When the steed appeared from the dimension held within the enchanted metal, a gathering of whites and lavender and wisps of ghostly magic, Emmery pressed her lips to Juno’s muzzle, climbed onto her back, and set off at a gallop toward Blackdawn Castle. She didn’t dare provide a single second for Destonne to set the pace.
When Emmery spotted that long navy hair and an unmistakably loud feminine voice hit her ears, her chest constricted. She froze in the castle foyer, her nails biting into her palms as she didn’t breathe, like it would keep her hidden where she stood in plain sight.
Briar’s hands flailed in overly enthusiastic gestures as she shared some story with Brennen, which he acknowledged with a bob or two of his head and the occasional canine smile. The two chatted like they knew one another, which they very well could have living only a kingdom apart all these years. But Briar had this infallible way of seeping into one’s good graces and leaving a stain on their heart. She’d certainly left a mark on Emmery’s.
Amongst all the white, Briar was brilliant fluid artwork in her bright red jumpsuit moulded to her flawless body. As she conversed with Brennen, she swept her hair over her shoulder and revealed the burns marring her entire left side. The guilt Emmery had been battling surfaced.
She’d done that. It was her fault Briar had suffered.
In an attempt to shove away the shame, Emmery studied how strikingly similar Briar and Fionn looked now she knew they were siblings. The delicate curve to her nose, the same upturned almond eyes, her crooked smirk that held a startling amount of both confidence and warmth, and sharp cheekbones that could cut glass, were dead giveaways. Though their hair and eyes differed, Briar’s a burnished navy and scarlet and Fionn’s a raven-black and velvety brown, it was still clear they were related. The thought of Fionn brought an ache to Emmery’s chest. She’d only had a moment with him before her and Destonne departed for Ellynne.
Emmery’s throat swelled with all the things she couldn’t bear to say, all the questions that plagued her mind each night. Why had Briar freed her from Castle Dusk’s dungeon? Was she truly on her side over her oldest friend? How many of theirinteractions were genuine? Was any of it true? Or had she played Emmery too, just as Vesper had?
Her steps faltered and she stood stone-still. Aera leapt from her shoulder and placed herself between the two groups, likely to flash her fangs if anyone stepped out of line. At her side Destonne studied Emmery as if he could extract her every hidden emotion and, no doubt, formulate a plan. Then his attention flicked to Briar.
“It’s a pleasure to have your company, Briar,” he said. His deep voice boomed in the cavernous entry hall and drew attention to them. Emmery stifled the urge to strangle him as her entire body stiffened with the need to hide. “I see my last letter reached you well.”
Emmery threw him a sideways glance and frowned. Letter? They’d been writing to one another? Why hadn’t he mentioned it? But then again, why would he? They’d never confided in one another, let alone shared information in a civilized manner.
Briar’s gaze flicked to Emmery then back to The King of Thorns. She gave him a weak smile and replied, “Your Majesty. Thank you for inviting me into your”—she gave the hallway a once over and frowned—“stunning home.” Since that was the most polite string of words Emmery had ever heard leave Briar’s mouth, she undoubtedly wanted something that hadn’t been fulfilled yet. Likely to see Fionn. She would be on her best behavior, but not for long.
She bowed at the waist but Destonne waved the gesture off, though Emmery caught his brief flash of impish joy.Cocky bastard.
“Please, call me Dez.” He swept past them like a dark deity, and when Brennen followed, they left Emmery with a dumb expression on her face and no clue how to proceed. Or where to even start.
Betrayal’s cold grip clutched Emmery, as her eyes met Briar’s. What did that look mean? A lump lodged in her throat, and though she swallowed around it, it remained, unrelenting.
Then Briar stalked across the foyer, flung her arms around Emmery, and squeezed the wind from her lungs in an embarrassing wheeze.
“I’m so sorry. I’m so,sosorry,” she murmured into Emmery’s hair. “I never wanted to lie to you, but Vesper asked me to. And then I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know his plans, what he was going to do to you or with the kingdom or the pactum and I hadn’t seen him in so long and—”
“Bri,” Emmery stopped her friend’s prattling, her voice muffled in her shoulder. Briar’s sweet lavender smell swept over Emmery and she returned her embrace, throwing away all her doubts in exchange for this tender moment. They could deal with everything later. “I’m glad to see you.”
Briar gripped Emmery’s shoulders and held her at arm’s length the way Vesper had, not to examine for injuries, it seemed, but to search for forgiveness.
“Thank Deimos you're alright. I was worried about you. I know it’s been months and I should have written to you too, but—” She sucked in a winded breath. “I wanted to apologize in person, not over some stupid scribbled words on paper. Though you deservefarmore.” Briar heaved another impossibly long breath and yanked Emmery in for a second ferocious hug.
Emmery wouldn’t have minded the letters, though she was glad to see Briar with her own eyes and feel the sincerity of her heart. True, it was something almost impossible to convey through paper, but notes like the ones Maela had written were keepsakes. LikeThe Nameless Bookshe’d tucked into the waistband of her trousers to free her arms.
It wasn’t fair of her, and Emmery knew it, but she’d forgiven Briar the moment she saw her, though she wouldn’t extend thesame to Vesper. Not yet. They had far more to work through, complications of his own creation, and an exceedingly complex past. Briar had merely complied with Vesper’s plan.
Several paces away, Destonne and Brennen were deep in conversation, though the King focussed, not on his wolf companion, but on the two of them. His brow arched in a silent question.
Emmery’s breaths slivered and she nudged her friend back. “You’re crushing my bones.”
“Sorry.” But the word held no remorse and Briar grinned.
Tension still threaded Emmery’s shoulders after she rolled them out. She doubted she would ever get accustomed to that level of affection.
“I want to knowallabout your time here,” Briar said. Her eyes glimmered with the promise of gossip as her gaze darted between Emmery, Destonne, and Brennen. “But I’m not here just to see you. Don’t get me wrong, I’m overwhelmingly happy to know you’re in one piece, but I’m also here to see Fionn.”
Her gaze turned to Destonne with apprehension, but not a morsel of fear. The only time Emmery had truly recognized fear in Briar’s eyes was the day Callias was mortally wounded by Hollowhounds.
“Ah, yes,” Destonne intervened. He looked at her like a lion assessed its prey. “At the risk of appearing to be a poor host, Brennen will show you to Fionn’s chambers.” The King gave Brennen his famously bored expression, then his eyes slid back to Emmery.
Gods, why did he have to look at her like that?
Her stomach plummeted as he drew out his next words like spilled syrup. “I’m afraid I have plans.”