Chapter 34
Chapter thirty-four
Briar woke slowly, acutely aware of the warmth that surrounded her, of the arm draped across her waist, and a chest pressed against her back, rising and falling with a steady breathing that wasn't her own.
For a moment she just existed in that space between sleep and waking, feeling protected and cherished.
Her eyes opened to amber light filtering through wooden walls. The Drak settlement. The celebration. Everything came back in pieces that didn't quite fit together yet.
Eliam asleep beside her, his face relaxed in a way she rarely saw when he was conscious.
The paint from last night had smeared across his skin, dark lines broken and faded.
His hair was a mess, and there was a mark on his throat that she had a vague memory of making.
The sight of him made something warm bloom in her chest, affection and contentment mixing together.
That’s when it dawned on her. If Eliam was next to her… then who was pressed against her back?
Arion.
Her heart lurched. She turned her head carefully, not wanting to wake either of them, to confirm what she already suspected. Arion was there, his honey blond hair falling across his face, one arm draped over her hip.
The events of the previous night crashed into her all at once.
The dancing. The drinks. The revelation about them being the same person split in two. The way the magic had pulled them together. The very public... everything that had happened after that.
Oh God.
They had done that. She had done that. In front of hundreds of Drak. With both of them. At the same time.
The memory was vivid enough to make her clench her thighs, but embarrassment quickly doused the heat that had begun blossoming. Everyone had seen. Everyone knew. The mortification was beyond anything she’d ever felt.
She needed to leave, to slip out before they woke up and she had to face what they'd done. She needed space to think, to process, to figure out how to look either of them in the eye ever again.
Briar started to ease herself forward, away from Arion's warmth, toward the edge of the sleeping platform.
Eliam's arm tightened around her immediately, pulling her back against him. His eyes were still closed but his voice was rough with sleep when he spoke.
"Where are you going?"
"I just—I need—" The words tangled in her throat.
His eyes opened, dark and focused despite having just woken. He studied her face with an intensity that made her want to look away. "Stay."
It was not a request. His arm remained wrapped around her waist, keeping her in place, and despite everything, she found she didn't actually want to pull away.
"Eliam, last night we—"
"I know what we did last night." His thumb traced small circles on her hip, the touch casual but possessive. "I was there."
Her face burned hotter. "Everyone saw."
"Yes."
"Everyone."
"I'm aware."A smile was tugging at the corners of his mouth though he seemed to be fighting it. "You didn't seem to mind at the time."
"I was drunk," she said, though even as the words left her mouth she knew they were a weak defense. She hadn’t been that inebriated."That drink was—it affects humans more than—"
"You were tipsy," he corrected, his hand sliding up her side. "Not unconscious, nor unaware. You knew exactly what you were doing when you begged us to—"
"Don't." She pressed her hand against his mouth, mortification threatening to consume her entirely. "Please don't say it out loud."
He kissed her palm, his eyes glinting with dark satisfaction. When she pulled her hand away, his smile was pure smugness. "I had no idea you were such an exhibitionist."
"I'm not—I didn't—that's not—" She couldn't form a complete sentence, her face so hot she thought she might combust.
"The way you moaned when I—"
"Eliam, I swear—"
"And when Arion's hands were—"
She clapped her hand over his mouth again, harder this time. "Stop talking. Right now."
His shoulders shook with silent laughter, and she realized with horror that he was enjoying this. Actually taking pleasure in her embarrassment.
Behind her, Arion shifted. His arm tightening around her hip, pulling her back against him, and she felt him wake properly. His hand splayed across her stomach, fingers spreading wide.
"Good morning," he said softly.
The simple word carried too much weight. Good morning after what they'd done and earning what they were. The day they'd have to face everyone else with this knowledge.
"We should go," she said. "The others will be wondering—"
"The others are probably still sleeping off their own celebrations," Eliam said, but he was already pulling away, the loss of his warmth making her shiver.
They dressed in awkward silence, Briar's body protesting every movement—she was definitely sore, muscles aching in ways that made her blush remembering why.
The traditional Drak clothing from the night before felt wrong in daylight, far too revealing.
Briar wrapped herself in her cloak despite the warm morning, trying to cover as much painted skin as possible.
"We need to talk about what Ferria revealed," Arion said, adjusting the leather straps across his chest. "About what we are."
"Later," Eliam said curtly. "After we've dealt with getting to the seal."
"We can't just ignore—"
"I said later."
The sharpness in Eliam's tone made Arion's jaw clench, but he didn't argue further. The tension between them was different now—not the competitive edge of before, but something heavier. The knowledge of what they were to each other had changed everything and nothing.
Briar moved toward the entrance, needing to not be caught between them while they processed this impossible situation. The moment she stepped outside, she became aware of eyes on her.
Drak throughout the settlement were already engaged in their morning routines, and every single one seemed to look up when she exited from the dwelling.
Some smiled knowingly, while others nodded respectfully, and a few of the younger ones whispered to each other in their own language.
She caught the word "Shadow Walker" mixed in with terms she didn't understand.
They knew. Everyone knew what had happened at the celebration.
Groaning inwardly, Briar made her way quickly toward the housing she had shared with Sian, hoping to find her or literally anyone who could provide a distraction from the consequences of her wine-induced actions.
She finally found Sian at the communal water source, looking significantly worse for wear. Her friend's traditional garb was askew, paint smeared in ways that suggested her own celebration had been just as eventful.
"Don't," Sian said, not even looking up from where she was splashing water on her face. "Whatever you're about to say, just don't."
"I wasn't going to say anything."
"Good." Sian finally looked up, took in Briar's appearance and winced. "Though I will say, you're louder than you think."
Briar's face burned. "The drums were loud."
"Not that loud."
Before Briar could die of embarrassment completely, Mor'va appeared, looking far too composed for someone who'd presumably celebrated as hard as everyone else.
"Shadow Walker," she greeted, then looked past Briar to where Eliam and Arion were emerging from the dwelling. "Forest Lord. Star Prince." Her ancient eyes gleamed with knowing amusement. "I trust you found our celebration... educational?"
"Thank you for your hospitality," Arion said diplomatically.
Mor'va grinned. "The Drak believe in celebrating life fully. Connection, pleasure, the joining of bodies—these are sacred things. Especially when fate has conspired to bring together what was separated."
The weight of her words made all three of them go still.
"You knew?" Eliam's voice was dangerously quiet.
"I am old, Forest Lord. I have seen much.
" She studied them with those ancient eyes.
"The resonance between you two has always been visible to those who know how to look.
And now with the Shadow Walker connecting you.
.." She trailed off, then became businesslike.
"Your companions are gathering in the main hall.
Supplies have been prepared for your journey to the seal. "
"You're helping us?" Briar asked, surprised.
"You survived the cave. You honored our dead. And more importantly," Mor'va's gaze moved between the three of them, "what comes next requires you all to reach the seal. The corrupted lands grow worse each day. Whatever must be done, it must be done soon."
She turned to go, then paused. "Veroc and a dozen additional warriors will escort you to the border of the seal's territory. Beyond that, you go alone. The magic there is too unstable for those without protection."
"What kind of protection?" Arion asked.
Mor'va looked at Briar. "The kind she carries. The kind that recognizes both shadow and light and can bridge what was broken." Her expression grew serious. "Be careful, Shadow Walker. The seal was made with sacrifice. It may demand the same to be maintained."
She left them standing there, the weight of her words settling over them like a shroud.
"We should find the others," Briar said, unable to bear the silence.
They made their way to the main hall, where they found Thaine, Halian, and Karse already assembled. Thaine looked them over with a hunter's assessment, taking in every detail of their appearance. His expression gave away nothing, but Briar thought she saw his mouth twitch slightly.
Halian looked hollow-eyed and grief-worn, barely acknowledging their arrival. The celebration had clearly not eased his pain over Ferria's death. If anything, he looked worse.
Karse lounged against a wall, somehow managing to appear completely unaffected despite having celebrated as hard as any Drak would have.
"Finally," he drawled. "Thought we'd have to send a search party. Though from the sounds of things, we would have known where to find you."
Briar wanted to sink into the floor.