Page 27 of Forged By Heart and Claws
Silus’s upper lip curled, but he said nothing.
“I don’t want you two fighting.” Elara rose on shaky legs. Her fingers dug into Vyraetos’s shoulder as she steadied herself and stood. “None of this is Vad’s or Briar’s fault. Something else is happening. Something bigger than all of us. The only way we’ll have a chance to survive is if we stop acting like enemies and start fighting like a family.”
Vyraetos spoke softly. “Wise words, Your Highness, but may I suggest refraining from walking until we’ve gotten you the proper medications? Standing will be far more feasible after you have been fully treated.”
Elara’s jaw clenched. Despite the pallor in her cheeks, fire flashed in her dark-blue eyes. She pressed the palm of her hand against the wall. “I’m not walking. I’m standing. And I want to know what's going on. Do we have any idea what happened up there?”
“Not fully.” Vyraetos gave her arm a small tug, guiding her back with care. “But treating injuries must come first. Once everyone’s stable, we’ll determine our next course of action.”
“Iamstable,” Elara snapped. “However, my brother was shot, and he’s pretending it doesn’t hurt when I know it does.”She threw Vad a cutting look that dared him to argue. “Before he goes off on his next escapade, that must be dealt with.”
“I agree.” I nodded and raised an eyebrow at my mate as his mouth opened. “He needs to be treated before we leave for the Healing Hall.”
Vad frowned, but he shook his head. “I don’t need anyone to see to my injuries until yours are tended.”
Turning both palms up in surrender, Vyraetos shrugged. “You see, Your Majesty? I’m outnumbered.”
Vad’s face hardened. “I said I don’t need anyone to deal with my wounds until Briar’s are tended to first.”
I smirked, knowing victory was in my grasp. “Perfect. So you’ll let them treat you once I’m handled?”
“That is what I said.” His brow creased.
“Perfect, because I’m fine!” I spread my arms wide and rolled my shoulders. “Wolf healing. Shifting allows my wounds to heal quicker.”
“Convenient,” Vad scoffed. He shrugged off his blood-soaked surcoat and draped it over a shelf, then undid the remains of his black tunic, blood still slick across his ribs.
Vyraetos lifted a box marked with a staff symbol, peeled back the lid, and removed a roll of bandages and a jar of thick salve.
“Is there anything in there that will help Thalira and Elara?” I folded my arms. “Thalira needs something to stop the bleeding.”
“She’s stable, but not for long,” Vyraetos said without looking up. “We’ll do what we can here, but without the antidote…”
I nodded grimly. “Then we move quickly. It could take us hours to come back with what she needs.”
Across the room, Many-Greats knelt beside Thalira, pressing a small silver flask to her lips. She drank hesitantly and grimaced. Quen joined them, checking Thalira’s skin and arms for glass fragments—searching for the same signs that had marked Yuki before she died.
A tight ache cinched my chest. Grief coiled sharp and fresh in my throat, and I swallowed it back.
Myantha crossed to me and gently placed her hand over mine. Her dark brown eyes shimmered, glassy with unshed tears. “I’ll help you get the medicine if you want. But you have to know—I never meant to hurt you. I wouldneverhurt you, Briar. I swear it. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”
I inhaled slowly, but not a trace of sulfur laced the air.
Trusting people had already cost me too much… but magic was gone here, so she couldn't cover up the smell.
I squeezed her hand. “I believe you.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, and she ducked her head with a sniff. “I can’t believe Yuki and Velessa are gone.”
My throat tightened. “I know.” The weight of grief pressed on my chest, and tears stung as they filled my eyes. I forced them back. Now wasn’t the time. If I started crying, I wouldn’t be able to stop. “We’ll get through this and bring their killers to justice.”
Vad cast a glance in our direction.Does that lie-smelling ability of yours ever mislead you?
Not this time because no one has magic. It’s hard to get the spell right to cover the scent of a lie, and the fae aren’t aware that I have the ability. People can manipulate it with half-truths or omissions, but Myantha isn’t doing that.
Across the room, Quen growled with frustration. “So it was Calla Lily we should have been watching, not Kaylen. Figures.”
“What happened to Kaylen?” Elara asked weakly. “It looked like they were dragging her away. That would suggest she wasn’t involved in the decision-making, or perhaps she’d served her purpose.” She hesitated. “And Calla Lily…I don’t remember seeing her.”
