Brynleigh looked up in time to see his hand curl into a fist.
“Yeah.” River nodded.
“Fuck.” Ryker exhaled and closed his eyes for a brief moment. “You did the right thing by calling me.”
“I’m… I’m so worried about him,” River admitted. “If he… If this… If it’s…”
“Don’t.” Ryker’s voice was firm, but tinges of grief edged his voice. “Don’t say the words.”
If there was ever a moment for the floor to open up and swallow Brynleigh whole, this was it. She wished she could call on her shadows and step into the Void, but the bracelet on her wrist meant Ryker would find her. Besides, making him chase her right now would be selfish. Finding reprieve from this situation wouldn’t be worth it, not when it would tear him away from his family.
She didn’t want to force Ryker to pick hisassetover his dad and sister.
She didn’t want to be here at all.
Brynleigh stumbled back another step and bumped into a vase. It rattled, and she grabbed it before it could hit the ground, but she wasn’t fast enough.
The siblings turned to her.
“Oh, Brynleigh.” River’s eyes widened, and she shook her head. “I’m so sorry. I forgot you were here.”
Brynleigh’s lips pulled into a tight grimace. “It’s okay.”
Remembering Ryker’s warning from earlier, Brynleigh took another step back and looked anywhere but at her sister-in-law. Ryker didn’t want them interacting, but she didn’t see how she could get out of this conversation smoothly.
“It’s not okay,” River said. “I know you guys were on your honeymoon. That’s why I was hesitant about calling.”
Brynleigh’s brows furrowed, and her eyes swung over to her sister-in-law as she tried to process her words. “Hon?—”
“You did the right thing,” Ryker spoke over Brynleigh, turning River around and pulling her to the closed door. “You should always call me.”
River sighed. “I know, but?—”
“No ‘buts,’” Ryker said firmly. “Let’s go see Dad.”
They disappeared into the room without a backward glance. The door shut behind them, leaving Brynleigh alone. The empty house loomed over her as she stared at the door blankly.
Did…
Did River not know?
Brynleigh had thought Ryker told his family about the betrayal, but this interaction did not go how she thought it would. It was almost as if he had lied to his sister. Or at least, he had omitted the truth and twisted his words.
But… why would he do that? Why wouldn’t he tell everyone what she’d done? Why would he protect Brynleigh?
Confusion swirled through her, and her head grew light.
Between The Rosewood, the almost-kiss, and now this, it was all too much. She missed the days when she just shoved her troublesome emotions aside and ignored them. That was so much easier thanthis. Now, the damned things insisted she pay attention to them, listen to them, fuckingfeelthem.
Brynleigh slid down the wall, stretched her legs in front of her, and closed her eyes. Eventually, she drifted off to sleep.
Brynleigh was vaguelyaware of a pair of hands beneath her. Someone lifted her and cradled her in their arms. Thunderstorms and bergamot washed over her, the scent achingly familiar.
“I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do with you,” the voice murmured.
Brynleigh tried to open her eyes and respond, but she was drifting between dreaming and waking. She stood with one foot in each land, and neither would release her. All she could do was sigh and burrow her head into the chest of whoever was carrying her.
“Fuck,” they murmured. “Why do you look so innocent when you’re sleeping?”