Desperately, I attempted to move. "I don’t know you anymore," I hissed back, ignoring the ache it caused to say those words. I thought the day I’d see my brother again would be a joyous one but now it was riddled with distrust and betrayal.
Finally able to peel my eyes open and feeling my body heal, I dragged myself upright, the pain jolting as I moved my numb limbs. Wrapping Riella as fiercely and protectively in my arms as much as my weakened body would allow, I gave her a gentle kiss on the top of her head.
“I am happy you are safe, my little chickadee.”
She rubbed her face into my chest. “I was scared but Kade promised that you would wake up and so I decided to be brave like you.”
I smoothed her hair back from her shoulder, the strands like the softest satin in my hand. “I am so sorry you were scared, little one.”
Kade’s sigh drew my attention to him, his hands rubbing down the front of his leathers, his expression still dark. “I promise you, Remnant, Riella has been safe the entire time."
“Depends on your definition of safe, doesn’t itbrother.”
He pressed his lips firmly together, his emerald eyes flashing brightly at me in the dim twilight of the room. “You’re angry at the wrong fae,sister.”
If Riella wasn’t in my arms, I would have him pinned to the dark glass wall that surrounded us right now. I knew exactly who to be angry at.
Baring my teeth, I hissed back. “Where is Emon?”
Narrowing his eyes at me, he nodded down to the bed next to me. “Your soulmate is safe, beside you.”
Moving as quickly as my body would allow, I turned to my sleeping soulmate in all his bronze glory and studied him. His breath was steady, his power still radiating warmth like his body next to me, laying formidably upon black silk sheets despite his unconscious state.
Just like a fairytale, a sleeping beauty…oh how I would kiss him now and never stop, especially if that was where happily ever after was for us.
“Will he wake?” My hand trembled and I couldn’t keep it from my voice either, reaching out to brush his light brown hair from his brow.
“I’ve been told he would,” Kade bit out.
“Oh, I am, don’t you worry, Kade Dark,” Emon croaked, then his lashes fluttered open with gold eyes blazing up at me. “Hey little umbra.”
“Shifter,” I whispered at the same time as Riella flew from my arms onto his immobile body.
"Father!" she cried, landing heavily on him and I grimaced when he grunted, having just experienced the same numbing pain.
But he only chuckled, strength returning, his arms moved lethargically enveloping her. “My sweet cub,” he purred, rising next to me, his hand reaching out to cup my face.“Are you unharmed?”He growled in my mind.
Inwardly I melted, wanting nothing more than to lean into his steady touch and soak in his powerful unfailing strength.
Except we were not alone, my brother watched us broodingly in the darkened shadows of the room.
“I am unharmed, Emon.”
Leaning in he kissed me softly, sending fire burning into my blood, bestowing the very strength that I had just been aching for.
Riella giggled between us.
“Let us make sure it stays that way.”Dropping his hand from me, he glared over at Kade, placing Riella between us protectively. “Give me one reason I shouldn’t tear you into shreds and burn this place down.”
I just caught the pain in my brother’s eyes before he bared his teeth at Emon, folding his arms across his chest. “Because we both know I am not the one you want to truly tear apart,” leaning forward his eyes gleamed, “and if it is Sheol you are looking to burn down, shifter, I’ll gladly help you doso.”
“Why?” I snapped, “you seemed more than content to let him weaken us before now.”
Kade shifted, raising his booted foot upon his knee. “The sleep was going to happen whether Shea was involved or not. It was a mistake to not inform you though, one I warned him you would not take kindly to.”
“What do you mean sleep?” Emon growled.
Kade’s eyes shifted to my soulmate, his nostrils flaring, the same distrust in his own as there was in Emon’s. “Sheol is meant for the dead, shifter. But I promise you, your court is well enough. They rest in another tower.”
