I kick off my old clothes and slip into the red dress; it fits my curves perfectly. It’s beautiful, but there’s something about it that I can’t identify, which leaves me feeling uneasy. I tryto brush it off as a familiar shimmer catches my eye from the bottom of the wardrobe. My mother's crown rests atop a small box, almost hidden beneath the dense sea of dresses. I grab the crown, admiring its beauty for a moment, before I place it on my head and close my eyes.
You can do this.
I glance in the mirror and smooth my hair, adding the final touches before heading to the door.
I gaze out the large window at the town, uncertain if the shock of being here will ever fade. I’m in Andorwood, the kingdom of criminals and the forgotten. And I, Briar Blackbyrne, am here to win them over. Honestly, my brother would have loved to see this. Instead of my heart fracturing at the thought of him, a smile graces my lips. Barlowe would, in fact, have done anything to see this, and I find myself shedding a quick laugh.
The quiet town beneath me is eerie yet captivating. I'm eager to learn about this kingdom and its hidden history. Something old resides here, and I’m confident I’m in the right place to find answers.
A knock on the door snaps me from my thoughts.
I move across my bedroom, my dress trailing behind me, and jerk open the door. Silas stands there, dressed in all black with a heaviness on his face that I’ve never seen before. Like his armor, his clothing is perfectly tailored.
“Hey,” he whispers.
“Where have you been?” I snap, lunging forward into his body.
He wraps his hands around me and inhales deeply. Even though his body is strong, I can feel the weakness that stems from the worry we are all feeling.
“You… You look stunning,” he breathes in awe, as he steps back to take me in. “Are you alright?”
“It’s you I’m concerned about.” I cup his face. “You have a lot of explaining to do.” I pull on this hand, but he remains steady on the threshold.
I furrow my brow, never breaking my stare, and tug against his strong body once more.
“Silas, come in.”
“We need to head to the Great Hall. My father is waiting.” Silas’s head falls.
“But, I need to speak with you.” I furrow my brows, annoyance running through me. “Now.”
“Briar,” he whispers. “Please do not make me make that choice right now.”
I glare at Silas, unable to control my tone as I snark, “What? This entire arrival has been odd, and you’ve not even been here with us.” Anger dashes through my body. “I’m just asking you to speak with me.”
“I’m sorry, but we don’t have time. We will talk later tonight.” He gazes into my eyes, a gentle worry behind them. “You will only have me and my attention. I promise you that.”
I remain unmoving for a second, our hands still wrapped together, and calm my anger.
One.
Two.
Three.
His eyes flash with something unfamiliar, and I realize that he’s scared. It’s terror that sits in his green eyes.
My stomach drops, and I let it go, not wanting to push him right now.
“Okay,” I breathe. “Later, you will explain everything. You promise?” I run my hand up to his elbow and pull him toward me.
He lets me, giving me complete control in this moment. I pull his forehead against mine and inhale deeply. My Silas. Mine.
“Yes,” he replies.
“Whatever is going on, we will figure out what to do together.” I kiss him softly. His posture relaxes for a second, allowing me to move to his body, lost together in this moment.
I pull away, wrapping my arms around his neck.
