Page 92 of Forged By Heart and Claws
“It took years to regain footing. Years of reminding the weak that the world does not spare them just because theywish it to. But your parents doomed themselves. They were too beloved and too foolish. That kind of legacy had to be broken. Permanently. And now I see it in you.”
The dull thuds of Veralt, Thalen, and Briar smashing stone sounded like a battle cry. I searched for anything they might have overlooked that we could use to get out.
“Yes.” Colm exhaled. “It took planning, but your precious mother offered me the perfect opportunity. The Crimson Wanderer, that rare comet she adored. She took you to that little overlook near the Umbral Range, so trusting and happy to make a memory with her sweet boy while your father was away.” He laughed softly. “She had wards, guards, and spells, but none of them protected her.”
Briar moved back to my side and threaded her fingers through mine. “Don’t listen to him. He’s trying to get inside your head. It's what he does, and he enjoys it.”
I leaned into her instinctively, but his words pulled me in. I remembered the smells of pine needles and damp moss, and the crackle of distant thunder. A chill of mist coiled around us, and Mother laughed.
“I couldn’t decide which of you I wanted to kill first. But killing you both would have been too…sudden. There isso much more powerin grief than there is in death.”
Something inside me twisted.
“Then you wandered off to find those button mushrooms for your sister. Such a sweet gesture that cost you dearly. Was it your idea, or hers?”
I didn’t move. “Mine.” It had been my idea. Elara had wanted to come with us, but she had been ill. It was the first time she’d shown symptoms of the illness that had devastated her, though we hadn’t known that yet. Mother had promised to do something special with just her later, and when I’d seen the mushrooms, I’d wanted to bring some to her.
Briar sucked in a breath beside me, as if my pain had bled through the rift between us. She placed her hands on both sides of my face and said, “Do not react. Don’t let him get inside your head like that.” She glanced back at Thalen and Veralt.
“I gave her a choice. Herself, or you. And she chose by sending you away. You were old enough to notice something was wrong. Old enough not to obey her without question. You loved her, didn’t you?” Colm’s voice softened mockingly. “So why didn’t yousaveher?”
The thrust landed with surgical cruelty.
“How did you miss it, little prince? Why did you not care enough to stay?”
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, and my breaths shortened. I focused on Briar’s presence and touch, but I couldn’t kick out the words. “There were no outsiders.” That was the part that never made sense to me, but everyone had insisted it was true.
“Well, I can’t tell you all my secrets. I just want you to know that her death was your fault. Just like Briar’s and Elara’s will be.”
He paused, letting the silence dig in.
“She died so much faster than I intended. The venom on that blade was supposed to cause a slow, painful death. But it was satisfying to kill your father with the same blade and a perfected version of that venom. I’ll plunge it into your heart as well. If I’m feeling merciful, I’ll make it swift. We both know you’re out of options, but I’m going to give you the same choice I gave your mother, Vad.”
Briar shook her head and tugged on my arm. “Don’t listen to him, Vad. He’s trying to make you give up.”
But he was right. When the guards got here and the door opened, we’d be cut off from retreat, and Colm wouldn’t hesitate to kill Briar. I had to protect her. I’d failed to protect my mother,and I’d failed to protect Briar several times already. “And what is this choice exactly, Colm?”
Briar shook her head, staring up at me with wide, pleading eyes. “Whatever you’re thinking. Don’t. We’re going to get out of here together.”
Colm paused a breath longer. Something light and sharp scraped the door again as if tracing a pattern. “You surrender willingly and allow yourself to be bound, and I will open the second door and let your beloved and your friends run free. Or we will break the door down and capture you, or fill the room with poison, killing you all. I'm not sure which I prefer. I swear to you that, if we do break down the door, I will cut Briar to pieces in front of you. I will skin her alive and take her apart, muscle by muscle.”
I curled my hand, the claws biting into my flesh. “Do you swear that, if you let Briar go, you won’t harm her?” He would lie. Of course he would, but I had to ask.
“Nothing’s working.” Veralt panted while Thalen lunged at the door with his shoulder.
“Of course I swear it. I already vowed it.” That low, cold laugh sliced through me. We both knew that no magic held him to that vow. “And because I’m feeling generous, I’ll give you thirty seconds to decide."
“No, it’s a trap,” Briar hissed. She tugged on my arm. “Don’t give up, Vad. Don’t listen to him. This isn’t your fault. We will figure something else out!”
Her desperation cut me, but I hugged her close. Our bond was so weak; I couldn’t even feel her anymore. Even if part of her wolf magic still worked, we all smelled of that vinegar scent. She couldn’t tell if I was lying, but I chose my words with care as I whispered in her ear. “Get ready to run. I’m going to play him. But I need you by the other door so I can get through as fast as I can.”
She trembled in my arms but nodded. Her arms clutched me tightly, and I breathed her in, closing my eyes and savoring this moment… the last time I would ever hold her. I didn’t dare kiss her, or she might guess what I was going to do.
Veralt and Thalen had stopped beating on the door. Veralt stood with his arms crossed over his broad chest. Thalen still held the lamp in one hand, his bandaged wings drooping. As soon as I pressed Briar forward and she started running down the tunnel, I looked at Thalen. His amber eyes dimmed, but he squared his shoulders.
I mouthed at himTake care of heras she ran past him to the stone door. She was between him and Veralt now as she spun back to face me.
I placed my hand once more on the key still in the lock. “I’ll surrender on three. You open the second door, and I’ll open this one.”
