Chapter 27 #2
Bones and ash rain down in the room as the entire kingdom seems to go silent at the power and madness leaking from me and pouring into the air.
The breeze pauses, the air lightens, and the dust settles around me. I’m covered in blood and dirt, but the threat is gone.
I blink through the filth and see the wall of shadows vanish around the men.
Silas crouches around Larkin, grabbing him in a tight embrace.
A large amount of blood stains his shirt, but it's nothing that can’t be healed.
Relief floods me, and black dots dance in my vision.
My legs quake, but I remain standing, flourishing in the power that still courses through my veins.
Silas stands and rushes to me, snapping both hands around my shoulders. “Look at me,” he pleads. “Look at me, Briar.”
I blink, unable to process what’s happened.
My eyes revert to their normal autumn-gold, as if a veil passes over them, allowing me to see the room more clearly. Larkin stands and groans, still clutching his chest.
The door behind us slams open, and Maines rushes into the room. “Fucking Gods.” Her chest heaves. “What just happened?”
“Go to Larkin,” I manage to get out, pointing my bloody, quivering finger in his direction.
She glances between us, assessing quickly, and rushes to his side, recognizing he’s the one in worse condition. Maines grabs his waist and guides him to the small sitting area as swiftly as she can without causing him pain. I brace myself for what I know is coming and squint my eyes.
Maines screams when she sees Yara’s mangled body lying on the blood-stained carpet.
“Oh, my Gods.” She slaps her hand over her mouth. “Yara?”
Her words ring in my ears, and tears begin to flood my eyes once more. The harsh reality of what’s happened crashes down on me. I’ve been so blinded by hatred that I forgot where I am, what I’m doing, and who was just murdered.
“Speak to me, Briar.” Silas wraps his arms around me.
“I’m…I’m here,” I mumble, and bury my head into his chest.
His heart pounds against my ear, and doesn’t slow.
“We need to get out of here before Malachi or the creatures return,” he says, as he tugs on my arm.
Still in a daze, I let him pull me a few steps before I yank my arm away.
Maines quickly tends to Larkin. His back rests against the large chair in front of the extinguished fire, and a black mist seeps from Maines’ hands into his chest. He groans occasionally, but she continues to work with focus and precision.
“He’s gone, Silas.” I look up at his worried face. “He’s not coming back.”
Silas stares at me and quickly looks around the destroyed room. “I heard what you said to Malachi. A Traveler.”
“I know,” I respond.
“You knew?”
“Yes, but I haven’t known long.”
“I’ll need you to tell me everything as soon as we’re safe,” he fumes. “No more secrets, Briar.”
I open my mouth to speak, but stop.
“None,” he snaps out, and I flinch.
“Hey,” Larkin says, defending me from his position on the chair. “Cut her some slack.”
“I am cutting her slack…for lying again.”
“Get over it,” Larkin barks.
“I wasn’t lying to you,” I say. “But Silas, with Malachi gone…”
“Do you realize what this means?” Larkin chimes in.
“Hush, Spiridon,” Silas demands. “Let Maines work.”
Maines’s voice interrupts Silas’s angry stare. “Keep still; I’m almost finished,” she instructs. “You’re a lucky one, Mr. Spiridon. A few inches to the right, and this would be a different story.”
He grimaces and says, “I owe you.”
“It’s no problem. I know you would do the same. Horribly, I might add, but the same.” She smiles and pushes the final touches of magic from her palms.
“Did you hear him?” Larkin asks.
Maines eyes meet his. “Yes.”
Larkin says, “Don’t let his words scare you.”
“Oh, he doesn’t scare me,” Maines responds.
His shirt is ruined and covered in blood, but the gash is now healed, leaving only a faded red scratch streaking along his sternum. Maines helps him to stand, and Larkin accepts the assistance. He glances in Yara’s direction and grimaces before turning his gaze to me and Silas.
“We need to leave,” Larkin calls.
Silas looks at me. “He’s right. We need to go right now.”
“I won’t leave Yara like this,” I respond, the words painfully leaving my lips.
I turn my head, unable to look at her lifeless body on the ground.
Maines scans the room and finds a blanket near the couch.
She rushes over to grab the fabric and unfolds the dark blanket.
She drapes the soft material over Yara’s body.
I stare at the cloaked figure beneath the blanket and fight back the urge to sob.
This could have been avoided if I had stopped her.
The plan would never have worked, but I didn’t object.
I let her do this because my own desires blinded me.
Silas nods, knowing my wishes, and glances at Larkin. They exchange a quick, understanding nod. Silas takes my hand and pulls me closer to the door, and I try to jerk my hand away, but he holds tight.
“Let go of my hand, Silas,” I snap.
“Please, just listen.” His glare pierces my eyes. “Warrick will ensure Yara is taken care of.”
“Take Larkin to my house,” Silas orders, looking to Maines. “There should be more tonics to accelerate his healing. Fen will show you where they are.”
Maines and Larkin move toward us, ready to take their leave, but hesitant to leave us behind.
“Taken care of? No. I’m not just leaving her here alone. She deserves respect.” I snap.
“And she will have it, Briar. But we can’t stay here another minute.
” Silas’s eyes are serious and carry a look of anger; this time, I know it’s aimed at me.
“Warrick is going to notify her family. They are going to honor her.” Silas’s voice is harsh as he turns to speak to Larkin and Maines. “You two, go.”
She gives me one last look of sorrow and grabs Larkin’s hand. They turn to mist before my eyes, leaving me alone with Silas and Yara’s body. Grief overwhelms me, and I feel as if I’m a second away from spiraling.
“You are being heartless.” I rip my hand from his hold.
Silas glances at Yara’s body lying beneath the fabric. “Do you truly think I’m heartless? After everything?” He releases a long exhale. “I’m trying to ensure your safety. I’m trying to keep us all safe.”
I flinch.
“They will have a ceremony for her. I will do whatever I can to ease this pain. I swear it to the Gods, my love.” His voice rises nearly to a shout. “But you must stop lying to me.”
“I didn’t lie to you,” I whisper, and the guilt layered on top of my grief nearly pushes me over the edge. “I just didn’t know how to tell you.”
He cradles my face in his trembling hands. “I’m trying to keep someone I love from being the next to die, but you’re making it impossible when you withhold vital information.”
Silas releases his grip and turns away from me.
The distance between us feels icy, and I can’t stop my hands from shaking. He gazes across the expansive room, and I realize he’s focused on the family portrait on the wall. He examines each face, frozen in time.
His sister is so small compared to the others in the painting. Her long black hair falls messily around her, and she smiles. She is so young and na?ve compared to the pain the others experience.
His mother, her beautiful face both regal and troubled, hands resting on both of her children, and I know she’s doing all she can in every moment to shield them from the monster next to them. Even from the gentle touch the photo portrays, I see now, she is protecting them… from him.
Even in the portrait, Malachi's hauntingly aged visage seems to pierce through you. No kindness is evident behind his eyes, and even in the delicate paint strokes, a bright flicker of green dances within them. His irises glow unnaturally, as if even they are desperate to show the real him.
And there’s Silas— the fresh wound above his eye, the bruising, and such sadness in his young eyes—forever marked on canvas in a mockery of his actions. He's not even a teenager yet, but his demeanor feels much older. I hadn’t noticed it before, but both of his fists are clenched tightly.
Silas turns back to me, meeting my gaze, and I notice something shift in his eyes that I can’t quite place. For a brief moment, I could swear I saw a tear that quickly vanished. Silas stands taller, his shoulders broader, and he tucks his hands into his pockets.
“Our royal bloodline comes from my mother’s side,” he explains. “We have to tell her what’s happened.”
“I understand.”
“Malachi is gone?” he asks.
“I think so.” I nod. “Yes.”
“Where?” He snaps.
“I’m not sure.”
He grabs my hand and pulls me through the door into the long hallway leading back to the central part of the castle.
The air feels lighter out here, and I am thankful we left the room.
It was too heavy in there, and with each passing second that I stayed there with Yara’s body, I felt myself slipping away.
Silas remains at a distance from me, giving me time to protest, but I don’t.
I stare at him, watching the wheels turn in his mind.
“I’m going to make sure that we give our respects to Yara. She deserves to be at rest, and Warrick will take care of it. I’m sorry, Briar. I’m so fucking sorry.” Silas lowers his head. “Malachi is a monster, and I didn’t stop him.”
I blink in surprise at his apology. “He would have killed us all, Silas. If anyone is to blame, it’s me."
“It’s not your fault, and don’t say that again. You did what we all thought was right. You were risking more than just Yara by going through with that; I hope you understand that.”
I nod.
“Yara wanted to help. She was brave, braver than any of us could have been. She will be recognized as such, I promise.” Silas stops and turns to face me. “One day, things are going to change. Andorwood is going to change, and I’m going to do everything in my power to ensure that.”
I nod, knowing everything he speaks is true.
“It’s an intense weight to carry,” Silas says.
“I know the feeling.”
“Do you also know the feeling of constantly trying to keep you safe?”
I don’t respond.
“I nearly fucking break every single day, worried about your life.”
“Stop worrying so much, then,” I say.
“I can’t,” he says. “And I’ll never stop keeping you safe. I won’t rest until I know this is over—all of it—and I know for a fact that it’s only us. Just me and you.”
He closes the distance between us, cupping my face once more with intensity.
“Tell me you are okay,” he rasps. “Please, look me in the eyes and tell me the truth.”
I hesitate and stare into his eyes.
“I deserve the truth,” he whispers.
“I’m not okay.”
He nods. “Let me help.”
“I don’t know how you can.”
“I’m tethered to you, Briar,” he says. “Let me carry some of this load with you. Lean on me—use me—and when you are feeling weak, take my strength. Take fucking all of it, because I’ll give it to you willingly.”
A tear falls down my cheek.
“I’ll give you anything,” Silas whispers.
“What do you need?” I ask. “This isn’t a one-way street. I can help you, too, Silas.”
He doesn’t respond at first. Instead, he looks at me—truly looks at me—and my breath hitches.
“To be honest,” Silas says. “I need you right now, or I’ll fucking fall apart.”
I’m taken aback when he crashes his lips against mine. Lost in the moment, the realization hits me, and I understand why Silas is stunned—speechless, and overwhelmed. It’s not only death that lingers around us. It’s about what just changed. Changed with him, our future, and Andorwood.
He pulls away and gently traces my profile with his finger.
I stare into his intense green eyes.
Silas, my Silas. I watch as shadows begin to swirl around him, as if a new surge of power has entered his veins. His shadows seem darker, like something just snapped into place.
Andorwood is going to change from here on out. Everything we’ve feared has just opened up for us: a new beginning, a new future, and a new power in charge.
“My love,” he whispers, his forehead pressed to mine. “My queen.”
“King,” I reply. “You are the king, Silas. King of Andorwood.”