Page 13

W e traveled for days, each mile feeling longer than the last. The energy I’d received from Lu became more and more depleted as we continued.

Each time he healed me, Lucius paid a price.

He tried to brush it off, but he couldn’t hide the obvious drain it caused him.

I wouldn’t be the cause of his demise. I tried my best to hide my growing weakness, but I was lagging further behind the group with each step.

“Can we rest for a minute?” I asked through labored breaths.

Nico circled back, his eyes scanning my feeble frame. “Are you okay?” he asked, his face unable to hide the concern.

“Yeah… I just need a moment… to catch my breath.”

“You’re growing weaker by the minute.” Before I could argue, Nico gently scooped me up, effortlessly cradling me in his arms.

“I don’t need you to carry me. I just need a minute.”

“I’m carrying you the rest of the way. End of discussion.”

I never was one to accept help freely, especially when it came to my health. But the Bruins were good at not taking no for an answer.

The warmth radiating from Nico’s body comforted the piercing chill aching in my bones. I nuzzled into his chest, noting his rich earthy scent.

I couldn’t help but think we looked like the cover of a romance novel. A ripped, absurdly handsome man carrying his frail damsel in distress. Her tightly corseted gown billowing in the wind. Except my gown was shredded, my prince charming had a betrothed, and I was nothing more than a burden.

The cancer was gaining strength, pulling at me with its vicious claws, whispering its promise of eternal rest. This time felt different.

It was taking me down fast, and it had me questioning everything.

Maybe I was destined to die young? Until recently, I never questioned my cards.

I simply accepted my fate. What if I was wrong to hold on to my newfound hope?

To think that my painful life had purpose and what I was forced to endure wasn’t for naught.

What if my purpose was to help Gwen get back to Neverland?

Maybe I didn’t get a knight in shining armor so that my little sister could have many?

My time in this existence was running out. I was fighting a losing battle.

“She doesn’t look good, Nico.” Lu walked up beside us, placing his hand on my knee. “She’s cold. We need to life-bind, now.” He pulled the heavy fur from his shoulders, tucking it in around my legs.

“We can’t. Not yet.” Nico seemed unfazed, his tone stoic as he forged ahead.

Lu stepped in front of his brother and growled, stopping Nico dead in his tracks.

“Lucius, I won’t tolerate your attitude. We’re almost to Whisperhold. Once we arrive, restoring Michaela is priority number one. Now step aside.”

“What’s life-binding?” I asked.

“Life-binding is the technical term for how we’ve been healing you. And we need to do it now,” Lucius explained.

“Lu, I’m fine. Really, I’m just exceptionally tired. It’s been a rough few days.” I tried to reassure him, but he could see through my facade.

“She doesn’t have time to wait. We need to stop?—”

“Lucius!” Fallon snarled, interrupting him.

She’d stopped walking and stared coldly at her brother.

“We both know stopping to life-bind puts all of us at risk. I shouldn’t have to remind you that Johan’s trackers, and likely the commoners are searching for us.

We cannot stop now. I will not sacrifice another brother.

Take a breath, put your focus on arriving at Whisperhold in one piece, and I promise you we’ll all do our best to help Michaela. ”

I heard Lucius sigh loudly and mutter something under his breath.

How bad did I look?

I’d never seen Lu posture to his brothers like that before. “You should put me down. If he realizes I can walk on my own, maybe he won’t be so worried. I don’t want to be any trouble.”

“Don’t worry about Lucius.” Nico pulled me in tighter against his body. “You’re no trouble. Rest your eyes, little bird. I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll be at the safe house before dawn.”

Clearly, I wasn’t going to convince him. I pulled in a deep breath, enveloping myself in his delicious scent, and allowed the gentle rocking of his gait and the far-off songs of the owls lull me into sleep.

“Fuck.” Nico’s whispered frustration ushered me back to consciousness.

“We don’t have time for this shit,” Lucius fumed.

“Let's not jump to conclusions. It’s probably just someone who stumbled upon the vacant dwelling and took advantage.” Luca’s words hit me like a truck. What was going on?

Off in the distance, silhouetted by the breaking dawn, was a large log cabin. Smoke billowed out from the chimney and a faint flickering glow emanated from inside the windows.

“Michaela,” Nico looked down at me. “I’m gonna need you to stay here with Fallon.”

“Wait, I thought… what about the safe house?” I asked, trying my best to remain calm.

“We’ve arrived at Whisperhold. However, I’m not so sure how safe it is anymore.” Nico gently set me on the ground. “Are you okay to stand, or should we sit you down?”

“I’m good.” I smiled a moment before my knees buckled under me. Nico quickly reached for me, buffering my fall. “I guess I’m not as good as I thought. Maybe sitting is best.”

He ushered me to the ground, sitting me up against a small tree.

“I’m going to take Luca and Lucius to investigate what’s going on.

You stay here with Fallon. She’ll keep you safe.

Once we figure out who or what is at the house, we’ll deal with it and come back for you both.

Hang in there a bit longer, little bird.

” Nico repositioned Lu’s heavy fur, draping it across my bare legs.

“Fallon”—he turned to look at his sister, “I trust you to keep her safe and warm.”

She pulled the cigarette from her lips, exhaling a large plume of smoke as she sighed, “I’ve got her. Go find out who the fuck is in our house. I’m over this shit.”

“Lu, wait!” I blurted. Something was tugging at my mind. I had to say goodbye. “Please, before you go…”

“What is it, Dove?” He squatted down next to me, pulling his fur up closer to my chin.

“I feel silly saying it, but… Please be careful.”

“Don’t waste your energy worrying about me. I’ll be fine, and soon we’ll have you feeling better than ever. I promise.” He leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead before joining his brothers.

“I’ve never seen Lucius so smitten with a female. What exactly happened in Neverland?” Fallon sat next to me, tucking her own legs under the fur beside mine. “Fuck the Divine. You’re freezing! Give me your hands.”

Fallon’s hands felt like little heaters gripping my icy fingers. I leaned into her side, tucking my head into the crook of her neck, siphoning her warmth. “I don’t know what to say.” The words came slow, zapping what little energy I had left. “Lu has been doting on me… from the moment he saw me.”

Fallon nervously looked over her shoulder, distracted from our conversation. “I’m sorry. I thought I heard something. Must have been a small animal foraging nearby.” She turned her attention back to me. “It’s not only Lucius, you know. Nico and Luca dote on you, too.”

A cold, hard blade bit against my neck. A grating female voice hissed in my ear. “Identify yourselves. Now.”

So this is how it ends. Please, God, the Divine, whoever’s in charge here—let my death be quick and painless.

We couldn’t see our attackers, but from the corner of my eye I could tell Fallon was in the same position. They had us both pinned between their blades and the tree.

“Or what?” Fallon gritted out. “We don’t owe you an explanation. We have every right to be here as you.”

“You’re dressed awfully fancy for a camping trip,” a male voice retorted.

“The weak one smells like rotting flesh,” the female spat.

“Does she have the sickness?” the male asked.

“She certainly doesn’t look good. Her skin is blue—or is it grey?” the female added to her growing list of compliments.

Was my color really that bad?

“Let us go now, and I’ll make sure your lives are spared,” Fallon sneered.

The male chuckled. “You’ll make sure we’re spared? Darling, I think you have it backwards. You’re the ones who should be begging for your lives.”

“Yeah.” The female tightened her grip. I sucked in a breath as the blade bit deeper into my skin. “Looks like I’d be doing you a favor. If she’s as sick as she looks. She’ll be dying a horrific death soon anyway.”

“If you so much as sever a single hair on her head, my brothers will see to it you’re disposed of in the most horrendous way.”

“Your brothers are being dealt with as we speak. They’re probably dead already. Answer the question. Who are you?”

Fallon laughed. “You underestimate my brothers. Let us go now.” She was losing patience. I could hear it in her voice. We were in no position to fight off these outlaws. I could barely speak, let alone defend myself.

“I’m going to ask you one last time, then I won’t be so kind. Who are you?”

Fallon lifted her chin higher, giving the male full access to her neck in a defiant move. “I am Fallon, First Daughter of Artos, Princess of the Second Realm.”

Immediately, the blade fell away from my neck. I sighed with relief, reaching up to find a small trickle of blood. It was a risky move, outing our identity while we were on the lam. What if they were Johan’s trackers? Fallon had to be the most self-assured, reckless person I’d ever met.

“My Lady, forgive me. One can never be too cautious out here in Thornwyn.” The male stepped out from behind the tree.

He was well dressed, but caked in a layer of grime.

His dark hair was mussed and slick with oil.

He clearly hadn’t bathed in several days.

He bowed before us. “Artos was a great ruler. The realm hasn’t been the same since his death.

The name’s Levi Brackenbark of the Raven’s Hand. How may I be of service?”