Page 108 of Of Blooming Embers
“Kade—” I breathed, shifting closer.
He held up his palm, going on, “And you … I’ve wanted you for so long. I convinced myself that my feelings were enough—that if I held on tight enough, you’d eventually feel the same. But all I did was ignore what you needed and punish you for not reciprocating. That’s not just unfair … that’s cruel. And you deserve so much better. If that is my brother, then so be it.”
His head dropped, following a heavy exhale. “But there’s more to it. It’s like this blade in my belly. That everyone I care for will perish too soon. If you and Gavrel … if you go through with the ceremony. Then the odds are higher that you’ll both be taken from me at once. And I’ll be alone.”
The wall around my heart trembled, and my breaths were shallow.
“I don’t think I have it in me to fix all my wrongs right now, but I’m going to try. When I was alone in Aion, I regretted not coming with you. The terror I felt when that wyvern took you. Damn it.” He cringed, fists clenching. “I’m just so fucking angry all the time. And in between, I am … numb. Confirming Ma’s truly gone. Losing you. And my brother. It’s too much to bear. I’m going to keep fucking up, even though I don’t want to.”
The final stones chipped away at his admissions.MyKaden was still underneath all the caustic layers. He just needed to dig his way to the surface.
“You’re my best friend, you sod. You’ll never lose me.” I touched his shoulder. “Even when I’m gone, you’ll still have me—right here.” I tapped his chest, then brushed my palm over his cheek.
With a sigh, I let my hand drop. “I’m still cross with you. I need time, but we’re not broken.You’renot broken.” I met his eyes. “And if I hear you call yourself a failure again, I swear I’ll stab you.”
A rough chuckle shook Kaden’s chest. I continued, a breath easing out of me, “Just take it one day at a time—you’ll figure out what you really need.”
He nodded, his body shifting uneasily.
The corner of my mouth tugged upward. “Come on. Let’s go fulfill a bloody prophecy and see what happens next.”
A forlorn smile fluttered over his lips. “Fair. Let’s get on with it then.”
Together, we activated our auras as we entered the tunnel, Gavrel’s glowing tattoo leading us forward.
Kaden touched his brother’s shoulder, his face apologetic. Gavrel studied him for a moment and let his shoulders relax before he cupped his brother’s nape in return. “Always, brother,” Gavrel murmured, and touched his forehead to Kaden’s.
Hope was there, just within reach. We’d taken a step toward mending our relationships. With any luck, we’d live to see it grow another day.
We sloshed through the tunnel until the water gradually dispersed. Our path twisted, leading us deeper and deeper within the cliff.
As we finally neared a stairwell leading down, the air thickened and chilled, pushing into us as if trying to shove us back. “We must be close,” I whispered, peeking down the steps.
Irritably, my aura snapped around me the further we walked.
“This is not my idea of fun; I’ll have you both know,” Kaden groused.
“I don’t think walking into a massive pit of despair is anyone’s idea of fun. Well, perhaps Melina’s,” I retorted as we came to the end of the stairwell.
Before us lay the dungeon’s massive pit, embered sphere torches lit the space along the edges of the spiraling ramp. I pushed my energy within me, and the Larkin brothers tucked away theirs as well.
Gavrel glanced at us, putting his finger to his mouth and then toone ear. Cautiously, I leaned toward the side of the pit, my stomach dipping a bit at the sound of metal rasping against metal.
From a few levels below, Balor Drent’s words slithered up the walls. “Mistress bids you to eat. She said I could have some fun with you if you didn’t. I always enjoy our time together.”
With a look of disgust, Elder Marah Strom spat on his face through the bars of her prison. Thick metal cuffs bound her hands, a chain tethering her to the wall.
Balor snickered, “Now, now, Marah. No need to be so bold after all this time. It’s a shame that your fetters bind your ember. It’d be more fun if you could put up more of a fight.”
With a grunt, he rolled the circular gate along creaking grooves, and a flash of royal blue scurried out of sight within the cell. Her chains scraped across rock as she tried to put distance between herself and the Akridai.
Quietly, we made our way down the ramp while Balor was distracted.
“No!” Marah screamed, and something clattered to the rock, the sound bouncing off the gleaming walls.
“Lea … leave her be, you fiend,” Elder Endurst Guust protested from the cell next door. He fisted the bars, and his cuffs clanked against them angrily, but his words sounded limp and feeble.
Slowly, we each drew a dagger. The weight of my blade felt good in my hand. But it would feel even better sinking into Balor’s flesh.
