Page 28 of What Whispers in the Dark
That touch.Garrik shuddered as if it were someone else’s daggered claws preparing to curl and stab into his skin.
Shadows whirled around his face and hands, unsettled and desperate. Pulling at him—beggingtheir master to wake from the nightmare reigning. His other guardians called to him silently. The comforting darkness, their velvet touch, their soothing cold against his scars and unbearable skin, shielding him now because they could not protect him back then.
Face bleak, his eyes swirled with veiled night as he blinked.
“Garrik,please.” Thalon shook him gently. His pleas danced through the room as he placed his hand on the back of Garrik’s head. “Talk to me.”
That was not so simple.
He blinked again. The abyss faded like waves retreating from shore as silver narrowed on his hand. Droplets of blood stained a scrap of fabric wrapped around his palm.
That was not there before …
Beside him, his Guardian knelt.
This had been occurring more frequently. And Thalon was always quick to notice, but knew to remain silent. As it was not the orders of his brother, Garrik, but the High Prince who commanded him to focus on his duties. For nearly three years, Garrik had refused to listen. Refused aid when it was ultimately futile.Nothingcould stop her magic.Nothingcould destroy the memories and nightmares.
They were his scars to bear.
Garrik plucked the fabric away from his abdomen, reinforcing the thought,They would never know.
He would not be based asweak. A plaything. Toy. A pathetic trinket to bend and break.
Garrik let out a long-suffering breath. “I’m?—”
“Say the wordfineand I’ll throw you out of this tent on your ass and beat you into a river like the little shit-spoiled High Prince you once were.” Brimstoned fury burned in Thalon’s eyes. Provoking that holy temper from within him was … rare. But when his anger surfaced, especially for those he loved dearly—his family …
“Watch yourself, Realmpiercer. I am your High Prince.”
That shadow flared and unfurled behind him, masking the sunlight against the canvas. “Don’t play that shit with me. Out there”—Thalon made a pointed gesture at the canvas, at the firesite and camp beyond—“in front of them, I will do as you command without question. But in here, I won’t sit back and watch you fall into whatever Firekeeper-filled-hellthat just was.”
Dangerous ground. Very dangerous ground. Thalon would not be dismissed easily today.
Garrik dug his heels into the dirt and stood, muscles rippling from both the memory and the challenge. “I donottake orders from you,general.” He took a step toward his swords-master, fist clenched.
Thalondaredto advance, too. “Today you do.” With a hand on his golden sword, he anchored his boots into the dirt and held new ground. “Ready to have your ass kicked? Go ahead, at least that’ssomethinginstead of sitting here pretending you’re unbothered when you and I both know damn well you’re not.” Thalon unsheathed his sword and stabbed it into the dirt beside Garrik’s chair.
The air thickened, falling blisteringly cold.
Thalon knew precisely what he was doing. He stepped forward again, fists raised. “Put your damn hands up.”
“Don’t,” Garrik growled, a warning as his eyes began to fade into the darkened abyss.
“Then talk.”
Talk? He would rather eviscerate something—anything. And he recognized Thalon knew that simple, deadly fact. Thalon would risk his own life, risk the Savage Prince turning on him, just to bring Garrik some relief.
He didn’t deserve such loyalty. Such … love.
The two stood in silence, measuring each other.
But Thalon was not leaving. By the resolute pierce of his eyes, Garrik knew he would become his demon given flesh, and would suffer every blow until one of them yielded.
Garrik’s Smokeshadows held the power to dawn Thalon away if he wanted, but …
No matter the hesitation within him, no matter the warnings in his mind of how deadly thiswouldbe, it was Garrik who spoke first. “Do not allow me to leave this tent untilIhave returned.”
Smokeshadows whirled around the space. Tendrils of swirling darkness engulfed any sharpened weapon within view, disappearing through ash and clouds.
