“You good?” he asks.
“Not really.”
Vryskas patiently waits.
“Just trying to cling to this shred of sanity between the battles and almost dying and now her. It’s like everything that matters to me is destined for some horrific and tragic end. And it makes me just want to leave,” I say. “If I can’t do anything right, if nothing is ever enough, why am I trying?”
Vryskas leans in the doorway. “It’s not you, brother. It’s just the life we’re born into. If you give up and walk away now, you’ll miss out on the moments that make this hell worth it. You think I never considered running away from this team?
“I tried to save my sister that day you found me. They clawed her to death in their tower. I tried to defend her, but the Tusks were too strong.” Vryskas’ whole body tenses. “She was all Ihad left, and I saw her Inferno darken just as one of the royals launched me out of a tower window with a boot.
“I didn’t care if I lived or died. My life was tied to hers. Butyoupicked me back up. And we have saved many, together, brother. Has it been easy? Hell no. But the most important things never are.”
Vryskas moves aside. “Don’t abandon her when she needs you most just because you’re angry. If she dies because you’re gone, you willneverforgive yourself.”
I slip past him, then look back at Vryskas and the shimmer of pain in his eyes. “I’m glad you’re with us, too. Who else is going to put up with Rykarn’s bullshit?”
Vryskas cracks a sad smile. “I just pretend he’s Liaska, and I can’t get mad at him just in case it’s the last time he pokes fun at me.”
I rest a hand on his shoulder and tread carefully back to the medical bay, fearing how I will find Brynna. Osiris watches over her, monitoring the nebulizer and her vitals. Sidius has taken up my post on the neighboring bed, his wings hanging down the other side.
Rykarn rests back against the wall beside me when I enter. His wings are tightly folded, and his eyes barely leave Brynna to glance at me. “She’s a fighter. But she doesn’t deserve this.”
“I agree.”
“We need people like her on our side.” Osiris hugs himself. “You have to control it, J. You have to.”
“I know. It didn’t listen.”
Rykarn glares at me now. “Then fight harder.”
He shoulder bumps me as he walks out.
“What was that all about?” I ask Sidius and Osiris.
Sidius gets up and motions to the bed. He grabs me by the arm. “Do noteverabandon your mate when she is in pain again.”
“You know why I did.”
“I don’t give a shit if you’re a fucking god going to end the universe with your power. You stay with her.” He jerks me in an angry outburst, uncommon to him. His eyes fume with light. “Youfight, and youstaywith her.Neverlet a female face this wretched universe alone.” He releases me to pound a fist against his chest. “That is in our blood as much as it is in yours. She is lucky we are here, so someone is always with her. Promise me.”
I lick my lip as shame crawls up my neck. My wings twitch.
He releases me. “Fieri is on his way.”
Fieri?“Why?”
“Nebs are circling the border lands of the Amphiran nebula. Their homeworld is at risk. They are pushing the fleet away with mine fields like the one that surrounds your homeworld. But that is moving the Nebs toward the Mindor and Thorian solar system. So we’re being recalled. Fieri is going to be your guard while we go fight.
This isn’t good. “I’m coming with you.”
“No, you are not.” Fieri steps into the room in his Amphiran Rogue armor with a green stripe over the shoulder. “You are to finish your race.”
“What for?” I demand. “The war is coming for our allies!”
Brynna groans and reaches for me.
Taking her hand, I’m surprised by the coldness of her fingers. I sit back on the bed beside hers and brace her hand between both of mine to warm her, while my heart is torn in two different directions.
