Page 217 of A Kingdom of Wild and Power
And someone Bryn had known his entire life.
Someone who wore the same face he did.
His twin sister.
Wren.
Bryn surged forward, eyes wide, his mouth opening in a silent scream.
He watched in growing horror as the witches forced the prisoners to their knees. He watched as swords were conjured in their hands.
Bryn spun, ready to leave Velunthar that very instant, ready to throw himself down the mountain if that was what it took to reach her.
But a hand caught his arm.
He looked up to find the valkyrian woman named Alma standing before him, her golden eyes heavy with sorrow.
‘You won’t make it in time,’ she said quietly, her grip firm.
‘That’s me sista.’
‘I’m sorry.’
Slowly, Bryn turned back towards the field below, his heart hammering violently against his ribs.
He had already believed he had lost his sister once.
And now…
Now he was being forced to lose her all over again.
Only this time, he would have to watch.
Bryn watched as the sword plunged into Wren’s stomach.
Her body arched faintly with the force of the blow, and blood burst from her lips in a crimson spray. From where he stood he could not hear what passed between the two prisoners, yet he saw the way they looked at one another.
There was hope in their eyes.
And love.
And forgiveness.
He watched the moment the light left her body.
And the moment the other prisoner was struck down beside her.
When it was done, the witches withdrew, leaving the bodies where they had fallen so the Fae might retrieve their dead. They retreated across the field, keeping just enough distance to avoid a counterattack.
Bryn turned and hurried back inside Velunthar.
He ran through the great corridors and waited at the entrance until a group of Black Lotus returned carrying the fallen.
Perhaps he had been mistaken. Perhaps it had not been Wren.
Perhaps…
Bryn collapsed to his knees the moment he saw her.
