Page 23 of A Rift in the House of Bruin

My mind was too tired for thoughts. Every limb felt as though it was a dead weight dragging me down. Begging me to rest. My body wanted nothing more than to sleep. My eyes continued to close, despite the effort to keep them open.

Lu laid me on the bed, ripped off his shirt. The mattress dipped with his weight as he climbed in beside me. He pressed my hand to his heart. Nico joined on the other side, mimicking his brother. Luca climbed in at the foot of the bed, pulling off my shoes and placing my feet against his warm chest.

Energy poured into my broken body, casting the room in a soft blue glow. I’d been through this before—but never with all three of them at once. The soothing energy shifted into an intense pulsing. Rhythmic whooshing filled my ears. Brilliant flashes of the forest flooded my mind’s eye. Tufts of fur in vibrant copper, russet, and chestnut so real I swear I could feel it brushing through my fingertips. Then the room tilted, catapulting me into a haze of heat and shadow. Too vivid to be a dream. Too strange to be real.

I woke,exhaustion still clouding my mind. The room was quiet save for the crackling warmth of a fire burning nearby. Richly colored logs made up the walls, wrapping the room in their cozy, rustic arms. I rolled to my side and watched in awe as Luca sat on the floor in front of the hearth. His bare back, decorated with sprawling tattoos, flexed in the most alluring way as he wound his hair into a topknot. I’d been awake all of a few minutes, and already my stomach was filled with flitting butterflies.

Luca heaved a heavy sigh before turning back to find me staring sleepily at him. “Mic,” he said softly, rushing to my side. “There you are. I’ve missed those beautiful brown eyes.” He reached for my face, tucking my hair behind my ear. “How are you feeling?”

I yawned, stretching my sore limbs. “I’m sleepy, but feeling…” I paused, trying to find the words to describe it. “Whole.”

He smiled, caressing my face. “Can I get you something to eat? You’ve been out for a whole day.”

“Do we have anything other than fish?”

Luca chuckled. “How about some berries?”

“That sounds lovely, thank you.”

He spun around, calling out to the others as he walked out of the room. “Guys! She’s awake!”

I had but a minute to myself before Lu and Nico came barreling into the room.

“Michaela?”

“Dove!”

“Good morning? I think?”

“It doesn’t matter. You’ve been asleep for quite a while.” Lu helped sit me up, stuffing large pillows behind my back.

“How are you feeling, little bird? You gave us all quite a scare.” Nico took a seat on the edge of the bed.

“I’m still tired, but…” I looked down at my hands, flexing the stiff joints. My color was back to its normal pasty, pale pink. No signs of blue or grey anywhere. “I’m feeling like myself again. Thank you all for saving me.”

“My lady requested berries.” Luca returned with a large bowl of bright yellow-orange berries and placed it in my lap.

“Slowly,” Lu cautioned. “Your body’s been through a lot.”

I popped one in my mouth and was treated to a delightfully refreshing burst of sweet, tangy flavor. “Mmm, these are delicious.”

“Salmonberries,” Luca blurted, a smile plastered to his face. “They’re my favorite.”

“If you’re done gushing about the salmonberries, I’d like to say hello.” Fallon peeked her head over Luca’s shoulder. “How are you feeling, Michaela?”

“Better,” I mumbled between berries. “Are we alone?” I asked, vaguely recalling the unwanted guests we found upon arrival.

“Levi and the others are in the living room,” Fallon huffed. “Nico’s refused to send them away.”

“They could prove to be useful allies,” Nico chided.

“Or they could be playing us to get in good with Johan,” Lucius grumbled. “If you ask me, they’re as sly as snakes in the grass.”

“Fallon, could you please shut the door?” I swallowed hard, forcing down the rising anxiety at the back of my throat. “I have something to share with the family.”

Her brows drew together, and her head tilted slightly. “Sure. Is everything okay?”

The room fell silent. Every Bruin had their eyes glued to me. Lucius grabbed my hand. “What is it, Dove?”

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