Page 258 of Spring Guardians & Songbirds

“Because not long ago, even I thought nothing of it. Till him.”

Alaric looked up at me with red teary eyes, brows knitted together. “Till him?”

I nodded. “He made me promise,” I said, putting my gloves back on. “That I would stop. So I have.”

“You have?”

“It is difficult, but I am trying.” My voice shook a little when I said, “He never breaks his promises, and I will not break mine.” Reaching inside my leathers, to the little pocket I’d made especially for it, I took out Sam’s necklace. “I don’t think being alive will ever feel right or that hate will not forever corrupt my heart. I cannot be fixed, Alaric. I don’t think I can watch it glisten on a spring sunrise.” Taking his hand, I placed the sunstone necklace on his palm. “But you can. Help me honour Sam’s wish. Let it see the sunrise it deserves.”

“Kid,” Alaric said, putting the necklace back in my hand. “That day will come.”

I shook my head. “No. I chose it so.” Pushing the necklace back in his hand, I stepped back. “Pick a pretty one. Pick a pretty sunrise.”

He tucked the necklace close to his chest. “Every day since the moment you three were born, all I’ve ever seen are pretty sunrises, kid.”

Slowly, I reached close and wrapped my arms around him, sinking my head in the comfort of his chest. He smelled of cloves and autumn breezes—he smelled like home.

His sighs were heavy and pained. “Why out of all the things this realm has for us to fear, we chose to fear love?”

“I…I don’t think I love him, Alaric.”

“Do we all get one?” Mal’s mischievous voice came from behind me, and I unravelled myself from Alaric.

Thora’s smaller form stood between the two brothers, clad in all black Adriatian leathers, looking like a warrior. She twirled around to show me, and I couldn’t help but laugh a little at the pink clip holding her hair back. “Besides the squeaking when I move around, the rest of me is deadly,” she said, taking a fighting stance.

Alaric sighed. “Kid, could cause for my sudden death be enough to convince you to stay back.”

“But so is your smoking, drinking and many other unhealthy habits I’ve seen you partake in,” Thora said as a matter of fact.

The old man sighed and turned to me. “She is your sister after all, didn’t know what I expected. Take care of her.”

“Come,” Kilian said, reaching a hand for me. “We need to be there before sunrise.”

It felt strange to hold him again. To hold him outside of our guise—our pretend.

The fading was quick and this time I didn’t even feel it. Thora, however, swayed on her feet, dizzy. Mal wrapped an arm around her waist, helping her straighten. “There, there, little bird.”

There was no lake where we were, only miles and miles of black sand, grey fog and ashen redwood tree crowns peeking above the cloud of magic that disguised the lake.

“The fog,” Kilian said, “is similar to a craft veil, but not entirely so. It will not mess with your mind to lure you. But chase you through your fears.”

“What would that mean?” Thora asked.

“Whatever you fear will manifest itself.”

My little sister looked around and murmured to herself, “Badgers.”

Mal turned his attention to her. “What?”

She shivered a little. “They terrify me. The other night I dreamed that one made a nest in my skull. Read it in a book once, they like hollow places and hide in large animal carcasses.”

Mal huffed and gave me an incredulous look. “Let us all pray it is badgers that try to chase us away.”

She shot him a glare while mounting an arrow on her bow. “It could be worse. I could be afraid of women that I don’t pay to fuck.”

Kilian snorted and ducked his head behind my shoulder a little to hide his chuckles.

Mal didn’t look offended. At least the massive stupid grin he had while looking at my sister did not indicate so. “If you keep whacking your sharp tongue at me I might just bite it.”