Page 84 of Forged By Heart and Claws
Elara glanced toward Silus, who gave a slow nod. “Then we’ll hold this post,” she said. Her voice was firm, but shadows lingered beneath her eyes.
Thalen leaned forward with a low, deliberate cough. “I hate to be predictable, but no way in the forsaken hells are you going without me. I’ll pack light. I know you prefer the dark, but I’ll bring my own light source in case we get separated. Don’t argue. You need me.”
I opened my mouth, but Quen beat me to it.
“I can help?—”
“No.” I lifted a hand, silencing her. “Everyone else stays here. Thalen is the only one to join us.”
I turned back to the two girls. “Siray. Kaylen. You will remain in the vesting chamber and follow Elara’s orders. If she prefers it, you’ll be bound.”
“I do prefer it,” Elara said coldly.
Kaylen’s jaw dropped, and Siray just nodded like she’d expected it. Elara pointed a pale hand at Kaylen. “Go clean yourself up in the storage closet. There’s soap and a sink. You reek.”
Kaylen scowled. “Is there hot water?”
“No. Why would there be hot water?” Elara didn’t even blink. “Quen, escort her. Myantha, grab rope from the supply crates. Vad, do you need anything else before you leave?”
The pride swelling in my chest caught me off guard. I crossed the room to Elara, studying her carefully. “Doyouneed anything before we leave?”
Her wry smile flickered. “Just two things. Come back alive, and take that bastard out.”
I placed my hands on her shoulders and pulled her into a brief embrace. “Father and Mother would be proud of you.”
A sharp ache bloomed in my chest. I pushed it aside. Not now.
She blinked quickly and lifted her chin. “They’d say the same about you and your bride.”
“You’re really going?” Rhielle stared at Briar with her arms folded and one brow raised. “You need rest, not another fight.”
Briar’s soft smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’ll rest when we come back.”
Rhielle blew out a breath, then hugged her tight. When she stepped back, her expression hardened. “Then take Veralt with you. Please. I’ll stay here and make sure those two—” she nodded toward Siray and Kaylen “—don’t do anything stupid. But you might need backup, and you know he’s better with a blade than I am.”
I looked to Veralt, who was already striding over, setting a hand on Rhielle’s shoulder.
“It’ll be tight,” I said. “We can’t afford to make noise or draw attention.”
“Worse than the passage we were in before you got dragged off by a shadow wolf?” he asked.
I smirked. “Not unless something goes catastrophically wrong. You should have enough room, but your head may scrape the ceiling a few times.”
He grunted. “I've dealt with worse. I’m in.”
“Good. We leave in five minutes. Make your preparations.”
As the others moved, I stepped between Rhielle and Briar, gently guiding Briar toward the shadowed alcove near the door that led to the caves. Her shoulders were drawn tight, every line of her posture coiled with tension.
I cupped her cheek, the coolness of her skin stark against my palm. “Are you all right, Briar? Is your wolf…” I trailed off, not even sure how to finish the question without unraveling her further.
Her lips trembled, and for a moment, pain streaked through her emerald eyes before she locked it away behind a wall of composure.
“She’s more distant than ever,” she said, voice low. “And our bond… I can’t feel you consistently either. It’s flickering. I—” Her voice broke. “I don’t even know if I can tell anymore when someone’s lying.”
A quiet rage burned through me at all that had happened to her. More than anything, I wanted to fix it and take the weight from her shoulders.
I kissed her forehead, then leaned in, pressing my lips to hers and wrapping my arms around her. The lack of a buzz at our touch emphasized the dampening of our connection even more. “We’ll get through this. Whatever is severing your link to your wolf, we’ll find the answer. If that means tracking down the Guardian Shadow Beast or summoning one of the others, I’ll do it without hesitation.”
