Page 96 of Forged By Heart and Claws
Everyone was here and safe… except Vad. A sob broke through before I could tamp it down.
Briar didn’t hesitate, kneeling on the ground and pulling me into her arms. I buried my face in her shoulder, my fingers curling into her shirt. Her warmth and her scent of vanilla and home anchored me.
"Breathe." Her hand stroked my back. "I've got you. I'm here."
Another sob tore from my throat, raw and broken, and my tears soaked her shoulder. Everything I'd been holding back came flooding out at once.
"He's gone," I choked out. "Ember, he's—Colm took him, and I couldn't—I couldn't stop it. I tried, I tried so hard, but?—"
"I know." Her voice was steady, gentle, her hand pressed against the back of my head. "Thalen told us everything. I’ve been talking with your friends. You’ve been through hell, and I’m so sorry.”
“We’re going to help you take care of everything.” Ryker patted my back. “Those bastards will pay for hurting you.”
I pulled back and smiled at my brother-in-law, the alpha of our pack. He stayed in control even when things were difficult.
Someone else stepped from the shadows, followed by the scent of lilacs, roses, and wet soil. Many-Greats observed me from a few feet away, his hands folded like he wasn’t certain what to do. His golden-brown skin seemed paler than usual, but his liquid-gold eyes glowed bright and sharp. “I hope you’ll forgive my disappearance. And the fact that, yet again, I have returned to an area where you are sleeping.”
“You could have told us you were going.” I gestured him over and hugged him, and then whispered into his ear, “You’ve got to stop disappearing on me.”
He huffed a quiet laugh, his tone stern even as his gaze softened. “All I’ve ever wanted is for my granddaughters to besafe. I promised Ember that, if your life was threatened, I’d inform her, and I had to follow through on my word. I didn’t want to argue with you about bringing them back here. I do apologize that it took so long—finding a portal with lingering residual magic and then stabilizing it long enough to function was no small feat.”
“It nearly caused a riot when Gage, Kendric, and Xavier realized they couldn’t join us because there wasn’t enough magic.” Ryker smiled. “Although, I have to admit, this may be the most elaborate distraction anyone’s ever come up with to avoid talking about fae magic.”
A faint smile tugged at my lips. It felt like lifetimes had passed since I’d gotten the butterfly tattoo. Ember had wanted to talk about it right away, but I’d put her off. Then Many-Greats had tried to whisk me away before the guards could kidnap me, but they’d grabbed me and brought me to the bridal competition. As frightened and confused as I’d been that night, none of it compared to now.
Elara squatted by Ember. “Why don’t we all gather in our makeshift sitting area to discuss our plans? We don't have much time.”
“Sounds good.” I took a deep breath and stood.
Ember moved to help me, but I shook my head. “Thanks, but I’m fine.”
She bit her bottom lip like she was taken aback, but I gave her a tender smile. If I had to lead without Vad, I couldn’t show weakness. He deserved that from me.
Rhielle and Quen flanked me, and Myantha took the spot next to Thalen.
“We’re going to get him back.” Rhielle squeezed my arm. “We won’t let anything happen to him.”
Quen snarled. “I’m going to enjoy killing each one of these traitors and calling them cowards and pyre pots!”
I forced a smile, though I knew their words were merely for comfort. I couldn’t feel Vad anymore, but I couldn’t feel Ember or Ryker either, so I was trying to hold on to hope that he wasn’t dead.
I chose a crate in the center of the seating area. Ember took the spot next to me, and Ryker crouched on her other side. Many-Greats sat opposite me, his expression severe but his gaze unusually gentle.
Quen sat cross-legged on a nearby crate, her crimson eyes looking at me with concern before she returned to murmuring with Elias. Vyraetos knelt beside her, holding fresh bandages and salve, gently motioning toward her wing.
Rhielle stood with her arms folded tight, though her usual glare had dulled to quiet observation. Veralt rubbed her shoulders, jaw tight and brow furrowed. Myantha hovered protectively near Thalen, who stood rigid and on high alert.
Elara sat on the other side of me with Silus taking his usual spot at her side. Siray had dozed off upright, arms folded over her chest like she was on guard even in sleep. Kaylen sat against the stone wall, her posture stiff and her knuckles pale as her hands rested on her knees.
It should’ve comforted me to see them all alive, to know we’d survived for now, but that comfort couldn’t reach past the missing presence that ripped out my heart.
I focused on the first thing I wanted to address. “I can’t feel my wolf at all. Can you two still sense me?”
“Not really.” Ember shook her head, her hands on her waist. “Your link is there, but so faint and cold it’s almost nonexistent. That’s one reason I had to see you.”
“I don’t understand what happened to my wolf.” I fought back tears. If I had my wolf, maybe we could’ve gotten out of the trap, and Vad would be here with me now.
Elara stood and quickly walked toward the supplies.
