You deserve a father who loves you as I do,Trygve had told Nils.
You will be not only accepted but admired, he’d said.
I have been nothing but honest with you.
Fury fills me anew. “That’s why you approached him, isn’t it? You must have known he was vulnerable. You manipulated him, gave him everything he never got from our father, all so he would trust you and want to bring you back.”
Trygve offers a small smile.“It makes no difference now.”
I reach for the dagger strapped to my side—
And falter.
He’s still inside Nils’s body.
I cannot hurt my brother.
I won’t.
No matter what he’s done.
Father has no such hesitation. He lunges at Trygve—at Nils—with every intention of killing them both. Before he can, Trygve raises his hand, and Father freezes mid-strike.
Trygve gives a sharp twist of his hand. Father’s legs snap.
I stare in horror as bones jut out.
He crumples to the ground, screaming in agony.
“Father!” I shout, rushing to his side on instinct.
An invisible force pins us to the ground.
No matter how hard I try, I can’t stand. Stone crumbles beneath me as my body sinks deeper. Unlike the spirits, I can’t pass through a solid surface. I’m going to be crushed beneath the weight of his magic. Father doesn’t even resist. He must have passed out from the pain.
I have to stop Trygve before he kills us both. Gritting my teeth, I crawl on my elbows toward my brother. “I know you’re still in there somewhere, Nils. You have to fight him.”
Trygve gives a sharp laugh.“He can no longer hear you.”
Stones crack as I’m pushed deeper into the ground.
“Your brother surrendered to me,”Trygve says slowly.“He doesn’t want to be here anymore; it’s too painful for him to face what he’s done.”
Despite how much pain I’m in, his words manage to make me ache more. Nils was caught between an abusive father who denied him and the gruesome ghost of his uncle who manipulated him. If not for them, maybe Nils never would have gone down this dark path.
“I’m sorry.” I keep going, desperate as I drag myself over the rough stone toward him. “I should have been there for you. I should have been a better brother. I know you said no one could understand, but I do. You wanted to be loved. It’s the same reason I stayed with Father. And I’ve regretted that choice every damned day since.” My tears fall freely now. “I love you, Nils. No matter what you’ve done, you’ll always be my brother.”
The magic pinning me suddenly eases up.
Finally.I canmoveagain.
Nils’s glowing eyes flicker out like a light bulb. “I-I’m so sorry. As soon as I put that pelt on, it became part of me. I… I wish I’d never touched it.” Tears slip down his cheeks. “I think there’s something seriously wrong with me, Amund.”
Every rib feels broken as I climb onto unsteady feet.
I fight my way toward my brother.
Before I can reach him, his eyes roll back, turning white again.
