Page 134 of Blood Fist

The late evening sun could barely pierce through the trees, but it didn’t matter. Ridan was the light. He shone brightly, and like a moth to the flame, those around him couldn’t help but flock to him. Surround him in the hopes they would catch some of his warmth. Close enough to die if the heat became scorching. At least they would have touched some of his brilliance.

None more so than Brune. He stood, drifting forward until he was within an arm’s reach from Ridan. Those firebrand eyes dropped to him, and Brune shivered under their intensity.

“Because we are not afraid! As the children of the few who stood with Artrax, we have their pride in our veins. Their thunder in our hearts. And by Eralkor’s speed, Maladon’s strength, and Artrax’s Sacrifice,we will not bend.”

He shouted the last words, fist digging into his chest and eyes never wavering from Brune’s.

“For we are Clansmen, and we bow for no one!”

The mountain shook with their cheers. Weapons were raised aloft, lifted by strong arms and even stronger hearts. Whatever tension bled away, replaced by the ideals they knew by heart, but had lost in the comfort of an easy life. United by history, identical pride simmered in their veins. They were no longer of the clans.

They were Clansmen.

Ready to fight. Ready to die.

And it was Ridan they would follow.

Hedidn’t mean to give a speech. He didn’t mean to jump up onto the rock and look down at the crowd below him. Ridan had simply meant to break up the fight. Shame the warriors for their actions. Stop any more blood from being spilled.

But he’d always had a temper, and when he started, he just couldn’t stop. Their foolishness, their audacity, had him so angry he didn’t even realize he was speaking until the words were falling from his mouth. Until he blinked and where there had been a bunch of squabbling idiots, there were now seasoned warriors staring up at him withawe.With a confidence that hadn’t been there before he spoke. Warriors he’d never met before, that had been blooded before he was crawling. And they were listening to him.

And as he spoke, he realized just what a hypocrite he was.

Ridan had called them all foolish, but he was no better. He told the gathered warriors they dishonored their ancestors by fighting when they should be united, but he’d also insulted their memory. They fought and died for his right to live,to love.And he’d wasted it.

Buzzard told him that humans were so obsessed with magic that they missed something that was right in front of him. For him, it wasn’t magic, but Ridan’s obsession with fighting Kaldonea, with protecting his clan, that had him ignoring the gift he’d been given.

He’d spent his life getting stronger—for himself and for his clan, but the one way he could truly honor those who had gone to stand beneath Artrax’s wings was to embrace the one thing that could never be magicked.

Brune should have been lost in the crowd. Another body amongst many, but Ridan always knew where he was. His gaze felt like it seared into his skin. From the moment Ridan first saw him—wooden splinters raining downaround him, his face screwed up in concentration, arm shaking with the force of the blow he’d blocked—he’d been a constant. Brune never questioned Ridan. He’d never wanted anything more from him than what he could give.

He saw a young omega and instead of telling him his limits; he told him to reach for the star–he was strong enough to catch him.

And Ridan was ready to be caught.

Jumping off the rock, he pushed through the crowd without saying a word. He only had eyes for the alpha with a goofy smile and wore every emotion on his face.

He took Brune’s hand when he found him, his fingers sliding into place with ease. Before the alpha could question him, he led them away.

There was no singular destination in mind, but Ridan found it anyway. Close to where they’d kept the horses was a small clearing with a shallow pond. The water was low and clear, plants and brambles of roots sticking out from beneath its still surface. Far enough from the hearths that the only sound was the occasional skittering of an animal in the brush and the sluggish wind tickling the leafless branches.

Brune didn’t ask questions, content to follow Ridan’s lead. They stopped at the bank and for a moment, he couldn’t turn to face him. He didn’t know what to say. His mind seemed to take a step back to let his heart lead, emotions swirling around him so quick no words could be formed.

Swallowing past the emotion lodged in his throat, he looked up at the sky and tried to pick out the first stars twinkling through the fading light. They were there, difficult to see, but always right where he thought they would be. Just like Brune.

“I’ve never been afraid of death,” Ridan started, hisvoice quiet. Summoning far more courage than he’d ever needed for battle, he turned to face Brune. He was looking down at him quizzically. “I have always been confident in my strength. That when my ashes are scattered at the Shrieking Cliffs, I will be welcomed under Artrax’s wing.”

Gritting his teeth, Ridan took a shaky breath. “But I’m afraid of dying without you.” He blinked away tears, angry they were pricking at his eyes at all. “Kaldonea brings death with it, and I might die. I’ve accepted that, but I can’t die without knowing I can find you again.”

Brune stepped closer, delicately stroking his cheek with calloused fingers. “I found you in this life. I will find you in death. Nothing can stop me.”

Ridan turned to his touch, kissing his hand briefly before turning away. He scanned the ground until he found a stone worn smooth by time. It fit neatly in the palm of his hand. Fisting it, he turned back to Brune.

Extending his hand, he held it out to him. Confused, Brune took it from him. He spun it in his hand a few times, thumb brushing dirt from its even surface.

“Give it back to me.”

With an amused huff, Brune dropped the stone back into Ridan’s palm.