The edges of Brayden’s lips quirked into a grin. Then a tall, lithe form stepped out from the woods. He wore a grey cloak that kissed the ground, and even from here I could see his resemblance to the Elder Fae. Blonde
Artemis raised one well-manicured eyebrow. “The banished Greywolf king who is now cut off from his power thinks he can kill me?”
Brayden looked offended. “Your personality is similar to your brother’s,” he retorted, and that got a smile out of the fae.
Artemis leaned on the tree nearest him. “How is my brother? Enjoying his time in that cushy prison no doubt?”
Brayden pulled his hood back and there was such a seriousness about his expression that Artemis gasped.
“By the light, he’sgone?” Artemis’ voice sounded hollow and Brayden nodded.
“I didn’t even know he had a brother. I burned him and buried the ashes with respect. He sent us to you because we need your help,” Brayden said, and then pulled out a small teacup. It was one of the Elder Fae’s. I recognized it from the set we drank from. It had a unique, delicate golden pattern along the edge. Brayden must have gotten it when he went back to bury him. It was proof that Brayden had just seen him.
Artemis glanced at the teacup, his chest rising and falling slowly as a pained look marred his face. He swayed for a moment; his chest shook as he tried to contain a sob.
I looked pleadingly at Brayden, wondering if I should go to the man and comfort him. But Artemis straightened himself.
“Follow me,” was all he said before he walked away.
Brayden and I shared a wary glance but stepped after him. As Artemis passed the trees with the purple and pink flowers creeping up the mossy trunks, they wilted, and the sky above us darkened. I swallowed hard, fearful at what might be causing such a reaction from nature.
The ghost?
Brayden seemed to read my face.‘Artemis must be a nature fae. He can control the elements, and in turn they are affected by his mood.’
Oh.
Oh…
How sad. He was mourning his brother and now nature was mourning with him. That made me want to cry. I peered behind my shoulder and the flowers that had been wilted moments before were now perked up and colorful, the sun casting its glow on them.
I watched as the flowers that Artemis passed by wilted and shrank. This felt like an intimate moment between him and nature, and watching him openly grieve like this affected me more than I thought it would.
In that moment, I was slammed with a memory. I gasped, falling to my knees as my vision was temporarily blocked and taken over.
I was standing over a gravestone. It was made of white marble with bright pink and blue flower wreaths decorating it. I peered down at the golden lettering etched into the stone.
Cassia and Hans Burnstone - Cherished Warriors - Beloved Mother and Father
I was sobbing in the memory, my back rattling with uncontrolled grief as I mourned my mother and father. They’d fallen in the great battle with the Fae Lords. I knew this, but when I quickly, almost desperately, tried to search for an inner knowing of who I was, either Wren or Lena, the thoughts felt so far away. Peering to my right, I saw my sisters Blake and Natalie. They stood with their mates, Axel and Gabe. Then I went to turn to my left…
“Averly!” Brayden shook me and my vision cleared. I was now staring at Brayden’s concerned face. Artemis stood just behind him, peering down at me with curiosity.
“I had… a memory. Almost like a vison, it was so real.” A tear slid down my face and Brayden sobered.
“What memory? Do you remember who you are?” he asked. The pleading in his voice sliced right into my already fragile heart.
I shook my head and then released a shaky breath. “My parents’ funeral. It was… so sad. Natalie and Blake were there but I didn’t see anyone else. Everything felt so… dark.”
Artemis sobered, shaking himself a little, and the sun began to shine on me.
“Lena?” he asked for the first time.
Brayden looked over at him and sighed. “We don’t know. She might be Wren.”
“I see.” He nodded. “Come, this calls for tea.” Reaching out, he pulled me up and linked his arm through mine.
Brayden gave a slight growl but Atremis shot him a pointed look.
