𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter fifty-eight

Emriana

"It's that bastard guard from the castle," Drakkar spat as he looked between him and me with an accusative look.

"What is he fucking doing here, Emriana?" Zeke asked, and I frowned at the fact he used my name.

"Did he come with you to Nelovia?" They rushed me with questions, and I shook my head continuously, still wrapping my head around the fact that he was here at the castle.

"Just give me a second," I said as I pushed myself away from them. They looked so angry.

"The fuck is going on?" Drakkar spat as he stepped toward me, his hands clenching at his side.

"Emriana," Kove called for me, and I glared at him.

"Not now, Kove," I snapped, already dealing with three very unhappy men.

"Can we talk? Please?" I turned to look at him as he took a hesitant step toward me. Zeke pulled me away from him.

"Why? I thought I had made it clear t—

"I know, I know. Please hear me out," he said, and I looked at Zander, who was burning holes into the sides of his face. Like I needed more problems, Akira appeared beside me and growled at Kove, who took a shaky step back.

"Akira, calm down," I talked to the tiger, but he glared at the boy.

I turned to them, and their narrowed eyes moved from him to me.

"Can you promise me something?" I said, and Zander scoffed.

"What?" Drakkar snapped at me.

"Promise me you won't hurt him," Zeke chuckled darkly.

"Not making such promises, princess."

"Yes, you will. You owe me this after everything we've been through," I said, my voice cracking a little. Drakkar's eyes softened, and he pulled his lips into a tight line like he often did when he thought intensely.

"Fine," he agreed, and his brothers looked at him like he had just betrayed them.

"The fuck you mean it's fine. It's not fucking fine," Zeke growled at his brother.

"Zeke, you have to trust me on this one," I cut him off before he would make this bigger than it needed to be.

"How the fuck could you do this to us?" Zeke snarled at me, and I stepped back.

"Don't fucking assume anything you don't know!" I yelled, matching his words, which seemed to shut them up real fast as they watched me in utter shock. I had never cursed before.

"Just come with me and listen to him, okay?" They stayed still, glaring down at me before nodding.

"Kove, you got five minutes, follow me," I walked toward a small office lounge where my father had brought me the first day to explain everything to me. Drakkar, Zander, and Zeke followed behind me.

"Sit there," I motioned to them, and they scoffed with an eye roll but listened nonetheless.

"If he does anything, Emriana, I'll—

"He won't," I cut Zeke off before he could finish. Kove walked inside after them with shaky steps, and I didn't blame him. The triplets were livid, eyes darkening as they sent him murderous glares.

Kove took a step toward me, but I took one back.

"Don't," I called for him, and he lowered his head.

"I'm sorry, Emriana," he said, and I closed my eye for a brief second. It was hard to concentrate on him when the three stared at us like that. Kove glimpsed at them before looking back at me with shame.