Page 17 of A Rift in the House of Bruin

Nico refused to let us build a fire. Apparently, it was too risky. Luca and Lu had split off to lay decoy trails in case Johan’s trackers caught up with us. Fallon curled into a ball under Nico’s oversized jacket and drifted to sleep without a word.

I found a quiet space beneath the tree and started gathering needles to soften the unforgiving ground. My body was stiff with cold. And even though I’d relented and taken Luca’s jacket, I still shivered. I was pushing myself too hard. The cancer was a growing weight in my chest, a queasy churning in my stomach. My body was shutting down, and I didn’t know how much longer I could keep up this pace without help from a healer. I did my best to hide the pain, but I could feel Nico appraising me as he huddled in his own corner.

“Mic…” he started, my name lingering between us as he picked his words. Could he already tell I was fading? “I need to tell you how sorry I am. When I brought you to Hiraeth, I meant to protect you. Instead, I’ve done the opposite.”

“This isn’t your fault, Nico.”

“You’re too kind. You should be telling me how much of a disappointment I am. I was arrogant. I ignored the signs. I made some really terrible decisions back there.”

“But you got us out alive.”

“Not all of us.” His face fell, and I saw the weight of Gunner’s death settle on his shoulders.

“I should be the one apologizing… for Gunner.” My voice cracked as I said his name.

“I’ll carry that burden the rest of my life. My arrogance and selfishness are what got him killed. I saw only what I wanted to see. I should’ve listened to you, to Fallon.”

“You couldn’t have known this would happen.”

“I think you’re far too good for someone like me, Michaela. But I promise I’ll fix this. My father—paranoid as he was—built a safe house: Whisperhold. It’s hidden deep in Thornwyn Forest. Only blood family knows of it. I’ll get you there, find a healer, and send you back to your sister and the protection of the Lost Boys.”

“Nico, you need to stop worrying about me. Your kingdom is literally falling apart. Focus on your family.”

Luca and Lucius ducked under the boughs, interrupting our conversation. The three of them together made our little sanctuary feel cramped.

Nico leaned closer, lowering his voice. “I think several of us would like to make you part of this family.” He smiled, turning to his brothers to talk quietly.

What did that mean? I was too tired, too cold, too sore to think straight. I tucked the comment away for later—after some sleep, I’d think clearly again. I curled into the pine needles, wrapped in Luca’s jacket, and let the scent of cloves and aged whiskey lull me into a fitful sleep.

I was caught somewherebetween sleep and waking. Whispered voices hissed in my ear, but I couldn’t make out the words. Panic and despair rose like a tide. I felt like I was falling—sinking through layers of darkness.

“Don’t be afraid. I told you I’d find you at the end.”Gunner’s voice rang clear in my mind. Everything stilled. A calming warmth spread through me, and I drifted—finally—into the peaceful oblivion my body craved.

When I woke, that peace lingered. I instinctively curled toward the warmth beside me. But memory returned quickly, dragging reality with it. My eyes fluttered open and found a transparent apparition of a bear lying beside me.

I shrank back, swallowing a scream. Before I could fully register what I was seeing, the faint blue specter shimmered and vanished. Light streamed through the branches, illuminating the empty space where it had lain.

Had I imagined it?

Was I dreaming?

My mind was beginning to play tricks on me again.

Itook a deep breath, convincing myself it had all been a dream. A deranged, grief-induced dream. A sharp stab of pain shot through my chest, dragging all my discomfort to the forefront of my mind. My entire body was stiff, every joint ached as I tried to straighten myself and find some semblance of comfort.

My corset laces were still tightly bound. I’d been too tired to loosen them last night. I reached down to adjust the dress and found the solid outline of the book Fallon had handed me. With a quick tug, I freed it from its hiding place, finally able to pull in a full breath without the damn thing digging into my ribs.

I’d completely forgotten about it. After everything that happened, it no longer seemed important. But Fallon hadinsisted I take it, going so far as to steal it from behind lock and key. There had to be a reason.

The warmth of the leather binding radiated into my hands. It was rather unimpressive for a relic worthy of a glass case and hidden altar. I traced the foreign words embossed into the smooth grain, flipping it open as speculation ran wild. Alongside the unfamiliar writings were vivid drawings of males and beasts. The simple cover gave no hint of the beauty hidden within.

I stopped at the last image and froze. It was a female astride a bear, flanked by six others. She looked exactly like me.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Luca’s voice startled me, and the book fell from my hands. I quickly shoved it beneath my tattered skirts, unsure if I was even meant to have seen it.

“Oh… I am… I was…” I raised my gaze and my jaw dropped. He was completely naked, dripping water, and carrying several fish.

“Any chance you’re partial to raw fish?” he asked.

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