𝑩𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅

chapter seventy-nine

Drakkar

"Careful with his branch," Emriana told us as we walked back toward the house in the twilight of the night. Her small hand was secured into my own as she guided us back to her house.

We hadn't talked much since after the sunset, as the four of us fell into our train of thoughts, all trying to make sense of what we all felt. Emriana was like an open book which I loved after being lied to so much in my life. It was easy to see how she felt for us, and she wasn't afraid to show it.

Zander felt overwhelmed at first as he couldn't handle having her look at him like he was something else than the monster we were. I was the same, but it wasn't as difficult for me to get past it. Zeke, just like I did, loved the constant reassurance of her feelings for us as everything we needed to know was in her eyes.

We made it back to her small home, and I imagined her walking down these paths every day of her childhood life.

Zeke was holding her other hand as we left the woods and walked over the stone stabs toward the backdoor. I glanced around us, expecting to see guards on the edge of the forest, but we were truly alone. I could see why Emriana liked it so much, there was something almost enchanting about being away from the rest of the world.

She and Zeke were discussing fruits again as she kept asking him if he liked certain fruits, clearly still traumatized after hearing he hated one of her favorites. We walked up the steps, the old wood cracking under our weight as we made it inside.

The fire she started before dinner was weak, and before she could place another log into the fireplace, Zeke insisted on doing it himself, probably wanting to show off his skill to Emriana.

She walked into her grandma's bedroom, and I waited by the doorway, arms crossed over one another. She tiptoed over to the bed where the white tiger was sleeping, and kissed his head, caressing his fur before smiling at me as she walked out, not shutting the door entirely.

I chuckled, watching the same animal that dismembered my father be babied by Emriana. She smiled, giving me a side hug before walking over to Zeke, who was still struggling to keep the fire alive. Instead of laughing at him like Zander and I were doing, she kneeled down next to him and helped him.

They stood up and walked toward us once the flames were dancing with vigor. Zander grabbed her head, leading her into her bedroom. I followed after Zeke, my muscle aching a little bit from the labor work today. I knew my brothers were the same.

I closed the door behind us, still not totally used to the fact that there were no locks because we were away from civilization.

"I placed all your luggage in here so you could change into something more comfortable," Emriana said quietly as she pointed at our stuff by the foot of her desk covered in overgrown plants. She was looking for something in her closet, and I noticed a small painting of her and an older couple glued to the closet's door.

"Thank you, princess," Zeke said, kissing her before heading to get new clothes, followed by Zander. They changed into a different pair of clothes before sprawling across the bed.

"Why is your bed so big, angel?" Zander commented, and I noticed how excessively large it was. She laughed, not looking our way as she kept searching for something.

"I don't sleep alone," she replied, and I bit my lips to stop myself from laughing at Zeke and Zander who looked furious.

"Who?" Zeke seethed with anger, and she laughed again.

"Akira, silly," she replied, and I chuckled, leaning over her head.

"Little one, what are you looking for?" I asked her, and her tired green eyes met mine.