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She ran a quick hand down Òlmr’s head, then looked to me. “Yes. I’ve witnessed you fall into it.”

“Funny thing is, while there, I can see things. Souls. Connections, like Gunter describes. Kael’s are utterly tangled because of the soul bones. But they remain, some old, but some looked new.”

Brynn’s face heated. “What are you saying, Lyra?”

“Nothing.” I looked down at the ends of my hair again. “I’m merely, you know, curious if you might’ve felt anything when you met my brother.”

All at once, Roark’s spine straightened like a stern rod. Oakbriar.

“What?” Brynn picked up one of the clean linens and twisted it about, as though looking for some sort of use for it. In the end, she merely wrung it between her hands. “It wasn’t right away.”

Dammit. Roark gestured his curse. His brilliant eyes were wide, stunned. Truly?

Brynn’s chin quivered. “It was after the Unfettered arrived. When he was sleeping, when the curse of those wretched bones was not taking him. I didn’t mean for…I didn’t want…” Her words broke off.

I rose and crossed the room to her. Brynn stood taller and stronger than me, but she practically collapsed against me when I embraced her.

“What cruel gods we have.” Brynn sniffed.

“I was told a soul bond does not take the choice from us.” I pulled back. “The decision is yours.”

Brynn nodded. “I know, and I have fought it. But…then he looked at me, like he felt it too. He…he started trying, Lyra. He started fighting the pull to darkness. I do not even think he knows about soul craft or new bonds, but he is still reaching for it.”

Roark crossed the space. But is it what you want, Oakbriar?

“When you saw Lyra for the first time, I mean during the raids, what did it feel like?”

Roark glanced at me for a breath, then back to Brynn. It felt like my soul finally breathed. I felt like she was mine to protect instantly. And I was hers, should she want me.

Brynn looked down at Kael. “Then I now understand why you risked your life to save her.”

All gods. Brynn Oakbriar had found her soul bond.

And he was another life destroyed by Fadey.

Roark cleared his throat, drawing Brynn’s attention again. He used one hand to speak. With my life, Oakbriar.

She laughed, wet and tearful, but nodded. “I’ll hold you to that, you sod. Because there may be a few times when he tries to kill Lyra or something, and you can’t slaughter him for it.”

Roark let out a breathy chuckle. For the first time since learning all the dreary truths of the past, our present predicaments, and our unknown future, there was a bit of light we could hold on to.

For now.

Dawn brought more unknowns, and I could not help but feel like fate loomed nearer and nearer.

And I did not know who would arise the victor in the end.

44

Lyra

As promised, Auki and Gunter took to the sharp switchbacks before the sun rose, returning to Dravenmoor to report back to the queen. We lingered, packing supplies and readying to face Stonegate. Emi grinned at something Yrsa said in passing before the princess went to load one of the horses with a pouch of bread from Gammal.

“You’re speaking.” I nudged her with my shoulder.

Emi’s cheeks flushed. “We spoke all night. I told her everything about Roark. I spoke of Virki. Gods, how did I not see his involvement? He was the one who alerted the úlfur to what Nivek had done.”

“No one wants to believe the same person who is supposed to protect them could betray them.”