Page 102 of Beasts of Briar
“You’ll sleep in my room.” I stood, then reached out a hand and pulled her to her feet. “I’m not letting you or those sweaters out of my sight. I’m going to secure the prison cell again.”
She stared at me for a minute, then raised a hand to my face, straight through my shadows, and touched me with a gentleness that didn’t quite fit her rough edges. She leaned forward, my shadows parting as she pressed her lips to mine. I felt her finger tracing a simple word against my chest.
“Thank you.”
“Master.”
We broke apart as Jerome flew into the room, his usual grin gone from his face.
“We have a problem, I’m afraid.”
“What’s happened?” I stepped forward.
“She’s gone, sir.” Jerome’s bottom lip trembled. “Khalasa is gone.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
BELLAMY
Ipaced back and forth in Kairoth’s room. Spirit Star had escaped, and it was all my fault. I’d been so stupid. So stubborn. So naive.
Khalasa could very well destroy this world. She’d be so angry after being trapped for such a long time. She’d want revenge. I still didn’t know the story behind who trapped the gods. But it was time to find out who that was and why they’d done it.
The black double doors burst open as Kairoth strode in, his shadows a storm of fury and wrath around him.
“She’s gone,” he said, then turned to me, eyes glowing red. “And she took the weapons. She must’ve gone into Goji’s mind. She’s the only one other than me who knows the location of the weapons.”
My stomach dropped. That left two weapons. Spirit Frost’s axe and her own scythe.
“Would she know where the scythe is?”I signed.“Are you drawn to your weapons?”
“Not unless we’re very close to it,” he said, and that gave me a small glimmer of hope. “It’s almost like part of us. It feels like a heartbeat.” He reached his hand out to my chest and thumped it slowly. “Da-dum. Da-dum. Da-dum. That’s when you know your weapon is near.”
“How long do you think it will take her to find it?”
“I don’t know, but I have to stop her.” He walked over to his wardrobe and flung it open.
My eyes welled with tears. I felt so stupid, so mad at myself for the horrible choices I’d made.
Kairoth noticed, dropping the shirt he held and striding over to me. He took my hands in his. “It’s not your fault.”
I wrenched my hands free and took a few steps back.“Yes it is. It’s all my fault.”I began pacing, Kairoth standing there and watching me.“I’ve spent my life putting up walls ever since my brothers disappeared. Before that, really. Ever since my father let that horrible woman into our home. I’ve been so determined to keep others away, not share too much information, not let them get too close. I didn’t even need her for the nettle weed.”I jabbed a finger toward his chest.“Because I had you. I could have asked Goji or Jerome or Wesley. But instead I isolated myself like I always do, so sure I had to do it myself. So sure I was alone.”
His shadows parted, giving me a perfect view of his face, his glowing amber eyes, the compassion in them.
“You’re not alone,” he said.
“I know that now.”I let out a frustrated breath. “But I didn’t realize it then. I’m done pushing everyone away. I’m done not asking for help. Not asking for what I need. What I want.”
I took a step forward, letting myself be completely vulnerable as I gazed up at the god.
“What is it you want?” Kairoth had gone completely still.
“One night,”I signed slowly.“One night with you before everything changes, before we have to fight Khalasa. I don’t want to push you away anymore. I don’t want to feel alone anymore. I want to let you in before it’s too late.”
Kairoth stared at me for a long minute, his gaze burning. “Are you sure...?”
I knew the question he was asking. Are you sure you want me? The answer was a resounding yes.
