Page 73 of Rising Reign

My brow furrowed. “Can you stop them from coming?”

Rhys nodded. “I have to take certain herbs, but then I don’t get information that could be helpful. It’s a difficult balance to strike.”

He was forcing himself to live through this pain for Ender. For all of us. I moved closer, taking his hand and squeezing. “Thank you. For everything you’re doing.”

Rhys’s gaze locked with mine. “You’re welcome.” He squeezed my hand in return, and images filled my mind as he did. Rhys running through the woods. Pain blooming, blood seeping from his chest.

“What happened to you?” I rasped.

Rhys jerked his hand from mine. “Nothing. Not a damn thing.”

But I’d felt the pain. The sheer devastation pouring out of him. Something had happened to Rhys, and it was something horrific.

43

WREN

Rhys pulled on his mask in a way that spoke of a seasoned actor. His gaze moved to Clyde, a wry smile tugging at his lips. “The humans need to stay.”

Kingston straightened and prowled toward Rhys. “What did you see?”

Rhys showed no signs of intimidation. “I told you, it’s not exact. Images, warnings. It’s clear that things will go better if they’re here.”

“Told ya,” Juan said from his spot at the table. He leaned back in his chair and patted his stomach. “Plus, the food here is sick.”

Puck arched a brow at that. “Thanks?”

Juan grinned. “Totally a compliment, Pucker.”

Puck bared his teeth. “You are definitely not allowed to call me that.”

I crossed to him, looping my arm through his and leaning into his side. “Come on, buddy. No bloodshed at breakfast.”

“Pucker. Buddy. What the hell did I do to deserve this?” he grumbled.

“Oh, you did plenty,” Clara called. “How about when you disrupted every date I ever went on growing up?”

“Buddy, you didn’t.” I raised my eyebrows in mock affront.

Puck’s cheeks pinked. “They didn’t deserve you.”

Clara pinned him with a hard look. “You ran Beckham up a flagpole. You told Glinda you’d put her on bathroom duty for the rest of time.”

Puck turned to his sister, taking me with him. “And if they truly loved you as they should’ve, they would’ve taken my threats and kept right on running toward you.”

Clara’s jaw went slack. “You were testing them?”

“Yes. And I’d do it all over again.”

“Brothers,” Clara huffed.

I couldn’t help it, I laughed. And then I squeezed Puck’s arm harder. “You’re a good big brother.”

“Sometimes,” he said wistfully, a hint of sadness creeping into his eyes.

Clara met his gaze across the kitchen. “All the time.”

An ache settled in my chest, but it was the good kind. One that spoke of restoration and reconnection. And I was happy as hell that Puck was finding it.