Chapter Thirty-Two #2
There came a shifting and stumbling sound from the other side of the door, and a moment later, it swung open to reveal who I could only imagine was Beckett.
We’d obviously roused him from sleep, as he was shirtless and his hair was an unruly mess of light brown curls that were a slightly looser pattern than Rayven’s.
Though, like his older brother, he had the same strong nose and olive brown skin.
He couldn’t have been but a year or two younger than Rayven.
Beckett’s skin was littered with small scars, though I couldn’t tell what from—only that they’d come from all periods of life, as some looked fairly old while others appeared freshly healed.
I watched as his eyes, the same light brown shade of his hair, widened when he realized who stood before him.
“Rayven?” Beckett asked, his voice ringing with disbelief. “Am I dreaming?”
“Not dreaming.” The spy shook his head. “It’s me, Beckett. I told you all those years ago that I’d see you again, and I meant it.”
“How… How are you here? Where have you been? Are you staying?” Beckett began asking question after question, but as he opened his mouth to ask another, a different voice spoke out.
“It doesn’t matter, because he’s leaving. Now.”
Rayven’s little brother’s form stilled, as who I could only imagine was their father pushed his way in front of him.
Upon seeing the older male, who shared many characteristics with Beckett, Rayven dipped his chin.
“I’m not here to cause trouble, Father. I—”
“The name is Blaine, boy—I’m no father of yours,” the old male spat. “And you’re no brother of Beckett’s. Now get lost again, before I make you.”
At the threat, I crept forward and was ready to materialize when I noticed Rayven subtly motion for me to stand down.
All I could do was trust him.
“Please,” Rayven said, his voice breaking slightly. “I only came to make peace.”
“You came to cause trouble, just like you did when you entered the world. I’ll say it one more time. Get. Lost.” Blaine took a half step forward and raised his hand into the air, causing Beckett behind him to flinch back.
I realized then where he’d likely gotten his scars.
Rayven, though, didn’t shrink back or cower. He met his brother’s gaze, looking past their father, and I could only imagine what Beckett could see in his eyes at that moment. The disappointment and the regret. And especially the longing to make peace and finally get to know his brother.
And yet, Rayven backed down. He broke eye contact with Beckett, quietly apologized for waking them, and turned away.
He paused just long enough to peer at a mid-sized rock along the dirt walkway, one that was weathered with time and had grass and moss growing around and on it.
But if one looked close enough, two small handprints—one slightly larger than the other—could be seen next to each other on the top of the flat rock.
A craft two brothers made many, many years ago.
One that still remained.
Just like their bond, I realized. For just as we got down the dirt path and out of sight of the shack, but before I could return to my normal form, I could hear the sound of somebody running after us.
Peering back, it was none other than Beckett.
Realizing the same thing I had, Rayven turned back just in time to catch his brother as Beckett ran straight into his arms.
The two males held on in a tight embrace, and I thought I’d caught Rayven’s chest heave in a held-back sob—though I couldn’t tell for sure.
“I’ve missed you,” Beckett expressed, his voice low—likely to avoid attracting any unwanted attention. Including their father’s.
How he’d slipped out so soon after, I wasn’t sure, but I was grateful to the Stars, anyway.
Rayven needed that moment. He’d needed to hold his little brother again.
I understood, though I almost wished I hadn’t.
“Me too, Becks. There’s not been a single day that’s gone by that I haven’t thought of you,” Rayven replied, his husky voice raw with unchecked emotions.
Pulling back, Rayven cupped his brother’s face in his hands. “Stars, how you’ve grown,” he said, smiling, though his eyes were brimming with unshed tears.
“Beckett!” Blaine’s voice could be heard from down the pathway.
Beckett looked up at Rayven, who was slightly taller, panic in his soft brown eyes.
“Take this,” Rayven said, slipping a small, folded note to him, forcing Beckett’s hand to curl around it tightly.
“When you need me, you’ll find me here. Follow the note, ask whoever you need to, for whatever you need to.
Use the authority of the name written there to get you to me, no matter what, alright? You do what you have to, Beckett.”
“Rayven,” Beckett croaked, his voice giving out as his own eyes filled with tears. He looked so torn.
“I know.” Rayven pulled him into another tight, but quick, embrace. “There will be a chance to leave soon with the navy—but only one shot. Do what you must and find me. This isn’t goodbye.”
Beckett’s fingers dug into Rayven’s back with how tightly he held on, before Rayven pulled back first. I could see the physical effort it took to leave his brother there.
I knew, if he could force more than one fae into a shadow form at a time, that we would not be walking away from Beckett then.
But Rayven knew as well as any of us that we needed to be on the ship back to the continent soon.
We’d already risked enough with this visit.
“Until the Stars align our paths once again.” Rayven rested his hand on his brother’s shoulder, squeezing once before letting go and taking a step back.
“Until then,” Beckett said after clearing his throat. He held tightly to the note that had been tucked into his hand, as though it were a lifeline of sorts.
And in a way, it was.
When Blaine’s voice could once again be heard calling for Beckett—this time slightly closer—Rayven took another step backwards, then another. Then, after one last look at his little brother, he turned and ran.
He ran and ran without looking back, wiping a sleeve over his eyes before any tears could fall. Once he was out of sight of his family, he shifted into the darkness of his shadow form. As the sky lightened a shade, he tethered himself to me, and then we were once again hastening across the Isle.
For the second time in just a couple months, Rayven and I shadow wielded ourselves away from the only remaining family we had left.
And as the night began to fade away to make room for daybreak, I wished to the Stars that we’d see Beckett again—before we joined them in the sky.