Night Fae (Dark Fae Kings #3) - Meg Xuemei X. Page 0,60
the call of the Wild Hunt, and the contract was magically binding. But I hadn’t been in my sharpest state. There’d been no time to think things through and define where she must release Nox when she was about to sink her claws into Baron’s other eye.
So, Brigantia had released Nox right into the Wild Hunt for him to be hunted, too. My brother would be my vulnerability, and if I died, my brother would surely die as well.
Rage and hatred seared my every fiber, consuming me and muddling my mind. As I struggled to reach a single clear thought, a spark of light bloomed in my mind. I’d nearly fallen into the usurper’s mental trap. She was trying to rile me up and make me lose my shit by exploiting my vulnerability and hurting my family. If I didn’t keep my wits about me, I’d be doomed—and then she would get my power, murder my family, destroy the human world, and possibly enslave my mates.
I purged the rage and fear from my mind and heart until only cold clarity and merciless determination rose to meet me.
“Nox,” I called calmly. “I’m here.”
Even though I wanted to run toward my brother at full speed and pull him into my embrace to shield him, I slowed down and strode toward him, Netherbane and a handgun in my firm grip. My eyes scanned for threats around my brother, and my ears strained to listen for any unusual sound.
Nox halted for a second, then raced toward me.
“Evie? Evie!” he shrieked.
He rammed into my arms. I sheathed my dagger and hugged him in one arm. A second later, I pulled away, my hand holding his arm instead of gripping him.
I quickly inspected him for injuries. He had bruises, but he didn’t seem to be injured.
“Nox,” I said. “I’m here now. I’ll get you out of here and we’ll go home. While in the arena, follow me like my shadow. I move and you move. When I say stop, you stop. When I order you to run, even to run away from me, you run like hell. Understand?”
He nodded, wild-eyed, but calm started to seep into his eyes. My brother had obviously been traumatized. Right now, he needed my orders to keep going and have hope, or he’d break down before the hunt was over.
Children can be brave and resilient, and I’d treat him like a soldier, just how we’d played the roles in our house when my parents went missing.
“You came for me, Evie,” he said.
“Yes,” I said, suppressing my tears. “I’ll make sure you’re safe. We’ll go home, and you’ll never be taken again. Asuka and everyone will be overjoyed when they see you again. Right now, I need you to be very strong for me, for us. Can you do that?”
He nodded. “I’ll be strong. I’ll be like the hero in the Iron Fist.”
“Fine,” I said. “You can be the golden fist for all I care.”
“Commander?” he asked tentatively.
“Yeah?”
“It’s Safiya,” he said. “She sold us out.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s good that you confirmed it for me though. We’ve separated her from the rest of us, so she can’t endanger any of you anymore. Nox, I have good news for you: Dad and Mom have returned. They miss you terribly. They expect me to bring you home soon.”
Tears welled in Nox’s light hazel eyes and streamed down his grubby cheeks. He wiped them away with his dirty sleeve.
“I got you, my brother,” I said, noticing his hollowed cheeks. I took a bag of food from my backpack and handed it to him. “Eat a piece of bread and a few strips of beef jerky slowly, then drink a few mouthfuls of water while we walk. We have to go. There are more bad guys coming.”
“Yes, Commander,” Nox said, his shaking hands snatching a piece of bread and shoving half of it into his mouth. Crumbs fell all over his chin.
“Slowly, Nox,” I said softly.
“Hey, buddy,” Megan said, beaming down at my brother. “We’ll all help your big sister protect you. No one will get you again.”
I slanted a grateful glance at her.
“Don’t worry, Nox,” Richie chimed in. “We’re all in this together now. We’ll protect you.”
I gestured at my companions. “They’re my new team, and we’ll fight together.”
I caught hunger glinting in my companions’ eyes. I’d have to find a food source for all of us before night fell, when all the nasty things would come out to hunt us.