Page 106 of Gilded Curses

“If you’re ready,” Lexi said to Elsa, “I can show you to your room.”

“I’d like that,” Elsa said.

“I should be going too.” Maverick rose and stretched his back. “There’s a pack meeting tonight.”

Before Orin knew it, it was just him, Varo, and Cole sitting at the table. No one spoke for a while, but Cole finally broke the silence.

“We’ll get you a prosthetic hand soon.”

“I’m in no rush,” Orin assured him. “I’m as good with one hand as I was with two.”

Cole chuckled. “It’s good to see the Cursed Realm didn’t dim your confidence.”

“Nothing could.”

Cole’s black eyes ran over him before he leaned forward. “Sahira—”

Before his brother could say anything more, Orin cut him off. “I love her, Cole. Believe me, it’s not something I ever saw coming. It’s not something I ever wanted, but now that I have her, I’m not letting her go.”

Cole sat back again. “I would never ask you to give her up. I’m just… shocked.”

Orin laughed as he lifted his goblet and gulped his wine. “No one is more shocked than me.”

“Oh, I’m sure. I’m glad you’re back.”

“Cheers to that,” Varo said as he lifted his goblet.

Orin was glad his youngest brother looked much better than the last time he saw him. He’d regained some of the weight he lost after the battle with the Lord and his mother’s death. Color had returned to his cheeks, and his nearly white-blue eyes weren’t so vacant.

Varo still didn’t look as healthy as he did before all the fighting started and they chose to side against their father, but he didn’t look like death was knocking at his door anymore, either.

“I’m glad to be back,” Orin said, “and I’m so glad to see you both again.”

Orin smiled as their goblets clicked together in the center of the table. They’d lost so much of their family, and Brokk was still missing, but he was back where he was meant to be.

And while he couldn’t be completely happy without Brokk here or rest until he learned what became of his brother, he was glad to be home… even if he wouldn’t be staying long.

“Tell me all you know about Doomed Valley,” he said.

“I think you should stay here for a bit before going into Doomed Valley,” Cole said. “You’ve endured enough and should rest.”

“If you could leave, would you wait?”

“No, but I haven’t gone through what you have these past months. Give yourself some time here with Sahira.”

“And what of Brokk?”

“If he’s alive, then we’ll find him, but rushing out when you’re not ready isn’t going to do anyone any good.”

“I’ve never been rational.”

“You’ve never had someone else to worry about. What about Sahira if something happens to you?” Varo asked.

Orin sipped his wine as he contemplated this. “I have to go.”

“I know,” Cole said, “but give it some time. At least a couple of days.”

“I wasn’t planning on leaving tomorrow.”