Page 59 of Quiet
Briar had had a night. He still wasn’t entirely sure what had happened, but there was one thing he was clear on. Isa was his.
He hadn’t been imagining all the times Isa had plucked Briar’s thoughts out of thin air or how abnormally empathetic he was. It was as if he was tailor-made just for Briar.
At first, he’d thought whatever that stupid fairy had done to him was a nightmare brought to life. All of the countless external distractions he’d been able to keep at bay using various coping mechanisms had poured into his mind leaving him trapped in a world of chaos. He couldn’t get out, and he had nothing to focus on to give him an anchor.
Until Isa had shown up and given him one.
It had still been awful, but he could at least focus on the steady beacon of Isa’s presence. Briar was only vaguely aware as Isa herded him away from the party. Being outside in the cool night air had been better. A little quieter, but still far too much.
If he could have, Briar would have burrowed into Isa and never let him go.
And then there was starlight.
Then there was clarity.
And then glorious quiet.
For a few shining moments, there was nothing trying to jam its way into his mind, and there were no distractions to defend against. The only thing in his world was Briar and Isa.
Once they’d broken apart, the world had rushed back, but in the tolerable way Briar was used to. But he was caught in Isa’s soft, starlight eyes, and he never wanted to be free.
Especially now that he knew how Isa felt.
Isa wanted to be with Briar. Briar had read it from Isa’s thoughts as if they were a tapestry spread out before him. It followed the boy’s life, showing Briar all the pain, sorrow, and fear he’d dealt with growing up. Time after time, Isa’s family had broken his heart as they’d done their best to beat every last bit of Isa’s true nature out of him. It was a wonder he’d been able to retain his deep well of compassion and cheerful nature, let alone find a way to escape and thrive on his own.
The only bright spots in Isa’s life had been helping children put on plays and pageants for his church and teaching children sign language at a school for the deaf and blind. That and the long line of injured animals in Isa’s life had given him the strength to foster the core of kindness in his soul until it was stronger than all the stars in the sky.
When Isa had met Briar, it lit him up in a way nothing ever had. Just like the effect Isa had on Briar. Unfortunately, the only thing Isa wanted more was for Briar to be safe and far, far away from Isa’s family.
Briar would have to be an idiot to let Isa push him away.
His connection to Isa’s heart may have been broken once the spell had been cast, but Briar had seen enough. Isa was just going to have to learn how to deal with him. Withthem.
If Isa really wanted to leave the country, Briar was coming with him.
“I’m not leaving the country.” Isa sighed. “At least not any time soon. I just . . . I can’t believe we did that in front of a total stranger.” Isa buried his face in his hands, and the moonlight highlighted the crimson staining the tips of his ears.
“Can you hear everything I’m thinking?”
Isa jerked his head out of his hands and looked startled. “What do you mean?”
“I didn’t say anything about you leaving the country. I only thought it.”
“Oh.” Isa’s face grew pensive. “I don’t think so? I mean, it doesn’t feel like I am. I just understand you. It feels a little like if you want me to know something, I do.”
“Then I want you to know this.” Briar took Isa’s cheek in his hand and gazed into his eyes. He let go of the restraints of words and trying to express himself and justfelt.
Isa gasped and tried to look away, but Briar tightened his hold on Isa’s jaw and forced him to meet his eyes.
After a moment, Isa sighed and said, “You’re not going to let me go, are you?”
“You don’t want me to.”
“But I should!” Isa’s voice became very small, little more than a whisper. “I should want to let you go if I really cared. I should be able to do that for you.” He looked down and began to toy with a button on Briar’s shirt.
“If you really understand, you’d know leaving would destroy me. You’re it for me, Isa. I will never want anyone else.”
“No . . .” Isa pushed halfheartedly at Briar’s chest. One last token resistance.
