Torrent of Tears (Scourge Survivor Series Book 3)(81)

“How,” I croaked.

Jade smiled. “We stormed the city searching for you. Bruin, Cowboy, and Savage were lead group and making their way to the palace when they saw the first body fall from the amphitheatre wall. They didn’t get there fast enough for your friend . . . but when the two kids went over, Bruin and Cowboy materialized and snatched them right out of the air.”

I ran my fingers through the crazy cockerel comb of ginger-red hair and thanked Castian, all the gods, and even the Fates, that Weres had been part of the lead group. No race could materialize with the accuracy of the Weres, and probably no men other than Bruin and Cowboy would have attempted a mid-air rescue.

I shook my head, trying to wrap my head around it, Coal and Elani had been saved. Not Terran though. I died a little thinking about him never mashing up sayings again, never playing hide and seek with me or being teased by his parents.

“And Rowan? Have preparations been made for him?”

Jade propped herself up onto her elbow. “Not necessary. Castian restored him for what you suffered at the hands of his sister. A life given for a life taken, he said.”

I swallowed as the room spun. “Rowan’s alive?”

“A little browbeaten by Reign, Bruin and Julian, but he’s held his own and is still breathing.” The weight from her pregnancy had crept into the rounds of her cheeks. I hadn’t noticed it before, but it was plain.

The deep grumble of Bruin’s bear, snoring and huffing at the back of my neck startled me. The heat from his long, lush fur warmed my back. He’d come. After all that had been said and all the anger, he’d come when I needed him.

“Nobody browbeat him,” someone mumbled from behind Jade. I saw it then, over her hip hung the arm of my other brother. I knew that beautiful shade of brown anywhere, deep mocha with a hint of cream. But—Julian never left Haven. I mean in the fifteen years he’d lived on our mountain he had never left the grounds. Ever.

“What about Rheagan and Abaddon?”

“We’ll find them,” Julian said, stretching and rising to his feet. “I should actually get back to it. You good, shrimpboat?”

I chuckled at the nickname I’d long forgotten. “Yeah. I’m good. Thanks for coming.”

“Hey, Trouble, you’re finally awake.” Rowan’s whisper came from the doorway as he strode over to our football field of a bed. He looked at the ensemble cast hunkered down around me and chuckled. “Good thing my parents believed in oversized furniture.”

“Very good thing,” I chuckled and raised my arm, ready for my husband to extricate me from the Shitstorm Survivors love-in. Bruin growled as I ruffled his fur and Rowan paled. “It’s okay. He sleeps like a bear.”

Rowan leaned over the sleeping mass of thick brown fur and squeezed my hand. “So, this is your family?”

“Yep. Except—”

“Your father’s downstairs. He’s been grilling me about Rheagan and Estes . . . or Abaddon, I guess . . . and my intentions.” A crease formed between his brows as he frowned. “You said the man was scary, Lexi. That didn’t begin to give me enough warning. He looks at me like he wants to chew my arms off for touching his daughter.”

I snorted. “You just don’t know him yet. His angry face and his happy face are the same. I’m sure you’ve charmed him and the rest of them.”

Rowan shook his head, not looking convinced, then glanced to Coal. “How great is that?”

I nodded. “Jade told me about Terran. But Elani’s safe?”

Rowan’s eyes glowed. “Fine. Your friends really saved the day on that one.”

“Help me up, will you? I’m stuck.” Rowan pulled my hand to his mouth and kissed it. “There’s something I need to tell you first.”

A chill snaked down my spine. “What? What happened?”

“Nothing terrible.” He squeezed my hand tighter and leaned over Bruin so he could see me better. “Do you remember when I told you that Faery traits either emerge at puberty or sometimes in stressful situations?” I nodded and he licked his lips. “Well, I think with everything that happened, the trauma of Tham and then witnessing Zale and the soldiers throw Terran and the kids over the wall . . . well, triggered a change in you.”

Bruin growled again and flexed his claws in his sleep.

Rowan paled and waited until he settled before continuing. “Now don’t freak out.”

“Screw that, saying ‘don’t freak out’ makes me lose my shit.” My breathing came shallow and fast while I took inventory, arms, legs— “You are seriously fucking with my tranquility here, Rowan. What kind of change?”

His grip loosened. “Lexi, look at me. Everything is all right. You’re beautiful. Stunning. It’s just that now—you have wings. Your Air trait is that your wings developed late, instead of you being born with them. They couldn’t break free and I had to operate to release them.”

“Oh. My. Gods.” My head whirled with that one as I whipped my gaze from shoulder to shoulder to see. “Wings?”

Rowan nodded and eased me up, first to a sit and then I scootched to the end of the bed. He lifted me up and over the footboard and set me on my feet. I was wearing a backless halter top and yoga pants. When he stood me in front of the mirror, tears welled.