Page 283 of Blade of the Nightking

Instead, the truth sat like a stone in my chest. I knew what had become of Dannis. I knew Levinica had taken her own life after learning of his death. Rìan was searching for a nephew who was already gone.

And I'd said nothing. Because I'd wanted to save Aedric—the male who’d destroyed them all.

The feeling swelled inside me until it lodged in my throat, so enormous I thought I might choke on it.

I had to tell him.

I couldn't keep living this lie. Couldn't keep deceiving him like this. Even if telling him meant Aedric never came back.

"Rìan..."

The boat scraped against the riverbank. I startled, the words forgotten.

Neither of us had noticed the Brinnekin guiding us ashore. The boat rested half on the earth, its hull wedged above the waterline.

Rìan looked up at once. "We're here."

"Where?"

"The Barrows." Relief softened his voice.

I hurried to my feet and helped Rìan over the side of the boat. The moment his boots touched the ground, his legs gave way beneath him. He crumpled with a groan, his face contorting in pain.

I dropped beside him, helpless. He wasn't going to be able to walk.

"What do we do now?" I asked, unable to keep the edge of panic from my voice.

"They'll find us," he panted.

"Who?"

Movement drew my eye.

The Brinnekin pulled herself from the river and onto the bank with the fluid, ungainly grace of a seal. Webbed hands dug into the mud, black claws carving furrows through the earth as she dragged her body forward. Her gills fluttered soundlessly along her neck, opening and closing in rapid succession, like a fish out of water.

I drew my knife and leveled it at the creature.

She showed me her teeth in another warning hiss, yet continued forward until she stopped beside Rìan.

"Rìan—"

"She won’t hurt me," he said firmly.

One hand pressed over his ruined shoulder, the other resting calmly against his abdomen, he watched as the Brinnekin loomed above him, her enormous black eyes never leaving his face. The pale membrane swept across them as she studied him.

Then, she bowed her head.

Rìan raised his palm and touched it gently to her brow.

"Thank you, my friend," he murmured. "I won't let you down."

The creature answered with a series of chittering clicks deep in her throat as Rìan’s touch fell away. As she lifted her head again⁠—

A sharp twang sounded in the brush. A shrill whistle split the air.

Crack.

The arrow slammed into the Brinnekin's forehead, right between her eyes.