28. Killian
KILLIAN
“Good, very good.” A jolly voice rang in Killian’s ear. “Open your eyes.”
Killian knew that voice.
Eddie.
“Killian, can you hear me?” That was Brodie’s voice. “Are you sure it worked?”
“I am a wizard, you fool! Do not underestimate my magic,” Eddie snapped. “Any second now.”
“You said that ten minutes ago.”
Killian grunted, his vision clearing with each blink. Eddie and Brodie hovered over him with eager eyes. Killian’s hands reached to his back?—
No pain.
Eddie beamed, his purple eyes shining in the creme, dim light. “Ah, see! What did I tell you.” His hand darted toward Brodie. “Pay up.”
Brodie half smiled. “Killian, I thought we lost you.”
“He had a heartbeat, you fool.” Eddie shook his head. “You were knocked unconscious, Killian…no need to worry.”
Killian’s mouth was dry, desperate for water. He rubbed at his face, wincing. “How bad do I look?”
“Handsome as ever.” Eddie winked. “Just some minor bruising and a bloodshot eye. No big deal.”
“Where’s Conwell?” Killian grimaced, glancing around Brodie’s father’s small office space. Papers piled high, receipts, and gold—lots of it.
“Gone.” Brodie went stone faced. “He escaped.”
Killian sighed, sitting up from the couch. “I’ll have to find him then.” It was his fault he had escaped. He reached for Brodie’s keys. “Here, before I forget.”
“Just let him go.” Brodie’s throat worked, clipping the keys on his belt. “He’s not worth your life.”
Killian nodded. He didn’t have time anyway. “Fuck him, right?”
Brodie’s lip tilted, squeezing Killian’s shoulder. “Yeah, fuck him.”
At least Killian received payment for Conwell. Still, his temper got him in trouble, yet again. Now that thieving piece of shit was out in the world because of him. Fuck me.
Eddie beamed. “I must be on my merry way…” He turned to Brodie, extending his hand. “After I receive payment, of course.”
“Right.” Brodie disappeared through the door.
Killian looked at Eddie. “I have no pain?”
“Pain reliever.” Eddie dropped a pouch on his lap. “Take two pills a day, and you won’t feel a thing.” Eddie cupped a hand over his mouth, and shouted, “He took the pills, Brodie. I’ll need payment for that too.”
Killian reached for the pouch of pills, pocketing it.
He’d pay Brodie back.
What a day indeed.
Later that night, Killian cleared his bedroom wall, placed new paper and twine, and wrote down every single thing he had gathered today. Out of an abundance of notes, Killian knew one thing for certain, and had circled two things as a possibility.
1. Princess Elora was a shifter.
2. Theradonia was a possible location.
3. Lycans had something to do with it—maybe.
Killian took a step back and scratched his head, staring at his wall, bewildered. He sighed. “I need Riggs…”
Striding down the hallway, a sharp pain shot down his back. He needed to take another pill?—
Later.
Strangely, Riggs' door was open. Killian popped his head in, knocking on the wall. “Hey, you got a minute?”
Riggs had his knees propped to his chest, sitting in his chair with his sketchbook in hand, staring intently.
“Did you hear me?” Killian said, walking into his room. “I need to talk to you.”
“What’s going on?” Riggs finally looked at him, his eyes glossed over. He closed his book, placing it on his desk. “The fuck happened to your face?”
“You should see my back.” Killian huffed. “I’ll explain. First, tell me what’s wrong. Either you’re stoned, or upset.” Killian raked his hand through his hair. “I can’t tell.”
Killian had eavesdropped on Riggs and Zander’s conversation enough to know Riggs was most likely upset. What Riggs had said. “She’s special to me.”
And how their father had reacted… Rhidian still hadn’t returned home, most likely blowing off steam with Zander.
But it also reeked of Valerian root. Which had conflicted Killian’s suspicion further. He was familiar with the earthy aromas lingering from Riggs' cloak. Killian had used to smoke the root when he was a teenager, but now? It wasn’t for him. Clouded his head too much.
Riggs shrugged. “A little bit of both.”
Killian’s heart swelled. He’d be the brother Riggs needed?—
He sank into the mattress, meeting Riggs' watery gaze. “It was a long shot. Considering the consequences with the kingdom… It would have never worked out with her.” He tossed him a tight smile. “She’s a lovely girl…sorry.” Killian had meant it, too.
Riggs sniffled. “Yeah, I know.”
“Were you crying, brother?”
Riggs laughed, his feet sinking to the floor. “I might be catching a cold… Something’s going around.”
Killian knew he was lying. He had been crying. The puffy bags beneath Riggs' eyes were confirmation enough.
“Look, I hate to be the bearer of bad news.” Killian leaned forward, hoping this would help Riggs move on quickly from Esemeray. “The princess is betrothed.”
Riggs froze, his face slackening. “Betrothed?” He gripped his head, rubbing at his temples.
“I was shocked too, trust me.” Killian exhaled a long, drawn-out breath. “Heard it from the Dagon guards earlier today at Brodies, and also in the kingdom when her father announced the marriage, but it had slipped my mind, until, well, today…sorry.”
“Is that why you look like hell?” Riggs said, his voice was hardly a murmur.
Killian scratched the back of his neck, his fingernails catching dried blood. “I lost my temper with Conwell and got my ass handed to me.” He stood, turning around, and lifting his shirt. “Does it look bad?”
“Holy shit, Kills.” Riggs gasped. “You look like you got kicked by ten horses!”
Killian laughed at that, an ache shooting down his legs. “The pain subsided, but Conwell escaped…so there’s that.” He faced him, Riggs was white as snow. “You look spooked.”
“That was a lot to take in.” Riggs puffed out his cheeks, blowing out a shallow breath. “What the fuck, Kills.”
Killian’s lips went tight. “Can you come look at something? I’ve been working on it for hours.”
Riggs arched his brow. “Your mad man shit?”
Killian nodded.
They walked into Killian’s mess of a room, and Riggs gawked at the wall, shaking his head.
“You’re wrong about one thing.” Riggs strode to the wall, pointing at a note. “Why would Lycan’s have anything to do with it?” He scoffed. “They have been at war with shifters for over a hundred years.”
“It sounds like a hell of a motive to me.”
Riggs scratched his chin. “No…wait…we’re going to Theradonia?”
Killian nodded. “Yes, and as soon as we can. We got a long road ahead of us, brother.”
Riggs swayed, spacing out, and tracing circles with his toe on the floor.
“How much did you smoke?”
A small smile. “Enough to make me forget everything that happened today.” Riggs looked at him with heavy eyes. “I needed it.”
“How much?” Killian asked, his head tilting.
“Two rolls.”
“Fucks sake, Riggs.” Killian knew that was enough to put a three hundred pound man to sleep. “You need to go eat, and drink some water.”
“I’m fine.” Riggs rolled his neck, inching toward Killian’s desk. “What’s this?” He picked up the pouch, peeking inside. “You’re taking pills now?” Riggs blinked rapidly, his posture slumping.
Killian rubbed his lower back. “For the pain, two a day.”
“Where did you get them?” Riggs asked, eyes widening.
“Eddie,” Killian said with a wince. “Toss me one while you’re at it.”
Riggs tossed a pill, the white capsule flying. Killian caught it, then swallowed it. “Good throw.”
“Good catch.” Riggs stifled a laugh. “Good thing we’re bounty hunters.”
They both looked at each other and laughed.
Something they both needed after today.
“By the way, those pills Eddie gave you are called Goolies and they are highly addictive, so be careful, and only take them when you absolutely need it. If you can, ride out the pain. The come down is brutal.” Riggs slipped out of his room, leaving him alone with his wall of madness.
Gripping his hair, Killian approached the wall once more, scanning at all of his notes, trying to make sense of it all.
But now the weight of another problem settled deep into his mind.
Something he had already overcome once.
Addiction.