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.
“Yes.” Nikhail’s voice was pained.
The typing stopped, and even though Brynleigh didn’t dare look away from Nikhail, she was certain Indira was listening closely.
“Who?” She barely dared ask.
“Horatio Montclair, one of the vampires. He isn’t doing well.”
The typing resumed, and Brynleigh closed her eyes for a long moment. Thank all the gods, it wasn’t Ryker. She should feel happy about that.
And yet, all she felt was grief.
One man was already dead. Another was in harm’s way.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that, somehow, this was her fault.
“What did they do?” Brynleigh forced the words out of her dry throat.