42. Brinley
Chapter 42
Brinley
B rinley’s vision blurred so much from the tears that she couldn’t see her grandmother, but she heard as the woman threatened André.
“If you touch her or set her free, I will personally destroy you, boy.”
“She doesn’t deserve this.”
“That’s not your call to make. Now, leave us. And so help me, if you tell anyone about what you’ve heard today, I will rip out your tongue.”
Brinley blinked, trying to clear her eyes enough to glare at her grandmother as her only friend around here left. Though, she wondered if that was even true. He’d apprenticed with her grandmother for years. How much could she even trust him? But that was an issue for another time. If she ever got out of these binds. “You killed both of them. You killed my parents.”
Her grandmother sighed. “This is getting exhausting. Yes, I killed them. Your mother betrayed me and our people by consorting with that monster.”
“He wasn’t the monster,” Brinley said. “You were. Are.”
“She sullied our line?—”
“She fell in love! She was happy and trying to create an alliance.” Shaking her head, she went on, “But you couldn’t stand the idea of not controlling everything. Luna forbid you lose a tiny bit of power in order to save your people so much grief and suffering.”
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her grandmother straightened and took a step closer.
“I know you killed Gabriel’s father too.” She hadn’t remembered before, but now she didn’t doubt it. She knew in her bones it was this evil woman before her who’d caused all of this. “You truly cast the curse, didn’t you? You’re the reason they can’t be in their human forms outside the village walls save for one night a month, but why? Surely it wasn’t just to keep me out of their grasp.” An idea had come to her a few days earlier after hearing Gabriel explain what the rogue had said that they wanted. She hadn’t told him because she didn’t think it mattered at the time, but now she wanted answers. “You did it so they’d be in their beast forms if they left, giving you an excuse to slaughter them, right? Because that way, you could make them appear like true villains, taking away their humanity.”
Her grandmother’s chest heaved, her face turning red. Brinley could practically feel the anger emanating off her. Crossing the room, the queen gripped Brinley’s chin and sneered. “Yes.”
Brinley felt like she was going to be sick. “And Rose? Why curse her?”
At that, her grandmother actually smiled. It was wicked, changing her features into someone Brinley almost didn’t recognize. “Ah, the alpha’s only child. I will admit, I did not know it would affect the girl at the time. I intended to curse the boy who cared too much for you even at that young age. His people tried finding a way to save him for years, but they weren’t even sure what would happen. I realized the truth six years ago when I saw Gabriel alive and trying to protect you from me.
It was even more satisfying knowing the curse had gone to the alpha’s only daughter. Before slitting his throat, I ensured he knew exactly what agony awaited her; he died knowing there was nothing he could do to save the person he loved most in this world. And then, I cursed his people, making it more difficult for them to find answers.”
“What’s going to happen to her?” Brinley could barely speak. She’d truly hoped that, in coming here, she would be able to convince her grandmother to help her break the curses. But she knew there was no chance of that happening. So, instead, she kept her talking. The more she could learn about what was going on, the closer she got to finding a way to end the curse.
“Well, since you’re here, I’m assuming you didn’t break the curse on the village.” Her grandmother released her chin and stepped back. “At the stroke of midnight on the girl’s birthday, she’ll fall into an eternal slumber, and their curse will become permanent, without even a single night to wander freely. No one will ever be able to leave the village to find a way to wake her. They won’t be able to talk to anyone outside those walls.”
Something kept tickling at the back of her mind. “Why did you really send me away?”
Her grandmother rubbed at her temple. “They claimed you as one of their own, and they believe you are the key to breaking the curses.”
“They just hoped that I’d fall in love with one of them in time?” Or did her grandmother know about her connection with Gabriel?
“Is that what you think will break the curse?” Her grandmother let out a bark of laughter. “Foolish girl.” She seemed to consider something before continuing. “I might as well tell you. It’s not like I’ll let you go before the clock runs out. There are just a handful of days left, right? To break the curse, a witch must love and fully accept the DeLoup. Of course, they’d assume that would mean falling in love, what with their ridiculous belief in mates . As if the stars could align two souls perfectly together like that to form a near unbreakable bond.”
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. But Brinley shook her head with a slow smile forming.
“Why are you grinning?”
“Because you’re wrong.” And if the woman was wrong about one thing, it meant she could be wrong about more. “The mating bond is real.”
“Don’t be absurd. I’m sure they filled your head with all sorts of nonsense, but I can assure you?—”
“He’s my mate,” Brinley said in a firm tone, cutting her off. “Gabriel, the alpha? He’s my mate.” She leaned forward as far as the ropes allowed. “And I can assure you, it’s very real. I’m tied to him.”
Her grandmother’s lips curled up in a snarl. “ If it’s real, they say the bonds aren’t solid until the couple is intimate and accepted on both sides. It’s not felt that strongly until then. I’m sure what you experienced was some sort of savior’s worship; it’s not a mating bond.”
“Well, as you said, I’m just like my mother. What did you ask again? If he ruined me?” Brinley shrugged. She’d never spoken to her grandmother like this—to anyone like this. But this woman before her was no longer her family. She’d killed her family, had taken everything from her. “I let him ruin me over and over. And I accepted him as my mate. Our bond is very strong at this point.” Before Mildred—she refused to call her ‘grandmother’ anymore—could speak, she added, “And I promise you that if I don’t return to him, whether the curse is broken or not, he will come for me. He’ll destroy you.”
Mildred looked disgusted. “Not if I destroy him first.”
When she turned and headed toward the doorway, Brinley’s smug attitude shattered. Her heart raced as she thought through what just happened. “No! Wait! I’m sorry! Just leave them. If he comes, I will tell him to forget about me, just please don’t?—”
“Don’t what?” Mildred faced her. “Don’t kill the man who kidnapped the heiress of this queendom and poisoned her mind? Because I promise that’s the story our people will believe; they’ll fight for you. For us. Looks like I got my reason to fight them after all. I was worried when those rogues I sent in didn’t return.”
Brinley felt the color drain from her face. But she couldn’t think about that confession right now. Protecting her mate was all that mattered. “You’ve done enough! Leave them alone. Please ,” she begged.
“You know, I might have if you’d just kept your mouth shut. Thank you for telling me the truth though.”
Brinley shook her head, yanking and twisting in an attempt to get out of the ropes. She tried to direct her magic toward freeing herself, but she wasn’t strong enough to fight the power of the High Sorceress.
“But don’t feel bad; you falling in love with that mutt never would have broken the curses anyway. It was so much deeper than that.” As she turned to leave, she called over her shoulder, “I’ll tell Gabriel you said hello, let him know I’m there on your behalf.”
Brinley screamed after her, begging her to stop. She continued trying to free herself. Crying, she shouted at the top of her lungs until she was hoarse and the world darkened beyond the windows. If anyone heard her, they didn’t come.
And she knew no one would.
She’d left behind the people who truly cared for her on a foolish quest. Hanging her head, she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Gabriel.”