Page 69 of Brighter Than Gold

My stomach twisted. “About what?”

“I don’t know. Come, let’s get you fed.”

Callan held out his hand for me, and when I took it, he brushed his thumb ever-so-gently over the backs of my knuckles. The sensation flooded my chest with something light and pleasant, and I hated that I loved the feeling.

* * *

Callan

I watched Reyah finish her meal as she played with the children here. She naturally gravitated towards them, and they to her. She was on her knees under the table with a young girl, hiding from two other children who pretended to be wolves, stalking and snarling at them around the table. The girl in her arms giggled with delight as she protected her from the imaginary predators.

Idona came in and caught my eye, letting me know Yates was ready to see her. I trusted Yates. I knew her nearly as well as I knew her brother. When we were younger, she had always grouped herself with the boys when we got up to no good, and if anyone had anything to say about a ‘girl’ joining us, Burke was the first to put them in their place.

I dodged tiny, snarling wolves as I knelt under the table.

“She’s ready for you,” I said to Reyah. She smiled and nodded.

“You grumpy wolves were so busy trying to eat us, you didn’t notice that we turned into… BEARS!”

The wolves skittered off whimpering as Reyah and the girl began to growl and chase them away.

Her easy smile was magnetic, and fuck if yesterday’s confession didn’t feel good. And she hadn’t run from me, it had been the opposite, it had brought her closer.

Her own confession in the bathing suite had not deterred me, and I was grateful that she had accepted my truth as gracefully as she had. I felt a dangerous spark of hope. She looked up at me, the smile washed over every part of her, and it was wonderful to see her happy again.

“Shall we…”

“Yes, sorry.”

I turned on a heel and followed her to Yates’ room.

Idona waited outside of the door when we approached, and the look on her face made the hair on my neck stand.

“What? What is it?” I demanded.

“She—she needs to speak with you alone first.”

“Wait here, don’t move,” I barked at Reyah, and I pushed my way into the room. “What happened?” I demanded as I made my way through to Yates. Another of the silver-haired women waited beside the bed. She looked dishevelled and utterly exhausted.

“Come here, Callan,” Yates beckoned me. “This is Eldrin,” she said motioning towards the woman. Her hair was kept short, and the tattoos she bore resembled Idona’s. I nodded towards her in greeting.

“You know the Sisterhood have been blessed with abilities.”

“Yes. Yates, what is this about?”

“If you can be patient, I’m going to show you,” she chastised. “Eldrin has come from the North, straight here.”

Fuck.

“Do you trust me?” Yates asked.

“Of course I do. Why?”

“Come closer, come kneel.”

I stepped hesitantly towards them. “Yates…”

“Kneel,” she repeated.

---