Page 124 of Beasts of Briar
“What is that?” Ragar pointed with his hammer.
Fire, wind, water, earth, and frost shot into the sky in swoops and swirls.
They were trying to lure the gods to the jungle. They must’ve seen some of the battle, must’ve known we needed help.
“We’re being summoned,” Aethira said, her voice full of amusement like this was some game. “These mortals actually think they are a match for us.”
Larissa scoffed. “So mortals have grown stupider since we’ve been trapped.”
Ragar’s face turned red. “A match for us? Are you saying you think they want to fight us?” He peered into the distance at the trees stretching upward, water shooting into the air.
“What a spectacle,” Ysar muttered, his wings rustling.
“Good,” Uruth said, running a finger along the sharp line of his axe. “I’m growing bored of this.”
“Let’s go teach the mortals a lesson.” Larissa rose into the air, her water-blue hair rising around her. “We’ll take care of you later.” She pointed at Kairoth, who’d sunk to the ground, his shadows surrounding him.
With that, the gods flew off, straight toward the battle waiting.
Ryder laid my father down gently as rain fell harder, soaking us. Kairoth walked over, laying a hand on my shoulder.
“I’m so sorry,” he said quietly.
Tears continued to stream down my face. I’d saved my brothers but doomed my father.
“At least he got to see us free.” Phoenix’s voice wobbled as he knelt by my father’s head, stroking his hair back.
Soloman stayed quiet, staring. The others sniffled.
Kairoth looked toward the jungle in the distance. “I have to go.” He pressed his lips to mine in a swift kiss. “You stay here as long as you need to say goodbye.”
With that, he lifted and flew toward the commotion in the jungle.
We sat around my father, all of us holding hands as we cried and remembered everything he’d done for us. My brothers knew of everything from his diary entries. I’d kept them updated when I visited their dreams.
The earth wrenched under us, the balcony tilting as it broke in two. Screams peppered the air.
I wanted to stay here with my father, to celebrate his life, but we had a battle to fight and no more time to mourn.
“We have to make them pay,” Ryder said, coming to a stand. “We have to go fight that battle and we have to win.”
My brothers nodded, and I stood. “Are you sure about this? You just came out of a curse. You might not be ready to use your magic.”
“I will avenge my father,” Ryder said. “I will get revenge for what was done to me by that horrible woman.”
“Let’s not wait,” Klaus said, punching a fist into his hand. “She’s unconscious, so let’s make her pay now.”
We all looked to the corner of the balcony where Khalasa had been knocked out, but she was no longer there.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
BELLAMY
We wasted no time getting to the jungle. My brothers were surprisingly strong after so long being cursed. But of course they were. I’d never known anyone as resilient, strong, courageous as them. They’d never sit back at the castle and let everyone else fight for them. I should’ve expected them to want to fight.
They’d each found weapons from the armory, all of them now with swords or spears to fight with. We didn’t know how much of their magic they’d be able to use after being cursed for so long, and I wanted to make sure they were armed.
Rain soaked us, and the sky rumbled with thunder, a promise of the storm to come.
