“Luka,” Declan pressed. “It’s up to you.”
I nodded. “Let’s do it, I’ll do anything to get her back.”
6
LENNOX
“I’ll leave you two alone, it appears you have much to catch up on.”
The door slammed shut behind Adreona, leaving me alone with mybrother.
“You’re not real. There’s no way you’re real. You died. You’re supposed to be dead,” I rambled, my mind swimming as I tried to take in the figure in front of me. I had seen his body, destroyed, left in nothing but ribbons of flesh. But here he was—my brother,Nol. Wholly here in the flesh.
Alive.
“It’s me, Lennox.” He took a tentative step forward. “I didn’t die that night. The Vanir didn’t kill me, they took me, but made it look like I had died, for this purpose exactly.”
I wrapped my arms around myself. This wasn’t real, it couldn’t be real. Adreona had done something to fuck with my mind.
Nol was dead.
He had been dead for three years.
My brother was dead.
“It’s really me, Lennox.” He took another step toward me.
“How do I know it’s really you?” I whispered.
He came closer, he was only a step away now. He placed a thin, pale hand on my arm. “Until the stars turn to dust,” he whispered.
A sob heaved from my throat as I threw my arms around my brother. “It’s you, it’s really you. You’re alive.” He wrapped his arms around me in turn, squeezing me tight. He was thin. So thin. What had they done to him?
“I can’t believe you’re here, Lennox.” His tears soaked into my hair. “I never thought I’d see you again.”
I let go of him, allowing myself to look at my brother fully. I had mourned him. For three years, I had thought him dead, yet here was my brother standing before me. Too many emotions crashed beneath the surface.
Nol was alive.
I shoved him back with a hand to his chest, causing a crease to form between his brows. “You left me,” I said, unable to keep my voice from trembling. “You promised me you’d never leave me, that you’d always be there for me, but you did,” I choked out. I knew I was being irrational, he didn’t choose to leave me, but it had felt that way. Part of it had always felt like a betrayal, the one person who was always looking out for me was gone. But now he was back. He was standing in front of me.
Nol’s face fell. “I missed you, you stupid bastard, but I’m also so fucking mad at you for leaving me. I thought you were dead.”
He reached for me, but I swatted him away as I tried to get my head and heart to sync. But Nol pulled me against his chest anyways. “I’m sorry, Lennox. I didn’t choose to leave you.”
“I know, I just?—”
“I know.” He sighed. “I missed you too.” I wrapped my arms around my brother.
Nol was alive.Alive.
“How?” I asked finally.
“Let’s sit.” He let me go and motioned to the bed, “It’s a long story.”
I winced as I sat against the wall, my tender back rubbing against the stone.
Nol’s brows pinched. “What happened to your back?”
