I huff. “I’m done with this bullshit. I'm done with all of it. But more than anything, I'm done with The Sanctum and The Vale. Whatever it takes to right the balance, I’m in, as long as I'm out of there. You can't send me back.” The words leave my mouth, and I'm unsure if they're true or not, but my brother seems to eat them up, a grinspreading across his face. “I understand now,” I add, making him gleam as I meet his gaze head on, unwavering.
He takes a few steps toward me, the sound of his boots hitting the hardwood floor echoing around us. “Even if that means the little weapon is mine?” he muses, and my eyebrows furrow, despite the ache in my chest.
“Why would I care about that?”
Jude grins as he points to his minion. “Walker says?—”
I huff, cutting him off. “Please, that fucker has been pining for her since you placed him at her side. Besides, she's fucking Rion,” I snarl.
My brother’s head falls back with a laugh. “I figured it would be one of you, but I knew it wouldn't be the shadow fae.”
I have no idea what he means by that, and I have no interest in finding out.
“Am I supposed to care what that means?” I hiss, frustration getting the better of me, and he claps.
“Tell me what they know.”
“Let me down,” I retort, and he shakes his head.
“Tell me what they know.”
“I’ve already told you why I’m here without you needing to use any force. I'm here to be your ally, Brother. Now let me down, and I will explain.” My voice is firmer this time. I know I’m pushing it, but he knows I would never come here without standing my ground. I have to stick to it, stick to who I am.
“Maybe there is some Forrester in there after all,” he muses, snapping his fingers.
At his silent command, the vines retract and I fall to the ground, barely catching myself on my feet before I straighten, dusting my pants off.
“They don't know very much,” I start, giving myself a moment to gather my thoughts. “All they know is that The Sanctum was trying to use me to get information on her until I refused to offer them anything because I didn't feel it was information they deserved. So they sent Anya's daughter in to try and kill her, which isn't the plan. You and I know that's not the plan.”
He nods, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. “What else?”
“She knows that scythes killed the shadow fae,” I breathe, and he grins.
“So Thorne revealed that little secret, did he?” he murmurs, and I shrug.
“That's about all I know because he gotsuspicious of me, and apparently, I'm here to prove which side I'm on.”
My brother stills as if something I said has triggered another thought.
That’s never good.
“So, why did you not do as I asked?”
“Which part?” I reply, playing it off, and he grunts, his nostrils flaring with irritation.
“The part where I told you to bring her to me?”
I shake my head. “My cell phone was seized and they locked me in the basement of Institute Thirteen. I had to escape and steal it back last night to contact you. Bringing the girl along was impossible.”
He nods.
Some of what I'm saying is true, at least.
“So you really want to do this, Brother? Be with me? Fight with me at my side?”
I blink at him, watching as he grins, certain he’s luring me into his trap while I simultaneously work just as hard to lure him into mine.
The warmth bleeds down my spine once again as I offer him a wicked smile. “I was foolish to believe I was meant to be anywhere else.”
