by Kaylin Lee
“But Bri’s curse? How do you know it’s different?”
I twisted my hands in my lap and felt my eyes grow hot. “I was there when they took her,” I said around the thick lump in my throat. “I saw her fall. I found her and tried to heal her. She wouldn’t let me.
“She told me to run, but I didn’t make it very far before they came. I hid and overheard …” I swallowed, but the lump wouldn’t go away. “They said she’s been under their curse for five years. That she was right on time when they found her in the Badlands. And that they wanted her to walk herself back into their dwelling before it took hold. So …”
“You think they found her five years ago. My daughter.” My mom pressed her hand to her mouth. “And cursed her, waiting all this time … but for what?”
“I don’t know.” Dad’s voice was grim. “But I bet she found them, five years ago. When we got back from that mission.” He glanced at Mom. “They must have sensed who she was to you and decided she’d be the perfect vehicle for revenge.”
Mom’s eyes were squeezed shut, and tears streamed down her face. “My Briar Rose,” she whispered. “How could she have been cursed, and I never knew?”
“We all missed it, Mom. All of us. And I don’t know how to save her. But I do know where she is.”
My dad’s eyes widened. “How?”
“Well, I think I know. They tried to send me there with a curse. I guess it gave me directions, in its own way. And Si was supposed to deliver me to the top of Mount Vellus when they made him kidnap me, so between my knowledge and his, I think we can find her. I’m just not sure even our best obcillo crystals will be enough to break her curse.”
“We’ll worry about that once we have her,” Dad said grimly. “Tell me about this Badlander. He told us he kidnapped you. Stole you right from your team. I didn’t believe it, but Cole and Deacon interrogated him all day, yesterday. They said they think it really was him.”
I bit my lip. I hadn’t expected Si to tell them everything. I’d been prepared to cover for him. “Yes, but he didn’t deliver me to the Masters. He changed his mind and freed me.”
“He freed you.” Mom sounded skeptical. “And then what? Took care of you? Finally brought you back to the Sentinels two weeks later, in a coma of magical enervation?”
Now it was my turn to look away. “It’s my fault I was gone so long. I’m the one who insisted on staying longer when he wanted to bring me home.”
“Why in Theros would you do that?” Dad rubbed his temple.
“I wanted to find a way to rescue Bri, to bring her home with me.”
“But you couldn’t.” Mom blotted her eyes with her sleeve then speared me with a sharp look. “Honey, the Masters are immeasurably powerful. There’s no way you could have gone after her yourself.”
“I know.” The lump in my throat reappeared, bigger this time. “I had to give up anyway. The curses were too much. I couldn’t let Si’s brothers risk their lives any longer. We were already heading back to Asylia when we met Opal and her family.”
Dad ran a hand through his hair. “We need to rescue Bri. If you say we can trust the Badlander’s word, and you know where the curses were sending you, we know where to start looking. We already brought Alaric Galanos in for questioning. Time to find out what he knows.” He stood, his jaw hard. “We’ve had three teams on standby waiting for this information. I’ll get them ready to brief.” He bent and ran a hand over my hair. “I’m glad you’re home, Albs. I wish this was over, but …”
“I think it’s just beginning.” Mom stood too, tucking her hair behind her ears and straightening her spine like she was preparing for battle. “There’s a change of clothes and a washroom behind that door. We’ll be in the meeting room down the hall. I know you just woke up, but you’ll have to join the briefing. So hurry.”
~
I bathed and braided my hair in record time. The clothing Mom had left me was a faded, black Sentinels uniform, and I found myself glad. I didn’t like the thought of putting on one of my old, silly dresses while Bri was in such danger.
A rumble of voices led me down the hallway to a large room with a massive, map-strewn table at its center. A half-dozen uniformed Sentinels were gathered around the table with my grim-faced parents at the center of the group. They looked up when I entered.
“Alba!” A disheveled man with his hands bound behind his back lurched toward me from the table, but Cole yanked him back, stopping him in his tracks. “You have to tell them—”
I peered at the lean, tan-skinned young man with hair flopping over his forehead. “Alaric?” It felt like a decade since I’d last seen him in his parents’ villa.
“Tell them this is all a mistake! I had nothing to do with this. I swear it. My parents— I don’t know what they’re doing, but—” He wriggled, trying to escape Cole’s grip, but didn’t budge.
“Your mom tried to turn me over to the Masters,” I said flatly. “And your parents were plotting to murder a settlement of innocent Badlanders and their children.”
Alaric’s throat jerked. “I didn’t know, Alba, I swear it. I would never have—”
“I don’t care.” He flinched. He was probably telling the truth—hadn’t I already decided not to hold his mother’s actions against him? It wouldn’t solve anything to rub his face in his mother’s actions. I tried to gentle my tone. “I mean, I’m sure you didn’t have anything to do with it. But we have bigger things to worry about right now. What were your parents sending the Masters from the mine?”
He paled. “I don’t know. I never went to the mine. They handled the business on their own, without me or my brothers. Mama said she wanted me to come out and visit it soon, but we hadn’t made a plan for the visit yet.”
“Did you ever see it? Did she ever bring it home? Black rock, shiny and slick.”
He nodded slowly, his shoulders slumping. “I might have seen some in Dad’s office once. But I don’t know what it was.” He’d never looked so young, so helpless.
I felt a fresh wave of sorrow that I’d once seen him as nothing more than a trophy to be won, that he’d been orphaned by the greed and envy of his own parents.
“Raven, take a team to search the Galanos offices now.” A dark-haired woman nodded at Dad’s order. “Bring whatever samples you find to the Office of Ancient Kireth Research in the Mage Division. We can’t afford to wait for their research, but they may as well get started now.”
“My parents?” Alaric tugged at Cole’s grip, trying to approach me. “They were at the mine, I know. They left last week. You said they were plotting to hurt some Badlanders. Where are they now?”
“Your parents are dead, Alaric. I’m sorry. The Masters killed them.”
Chapter 35
Cole led a silent, ashen-faced Alaric toward the door, pausing when they were even with me. “I wanted to say I’m sorry, Alba. Letting you get kidnapped was the worst failure of my career. I keep trying to resign, but your dad won’t—”
“Cole!” I held up my hand. “There was nothing you could have done. Bri was your tracker. She could have stopped it, but I think the curse forced her to lie to you. Please don’t resign. The Sentinels need you now more than ever.”
His jaw hardened. “Thank you for saying that, but …”
I shook my head at the denial in his eyes. “We all missed Bri’s curse. If maybe, somehow, we can save her together, that’s all that matters now.”
He nodded without speaking and took Alaric from the room, his grip on Alaric’s bound hands a bit gentler now.
I faced my parents and the other Sentinels at the table. Now that Cole was gone, the rest were unfamiliar. “Do you want me to tell you how to find the Masters’ dwelling now?”
My dad nodded. “We’ll get everything you can tell us now. Then we’ll bring the full teams in for the official brief, and you’ll have to repeat it for them.”
“I can try.” I pulled on the end of my braid. “But I think you should bring Si in here too. He
knows more about the location than I do.” And I’ll go mad if I have to wait another moment before seeing him.
Dad jerked his head at one of the other Sentinels. “Go get the Badlanders.”
“Alba!” A scrubbed-clean Drew was the first to enter. He ran to me and wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his face in my side. “You’re awake. I was so worried. I’ve never seen you sleep like that. You weren’t even snoring!”
“I’m just so glad you’re all well,” I said, shooting a smile at Anton, who entered behind Drew and returned my smile with a rare one of his own. “And I’m grateful you brought me home.”
“Si carried you the whole way,” Drew said proudly, just as his clean-shaven eldest brother entered the room behind Stefan and the twins. “He’s a true hero, Alba. Perfect for a fair maiden. Just in case you didn’t already know.”
I felt my face heat. “Mm-hmm.” Si met my eyes, his expression impossible to read. Like Drew, he was a lot cleaner than he’d been in the Badlands, but he held himself like he was a heartbeat away from fighting his way out of the compound and fleeing the city. “I know. Thank you, Si.”
His acknowledging nod was barely perceptible. “Glad you’re well, Alba.”
I stepped out of Drew’s hold and walked with Si to face my parents. “Mom, Dad, this is Sidon Remes. Si, this is my dad, Darien, and my mom, Zel.”
Si nodded, his eyes downcast respectfully. “Commander. Mistress.”
“We’ve met, Alba.” My dad glanced at me. “You were asleep for a day and a half after you got back.”
I waved a hand. “Si’s the one who took me from the team of Sentinels, but that was only because Lady Althea Galanos and the Masters she was serving blackmailed him, threatening to hurt his younger brothers if he didn’t do it. Even though they were at risk, he changed his mind and set me free instead. When I was running from the Masters after they took Bri, Si and his brothers gave me refuge in their home. He … His family … Well, I owe them my life.”
“I think it’s safe to say we’re even, sir.” Si shifted on his feet. “She’s healed every one of us at least once.”
My dad nodded absently, then he frowned and ran a hand through his hair. “Sidon Remes. A single man against a whole team of Sentinels. Sidon … Si …” He dropped his hand. “You’re the Ghost, aren’t you?”
Si froze. “Ah…”
“The Ghost of the Gold Hills!” Dad laughed, sounding as delighted as if he’d just found a lost piece of his Sentinel gear. “The men thought you were a legend. Every bandit we brought in for years would complain about you. Then nothing, for the past three years. The Ghost had disappeared. It was you and your brothers, wasn’t it?”
“Ah. Well, sir, it’s complicated.” Si’s cheeks flushed. He glanced at me then at my father. “It’s true that we engaged in a bit of banditry, when we were younger.” He cleared his throat. “But we’ve put those days behind us.”
“And you only stole from other bandits.” My father tapped his temple. “I remember the legends. They couldn’t figure out how a couple of boys had them running in circles around the Badlands.”
“We always strive to excel, sir.” I could tell Si was making a concerted effort to refrain from his usual boasting about their time as bandits. “But like I said, those days are over.”
My father nodded, his expression growing thoughtful. “You planning to stick around Asylia, son? There may be a place for you boys in the Sentinels one day. Once we beat the Masters—and we will beat them—we’ll need help making the Badlands safe for trade and settlement. The people of this continent have suffered long enough.”
Si shifted uncomfortably, sending another glance my way. At my questioning, raised eyebrow, he looked back to my father. “Maybe,” he hedged. “But there’s something you should know, sir.”
“What is that?”
Si straightened, squaring his shoulders like he was bracing for a fist to the jaw. “I’m in love with your daughter.”
My heart stopped. Or maybe time stopped. Perhaps that was the best explanation for the roaring in my ears, my sudden immobility, and the way my father’s face seemed to have frozen.
“Huh.” My father’s grunt was the only sound in the room, although my mother seemed to be holding back a smile. He shifted his gaze from Si to me. “What do you think about that, Alba?”
He loves me he loves me he loves me he loves me! I wanted to shoot my magic out in all directions, to spontaneously heal every ache and pain in the entire room.
After a moment, my feet moved. I managed to scoot over to Si’s side and slip my hand into his. “I guess I can’t really blame him,” I said, answering my father at last, barely managing to hold back a dopey grin.
Si squeezed my hand, and for the first time since I’d seen him after waking up, the tension eased from his shoulders.
Mom winked at me. At the humor and approval in her eyes, my grin escaped and took over my face.
My father released a breath. “We’ll talk later, then, Si. It’s time to brief the rescue teams that’ll be going after Bri.”
After the first meeting, the rest of the Sentinels filed in one by one for the full briefing. I hung back, away from the big table, unwilling to release Si’s hand. I couldn’t wait to steal him away after the meeting and kiss the daylights out of him.
He ran his thumb over the back of my hand. “You have to stop smiling at me like that,” he whispered into my ear. “Your dad’s never going to let us out of his sight if you keep that up.”
“Mm-hmm.” I forced my lips to narrow, but it was like holding back a speeding fomecoach. “I’m trying. It’s not easy, you know.”
He tugged me an inch closer, though he still maintained a respectful distance as the room slowly filled with grim-faced, black-uniformed Sentinels. “I know.”
A warmth on my chest startled me. “Hey—” I put a hand to the locket, which was suddenly hot, and held it away from my chest. Was it responding to Si’s love for me? My heart flip-flopped at the thought, and I smiled up at him once again. Then I froze. “Bri.” It was her glove in the locket, not mine. That meant …
More Sentinels entered the room. There had to be at least three full teams here for the briefing. The locket grew hotter as the men jostled for space around the table, coming closer to our side of the room opposite the door.
Si looked down at the locket. “What’s going on?” His voice was a low whisper.
“Bri …” I couldn’t bring myself to speak. The heat from the locket surged, burning my fingers. I yanked the chain from my neck and held it out by the chain, no longer able to touch the scorching locket.
I searched the room of Sentinels. Some I recognized from her team, but most were strangers to me. “He’s here.” My voice shook. “He’s here, Si. He’s in the room right now. Bri’s true love is here.”
Chapter 36
Curious Confections was crowded, even so late in the afternoon. I tugged Si forward to place our orders at the front of the line. “Two coffees, please.” I found myself leaning against Si as the clerk raised his eyebrows, giving us a suspicious once-over. Hadn’t this same clerk made the locket heat for me just a few weeks earlier? Apparently, I’d lost my appeal now that I was accompanied by a Badlander. “And two frostberry cream swirl pastries.” I lifted my chin. “Please.”
“One moment.” The proprietor shot Si a narrow-eyed glare. “Pay first, if you don’t mind. We don’t do credit for Badlanders.”
Si smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He set several marks on the table with a thump that made the clerk flinch. “Not a problem.”
We took our coffees and pastries when they were ready. “Upstairs.” I nudged Si with my arm and gestured to the stairway. “Come on.”
The roof was warm. In the weeks I’d been in the Badlands, spring had arrived in Asylia. The collection of orange trees on the coffee shop’s rooftop terrace would soon be blossoming.
Si set our coffees on the nearest table and turned to me, his ex
pression somber. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot back there with your father. I should have talked to you first. It’s just … You’d been asleep for nearly two days, and I didn’t think your parents would appreciate my being anything less than forthcoming, given how I started off with you.”
“To be honest…” I stepped into Si’s arms but tilted my head back so I could still see his face. “I don’t think they were actually that surprised.”
“And you?” Si’s hands smoothed the back of my dress, making me shiver happily. “Were you surprised?”
“Yes.” I linked my hands behind his neck, enjoying the feel of his sturdy, broad shoulders beneath my arms. “Very surprised.”
“You shouldn’t have been.” I wanted to lose myself in the flashing green of his eyes. “In fact, I’m still trying to figure out why you didn’t just smack me back into my place when I said that.”
“Oh, you goose. I’m obsessed with you. Don’t you know that?”
“Since when?” His lips turned up slightly. “Since you saw my tattoos, isn’t it?” He flexed his arms and hugged me tighter. “I should have known.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Way before that.”
“Before that? When?”
“I think …” I bit my lip and tried to remember, but my time in the Badlands already felt like a blur—a shifting montage of cold woods, warmth in the cave, and terrifying curses. “I think it started when I healed you the first time.”
I remembered the feel of his beaten, scarred flesh becoming healthy and smooth beneath my magic, and the sudden, fierce joy lighting his features as he thanked me. “You were so happy. I found myself wanting to be the one who made you feel that way. Not just with healing magic. With myself.”
“You do.” Si’s hands continued to move across my back, drawing me closer to him.
“What about you? When did you … um … like me?”
He laughed, but his clean-shaven cheeks reddened. “A while ago. I’ve got you beat.”
