Page 64 of Blood So Brutal

“Don’t say it,” he said.

“I wasn’t going to say anything!”

“You were. I can see it on your face.” He turned and flopped back down on the sofa.

I propped a hand on my hip. “And what, do tell, was I planning on saying?”

Jessiah got comfortable on the sofa before answering in a high-pitched voice, “You were a big asshole to your brother, Jessiah. You should apologize. It isn’t fair that you said those things, etcetera, etcetera.”

I took a step backward. “Sounds like you have a guilty conscience. Maybe that’s your heart telling you to apologize. I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t stand in the way of fate—” My words were cut off by him throwing a dusty pillow in my direction. I dodged it quickly, tucking into my bedroom for safety and shutting the door behind me.

The energy in the room changed instantly.

“You don’t have to ignore him,” I said. Wolf lay on his back, waiting for me on the bed. I kicked off my dirty boots, unclipped my dagger from my belt, and joined him, flopping onto my stomach.

The sun was still up outside, and I was exhausted. I hadn’t done much at all since I was taken by Asmodeus. The travel, the exploring, the wings. The new wave of exhaustion rolled over me heavily, relentlessly.

“I’m not ignoring him,” Wolf whispered, making sure to keep his voice quiet so only I could hear. “I just don’t trust myself to not drive my sword into his shins the next time he speaks.”

“Right,” I answered. “So, ignoring.”

I let my eyes flutter closed for just a second. My eyelids were heavy, pulling me deeper and deeper into the exhaustion.

“Retract your wings,” he said. “You’ll replenish your magic quicker.”

I could feel the power within me beginning to flicker, like I drained the well of magic deep in my soul.Retract. Like it was that fucking easy. I felt frazzled and uneven; the very last thing I felt was control over my emotions.

“Here.” Wolf’s hand landed on my back, splaying over the base of both wings through his large shirt. “Relax here.”

I let out a breath and tried to relax the muscles Wolf touched. It was hard, though, when his touch affected me like that.

“They’re just hiding out there,” I whispered. “They’re waiting.”

A few beats passed. “They’re waiting for you.”

I took another breath and let my shoulders relax further. “Do they know I can’t help them?” My throat burned at the words. They looked so hopeful kneeling before me, like I really would be the one to save them, like I really would be the one to rebuild their kingdom.

His hand began to move in soft, soothing circles around my back. “Deep breath, Huntress. Pull your power back to you.”

I did as he ordered, trying my best to pull everything back to my center. I focused on the tendrils of power that flooded my body and, one by one, I pictured them crawling back to my heart, retreating.

“How can I possibly help them?” I continued. “I can’t even control my own damn wings.”

His hand made another circle then paused. “You don’t give yourself enough credit.”

I didn’t realize what he was talking about until I blinked my eyes back open and saw only the room around me where the large wings should have been.

Hells. “I didn’t even feel that.”

“That’s good,” he said. “That means it’s natural.”

“If I had years to practice with them, if I had years to sharpen my magic, practice with my blood, maybe I could?—”

“You don’t need years. You’re perfect exactly as you are.”

I turned my head on the pillow so I could see him. He was already staring at me, eyes dark in focus as he traced the spot on my back where my wings just were.

“They’re going to fight for us, aren’t they?” I asked.

---