Page 79 of An Empress of Earth & Darkness

Taking the time to run from the Tower to the Ashdale Forest had been a blessing in disguise. The moon was almost in her fullest phase, and its beams shimmered on her fur as the cool night breeze stroked its soothing fingers through her coat. She was warm in wolf form, and it didn’t help that she didn’t know how to approach her next conversation.

Apart from Roman, she hadn’t seen her family since the prime meeting, and she knew that leaving her pack behind to guard an empress would have all sorts of unknown consequences. Still, she hoped her pack would be willing to join the mission for the Gods’ Stones.

Shifting fully, Breighly ran up the cottage steps in human form, landing on the front porch. She reached the straw basket that always held extra clothing and found a flannel shirt and a loose pair of bottoms. They were old clothes her brothers no longer wore, so they were huge on her frame, but she hardly cared about what she looked like right now.

Opening the door to her cottage, she could hear her brothers and father in the living room. Their loud voices always tried to compete with each other in the humble room. The living room had been the same since Breighly was little. Comfy sofas cornered all areas of the room, and a large dining table crowded the front of the room. A fire always burned bright against the furthest wall, no matter the weather. Paintings of moon phases rested on the wood-panelled walls, and a warm rug took centre stage in the middle of the room. She had lain on that rug many times with whatever brother was her favourite that day. But the best times were when her father had joined her, telling her stories in front of the fire about a fierce princess wolf who lived in a faraway land and feared nothing.

But those eras were gone now, buried by time, grief, and unresolved trauma. So much had happened since those innocent moments.

As she rounded the corner, Breighly noted Waylen’s large body spread along the biggest sofa and her father playing cards with Roman at the dining table. They all still managed to have whiskey in their hands. She smiled quickly. Eli would have been playing cards too if he were still here, probably sitting at the table opposite Roman. She wondered if the miserable look on Waylen’s face was because he had been put out of the game first.

An overwhelming wave rocked through her body, unsettling her nerves. No wonder she didn’t like to come back here. Everywhere she looked, she could see a memory of someone who no longer existed.

“Princess.” Murk’s dark eyes lit up like they always did when he saw her. He placed his cards down on the table and stood instantly.

“Bry,” Waylen announced, sitting up from his relaxed position, his eyes wide with surprise.

“Well, if it isn’t the Empresses of Air’s favourite guard.” Roman winked her way as he sat his whiskey on the table.

“Hi, Papa.” She flashed her father a smile, who looked grateful to see her safely back in this house. “Shit heads.” Her chin lifted to each of her brothers.

They both flashed her a toothy grin, and in that moment, she could see why too many people commented on how alike they all were.

“What brings you back here?” her father asked, shock lingering in the air. “Are you coming back home?” Hope sprang into his deep voice, and it gutted her.

Breighly’s throat threatened to close as she looked at him, but she was relieved when Roman gave a dramatic sigh.

“Fuck,” her twin cursed as he eyed his father’s deck lying flush on the table. “Not again. How can you beat me every time?”

Murk pulled his hand across the coins lying on the solid oak table, a wise glint in his eye. “You can’t beat the alpha.” He smiled at Breighly. “Isn’t that right, Princess?” He flicked her a coin, and she caught it with lightning speed. She tucked the gold coin into her pocket.

“That’s right!” She grinned back at one of her favourite people in the whole world.

“Are you going to answer your alpha?” Waylen stood, resting his drink in the crevasse of his folded arms. “What are you doing back here? Don’t you have a rather official role to be doing now?”

“I am here on official business, actually,” she said, ignoring the burning in her cheeks.

“Oh, official business for the hunters?” Waylen probed again.

“Official business for my empress,” she snapped back.

“God, that sounds awful. What, are you just her little bitch now?”

“Shut your mouth, Waylen.” She eyed him. Breighly had hoped she would be inside more than a few seconds before his whining began. “You are the one that sounds like a little bitch.”

A laugh burst from Roman, and a growl rumbled from Waylen’s chest.

“I am back here on behalf of Emara,” she announced. “Not for you to question anything about my role.”

“So official.” Waylen’s hazel gaze narrowed on her face, and she imagined smashing the glass he was holding in his stupid, smirking face.

“Enough,” Murk said calmly. “Your sister is right. We don’t need to question why she is here, but welcome her with open arms. You are starting to sound like a wife of the elite with your jealous mouth.” Her father’s dark gaze fell on Waylen, earning a scowl in return, then he turned back to her. “If you have something of importance to say, I want to hear it.”

Breighly took a small breath and hoped that none of them noticed her falter. She really hoped this would go the way she wanted it to. “Father, the Blacksteel Clan believes that they know where to search for the Protection Stone. If they find it, it will mean they would be the first clan in history to have two of the Gods’ Stones at once. It would put them in an extremely powerful position.”

Murk’s brow pulled down into a scowl, but she couldn’t tell if he wanted to dismiss her or if she had piqued his interest. He always was a hard man to read. He could go from calm to terrifying in seconds. But never with her.

“And what trouble has Torin Blacksteel found himself in this time?” Waylen questioned with a laugh as his father mulled over the possibilities. “How has he, of all people, found a second stone?”

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