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Our uncle looked at the rest of my brothers, excluding Cal, who moaned. “The four of you need to find Life. Make her tell you what is happening.”
Drew scoffed. “Like we can do that. She’s got all the power.”
Bard frowned. “I fear she doesn’t.” We all blinked at him. “Your mates will track you down. That is their goal, and they are set on it. Adam, you and Carmon are the only ones able to speak with the Ladies. Give them a bread crumb, and if I were you, I’d start with Lord Lightning. He needs the power boost Lady Lightning can give him, and he is weaker than he appears.”
We looked to Chris, who tried to keep his head high. Now that I looked closer, I could see his body tremble. The blood soaking his shirt didn’t ebb but continued to flow.
“Dang it, Chris. Why didn’t you say something?” I tried to put pressure on the wound, but Chris laughed.
“Not going to help, brother. Though I appreciate the assist.”
“Wake the women, Adam, and save yourself. They need to make their way to the Ridge.” Bard looked more worn than he had at the start of our meeting.
“It’s dangerous.” Drew’s complaint came as the pans clattered more in my head. “My babies, they can’t take that heat. Lady Water and some of the others can’t.”
“They will find a way,” Bard said and then disappeared.
One by one my brothers left the forest, and then my eyes opened to reveal my bedroom. Someone was cursing in the kitchen. The voice sounded familiar.
“What are you doing here?” I called out, and a man with black hair peeked into the room.
“Do you think he knows I’m here?”
I scoffed. “I’m pretty sure, Nate. If I were you, I’d get out. Aren’t you supposed to be with your people?”
“What can I do to help?” The Warlock crossed his arms.
“Cal’s in the dungeon. Do what you can to save him. I’m not sure how much longer he can survive my father’s wrath.” Dad would kill him. I didn’t doubt it.
“Your father?”
I rubbed my face to clear the sleep from my head. “Yeah, the Mindolin.”
My friend’s eyes widened. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“Afraid not. Now go before the Mindolin finds you here and kills us both.” I held up a hand. “First, hit me with as much magic as you can.”
“How did you and Adam meet?”
We’d all woken when the babies had cried during the night to be fed. Our biggest concerns were keeping the babies warm and fed. Jazz had broken down in tears during their feeding. Exhaustion and fear had pushed through her courageous wall and had spilled out of her in tears. Sophie, Tessa, and I each held a baby while Sylee held Jazz as she calmed. Grace stayed alert, ready for danger.
I smiled at Sophie’s question as my mind wandered back. “We met at a party in Eastport. I’d gone with Hazel and Connor. Even then I was a third wheel. They were madly in love. I wanted that too, but more than anything, I wanted my freedom from my mom.”
Grace laughed. “Boy, do I know that feeling. Mom hated the idea of me becoming a warrior, let alone one of rank.”
Tessa snorted loudly before checking to make sure she hadn’t woken the sleeping baby in her arms. “That’s why you became a warrior then?”
Grace shrugged. “I’d always wanted to be a warrior. My parents were warriors. They were killed in action. My mom’s distaste of warriors pushed me to be the youngest ranking female warrior, though.”
“Why did you want away from your mom, Brynn?” The light in Jazz’s eyes didn’t shine as bright, but she gave a watery smile.
I’d have shrugged had I not been holding a little bundle. “After my father left us, Mom was always angry. If she wasn’t angry, she was drunk. She blamed his leaving on me, even though he’d left with another woman. Mom said it was because her body wasn’t the same as before she’d had a baby. Dad’s leaving was never his fault. His choices were always because of something I’d done. Even twelve years later, she still hated me for him leaving.”
“That’s awful.” Jazz looked mortified. “I’m so sorry. I wish you could have had an upbringing like mine. My parents were great. They’d love you all, but they’re dead, so you won’t get the chance to meet them.”
Was it bad to wish my mom could trade places with Jazz’s parents? Why did my mom have to be alive, hating me, when Jazz’s parents had loved her?
“Anyway,” Sophie forced a smile as she looked over at me, “you and Adam?”
