here. This is her battle too, and we need her.”
“Even if you try to alpha will me, it won’t work.” I needed her to understand, and I realized, no one here besides Vad and me understood what we were to each other. “I can’t feel my wolf, but there’s something even more important than that.”
“And what is that?” Ember pursed her lips, trying to fight back her frustration with me.
“He’s my mate,” I said sharply. “I won’t abandon him. What would you do if it was Ryker?”
Ember inhaled and looked away, shoulders stiffening. For a moment, she didn’t respond.
Ryker’s hands loosened. “Honey, she’s right. I can’t even try to do that to her.”
Many-Greats let out a weary sigh. “As I’ve said before, Briar is every bit as stubborn as you are, Ember. Now do you understand why dragging her back wasn’t an option?”
I squeezed Ember’s hand. “I love you. I love all of you. And I miss Earth more than I can explain. But this… this is my home now. Vad is my family. And if there’s any chance of getting him back, I have to take it.”
Ember's expression cracked, her eyes shining. “Briar, I… I didn’t know. I mean, I knew he was important, but not—”
“No one does,” I said gently. “Not really. They don’t have fated mates here.”
“What’s a fated mate?” Elara placed her hands in her lap.
“Some people call them soulmates.” I smiled sadly as a fresh wave of pain crested inside me. “It’s when your souls merge and you can talk to each other through your mind, and feel your partner’s emotions. They’re the piece of you that was missing, and when you find them, you’re both whole.”
Myantha exhaled. “That’s so beautiful.”
Thalen looked at her and smiled.
Even though I hated ruining their moment, my priority was Vad. "I'd rather die than leave him here. And I won’t abandon our kingdom while Colm tears it apart.”
Ember met my gaze again, and this time, it was with understanding. “You’re right. I would do the same. No matter what anyone said. So… I’m staying too.”
“And of course that means I am too. You’re my sister too, and we don’t abandon our pack.” Ryker nodded, his eyes burning with determination.
Tears pricked my eyes again, but this time, they didn’t fall.
“I love you both. But let’s get the plan together.
” I swallowed hard, forcing breath into lungs that still felt half-caved in.
The hollowness inside me pulled like an undertow, but I pushed through it and rose to my feet. I stepped into the center of everyone.
“I don’t know how long I was asleep.” No matter the answer, it was too long. Every second that we didn’t save Vad, the closer he was to death, if he hadn’t already been k— I stopped myself, unable to consider the option. “Do we know anything about Vad? How much time before the coronation?”
Elara gestured toward the exit to the palace corridors. “Finbar sent word. It’s confirmed that, as of now, Vad is alive and being held in the Ceremonial Hall.”
“Do we know if he’s injured or…” Myantha trailed off.
“He’s with Colm.” Anger roiled through me. “He will have injuries.”
Siray frowned, concern flashing in her dark eyes. “Do you think he’s died since the last update?”
Rhielle shot her a glare. “Don’t.”