Page 21 of A Rift in the House of Bruin

“Lucius!” Fallon snarled, interrupting him. She’d stopped walking and stared coldly at her brother. “We both know stopping to life-bind puts all of us at risk. I shouldn’t have to remind you that Johan’s trackers, and likely the commoners are searching for us. We cannot stop now. I will not sacrifice another brother. Take a breath, put your focus on arriving at Whisperhold in one piece, and I promise you we’ll all do our best to help Michaela.”

I heard Lucius sigh loudly and mutter something under his breath.

How bad did I look?

I’d never seen Lu posture to his brothers like that before. “You should put me down. If he realizes I can walk on my own, maybe he won’t be so worried. I don’t want to be any trouble.”

“Don’t worry about Lucius.” Nico pulled me in tighter against his body. “You’re no trouble. Rest your eyes, little bird. I promise, I won’t let anything happen to you. We’ll be at the safe house before dawn.”

Clearly, I wasn’t going to convince him. I pulled in a deep breath, enveloping myself in his delicious scent, and allowed the gentle rocking of his gait and the far-off songs of the owls lull me into sleep.

“Fuck.”Nico’s whispered frustration ushered me back to consciousness.

“We don’t have time for this shit,” Lucius fumed.

“Let's not jump to conclusions. It’s probably just someone who stumbled upon the vacant dwelling and took advantage.” Luca’s words hit me like a truck. What was going on?

Off in the distance, silhouetted by the breaking dawn, was a large log cabin. Smoke billowed out from the chimney and a faint flickering glow emanated from inside the windows.

“Michaela,” Nico looked down at me. “I’m gonna need you to stay here with Fallon.”

“Wait, I thought… what about the safe house?” I asked, trying my best to remain calm.

“We’ve arrived at Whisperhold. However, I’m not so sure how safe it is anymore.” Nico gently set me on the ground. “Are you okay to stand, or should we sit you down?”

“I’m good.” I smiled a moment before my knees buckled under me. Nico quickly reached for me, buffering my fall. “I guess I’m not as good as I thought. Maybe sitting is best.”

He ushered me to the ground, sitting me up against a small tree. “I’m going to take Luca and Lucius to investigate what’s going on. You stay here with Fallon. She’ll keep you safe. Once we figure out who or what is at the house, we’ll deal with it and come back for you both. Hang in there a bit longer, little bird.” Nico repositioned Lu’s heavy fur, draping it across my bare legs. “Fallon”—he turned to look at his sister, “I trust you to keep her safe and warm.”

She pulled the cigarette from her lips, exhaling a large plume of smoke as she sighed, “I’ve got her. Go find out who the fuck is in our house. I’m over this shit.”

“Lu, wait!” I blurted. Something was tugging at my mind. I had to say goodbye. “Please, before you go…”

“What is it, Dove?” He squatted down next to me, pulling his fur up closer to my chin.

“I feel silly saying it, but… Please be careful.”

“Don’t waste your energy worrying about me. I’ll be fine, and soon we’ll have you feeling better than ever. I promise.” He leaned in, placing a gentle kiss on my forehead before joining his brothers.

“I’ve never seen Lucius so smitten with a female. What exactly happened in Neverland?” Fallon sat next to me, tucking her own legs under the fur beside mine. “Fuck the Divine. You’re freezing! Give me your hands.”

Fallon’s hands felt like little heaters gripping my icy fingers. I leaned into her side, tucking my head into the crook of her neck, siphoning her warmth. “I don’t know what to say.” The words came slow, zapping what little energy I had left. “Lu has been doting on me… from the moment he saw me.”

Fallon nervously looked over her shoulder, distracted from our conversation. “I’m sorry. I thought I heard something. Must have been a small animal foraging nearby.” She turned her attention back to me. “It’s not only Lucius, you know. Nico and Luca dote on you, too.”

A cold, hard blade bit against my neck. A grating female voice hissed in my ear. “Identify yourselves. Now.”

So this is how it ends. Please, God, the Divine, whoever’s in charge here—let my death be quick and painless.

We couldn’t see our attackers, but from the corner of my eye I could tell Fallon was in the same position. They had us both pinned between their blades and the tree.

“Or what?” Fallon gritted out. “We don’t owe you an explanation. We have every right to be here as you.”

“You’re dressed awfully fancy for a camping trip,” a male voice retorted.

“The weak one smells like rotting flesh,” the female spat.

“Does she have the sickness?” the male asked.

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