“My own good?” I hissed out.
“You’ve lost your way,” he sneered, ducking beneath my next strike. “All because of him.”
I roared, fury making my movements reckless.
I swung again, and this time my punch connected with his abdomen, but he barely flinched.
“You think this is love?” he spat, eyes flashing with disdain. “You’re a fool, Gael.”
Love? Not exactly, but I wanted the chance to find out.
Bram drove his fist into my stomach. I stumbled back.
Pain radiated through my torso, but it was nothing compared to the agony of seeing Asher on the floor, his blood pooling around him.
Bram advanced, his expression cold.
“I’m doing this for our nest. You’ll thank me when your head is clear,” he said.
I saw his intent a second too late. He shifted toward Asher, pulling out a knife. Panic surged through me, white-hot and blinding.
“No!”
I lunged, grabbing Bram by the shoulders and yanking him back.
We crashed to the floor, rolling through the grime and splintered wood. I pinned him down, my fingers around his throat.
His eyes met mine, and for a second, something flickered there. Regret, maybe. But it was gone in an instant, replaced by cold resolve.
“You can’t save him, Gael,” he rasped. “You’re only delaying the inevitable.”
“Shut up!” My voice cracked, raw with desperation.
My grip trembled. I wanted to tear him apart, to rip his throat out and bathe in his betrayal. But Bram had been my brother once, my ally.
If I killed him, Beric would only send someone else.
A weak sound drew my attention. Asher.
He was trying to push himself up, his face twisted in pain, blood smeared across his pale skin. His eyes met mine, wide and terrified.
“Gael…” His voice was a whisper, barely there.
The rage drained out of me, leaving a hollow ache in its place. I released Bram, shoving him away. He scrambled to his feet, his eyes narrowing.
“I’ll leave for now,” he said, voice low and hard. “When he dies, you’ll return to your senses and thank me.”
I didn’t watch him leave. My world had narrowed to Asher.
I dropped to my knees beside him, my hands shaking as I cradled his face. His skin was cold, too cold.
“Asher, stay with me,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Please.”
He managed a weak smile, his eyes fluttering. “You’re… so loud.”
A choked laugh escaped me, but it tasted of salt and sorrow. “You have to keep being annoyed with me, okay? I need you to stay here.”
His eyes started to close, his body going limp.
