Page 97

Chapter Twenty-Six

Briar did not want to go to Holdfast.

She wanted a nap. And a cup of tea. Willow-bark powder for her head. And a mountain of scones with butter.

But no. Instead, Holdfast with its rocky beaches and unforgiving witches and slippery cobblestones.

Still, Briar could not help a small flutter of relief. Ethan would not be sailing away before the sunrise. Which was rather beside the point. Village in peril, etcetera, etcetera.

She felt as though she were moving through treacle while everyone around her sped about like they were being shot from cannons. Ethan barked orders to his crew, before disappearing briefly into his quarters. Petal and Bramble held hands, whispering furiously. Aidan stepped off the gangplank onto the beach.

Briar followed him because there was something odd about the roses. The moonlight touched them the way it touched her, which was curious enough. But they were growing too fast and strong, tangled like a thicket. Bear was right to be concerned about them. They were hungry. Ravenous. Magic glittered between the vines. She watched for a long moment until Ethan appeared at the rails, scowling.

“I told you to wait for me,” he said grimly. She could only see one extra sword strapped to his back, but she knew full well there would be dozens of daggers and magical curses stuffed in every pocket and pouch. In his boots, even. He held a stick, which he handed to her when he’d crossed the sand. “This won’t snap like driftwood.”

The stick was actually a cane. He had whittled roses into sturdy blackthorn, sharpening some of the thorns into lethal points. It was beautiful, but more importantly, it was the exact right height for her and it was strong and deadly.

“Did you do this?” she asked, running her fingers over a petal and remembering the small, carved seals and mermaids and dragons in his quarters, the swan he had carved while sitting at her table.

“Aye.”

“Thank you.”

“You could bash a bloke’s kneecaps in with that,” he added. “Start with Oliver. Then Aster.”

Because the gesture threatened to make her eyes water, and one could not fight off Iron Crows while blubbering, she forced a smile. “You’re not expecting me to use it to prop myself up and wait for you to come rescue me if there’s trouble?”

“Woman, I expect you to do as much damage as you can.”

It was such a lovely thing to do, to say, that her swan purred in her ear. She had not even known swans could purr.

Petal crossed to them, linking her arm through Briar’s. “Are we ready?”

“You’re not coming,” Ethan said calmly.

“I am not leaving my sister,” Petal shot back. Her chest mottled pink with outrage. Even that was beautiful on her. Her hare shot out of her ribcage, snarling. “Choke on it, Iron Crow.”

Briar frowned. “Why can’t Petal come with us?”

Ethan merely extended his arm and poked Petal in the shoulder, not particularly hard. She stumbled back, equilibrium dodgy. Bramble shot to her side.

“You’ve been out cold for days,” he said. “You’ll slow us down.”

Petal opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. “Damn it. I would have a better argument if there weren’t two of you.” She rubbed her eyes.

“You can distract the Keepers,” Ethan suggested. “Let them see you just enough to keep their attention.”

Petal nodded. “I can do that.” She turned to Briar, squinting. “I think you’re getting brighter. And why do you keep frowning at those roses?”

“There’s something off about them.” Briar glanced at Aidan. “Is it a part of your tracking spell?”

“No, it isn’t.”

Still frowning, Briar climbed the rough-hewn steps to the top of the cliff, Ethan right behind her, followed by Petal and Bramble and Aidan. The moonlight glinted off the water, and the flowers, but mostly Briar. She shivered, feeling very exposed.

The roses glowed at her feet. The vines crept down the cliff, reaching the wet sand. They crept across the field leading toward Haven. They crept toward the moors.

They were everywhere.