He leans back and steps aside, his eyes rimmed with red. Silence follows my question. My heart sinks as another rustle of motion catches my attention.
Leda and Maddox burst through the thick brush, dragging an unconscious Brielle with each of her arms thrown over their shoulders. Brielle’s cropped auburn hair sticks out in all directions, the top of her head facing me as her upper body sags forward like a sack of grain. Lifeless.
Six
Fluorite
Bile creeps up my throat,and I feel Calix press his shoulder into mine.
“She got injured in the explosion,” Leda grits out through clenched teeth.
A fae I don’t recognize rushes past us, his hair cropped short and the color of fresh snow, making his sea-blue eyes stand out even more. He wears clothing similar to Willow’s, his tattered green tunic cinched at the hips with leather straps and a hood secured over his head.
His arms wrap around Willow, her cheek pressing against his chest. He whispers something into her ear, too low for me to make out. Willow freezes, her body going rigid. A flurry of emotions passes over her face, and she peels herself away from the fae.
“Brielle,” she murmurs quietly, her eyes distantly gazing at my friend’s slack, propped-up form. Everything slows to ahalt—time suspended as Willow remains stock-still and the white-haired fae beside her mirrors her shocked state.
A gurgling noise comes from where Brielle is slumped over, the sound snapping all of us into motion.
My breath catches as Willow flies to where Brielle is being carried behind me, muttering curses and shouting orders. Two of the warriors follow quickly on Willow’s heels, reaching for Brielle.
Leda bares her teeth at them, her ears pinning back as she warns them to stay away.
“They’re here to help,” Willow soothes. Leda doesn’t move, her eyes hard as she clutches Brielle. Willow shakes her head and adds, “What other choice do you have? We canhelpher, and if you don’t let us, she may die.”
Leda hesitates, but the fury in her gaze fades as she looks toward Brielle. “Fine,” she hisses through her teeth.
The warriors immediately step closer, reaching for Brielle. This time, Leda lets them, her eyes watching their every move.
Brielle’s head lolls to the side as she’s handed over. The two warriors prop Brielle up with her arms over their shoulders as Leda and Maddox had done.
My chest squeezes, not from sadness but fromrage. The numbness melts away, replaced by a steady tremble that starts in the tips of my fingers and works its way up to my shoulders. Pure and unfiltered fury sweeps through me.
Daimondid this to her.
Once they have her settled between them, Leda asserts, “But one of us will be staying with her.”
Maddox steps forward immediately, motioning with his hands, his gaze on Sidra.
“Maddox will go with Brielle,” she explains.
I briefly remember when I first met Maddox, and Brielle explained they had met years ago. I can’t imagine how he feels—my chest is painfully tight looking at Brielle, and I’ve only known her a short time.
Maddox’s brilliant green eyes meet mine, reminding me of a pair of emerald ones attached to a man I can’t bring myself to think about right now. A mix of blood and dirt is smeared across his cheeks, and a freshly healed wound has formed just above his left brow. He nods at me, his brows creasing together.
I give him a sad smile, wishing I’d spent more time learning his language.
His shoulders sag, and he sways a little before he takes a step to trail behind the guards carrying Brielle, briefly patting me on the back as they pass and giving me a small smile, one that brings comfort to my pounding heart.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” I whisper, voice strained.
His eyes track the movement of my lips forming the words, and he gives me a quick nod, his hand falling away as he trudges ahead to catch up with the warriors.
My insides twist as I watch them drag Brielle away. I have so many questions for her—how she knew my father, what she could tell me about him—but mostly, I need her guidance. The steady confidence that pours out of her.
Willow watches them, too, a sadness flowing off of her in waves. “Update me as soon as the healer knows what’s going on,” she calls after the soldiers.
The soldiers give her a half nod over their shoulders, hurrying their pace.
