Page 16

CHAPTER 16

brIAR

B y the time the meeting concludes, I can barely keep my eyes open. Who knew sitting and being grilled for almost an hour straight would be so draining?

I’m sure if I asked, Malachi would tell me that he knew it would be. I refuse to admit to him that maybe he was right and I wasn’t ready to help out with the post-mission stuff. But it seems like what little I could share about the facility has been helpful.

The team is focused on tracking down Ryker to stop him before he can do anything to strengthen the curse. I’m not sure how involved the mages are going to be because this doesn’t really affect them, but Rhys and the team from Elemental seem pretty invested in it so far.

As we walk out of the makeshift command center, I’m not paying much attention to where I’m going, trusting the guys to lead the way. I’m startled when something crashes into my legs and nearly takes me out. It’s only Bastian’s arm around my lower back that keeps me from tumbling to the ground.

When I look down, my heart skips a beat in my chest. Annabel’s familiar brown eyes are staring up at me with relief. A genuine grin, something I’ve never seen from her, lights up her face.

I carefully crouch down and wrap my arms around the little girl who’s become so important to me in record time. Usually, my sky-high walls keep people out, but Annabel slipped through the cracks in them no problem. I breathe in her sweet scent as I feel almost lightheaded with relief that she’s here and in one piece. “You’re okay,” I breathe.

She nods against my chest and clutches onto my shirt for a long moment before she steps back. “You’re okay?” she asks as she anxiously twists her hands.

“Yep. I’ve never been better.” I try to infuse enough positivity into my voice that she believes me. I’m currently in kind of rough shape, but it’s nothing life-threatening or that she needs to worry about.

Annabel studies my face for a moment before nodding. She then runs over to Malachi and wraps her small arms around his thigh. “Thank you,” she whispers while gazing up at him with pure gratitude and adoration.

He gives her a small but genuine smile as he gently strokes her hair. Seeing him with Annabel does something funny to my insides. I can picture what he would look like with our child, and it makes my heart feel like it’s swelling to three times its size. I don’t know where this feeling is coming from, because I’m so not ready for kids.

“For what, little one?” Malachi’s voice is as soft as I’ve ever heard it. I’ve never really seen this ultra-gentle side of him, but it only makes me fall harder for him.

“For saving Briar.”

“Anytime. I’d do anything for her.” He glances over at me as he says it, and I can see concern, dedication, and something that looks a lot like love in his swirling navy eyes.

We haven’t had a chance to talk about me telling them that I love them. I know how Saint feels, but I have no idea where Malachi, Xander, and Bastian stand on it. I know it’s a conversation I need to have with them, but I’m honestly too worn out to deal with it right now. Once I get stronger and heal up, I will, though—no matter how awkward and uncomfortable it is.

Annabel gives him a blinding smile that makes her look as young as she is. Her usual grim expression and serious eyes make her seem much older than five. After letting go of Malachi, Annabel skips over to me and grabs my hand. She drags me over to two adults watching the whole thing with soft smiles on their faces.

The man with blond hair a shade darker than Annabel’s offers me his hand to shake. When I hesitantly take it, his slate gray eyes swim with turbulent emotions. “Thank you for looking after our daughter. Annabel has told us about how much you protected her, and we can’t ever thank you enough for all you did.”

A lump forms in my throat as I think about all the ways I put Annabel in danger. It was only because of me she was even on Ryker’s radar. I’m pretty sure I only traumatized the poor girl, but I guess she doesn’t see it that way.

Before I have a chance to respond, a short woman with deep brown eyes pulls me away from the man. She wraps her thin arms around me as she enfolds me in a heartfelt hug. Her long brown hair brushes over my arms as I uncertainly hug her back. “Thank you for keeping our baby safe and bringing her back to us.”

“Of course,” I murmur. “I just wish I could’ve done more.” My voice breaks, and I close my eyes as I try to get ahold of myself.

The woman squeezes me to her tighter and rubs my back soothingly. “Oh, sweetie, you did all you could. Don’t beat yourself up over the actions of others. You’re the reason we all got out of there. You’re the reason my daughter’s still alive. You’re the reason a lot of people are still here. Don’t let what you could’ve done tarnish all that you did.”

I didn’t realize her parents were held by the Knights at the same facility, too. Although, it was easy to miss people when the Knights had us all on different meal rotations. I probably only saw a fraction of the shifters there.

As I absorb her motherly comfort, I can’t help but wish my mom were here. I’d give almost anything for one more hug or one more reassurance that everything will be fine. I wonder if my mom would be proud of me and how hard I’ve tried all these years or if she’d be disappointed that I haven’t accomplished more. I guess I’ll never know.

“Thank you,” I whisper as I shake myself from my thoughts.

She pulls back and smiles at me, her face looking so much like Annabel’s. “You need anything, all you ever have to do is ask, honey. I’m Ivy Hall, and this is Henry Hall, one of my mates. I heard that you had a pretty nasty injury. Annabel just wanted to make sure you were okay, but we’ll go to let you rest.”

Annabel breaks away from her dad to give me another hug. I squat down and wrap my arms around her. She pulls back after a moment to look at me. “I’ll see you again?”

Smiling, I nod. “Of course. You can come see me whenever you want.”

Flashing me another huge grin, Annabel runs over to her mom and takes her hand. She drags her mom down the hall, pausing to wave at me before they turn the corner and disappear out of sight.

“That’s the girl who tried to attack Kai?” Bastian’s eyes are wide in surprise as he stares after Annabel. “For a tiny thing, she has more guts than most adults. She’s going to be a handful when she gets older.”

I chuckle at his apt description of her. “Annabel’s incredibly brave. I think she had to be to get through however long she was with the Knights.”

“Yeah, you’re probably right. Hopefully she gets the chance to be a kid again.” Bastian’s expression is contemplative as he thinks about Annabel. I wonder if he’s thinking about how he never really went back to being a kid after what the priest did.

I lean into his side and wrap an arm around his waist. Bastian plants a gentle kiss on the top of my hair as he holds me tightly to him.

“I think she will. I never saw Annabel fully smile or be enthusiastic before. She’s a tough kid with a loving family. I think she’ll be able to bounce back.” None of us are ever able to forget the awful things that happen. All we can hope for is that someday they stop hurting as much, and I hope that happens soon for Annabel.

We start walking back toward our room when another bundle of hyper energy almost crashes into me.

“Briar Boo!” Rory shouts as she rushes at me in a flurry of white-blonde hair. She opens her arms for a hug before she stops short while still bouncing on her toes. “Can I hug you? Or will that hurt you?”

I snort at how excited she looks. “You can hug me. I’m not that fragile.”

When Rory moves in to squeeze me, Malachi growls, “Gentle, Ror. She’s still hurting, even if she tries to pretend she isn’t.”

Heeding Malachi’s advice, Rory gives me a lingering featherlight hug before she reluctantly steps back. She wipes at her misty navy eyes, which happen to be the same shade as Malachi’s, as she looks away to gather herself. “I’ve missed you, girlie. We were so worried when they told us the Knights took you.” She pauses to give my arm a halfhearted punch. “Don’t ever do that again! It’s bestie code that you don’t make your best friend worry you’re dead so often.”

I bark out a surprised laugh. “I’ll make sure to adhere to bestie code from now on, Rory.”

She huffs but can’t keep her signature smile from her face. “Good.”

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Ronan tells me softly from behind Rory. They look almost identical with the same fair skin, pale hair, and dark eyes, but their dispositions couldn’t be more different. Whereas Rory is bubbly, excitable, and chaotic, Ronan is quiet, reserved, and calm.

“Thanks.” When I give him a half smile, he gives me a genuine one back. While I may not be as close to Ronan as I am to Rory, I still consider him one of my best friends.

“What are you doing for the rest of the day? Wanna catch up? I have some juicy stories about the people at school.” She waggles her eyebrows at me at the mention of gossip. I shake my head at her antics but can’t keep my giggle from slipping out.

I open my mouth to respond, but Malachi beats me to it. “She can’t today. Briar shouldn’t even be out of bed. She wanted to help with the post-op briefing, but she needs to rest now.”

Letting out a sigh at his heavy-handedness, I reluctantly agree with him. “While Malachi is being insufferably bossy, he is right. I’m pretty tired. I’d love to catch up, though. Maybe tomorrow?”

Malachi snorts at me calling him out for being bossy but doesn’t say anything, probably because I’m agreeing with him rather than giving him a hard time like usual.

“Absolutely! I’ll bring movies and snacks, and we can just chill out in your room. I’ll let you go rest, and I’ll text you about hanging out. Feel better, chickee!” Rory darts in for another cautious hug. When she pulls back, she waves to her cousins before grabbing her brother’s hand and practically skipping away.

I can’t help the smile at Rory and what a force of nature she is. I’m looking forward to hanging out with her because it’s been a while since we really spent much time together.

When she declared herself my best friend on the first day of class, I didn’t realize just how accurate that would be. I’m thankful for Rory and her unwavering friendship, something I haven’t had much of since I moved to Wolves Hollow.

We make it up the stairs and to Malachi’s room without running into anyone else. Xander, Bastian, and Saint peel off to grab things from their respective rooms, so just Malachi and I go into his room.

He leads me to the bed. With the bone-deep fatigue making it hard to stay upright, I don’t fight him. Flopping down on the rumpled comforter, I don’t even bother to climb under the sheets I’m so tired. Instead, I just enjoy being horizontal for a moment.

Surprising me, Malachi doesn’t get in next to me. He puts his knees on either side of my legs and cages my head in with his forearms. Being careful not to put any weight on me, he leans down to give me a gentle kiss.