24. Brinley
Chapter 24
Brinley
B rinley paused at the front door, held open by Gabriel. The bright sunshine beyond called to her, but she was hesitant.
“Where are we going?” she asked, wringing her fingers together. “Why can’t we just practice here?”
“Because I need to check on a few things first, and then I’ll take you somewhere we can train.”
“And you think walking around a village full of people who hate me is a good idea?” She tried to sound defiant, crossing her arms, but it was a genuine concern.
Gabriel’s brow furrowed. “They don’t hate you, bijou.”
She narrowed her eyes at the nickname as much as the lie. “Of course they do. I’m a witch.”
“Who saved my life.” He motioned toward the few steps that would take them to the short path leading to the street. Two guards stood at attention on either side of the small front porch. “No one will touch you. I promise.”
Sighing, she relented and walked outside. He closed the door and followed. At the street, she let him guide her in the right direction. The sun beamed down on her head, warming her. It felt amazing. He’d been correct before; she needed fresh air. She took in a deep breath of it now, letting it fill her lungs.
Gabriel turned at the next corner, heading onto a busier cobblestone street. Several people stopped what they were doing to stare, but he acted as if it was a perfectly normal thing for her to accompany him. Brinley kept quiet, and she stayed close to his side, knowing he would protect her if it meant saving his people, his sister.
The DeLoup continued to watch her as they made their way through the village. Gabriel greeted people, introducing her like an old friend. It was strange, to say the least. But what was stranger was the lack of chaos and destruction she’d been taught existed in these places. Her guards, her grandmother, and even André had created these terrifying images of lawless lands occupied by monsters.
There was nothing of the sort as far as she could see. She’d noticed that from the windows of the study, but she thought perhaps it was because only a small portion of one street was visible from there. If she didn’t know better, she didn’t think she would even suspect they were shifters. She saw a young couple kiss in the shadows of a nearby building—a sweet, chaste kiss, nothing obscene. A handful of children ran by laughing and playing, ignoring the shouts of their parents who turned to hide their amusement.
When Gabriel opened the rickety, short gate of a picket fence, she focused on where they were going. She almost smacked face first into tall stalks of corn because she hadn’t been paying attention. He laughed, and she turned to scowl at him.
“This way.” He nodded to one side of what appeared to be a large garden. They rounded the taller plants to find rows and rows of fruits and vegetables. A woman was crouched beside one of the plants and looked up when they approached.
She stood, dipping her head. “Gabriel, sir.”
They treated him almost like royalty here, bowing before him.
“Any changes?” He walked a bit farther and bent to inspect a tomato plant.
Even from here though, Brinley could see they weren’t the right color. They looked dark, ashy.
“No,” the woman said, watching Brinley closely. “They’re still drying out and dying overnight. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Gabriel nodded to himself, looking at more before he returned to Brinley’s side. “Sorry, this is Brinley. Brinley, this is Jeanne. She’s in charge of our community’s crops and gardens.”
The woman didn’t say anything, which didn’t surprise Brinley. She’d told him they hated her, but he didn’t believe it. For Luna’s sake, even Brighid still avoided her, and she’d lived in the same house for weeks now. Gabriel nudged her in the side with an elbow.
Brinley glared at him, but he gave her a pointed look then glanced at Jeanne. Realizing what he wanted, she forced a smile. “It’s nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Jeanne visibly relaxed. “And you.” She shook her head slowly, as if in amazement. “She looks just like them. Malal’s beautiful eyes and smile, but something distinctly Keir in her features.”
Gabriel stiffened but put a hand on Brinley’s back. Like he knew her legs were about to give out. Like he knew just how shocking the sentiment was to her. It was one thing for Gabriel to claim he’d known her parents, but for this stranger to admit the same, it tore at her heart. Had he been telling the truth?
“I know,” he said in a soft tone before clearing his throat. “We need to get going, but please keep me updated. Let me know right away if there’s any major change.”
“Sir, do you think this is because…”
“I don’t know, but we’ll figure it out. I promise.”
Jeanne nodded toward him and, to Brinley’s surprise, smiled at her.
“Have a good day,” Brinley managed to get out as Gabriel took her hand to lead her away.
He started to release her as soon as they were outside the fence, but she gripped his hand tighter, needing his steady presence a moment longer. When he faced her, his bright blue gaze was full of understanding, and he gave a small nod. “They all know.”
Brinley struggled to keep her breathing level. Was her father really from here? She had a thousand questions but couldn’t form the words to voice them. Because if that was true, what else was? How much of her life was a lie?
Gabriel stepped closer and lifted a hand to her cheek. “The second I saw you in that cellar, I knew it was you.”
“But… why don’t I remember? You said we knew each other, but I don’t remember you,” she said. “Any of you.”
“I know that too.” His thumb brushed across her skin in a motion far too intimate.
She pulled away from him, releasing his other hand. Space. She needed space to think, to breathe. This was all too much. “Why?”
When he reached for her hand again, she jerked it back. He let out a frustrated sigh. “I can’t tell you.”
“Of course not.” She stomped away from him.
Grabbing her by the elbow, he slowed her pace. “I’m trying. All right? That’s partially why I agreed to help you with your magic. Maybe once you reach it, you’ll be able to rid yourself of whatever is blocking your memories.”
She glanced over to find a sincere look in his eyes. She hated that it made sense. “Fine. Let’s go.”
They continued down the street, then another. Gabriel checked in on people, asking about their family’s well-being, their businesses, even about their hobbies. She wondered briefly if he was extending their trek to where he wanted to train on purpose, just to bring her around the village and introduce her to others, or if he was always this involved in his people’s lives. Was this what he did every day when he left? Over and over, she was met with the same sort of awe.
When he turned back toward the direction of the house, she almost groaned. Was he lying about training elsewhere to get her out for a little while? But as they reached the familiar street, he led her down a side alley.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
Over his shoulder, he said, “You’ll see.”
The pathway was quiet, empty. Above them, windows were broken or boarded up. It was a complete contrast to his opulent home just on the other side of the block. At the other end, he turned again, but this time went straight to a large building she’d never seen before. One that stretched all the way to the village walls.
Gabriel opened the door and stepped inside, motioning for her to follow. As soon as she did, the hair on the back of her neck stood on end and her feet felt like lead, not allowing her to move. A hallway crossed the short entryway, going in both directions, but straight ahead, a wide archway showed a large room with men and women sparring, practicing hand-to-hand drills and the goddess knew what else.
A room full of DeLoup soldiers training to kill her people.
She started to retreat, but a firm hand landed on her shoulder.
“You’re safe,” Gabriel said, as if reading her thoughts. He’d leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. When she still didn’t move, he ran his hand down to rest on her lower back. “I promise, no one will touch you, bijou.”
Brinley couldn’t decide if she wanted to lean into him more or run. At least locked away in that house, she could lie to herself and think she was safe. There were no such comforts here.
“If we’re going to try to access your magic, I’d prefer it not be in my house where things might end up destroyed, but I also think it would be good to give you some physical training as well,” he said low enough that only she could hear as he guided her into the room. “Teach you how to protect yourself and use a dagger.”
That made her stop again. “Why would you do that?”
She didn’t tell him she already had some such training.
Gabriel faced her. “Because the next time you try to run away, I might not be there to save you from rogues.”
“I’m not going to run away.” She couldn’t. Not until she helped Rose.
Something flickered in his dark gaze, but he simply nodded and continued toward the far end of the room.
“Daciana,” he said, and Brinley realized the woman was sparring with Joel in the corner. “Did you bring what I asked?”
The woman handed Joel her practice blade, which didn’t look dulled at all, and went to grab a bag from beside the wall.
“Morning,” Joel said with a smile.
Gabriel returned it, clapping the man on the shoulder. “Good morning.”
“Brinley, nice to see you up and around. How are the ribs?”
“All better.” It didn’t make sense that she’d healed so quickly, unless it was her magic slipping through without her realizing it.
“Good.”
She still wasn’t completely certain whether Joel’s kindness was genuine or a show. She also couldn’t imagine Gabriel with someone so sweet if it was real. Not with how rough he’d been with her. She looked back and forth between them, trying to figure out their dynamic. The alpha seemed like a different man with Joel. It unnerved her.
“Here you go.” Daciana held the bag out, and Gabriel thanked her.
“We’ll see you two in a bit.” With his free hand once more on Brinley’s back, he led her to a door she hadn’t noticed before. It opened to another hallway. “The building is a square,” he explained as they walked. “This hall lines the room we just left on all sides, and then off of it are more private areas for different exercises and training techniques.”
Opening yet another door, they stepped into a simple, unoccupied room. A window sat high in one wall, letting in natural light that reflected off of the shiny wooden floor. The pale white walls were plain, save for the sconces, but with the dark beams above them, it was nice, peaceful. A few small rugs sat in a pile in the corner, and she wondered what those were for.
“Why were you looking between me and Joel like that?” He closed the door, and she faced him with a shrug.
“You’re nice to him.”
He raised a brow. “I’m nice to a lot of people.”
“Just not me?” Before he could reply, she said, “I was just having a hard time picturing…”
The corner of his mouth twitched up.
“Stop.” She rolled her eyes. “I just meant, he’s so sweet, and you were so rough. So, I was curious how that even worked.”
With a chuckle, he stepped closer. “Are you asking if I’m as dominant with him as I was with you?”
It took everything she had not to look away.
“Or are you asking who likes to be in which position?” His low voice stirred that warmth low in her belly. He glanced down, like he knew exactly what he was doing to her. “Or are you asking how two men?—”
“Stop,” she repeated, taking a small step backward before she did something she regretted. “No, I’m not asking the specifics. I understand how it works in general. You two just seem so different.”
Chuckling, he inched back a little too. “Not really. He is kind and caring, but he’s not shy about what he wants or desires. And we’ve been friends our whole lives.”
“But you don’t love him?” Brinley internally cursed herself for letting the question slip. She didn’t care, couldn’t care.
“No,” he whispered, his gaze softening a fraction. “We aren’t in love.” He cleared his throat and offered the bag from Daciana. “Here, more clothes for you. Some pants and a tunic, which will make it easier to train.”
She was grateful for the change in subject and took it. “But what good will that do me? It’s not as if I’ll be in them if I’m attacked outside this room.”
“Must you always be difficult?”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not being difficult; I’m being realistic.”
“Many women here wear pants in their daily lives.” Leaning against the wall, he crossed one ankle over the other. “It’s up to you. I don’t care either way. I just wanted to give you the option.”
She had seen women wearing them in the village, and Daciana wore trousers all the time, but she’d also seen many women wearing dresses with corsets. Either way, she stood out in her simple, empire-waist dresses. She opened the bag and pulled out the black pants. They were soft and thinner than she expected.
“You really don’t have to.” Gabriel’s gentle tone made her glance up, and in that moment, she realized he’d truly only been trying to help.
“I’ve never worn them before,” she whispered. “Not like this, at least.”
The tunic she removed from the bag was dark red, almost crimson. When she held it up, she squeezed her lips shut to keep from smiling. It was long enough to reach her knees. It would cover more of her shape than the shorter shirts she’d seen most of the other women wearing. She met Gabriel’s gaze, who appeared calm and nonplussed, but she could see past that. She saw the way he waited for her reaction.
“Daciana picked this out?” Brinley asked, already knowing the truth.
He shrugged. “I made some suggestions.”
Because he knew her. Somehow, this infuriating DeLoup understood her well enough to know what she would want. And she was really starting to think it wasn’t just because of the last few weeks together.
Swallowing past the odd lump forming in her throat, she turned around and pulled her hair over one shoulder for him to help her out of her dress.