Page 119 of Beasts of Briar
Rest? We had no idea when Khalasa and the other gods would be arriving. I couldn’t rest knowing that they might appear at any moment. I couldn’t rest knowing that Kairoth was in danger. I couldn’t rest knowing these might be our final days alive. I looked at the swans. I couldn’t rest knowing I still needed to free my brothers.
I felt like I was being pulled in a hundred different directions, and I didn’t know which way to go. I needed to figure out a way into Khalasa’s mind. I needed to figure out her weaknesses. But my brothers needed me too. I hadn’t visited any of them in days. They’d probably deteriorated further by this point.
I shook my head.“What were you saying?”I signed to Maverick.
He stroked his jaw. “It’s just odd.” He lifted up my father’s journal entries. “Why the world suddenly began falling apart. Hegot that net. Who granted that to him? Who made that appear? Who is really in charge?”
He looked at Emory, who frowned at the question.
I had no idea. I hadn’t really thought about it.
“He got that net and then he did nothing with it,” Maverick said.
My temper flared at the implication, and he held up his hands.
“I’m not saying your father did anything wrong. Just that maybe he was supposed to take that net, take his power, and lead. But he didn’t. He tried to hide everything. To destroy the weapons. And then the continent slowly started destroying itself.”
I thought about what he was saying, but it all overwhelmed me.
A hand wrapped around my arm, firm and commanding. I looked up to see Aron standing over me.
“I’ll take care of her,” he told Emory and Maverick.
He lifted me to my feet and led me out onto the balcony. I brought the sweater with me, knitting as we walked.
Seraphina had climbed onto the dragon’s back, Madden behind her. “We’re going to scout out the area,” Seraphina said. “See if we can detect anyone coming.”
I nodded as the dragon flew off.
Aron turned to me. “You’re doing too much,” he said, then gestured to the library. “Look at everyone who’s here, who’s come. We’ve got our own army.”
“A very small one,”I signed.
“But an army nonetheless,” he said. “You’re not alone.”
I swallowed, my throat growing thick with tears. Everyone kept saying that, and I was actually starting to believe it.
“What’s going on?” Aron’s gaze searched my face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m scared. I can’t get into Khalasa’s mind. I’m trying and trying, but I don’t know how. I’m supposed to be this powerful goddess’s daughter, and I can’t figure out how to defeat her. I feel like the entire world rests on my shoulders.”
Aron took hold of my shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze. “You can do this, Bellamy. I’ve never met anyone in my life so determined as you. You’ve spent decades in silence, all so you could break a curse and save your brothers. I don’t know anyone else who could do something like that. You came to the shadow court because of a vision that told you the nettle weeds would be here. You’ve knitted seven sweaters even though it meant poisoning yourself and almost dying.”
Tears pricked my eyes at his words.
“I’m sorry,”I signed. It was time. It was time to apologize and if he wanted to end our friendship, then that was something I had to face. But I owed him this.“I’m sorry that I used you, that I manipulated your dreams to make you do what I wanted in the Wilds. I could’ve just asked for your help, and you would’ve given it to me. I know that now. But at the time, I thought the only way to get what I wanted was to do it myself. So I used my magic to come into your dreams, to make you go get the bolt for me because I couldn’t do it myself.”
Aron’s gaze softened. “It’s okay. You did what you thought you needed to do to save your brothers. I’m just glad you know now that I’m here for you. That all you have to do if you need something is ask.”
He put an arm around my shoulder.
“So you and Driscoll, huh?”I signed.
Aron smiled. “He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.”
He definitely wasn’t.
“I’m happy for you.”
