“He’s been drained,” she said. “I’ve tried to talk to him a few times myself. He’s cute. But he just stares blankly at the wall. He eats and all that. They do something to those they drain to keep them working. I guess no matter what, they need us for that.”
“Can you take me to their room? He could be there.”
“Sure.”
I followed her to the end of the hall. She went left at the intersection, stopping halfway down the next hall, where she waved to a door on the right. “These are their rooms. I doubt anyone’s here, though. Everyone’s helping prepare for the wedding. I was about to get changed and go to the aerie.”
I nodded, though I wasn’t trying to encourage her to keep chatting. I needed to free as many creatures as I could and return to Brenna’s room. “Thanks for showing me the way.”Short of pushing her back down the hall, how could I get rid of her?
“Anytime.” Worry creased her face. “Do you want me to stay with you? I doubt he’s the person you remember. If you haven’t seen Brodine in some time, it will be shocking.”
“No, you don’t have to stay with me. If he’s like you said, I’ll leave. I only slipped away from Brenna’s rooms for a moment. I need to get back to her soon.”
“I imagine she’s excited. The king’s gorgeous. She’s one lucky Nullen.”
“Yes. Lucky.” Go away!
“I’ll see you in the aerie, then? Not today, I don’t imagine. You’ll be helping the future queen until bedtime. Maybe tomorrow.”
The odds were good I wouldn’t be alive tomorrow. “Yes. I’ll be there.”
After giving me a smile, she left.
I knocked on the door. When no one answered, I tested the latch, finding it unlocked, and creaked the door open. Like in the room where Reyla and Airia stayed, beds were lined up on either side with an aisle between them.
Brodine was alone, sitting upright on a bed with his feet extended in front of him and his back pressed against the stone wall. He wore a simple tunic and pants that looked odd on him when I was used to seeing him dressed in leathers. Weapons strapped all over him to turn him into a one-man arsenal. A touch of a smirk on his mouth. Stupid bone coins he’d jangle to the point I’d bark at him to stop and let them be.
He stared off into nothing, and I wanted to shout at him to wake up before it was too late.
It hurt to see him like this. Where had my vibrant friend gone?
He’d been stolen from us as much as Kinart. But unlike my adopted brother, Brodine still lived. I’d brought Reyla back, and I’d do the same with my friend. There was no giving up, not until I could no longer draw air into my lungs.
A sense of urgency filled me. Before I risked my life to kill the king, I wanted to do the best I could for my friends.
“Bro,” I whispered, tentatively placing my hand on his shoulder. “Bro.” I knelt on the bed beside him and held both of his shoulders and shook him, but only briefly when his head flopped on his neck. “Bro!”
He didn’t respond.
My heart crushed, I sagged, my chest churning with pain. Would I ever have my friend back?
My time limited, I yanked the collar from my pocket.
“I’m going to put this around your neck, Bro,” I whispered, holding it up in front of his face. Even if he couldn’t see or respond to me, that didn’t mean my friend wasn’t somewhere deep inside. He’d hear me. He’d know I was trying to help. I had to believe that. “It’ll kill the Claiming collar. You’ll be as happy as me to get rid of it.” Even now, a red welt encircled his neck, gouged from his nails. Like all of us, he could feel it. I bet every Nullen in faerie wanted to remove theirs. Why had our ancestors agreed to such a horrifying deal?
Perhaps to avoid being turned into dregs.
And if they hadn’t, the fae wouldnothave remained behindtheir veil. They would’ve overrun us. Taken us against our will. Then drained us enough so we’d become cooperative servants.
Now they’d found another way to do it.
“This new collar can be removed when you wake up.” At least his hair was long enough to cover it in the back. “Everyone will think you’re still collared.” Even the king. And with Vexxion acting as controller and feeding power to him, Ivenrail wouldn’t suspect a thing if he went after Brodine today. “I’m going to get you out of here,” I said in an even lower voice. “Today’s the day. Watch. Wait. When I’m ready, you need to run beside me.”
He said nothing, just continued to stare at the far wall.
I looped the collar around his throat and rocked backward, placing my feet on the floor, watching as the vines sunk deep, as the old collar was rejected by the new. I scooped up the hateful, withered vine used by the king at the Claiming and held it aloft. One blast of my power turned it into ashes that sparkled in the sunlight as they drifted to the wooden floor.
Turning back to Brodine, I drew in more power and sent him the same spell I used to free creatures and Reyla. I didn’t dare use much magic. I’d need all I had to carry out our plan. But I could spare a bit for this guy who’d protected me for much of my life.
