Page 46 of Embers of Fate
But I know better. I’ve seen the toll that Luciana’s death has taken on my brother, the way he’s withdrawn into himself, becoming a mere shadow of the man he used to be. Vlad may not understand, but I do. All too well.
“Samara,” Gavriil says, his voice heavy with exhaustion as he turns to me. “You may stay a little longer. Dima will take you home when you’re ready.”
“I’ll take her home,” Vlad interjects, squeezing Gavriil’s shoulder in a gesture of support. “You go with Dima.”
A rush of gratitude washes over me at Vlad’s words, at the understanding and compassion that shines in his eyes. He knows, even without being told, that Gavriil needs a moment of solitude, a chance to confront the demons that haunt him in the wake of this ceremony. But Vlad also understands that our brother cannot be left alone, not now, not when the burden of his grief and guilt threatens to crush him.
My heart aches for my brother, for the pain that he carries with him always, the weight of a love lost and a future stolen. “Where are you going?” I ask, my voice small and hesitant.
But Gavriil doesn’t answer. He simply turns and walks away, Dima falling into step beside him as they disappear into the manor.
“Vlad, I worry for him...” I mumble, my eyes fixed on the spot where they vanished from view.
“Don’t.” Vlad pulls me into his arms, his embrace warm and comforting. “He’ll be alright, Sam. Everything’s going to be alright now.”
But even as he speaks the words, I know they’re a lie. Nothing about this feels right, feels like the happy ending we’re all pretending it is.
“Because he’s marrying a Deveraux witch,” I murmur, my gaze vacant and unfocused as I stare out over the glittering lawn.
Is that what awaits me, too? A loveless marriage of convenience, a life spent playing the dutiful wife to a man I barely know? The thought makes my stomach turn, bile rising in my throat.
“Come,” Vlad says, offering me his arm with a gentle smile. “I haven’t seen you in so long... Let’s walk a little.”
I manage a faint smile in return, curling my hand around his elbow and allowing him to lead me away from the crowds, into the quiet solitude of the gardens.
But even as we walk, even as I let the beauty of the night wash over me, I can’t shake the feeling of emptiness that yawns inside me, the ache of a love lost and a future forever out of reach.
Because Nik is gone, and with him, all my dreams of a happily ever after.
And no matter how hard I try to pretend, no matter how many fake smiles I plaster on my face... I know that nothing will ever be the same again.
28
NIK
Istumble back from my midnight sprint, laden with the burden of sorrow and desire, fear and regret. The suffocating weight threatens to consume me as I struggle to keep moving forward. These past few weeks without Sam have been pure, unadulterated hell. I’ve lost count of the times I’ve dialed her number, my finger hovering over the call button, only to hang up before it even rings. I’ve even contemplated sneaking into the Ursa King’s lair, consequences be damned, just to catch a glimpse of her face.
Oh gods. This is torture.
I’ve tried to channel my pain into late-night jogs and early morning gym sessions, pushing my body to the brink of exhaustion in a desperate attempt to dull the ache in my soul. But nothing helps. Nothing eases the gaping hole in my chest where Sam used to be.
And tonight, when I had the chance to see her again at the Deveraux’s Yule soiree, I forced myself to stay away. It took every ounce of willpower I possessed, every shred of self-control, but I knew that if I laid eyes on my goddess, any restraint I’ve managed to build up would shatter like glass.
It’s for the best,I tell myself, even as my heart screams in protest. Whenever doubt creeps in, whenever I find myself wavering, I just think back to what happened in Brittany, to the terror and pain I saw in Sam’s eyes. I never want to hurt her again.
I lean against the kitchen counter, the cool marble pressing into my skin as I catch my breath. The house is quiet, still, a far cry from the chaos that usually reigns within these walls. It’s a welcome respite, a moment of peace amidst the storm of my own emotions.
But the silence is short-lived. The rumble of engines shatters the tranquility, the sound growing louder, closer, until it’s a roar that echoes through the halls. I push off from the counter, my brow furrowing as I make my way to the window, the water bottle dangling forgotten from my fingertips.
Outside, a convoy of black SUVs tears up the driveway, gravel spraying in their wake. They screech to a halt, the doors flying open before the vehicles have fully stopped. And then Bram is there, erupting from the lead car like a man possessed.
My heart pounds in my chest as I watch him, my mind racing with the implications of his arrival. I know I should tell him the truth, should confess to the secret that’s been eating away at me for days now. But the words stick in my throat, trapped behind the wall of fear and doubt that rises up to choke me. How can I possibly explain what I’ve become, the beast that lurks beneath my skin, waiting to be unleashed? Will he understand, or will he see me as a monster, a threat to be eliminated?
He moves with a tangible fury, his face twisted into a snarl, his eyes wild and blazing. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t acknowledge the startled looks of the staff as he storms past them, his steps heavy and purposeful as he barrels towards the living room.
I’m moving before I realize it, the water bottle slipping from my grasp and hitting the floor with a dull thud. I don’t stop to pick it up. Don’t pause to consider the consequences of confronting Bram in this state.
All I know is that something is wrong. Something has happened to put that look on my brother’s face. And whatever it is, I need to find out, need to be there to pick up the pieces and try to hold our fractured family together.
