Page 31 of Bound By Roses

I’m useless here, beneath the water. Unable to defend even myself, never mind those I love.

I’m going to lose them all. Just like Void promised I would. He taunts me with that fact every night. Each time sleep finds me, so too do his incessant reminders that he has the power to beat me.

I’m going mad.

He’s driving me mad.

The warm sensation of Quinn’s hand on my lower back brings me out of my thoughts and back into reality. We follow closely behind Aurelia up the winding staircase and emerge into…

Sunlight.

There’s no darkness waiting to swallow us. No wraiths screaming in shadow, nor the clank of silver armour. This isn’t another one of my nightmares where purple eyes stare out of shadow and ghostly voices whisper menacing threats.

On the mainland stands an army, but it’s not one I recognize as Lunae. There are no horses, no shimmer of metal, and not one of these people seems to hold a weapon.

But that doesn’t make sense. Unless...

“Kaylee?” Quinn says, taking a hurried step forward. Aurelia blocks his path with the longs spear she must have grabbed at some point after the warning sounded. I’m not sure where she got it from, but I know she didn’t have it when we were in the council room.

“It could be a trick,” she says, her voice oozing with the same distrust she’d shown us when we first arrived.

“It’s no trick,” Quinn says, gripping the shaft of her spear just below the three-pointed tip and raising it high enough above his head so he can duck under.

“He’s right,” I agree, spotting familiar faces in the crowd. Tess, Fern, Ellis, Seamus. This has to be all of Rosewood. But why would they come here? “Raise the bridge.” I’m not really in a place to be giving orders, but if they came here to escape from danger, they might need help. Not to mention the fact that I’ve missed these people terribly.

Aurelia lets out an exasperated huff and waves a hand in the air. The water ahead of us stirs as the massive white bridge rises up from the waves. Quinn and I waste no time and lurch forward. I nearly slip on the wet surface but catch myself before I feel Quinn’s hand grab hold of my wrist. It’s such a simple gesture, but just knowing he’ll always be there to catch me if ever I can’t catch myself has my heart doing a backflip.

Wide smiles greet us as we reach the shore. Quinn gets there a step before I do and pulls Tess into a hug without so much as a greeting. “Tell me you’re all okay.” His voice is gruff with worry, but it’s coated in the same joy I’m feeling.

“We’re all fine,” Tess says, freeing herself from his embrace and moving for me. I’d almost forgotten how warm she is. Noteven just her hugs, but her presence alone carries a warmth that has me feeling more at ease than I have in weeks.

“Hi,” Quinn says, and I don’t need the hint of awkwardness in his tone to know he’s speaking to his sister. Tess releases me from her hug with just enough time for me to see the uncomfortable one-armed half-embrace Quinn and Kaylee share.

It’s been just over a month since we left Rosewood, but Kaylee has changed so much in that time. She’s nowhere near as twitchy as she was when they found her. Her hair has started growing back, her skin is clearer, her eyes are brighter, and she’s begun to fill out. Tess has been keeping her well fed, and it shows in all the best ways. The nervous energy she carried with her is all but gone now, and in its place is the same resolve I often see in her brother.

“What are you all doing here?” Quinn asks before I can.

Aurelia has caught up with us, her lips pressed into a hard line. “I was wondering the same thing,” she mutters, but Kaylee pays her no mind.

“We are needed here.” She may look healthier, but her answers are just as cryptic as ever. “And don’t worry. Everyone shifts at will now and can maintain control.”

They what?I guess Jade’s sacrifice affected more than just us, but if Quinn’s people have the power to choose their form and control it, does that mean Quinn can, too?

“Did your visions come back?” There’s a wavering the Quinn’s voice as he asks the question that seems misplaced.

“No. I’m just following the path.”

Definitely as cryptic as ever. I know from experience growing up with Arabella that you shouldn’t question a seer. Unless you have reason to believe they would lie to you, but Kaylee hasn’t steered us wrong yet. If she says they’re needed here, thenthey’re needed here. I’m just not so sure Aurelia and the other sirens will agree.

As if right on cue, a voice sounds from somewhere in the water. “This has gone too far!” It’s followed by sounds of agreement.

“Sierra’s son is bad enough,” another agrees. “You cannot expect us to shelter all of the betrayers!”

I wasn’t expecting Quinn’s people to show up here at all, but if I had, this is probably going better than it could have. I mean, no one has been murdered yet, so that’s something.

Aurelia raises a hand for silence as sounds of agreement rise above the crashing of waves on the white stone bridge and bird caws. The crowd quiets, but it has nothing to do with Aurelia’s order. Erwyn leaps out of the water and joins us on the shore. “Another of Sierra’s children,” he growls, hard eyes narrowed on Kaylee.

Quinn moves to place himself between them, but Kaylee brushes him aside and places herself directly in front of Erwyn. He towers over her, and even though this is the healthiest I have seen her, he looks like he could snap her in half.

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