Chapter 33
The hotel
Back in Brir's arms
Artemis
I laid my head on Brir's chest, feeling the rise and fall of his steady breaths. I had fallen asleep in his arms after he had bandaged me up. I couldn't believe he was here. I couldn't believe he was with me after all this time apart. As I drifted back to sleep in his arms, I held onto him tightly, afraid that if I let go, he would vanish, that this was all a dream. But as the night passed and the sun began to rise, he was still there, his warmth and steady heartbeat a comforting presence next to me. It wasn't a dream. He was here with me.
We had made it to an abandoned town, and the cat guy, Leonovus, who had mauled my torturer and, I was sure, eaten his heart, was leading the way. Merrick followed. He resembled something from a horror film – deep red scales covering his body, horns protruding from his forehead, and a long tail that coiled protectively around his human mate, Soren.
Soren was utterly normal in appearance, but he had helped me the most. He treated me like an average person when he talked with me to take my mind off what Brir was doing as he’d bandaged me.
Brir and I still sat perched on top of Dune, while Soren had his bow and waited for Merrick and Leonovus to come out and tell us the abandoned hotel was clear.
Merrick appeared back at the door. “All good,” he called out. Soren led the other two Lepots toward the hotel before he handed Merrick the reins. Brir turned me in his arms and looked down at me with beautiful red eyes. Eyes I thought I would never see again.
“I’ve got you,” Brir said as he lifted me effortlessly into his arms and slid off Dune’s back. Merrick was there to steady us as Brir’s feet hit the ground.
The predawn light cast long shadows across the barren landscape as we approached the hotel. The wind howled through the skeletal remains of what was once a bustling town.
Dune stayed close by my side, his large head occasionally nudging my hand for reassurance. I reached out to pet him, and he nuzzled his massive head against my hand. His eyes never left Brir as the two of them walked. He had been keeping a watchful eye on Brir ever since he rescued me from the warehouse.
“I cleared this room here for you," Merrick told us, clutching Soren’s hand.
Brir nodded his understanding, and I felt his hair brush against my neck.
“Leonovus and I are on either side. We will hear if you need anything.”
"Thanks, Merrick," Brir replied, his voice like gravel, the deep timbre soothing my nerves. We entered the room, the heavy wooden door creaking ominously behind us. It shut with a low thud, the echo of the sound ricocheting off the peeling wallpaper and dusty floorboards.
Two beds filled the room. Dune’s feet trod silently into the room before he went to the far side bed. He climbed effortlessly onto the dusty mattress, folded his long legs, and lay down. Brir sat me down in the chair before he went to the bed, stripped the blanket from it, and took it to the hall.
He didn't say a word, but I knew he was preparing the room for our night's stay.
“Thank you for coming for me,” I said, looking at Brir. He just stood there, studying me, the blanket still in hand, before letting it tumble.
Then he was kneeling in front of me.
“I love you, my butterfly. I'm sorry I never told you sooner.” Brir’s hands cradled my face as he leaned his forehead against mine. “I'm so sorry I let them take you.”
His voice was hoarse with regret, the lines of his face etched deep with remorse. I reached out, tracing the outline of his jaw with my fingers. His blue skin was soft beneath my fingers, but his eyes were filled with raw emotion that threatened to consume us both.
“I love you too,” I told him before I pressed my lips to his. Tears welled in my eyes and rolled down my cheeks, blurring Brir's face. His eyes were filled with regret and love, his lips trembling slightly. “It wasn’t your fault, Brir,” I whispered, reaching out to place my hand over his where it rested against my cheeks. “They tricked you. Lied. What they shot me with wouldn't have killed me,” I told Brir in a small voice. “They told me after I was with them.”
Brir stiffened at my confession. His hands closed into tight fists against my face, the touch of his cool skin against my cheeks gentle despite the storm raging within him. His eyes, so filled with emotion that it made my heart ache, stared into mine with an intensity that was almost too much to bear.
His eyes searched mine for a long moment, the weight of his guilt and sorrow reflected in his gaze. “Butterfly,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as if the words were sacred. “I should have protected you. They never should have been able to touch you. I love you, Artemis,” he whispered again, the sound barely escaping his lips. He pulled me into him, cradling my form against his as if he could shield me from every harm this world had to offer. His fingers tightened on my sides, pressing me closer.
His words were a gentle caress, a soothing balm over the raw wounds that marred my soul.
My brain processed his words slowly. Brir said he loved me, and my body shook as my bandaged hands came up to wrap around Brir’s forearms. Tears streamed down my face.
The comforting blue light pulsed from the scars as soon as my bare skin touched his threads. I cried harder as they lit up for me, wrapping my arms around his neck and holding him as close as possible.
“I love you too. So much,” I said to him. “I thought you were dead. I wanted to die so badly, but they wouldn't kill me.”
His eyes flinched at that, the red irises darkening with unspoken pain. He swallowed hard, his throat working before he spoke again.
“I'm so glad they didn't. I need you here with me, Butterfly.” Brir’s voice was thick with emotion. He held me close, his red eyes searching mine for any sign of disbelief or doubt. But I couldn't hide my love for him, and he knew that.
His hands moved from my waist to my face, his thumbs wiping away the stray tears that had traced pathways down my cheeks. "I can't bear to see you hurt like this," he murmured, his voice on the brink of tears. His fingers trembled as they brushed my dark green hair back from my face, tucking loose strands behind my ears.
Brir let me cry into his shoulder for a time before his arms picked me up again. He carried me to the bed, setting me down gently. Then he slowly pulled my borrowed shirt off my frame and pulled my pants off my legs. He tucked me into his side before pulling the blanket over our bodies. He trapped the warmth around us.
Brir's hand lingered on my cheek as he looked at me, his gaze filled with sorrow and an intensity I had never seen before. Lying there in the room's dim light, I felt small and vulnerable, yet loved and cherished. Brir sighed deeply, brushing my hair away from my face again.
He tipped my chin back with one finger before his lips were on mine, pushing away my sadness and pulling me directly into this moment.
His kiss was soft, careful, and tender, as if he feared that any sudden movements would break me. In that kiss, I felt the weight of his unspoken promises, the tangible ache of his concern for me, and the warmth of his irrefutable love, which seemed to seep into my very soul.
Our lips moved against each other in a gentle rhythm. His thumb caressed my cheek while his other hand rested on my back as though anchoring me to him. His kiss deepened. His love consumed me. Every touch ignited sparks under my skin.
I felt the sweetness of Brir's kiss, the tenderness and reassurance that radiated between us. His fierce and intense love washed over me like a warm wave, erasing the pain and fear that had clung to me for so long.
Brir withdrew slowly, his crimson eyes searching mine once again. The vibrant glow I had come to know now looked dull, diffused by worry and contemplation. His thumb traced the outline of my lips as if remembering the moment.
He whispered my name, his breath dancing over my skin. “I’m never letting you go again.”
The comfort of his embrace eased my tensions as I leaned into him, resting my head on his sturdy chest. Listening to the strong, steady thump of his heart, I found a sense of home there. I felt Brir's lips against the top of my head, whispering a silent prayer into my hair.
His words were a soft growl, a vow wrapped in the velvet of his voice, and it echoed inside my head, resonating with the rhythm of my heartbeat. I felt the warmth of his body against mine, and a sudden calm overwhelmed me, replacing the turmoil that had been churning within. His fingers traced idle patterns on my arm as we lay there still.
"I love you, Brir," I whispered into the comforting silence, my voice trembling with the weight of my emotions. A soft gasp slipped from Brir's lips, his strong arms wrapping around me tighter to shield me from the world outside.
"And I, you," he murmured back, his voice rumbling through his chest and into my very being.
I traced the lines of scars that ran all over his body until they lit up around the room around us.
“Are we going back to the bunker?” I asked. He stiffened slightly at my words, his hands pausing in gently tracing my back.
"Not yet," he said, a subtle firmness in his voice. He tilted my chin up, forcing me to meet his gaze. “We are going to New Pharia,” he finally said, gazing from the room to meet mine. His voice sounded distant. “I made you a promise, Artemis, and I can’t keep you safe alone. I need Arya and the others.”
His words hung heavy in the air, their weight threatening to crush my newly found peace. A faint smile tugged at my lips as I looked into his eyes for reassurance. He found my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, telling me everything would be alright.
"New Pharia," I repeated. I looked up at Brir, his red eyes shining with love, tenderness, and concern.
“We are going to get you better, and we are going to find Apollo,” he said, his voice echoing through the room with determination and resolve. “Elex is waiting for us to arrive. He is going to make you better.”
“You trust him?” I asked, my eyes narrowing slightly against the dim glow that peeked through the break in the curtains.
“I trust everyone in New Pharia with my life,” Brir said. “And more importantly, I trust them with yours," he added solemnly. His words were a balm to my frayed nerves, and the sincerity in his voice soothed my growing trepidation.
He gently took my face in his hands. "You hold my heart, Artemis," he added softly, his eyes glinting with truth. The intensity of his gaze caused my breath to hitch, and the room seemed to shrink, bringing us closer together. “You are my Savase. Arya figured it out. You’re my soul bond.” Brir gave me a watery smile. “I never thought I deserved a bond mate. I had failed too many people, including my sister, but you’re mine. My Savase, my thread bond. You’re mine.”
I was startled by his confession, my heartbeat quickening in my chest. The enormity of what he'd revealed to me took a moment to settle in. A soul bond... it was something I'd heard of but never really understood until now—until Brir.
"That..." I swallowed, struggling to find the right words. “Is that like what Soren is to Merrick?”
His words were heavy with emotion and truth. The depth of his love made my heart flutter wildly in my chest, and a sense of belonging surged through me.
“Different species find a soul bond in different ways. For Gateros, they imprint. For me, you light up my threads. No one else but me and someone related to me should have been able to do that,” he explained, his voice trembling slightly. "But you did." His thumb traced the contours of my cheeks tenderly. "You didn't just light them up, Artemis. You set them ablaze."
My heart thudded heavily in my chest at his words. This was a man who had been closed off to the world, hardened by past failures and losses, yet he had bestowed me with an honor as profound as a soul bond. I could see the depth of his feelings mirrored in his gaze, a soft glow that was all for me.
“Does it...” I hesitated. A lump formed in my throat as the gravity of his words sunk deeper. "Does it… change anything, Brir?" I managed to finish my question, my voice barely above a whisper. I was in uncharted territory here, and I could feel the ambiguity of the situation eating at me.
He looked at me, his eyes searching my face for a moment. Brir’s tail came up. The fluffy end rubbed up and down my leg. "It changes everything. I fell in love with you before I even knew what you were to me,” he answered, his voice sounding like the calm before a storm. “Now, I will never have to spend a day without you.” He moved closer, looking down at me. I could see his eyes glistening. His emotions laid bare for me to see. He cradled my face between his hands, brushing away a stray strand of hair.
"You are everything to me," he breathed out, his eyes never leaving mine. "You have been from the moment you looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes for the first time.” His gaze became more intense, his words wrapping around my soul like silk threads. "And now, knowing that we share this bond... it only makes my love for you more profound. I thought such a thing was impossible for me, Artemis, yet here we are." His voice trembled, choked with emotion. “You were made for me.”
"I know I don't deserve you or this bond," I confessed, my voice calm and tinged with anguish. His hands on my cheeks were burning hot, as if all the energy swirling around us was centered on his fingertips.
"Artemis," he murmured in response, the rough texture of his voice catching on my name. “It’s me who doesn’t deserve you.”
His admissions were as raw as they were unexpected, stemming from insecurities buried so deep within him that he rarely let anyone glimpse them. “I love you, Brir,” I told him, gently kissing his lips.
His reaction was immediate. A slight whimper escaped him as he deepened the kiss, his hands curling into fists in my hair.
“I love you too,” he said after pulling away slightly, our foreheads lingering together. “More than I ever thought possible.”
As we let the silence envelop us, his fingers traced the contours of my face, his touch feather-light and filled with reverence. It was as if he was afraid to break the moment.
"We should get some rest," Brir whispered, his voice soft and full of love. "You've been through a lot, and we have a long journey ahead of us."
I nodded, still a bit dazed by the intensity of our emotions. Brir carefully tucked me in, the blanket warm and comforting against my skin. As I closed my eyes, I could still feel the imprint of his lips on mine, a reminder of the love and safety he offered in this dark world.