The Shadress (MCD x Reader)

Ch. 24- Forest of Memories

Garroth is the only one standing at the meet-up location when we reach it; his tail is wagging with the breeze. My brother is nowhere to be found. I can't tell if I prefer it this way.

My head is still heavy and the relic sits dauntingly around my neck. I feel a gentle pulse of warmth as I think about it. Whether or not that was a trick of my mind is something I do not know.

Laurence releases the grip he had on my arm, letting me rest my weight on the staff again. Once we escaped the house, I refused to let him carry me again. He made me let him hold onto my elbow instead; something about making sure I didn't slow down the group.

"That took you a while." Garroth's voice is a welcomed one. His more regal, O'Khasian accent kept me from thinking about the High Priest's words and grating voice. It's funny how much I hate one brother's voice while not really minding the other.

"We had some issues. Where is Jace?" Laurence questions, nodding his head to the empty space next to the blond.

Garroth shrugged. "He said something about needing to distract Zane."

I sigh.

"What?" Aphmau asks. Her eyes are wide, darting all across my face, a concerned look practically ingrained in her features. She's had the look the entire time we've been together.

"Nothing." I shake my head. "The idiot is just gonna get himself killed."

"What about me getting killed?" Jace materializes at my side as soon as the words leave my lips. I don't question how he knew we were talking about him.

"How lovely of you to join us." I tiredly smile. His eyes hold the same worry that Aphmau's does.

He shrugs like he has no idea what I'm talking about. "Nothing happened. Don't know what you are referring to."

"What's the plan now?" Katelyn cuts in. I turn my gaze to her, as does almost everyone. Jace continues to stare at me though.

"We get out of here," I state. "O'Khasis will be looking for..." I stop.

I think they assume I meant me, given that their looks are all of pity or mild annoyance.

"Here," my brother offers me his hand.

I raise an eyebrow. "What?"

"One of us needs to be in fighting shape." He shrugs again. I stare at him, understanding what he's offering to me, I'm just not sure that he does.

"You can fight just fine." Katelyn sounds exhausted; her ears twitch, and I stare for a moment too long. "You made it to the Jury of Nine. That means your abilities are quite great."

Jace just chuckles. "Yeah, sure. But the High Priest knows all of my fighting styles. He's the one who taught me magic. She," he nods at me, "is a surprise. It's part of the reason he's so obsessed."

Exasperatedly, I smack my hand into his grip. He gives me an offended look but begins the energy transfer all the same, making sure to tightly hold onto my pulse point.

The transformation is almost instantaneous. I feel all of my energy return and all of the pain leaves. I straighten my back, flutter my wings, and crack my neck.

When it's done, Jace almost topples over, and I hand him the staff. "Careful." I just catch him rolling his eyes.

Before anything else could be exchanged between us, I noted four auras behind us, back at the outer wall. I turn to face them before anything can be started. "Well, well, well... What has happened here?" Zane's voice echoes off the trees. The sun is high and shadows his face under his hair.