Brynleigh and Nikhail watched the report in grim silence for a few minutes before the air fae’s phone rang. He went into the hallway, where the faint, tense streams of his voice filtered through thecrack in the door.
Brynleigh turned the sound off on the TV.
The steady clicking of keys filled the apartment as Indira typed away on the laptop. She cursed occasionally, but every time Brynleigh glanced over, the witch was hard at work.
So, Brynleigh resorted to what she always seemed to do in this apartment when she was nervous: she paced.
She’d never been good at waiting, even before her Making. Her fingers twitched at her sides, and she wished there was something for her to do. Being patient on a good day was hard, but it felt nearly impossible right now.
The door swung open.
Nikhail returned, scrubbing a hand over his face. His skin was paler than before, and when his gaze met Brynleigh’s, her knees buckled.
She grabbed the back of the couch, and blood drained from her face.
“Is Ryker… is he…”
She could barely get the words out, barely breathe. Her heart raced. Ryker had to survive this. She’d already grieved him once, and she wasn’t sure she would be able to do it again.
Nikhail’s mouth pinched in a line. “He’s okay.”
But the look in his eyes spoke volumes, and Brynleigh knew something had happened.
“Tell me,” she said.
He swallowed, and for the first time since Brynleigh had met Nikhail, he looked shaken.
“They executed Edward Kingstar on camera five minutes ago.” Valentina’s husband. “His wife is… inconsolable.”
Brynleigh’s stomach cramped, bile rising in her throat. Pity for Valentina flooded through her. She didn’t like the fire fae, but no one deserved to lose their husband, especially not like this.
“Gods, that’s horrible.” Brynleigh trembled. “If that… if he…”
“It won’t happen to Ryker.” The air fae strode over to Brynleigh. How he remained so composed in a moment like this was beyond her.
“How do you know?” She’d tried so hard to be strong, but this… if Ryker…
She couldn’t live without him.
Nikhail clasped Brynleigh’s shoulder. “Ryker is strong. He’s been through worse than this, and he’ll make it.”
He sounded so sure. So calm.
Drawing strength from Nikhail’s words, Brynleigh inhaled deeply. “Okay. You’re right. I know Ryker is strong. He’s going to be okay.”
He had to be okay. Their story couldn’t end here.
“Yeah, he will be.” Nikhail’s amber eyes glowed. “We’ll find him.”
“Thank you,” Brynleigh said. “I know we don’t know each other well yet, but thank you.”
“Anything for Ryker. We will get to him in time.”
But they hadn’t gotten to them in time to save Edward.
Brynleigh said a small prayer for the fae’s soul before asking, “Did they take someone else?”
The masked man had seemed so dangerous. So deadly.