I think for a moment, knowing how limited our time is, and swallow down the fear banging on my chest like a caged animal.
“Yes.”
He sighs, his gaze boring into mine, and a deep conflict dancing in his green eyes like flames. “Okay. Let’s go.”
Silas grabs my hand, and we dash out of the room. Oak and Fen are in the center of the house, gathering weapons they can carry without being weighed down. They glance in our direction and give us concerned looks before hurrying to finalize their preparations. Rose stands in the kitchen, her hands firmly clutching a hot cup of tea. The dark, steaming liquid in the mug trembles as I storm toward her.
“Hey, my shadow,” she says.
“Are you going to be alright?” I ask.
She smiles, setting her cup down on a nearby counter. “Of course, you are worried about me right now. We are going to be fine. I trust that big man to protect this house, and we have a backup should I notice anyone getting too close to the wards.”
I dip my head and wrap my arms around her. She nuzzles into my embrace and takes a second to stay in this moment.
Rose pulls back. “I need you to promise me that you'll be okay.”
I stare into her dark eyes and her beautifully aged face, quickly memorizing her features, so similar to my mother’s. I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear and lean in to kiss her cheek.
I don’t respond, and she understands why. She knows I can never make that kind of promise to her, especially one that I may not be able to keep.
“You ready?” I hear Silas shout from across the room. “It’s time.”
The others walk toward him, draped in armor, and I hesitate to leave the house. So much beyond those balcony doors is uncertain. The howling wind rips into the room, and I close my eyes and steady my breath. I move to take a step forward when I hear a weak voice speak behind me.
“Briar?”
I whip around and see Maines standing just beyond the shadows of the hallway. Her trembling legs barely keep her upright, her under-eyes are a deep purple, and you can tell from a distance how weak she is. She leans against the wall, and my mouth drops open.
“My Gods.” I rush to her side, holding her upright as I wrap my arms around her slender waist.
A second later, Fen, Oak, and Silas are there, gawking at her presence as if we’ve all just seen a ghost.
Her lips curl into a faint smile. “Can you all stop looking at me as if I’m a creature of the night?”
“What the fuck are you doing out of bed?” Oak snaps.
She huffs. “I’m offended you all think you can leave without saying goodbye to me.”
Oak moves to her other side, wrapping his arm around her. “I said goodbye, darling. Now, please go lie down.” He kisses her temple. “Rose is staying to watch over you and the house.”
She stares at Fen, Silas, and me, and her eyes hold such sadness—such worry—that my heart shatters from her gaze.
“We will see you again very soon, Maines,” Silas says. “All of us.”
“Don’t say that,” she snaps. “Do not say things you don’t know are certain.”
“Go rest, and when you wake up, all of us will be back, and I mean all of us,” Fen says cheerfully, but it’s clearly faked.
“Don’t,” Maines whispers. “Don’t pretend.”
Fen and Silas drop their gazes, understanding the weight of her words and the gravity of the situation.
Her eyes shift to mine. “Promise me, Briar, that you will return.”
They all wait for my response, and I inhale deeply.
“I will come back, Maines. I promise.”
