The sharp pinch of his teeth on her skin brings her momentary clarity. A shiver runs along her spine, memories of a stormy night. But that’s how she ended up here, isn’t it? Trying to ignore the pain that ripples through her belly. In moments though, it passes.
He’s urging her up, and somehow, she makes it to her feet.
She’s nearly desperate now, gaze wild as she scans the icy beach for Briella. Her skin is feverish to the touch, hot even in the chill of the air. His words only half-register. He would find her. Briella was here though, wasn’t she? No, not here.
She’s tired, so tired. Leaning heavily against him, she presses her face against his neck, eyes slipping closed. Rest, just a moment.
Briella.
She jerks upright, stumbling, nearly falling again.
Heartfire. Her name whispers through the air and she startles. Her eyes, wide and unfocused, fall onto the black shadow that seems to have come from nowhere. Hallucinating now, she must be. Her gaze turns to Dovev. Real. He’s real.
Ether, the shadow says. She frowns, blinks. No, Ether is her brother. The could’ve been twins. Except Illum is her twin. No, not Illum, Ether. She stares at him for a long moment. There is something so familiar about him. “Ether,” she repeats softly. “Brother.” She misses the way he brightens at that.
He’s imploring her to come. She shakes her head. No. No, she can’t. “Have to find… Briella,” she gasps, trying the force her thoughts into coherency. She had to find Briella. “I’ll find her,” he whispers imploringly.
Would he? Could he? Her face fractures into confusion as she turns to Dovev. Real. He’s real. She had to focus on that.
i see your sins
and i want to set them free
