Page 32 of Secrets of Ruin

Sahira, Cole, and Lexi followed Orin off the dragon. The tears she’d been holding back spilled free, and she wiped them away as Cole’s attention shifted to Brokk. Concern and rage etched his features as his gaze traveled over the weakened group with his brother.

“What happened?” Cole demanded as he stormed toward them.

Shadows shifted across his eyes and followed him across the ground. “He looks less friendly than the dragons,” Tucker muttered.

Orin, who had regained some of his color, caught up with his brother as a thunderous expression descended over his face. Lexi and Sahira ran after the murderous-looking brothers as the air crackled with electricity.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

“Don’t,” Kaylia warned Ryker. “It will only make things worse. They’re Brokk’s brothers.”

Some of the crackling eased from the air, but Kaylia still felt the prickle of electricity against her skin. She wiped away her tears, and her shoulders went back as she met Cole’s shadow-filled eyes.

“We have to get him inside. I can tend to him there,” she told him.

Lexi pushed ahead of Cole, but his eyes went to Ryker as he seized her wrist to halt her. She didn’t notice as she arrived at Kaylia’s side and used her free hand to grip her wrist.

Her hunter-green eyes, with their flecks of emerald, were full of concern. The flight here had pulled some of her auburn hair from its braid to wave around her face.

Cole’s eyes remained focused on his brother. Lexi’s gaze shot nervously to Brokk before her attention shifted back to Kaylia.

“You look like you’re about to pass out,” Lexi said.

Kaylia yearned to hug her friend and sob into her shoulder, but she couldn’t break down. She had to tend to Brokk.

“I’ll be the one to tend to his wounds,” Kaylia stated.

“Are you okay?” Sahira asked.

Sahira stepped close to Lexi’s side as Cole and Orin moved closer to Brokk. “We’ll take him,” Cole stated.

“Be careful of his back,” Ryker said. “It’s bad.”

“Did you do this?” Orin demanded.

“Yeah, that’s why we’re here. We beat him and then decided to carry him to the immortals who would destroy us over it,” Ryker retorted.

When Orin glared at him, the air started to crackle with electricity again. Cole’s eyes narrowed on Ryker, and his gaze ran curiously over him before he moved to stand at Brokk’s head.

“They’re friends,” Kaylia interjected before things could get ugly. “They’re good friends, and you can trust them.”

Cole relaxed and rested his hand against Brokk’s cheek before moving toward Ryker again. “Give him to me.”

With care, Ryker handed Brokk over to him. Orin remained unmoving as he scowled at Ryker.

“Orin, let’s go,” Cole commanded.

Orin didn’t tear his gaze away from Ryker as he moved to take Brokk’s feet from Tucker. As he wrapped his arm around Brokk’s feet, Kaylia noticed his missing hand but didn’t ask; she had more pressing matters right now.

“Who are you?” Cole inquired.

Ryker’s shoulders went back. “I’m Ryker Locke, amsirah general; who are you?”

“King Colburn of the dark fae.”

“Your brother has spoken highly of you.”

“And you’re an amsirah. Interesting.”