Chapter 20
“Are you fucking joking?” Maines’s mouth falls open.
“Yes, Maines. I’m kidding,” I say sarcastically, as I slap her arm. “Why would I joke about that?”
She stands, rubbing her temples, and strides to the bay window—as if she needs to create some distance between us.
She rests both hands against the wood and drops her head.
Maines has studied countless textbooks about our powers, ancient and present.
She would know about this, or at least be able to offer some wisdom on whether I’m insane or not.
Maybe I’m crazy, and this will all be so much easier.
She turns to me, and shock still paints her face. I watch her, waiting for a massive reaction to fill the room. Her hands move through her hair as she tosses it to the side, her bright eyes shining as they gaze into mine.
“This is huge.”
“That’s all you have to say?” I ask. “Is this even possible?”
“Of course, it’s possible.” She throws her hands. “Shadow and Lumor Wielders have reproduced for centuries. But, it’s rare, Briar. Like, really rare.”
I let out a heavy exhale.
“Many people might try to tap into both powers their entire lives and still never produce a light or shadow,” she explains. “As far as we knew, Dusk Wielders didn’t really exist anymore, because people stopped trying when magic fizzled out.”
“Okay, so I’m somehow just able to do that without even knowing I can?” I stand, unable to sit through the nerves coursing through me.
“I guess so, but we all know you are powerful, and clearly, fear was amplifying your magic even more, which makes sense.” Maines shakes her head. “Did anyone see this happen?”
“No, but Yara knows about it,” I admit.
“That isn’t ideal.” Maines rubs her head once more, tunneling back into thought.
“I don’t think she would tell anyone. Plus, who cares if she did? Maybe it would persuade Malachi to help us.”
“I don’t want to alarm you, Briar, but if people feared you before...”
I close my eyes and let a moment of darkness fill my vision as thoughts flood my mind. My heart pounds against my ribs, and a headache begins to twinge between my brows.
“Great. Let’s add this to the list of reasons people want me dead.”
Maines makes a distressed face and nods.
My mind drifts back to my childhood in Daramveer.
We had various training sessions and schooling opportunities as young children.
I especially remember a few lessons about Dusk Wielders.
They were born from a Shadow and a Lumor Wielder.
The infant often showed clear signs of power at birth, usually with hair that was either coal black, representing shadows, or icy, symbolizing Lumor magic in their veins.
However, as the child grew into their powers by early adulthood, a specific aura would take over, casting the child in a different light.
Either streaks of the opposite power appeared from the child’s head, or their eyes changed color.
If my feet weren’t rooted to the floor, the urge to rush to the bathing chambers would take over.
My eyes, like autumn leaves, have become increasingly noticeable since I reawakened my powers.
Perhaps the lapses in my abilities after my mother’s death caused the change to happen more slowly.
People in Daramveer mostly avoided making eye contact with me over the years, so it’s possible that no one noticed my transformation. Or maybe no one cared.
My father rarely looked me in the eyes, and I always assumed it was because I favored my mother so much. But, what if it were for deeper reasons—a gut feeling he had over the years that caused him to envy me?
A loud knock on the door echoes through the room and makes us jump. Maines snaps her attention to me and waits for my approval for someone to join us.
“Come in,” I shout.
The door slowly opens, and Fen pops her head in.
It relieves me that it isn’t Silas just yet. I haven’t even begun to think about how I’m going to tell him this news. However, one piece involves Fen, and seeing her makes me uncomfortable.
“Am I interrupting?” she asks with a smile, her expression is so similar to Silas’s that I feel anxiety once more.
“Nope,” Maines answers. “Briar was just getting changed, and we were catching up.”
Fen nods and asks, “Could you two join us at the table again? Sorry to rush you, but we need to talk about the plans for the ship that's on its way.”
I pause for a moment, recounting Hux pulling him away. “Where is Silas?”
Fen peeks down the long hallway as if checking to see if they’ve come back inside.
“Still speaking with the guys on the balcony,” she replies. “Hux told me to come get you so he could speak with Silas a bit longer.”
My blood boils. He’s keeping him away from me on purpose.
“Just give us one more second,” Maines says with a smile. “Then we will join you.”
“You got it.”
Fenmore shuts the door quietly, and her steps quickly fade down the long hallway.
I turn to Maines, and the color has drained from her face.
“Are you alright?” I angle my head. “She can’t bother you that badly?”
She lets out a heavy exhale. “It’s not Fen. I’ll admit, she’s growing on me.” Maines looks out of the large window. “This ship. It’s filled with those creatures. I can’t stop thinking about Barlowe and what he looked like that day. I’m supposed to heal, not kill, and I murdered him.”
“You did what you had to.”
“And Graven?” Maines asks. “You’d argue I did what I had to when I ripped his head off his body?”
“Yes, I would.”
She shakes her head, trying to rid her mind of the thoughts swirling.
I reach for her hand. “You did that to Barlowe to save a life—mine. And the other was self-defense, Maines. If you think about it for too long, your feelings will drive you crazy.”
“I think it’s already driving me crazy.”
“You did what had to be done in that moment, just like we all have.”
“That doesn’t make me feel better,” she adds.
“Then we can work on that.”
“I don’t think I can fight, Briar, and I feel so weak for saying that.” A tear falls down her cheek. “But, if I don’t fight, and something happens to one of you, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“Why are you doubting yourself?” I ask. “This isn’t you.”
She shakes her head. “I’m not sure. Lately, I’ve felt... I don’t know how to describe it. I’ve felt off, unwell—almost heavy”
I try to offer her a soft smile. “Then, don’t fight.”
Her bloodshot eyes find mine.
“I think being a smart person is knowing when to fight and when not to. We need you healing anyway,” I say, reassuring her. “No one will think badly of you for this decision, and if you’d like, I’ll announce that as my idea.”
Maines gives me a relieved nod. “Thank you.”
“Let’s go see what these men have come up with," I say with a wink, pulling her to stand. “Then, we’ll let them know how things are actually going to run.”
She laughs, and we cross the threshold down the hallway, leading us back to the others.
Hushed whispers fill the room, and the scent of warm baked goods hits my nose in a delightful tingle.
Rose stands in the open kitchen, working her magic on something.
I feel gratitude fill my chest, knowing that she is here and safe.
Lang enters my mind, and I say a silent prayer that the Gods are keeping him safe right now.
Silas stands at the head of the table. Fen sits to his right, with Warrick next to her.
Larkin and Hux sit across from them. Oak sits at the opposite head of the table, with Maines taking a seat next to him.
A chair remains unoccupied to the left of where Silas stands, and he motions for me to sit at the head of the table with him.
I walk over to Silas, smoothing my clothes as I take a seat.
My gaze cuts to Hux, and he watches me intently—clearly trying to figure me out.
I lock eyes with him and raise a brow, letting him take in everything he wants.
I push away the anger and exude only confidence as he drinks me in.
Hux jerks his gaze from mine, and I smirk, returning my focus to Silas.
He remains standing and gently kisses the top of my head.
“In four days, a ship will arrive in Andorwood. This ship is accompanied by creatures that could haunt your darkest nightmares. Malachi has chosen not to rally with us and fight.”
I place my hands in my lap to hide the trembling.
Silas continues, “We must have a plan in place to protect the people of Andorwood and emerge victorious. We need to send a message to the mainland that we are not to be fucked with.” Silas’s deep voice booms around the room, and those around the table listen to him intently.
“The people at this table are those I trust more than anything.”
I struggle not to make a face, knowing Hux is among the few Silas speaks about.
Silas continues, “What I am about to say may never leave this house. If word of this leaks, I promise what will happen next will be worse than anything you can imagine.”
The table tenses, and I shudder at the thought of being on Silas’s bad side. I glance up at his face, and he meets my gaze. His piercing green eyes are hard, and I nod directly to him.
“For years, I have expected an attack on Andorwood. My dreams showed me many things, and they always ended in destruction. Briar knows the destruction I speak of.” Silas gives me a quick glance. “I also knew my father would never help if something arose.”
Oak and Maines watch Silas speak with intense focus. The others seem somewhat aware of what’s happening, but still give him the attention that the Prince of Darkness deserves. That makes sense, given that they’ve been with Silas in Andorwood all these years.