Page 16 of The Ties That Bind
Faelan nodded curtly and turned to leave.
The child’s cries intensified when he walked away. Brie held her breath, her heart aching for his little girl.
Faelan suddenly stopped in his tracks and walked back to his daughter, holding out his hands. Celestia placed the crying baby in his arms.
He cradled her against his chest and gently hushed her. The tiny baby quieted, then looked up at him with teary eyes.
“I will come back for you. I promise.” Faelan kissed her on the forehead before handing her back to Celestia.
Brie saw Faelan swipe his eye as he rushed out of the room without looking back. Following quietly behind Sir, Brie listened as the child began to wail again.
Once outside, it crushed her when Faelan stared up at the sky and said, “I’m barely hanging on by a thread, Kylie.”
“Do not look back, only forward,” Rytsar stated gruffly as they walked to the vehicle.
Sir handed the suitcase to Rytsar’s man and stood beside Brie, wrapping his arm around her. “If you need anything, Wallace, don’t hesitate to call Brie and I.”
Faelan held out his hand to Sir. “You helped saved my life once. I’d prefer not to owe you a second time.”
Brie instantly thought of Tono and struggled not to show any emotion when Faelan gazed into her eyes. “Look after Celestia for me, blossom. I don’t know how long this will take and she’ll have her hands full with my little girl.”
“I will.”
Faelan suddenly frowned and looked away. “I can’t imagine life without Kylie. I don’t even want to…”
“I know,” Brie whimpered.
When Faelan met her gaze again, she was hit by the immensity of his grief. “Life means nothing without her, blossom.”
She took his hand and squeezed it. “But you’ll find a way.”
Faelan glanced toward the house briefly, before turning to Rytsar. “You’ll live to regret letting me tag along with you.”
Rytsar snorted. “You’re wrong. I am a man who no longer lives with regret.”
Brie felt chills, moved by the profound truth behind his words.
With Sir by her side, she watched Faelan get in the vehicle. He called for Little Sparrow, who jumped in to join him.
Rytsar nodded to Brie. “He will be a changed man on our return,radost moya.”
“I’m grateful…for everything.” She swallowed hard to keep her emotions in check.
Rytsar winked at her. “There is nothing I’d rather do than ensure the creature is no longer a threat to you.”
“You’ll keep us apprised of the situation?” Sir asked him.
“Of course,moy droog.”
Sir furrowed his brow and looked at Rytsar thoughtfully. “I hope to repay you for helping with my sister.”
“Nyet.”
Leaning toward him, Brie heard Rytsar whisper, “I do this for me as much as for you, comrade.”
As Brie watched them drive away, she felt a great emptiness in their wake.
Once they were out of sight, Sir guided Brie back inside. They were greeted by the loud wails of the little baby. Brie immediately went to relieve Celestia. “Let me hold this little bundle of sad cuteness.”
