“He’s gone, Silas.” I look up at his worried face. “He’s not coming back.”
Silas stares at me and quickly looks around the destroyed room. “I heard what you said to Malachi. A Traveler.”
“I know,” I respond.
“You knew?”
“Yes, but I haven’t known long.”
“I’ll need you to tell me everything as soon as we’re safe,” he fumes. “No more secrets, Briar.”
I open my mouth to speak, but stop.
“None,” he snaps out, and I flinch.
“Hey,” Larkin says, defending me from his position on the chair. “Cut her some slack.”
“I am cutting her slack…for lying again.”
“Get over it,” Larkin barks.
“I wasn’t lying to you,” I say. “But Silas, with Malachi gone…”
“Do you realize what this means?” Larkin chimes in.
“Hush, Spiridon,” Silas demands. “Let Maines work.”
Maines’s voice interrupts Silas’s angry stare. “Keep still; I’m almost finished,” she instructs. “You’re a lucky one, Mr. Spiridon. A few inches to the right, and this would be a different story.”
He grimaces and says, “I owe you.”
“It’s no problem. I know you would do the same. Horribly, I might add, but the same.” She smiles and pushes the final touches of magic from her palms.
“Did you hear him?” Larkin asks.
Maines eyes meet his. “Yes.”
Larkin says, “Don’t let his words scare you.”
“Oh, he doesn’t scare me,” Maines responds.
His shirt is ruined and covered in blood, but the gash is now healed, leaving only a faded red scratch streaking along his sternum. Maines helps him to stand, and Larkin accepts the assistance. He glances in Yara’s direction and grimaces before turning his gaze to me and Silas.
“We need to leave,” Larkin calls.
Silas looks at me. “He’s right. We need to go right now.”
“I won’t leave Yara like this,” I respond, the words painfully leaving my lips.
I turn my head, unable to look at her lifeless body on the ground. Maines scans the room and finds a blanket near the couch. She rushes over to grab the fabric and unfolds the dark blanket. She drapes the soft material over Yara’s body. I stare at the cloaked figure beneath the blanket and fight back the urge to sob. This could have been avoided if I had stopped her. The plan would never have worked, but I didn’t object. I let her do this because my own desires blinded me.
Silas nods, knowing my wishes, and glances at Larkin. They exchange a quick, understanding nod. Silas takes my hand and pulls me closer to the door, and I try to jerk my hand away, but he holds tight.
“Let go of my hand, Silas,” I snap.
“Please, just listen.” His glare pierces my eyes. “Warrick will ensure Yara is taken care of.”
“Take Larkin to my house,” Silas orders, looking to Maines. “There should be more tonics to accelerate his healing. Fen will show you where they are.”
