Vindicate (Insight #5)(4)

Brady gripped my arm , causing my pace to stop. “I told you I would be your air. When you feel those emotions , you look into my eyes. You find peace, calm, and determination there. Do you hear me?!” he yelled over the rumbling thunder.

“You’re not him!” I bellowed as light n ing collided against the palace.

“Right now I’m all you’ve got. Like it or not. I’m the only one not afraid of you. The only one who knows you will not break. I know y ou have no choice but to be strong. And you will be.”

I let out a jag ged breath and stared into him. He was telling the truth. They feared me. My family thought this was our end. I gritted my teeth as I swallowed the emotions that told me they were right, Brady was wrong. Then I vowed to prove them all wrong. I would be damned if I let one evil wench stop me from my fate.

Once I took ownership of that determination , the rain stopped, the thunder grew silent , and the dark room became brighter. The skies behind the window were not bright ; they were gray, but gr ay was better than a storm. Better than the destruction I’d already brought.

“You got this ,” he said quietly as he pulled me to him and hugged me as tightly as he could. I could hear his pounding heart. Feel his rage. Und erstood that his intent was set. He was going to stand at my side and bring back his baby brother one way or another. He had no choice ; not only did he love us, but he knew that without us the fate of his an d Felicity’s daughter, Allie, was undermined , that her path , whatever it may be , would be tragic , that she would face the battles we faced to reach peace.

“Who was she ?” I mumbled into his chest.

He let his arms fall fr om me and sighed. “I don’t know. I’m more interest ed in figuring out that sound. Where it came from. Why it was able to bring her pain. Stop her.”

I tried to clear my mind. To think of the conversations Landen and I had just hours ago. He knew something . He’d grasped something from what I showed him . Those girls Preston had met in the field outside my house. I recognize d that look in his eyes. That uncanny certainty, but he didn’t h ave time to tell me what it was. Right now he was more than likely holding the missing piece to this puzzle in his thoughts.

“You have to find Austin. Those twins , ” I mumbled as I sat on the edge of the bed. The weight of my body -- the way the bed moved caused both Landen and Drake to flinch. Brady pulled me up. “I don’t think we need to disturb them. Not their bodies.”

“Where are they?” I asked , as a wave of dizziness came over me .

“We’ll figure it out , ” h e promised. “Come to the study so we can talk this out as a family.”

I shook my head no. “Tell them to come in here , ” I said , glancing at the sitting area that th e bedroom had on the other side. There were three couches outlining a massive coffee table that sat in front of the fireplace , even more chairs in front of the window . This room was as large as my entire dow nstairs at my home in Chara. A home I doubted I would ever see again.

The door opened slowly at that moment. It was Marc. “Are you OK?” he asked , looking between me and Brady and the bodies of Landen and Drake.

“If they want to talk , tell them to come in here , ” Brady said to Marc. He nodded , then pushed the door open.

Brady put his hand on the small of my back and le d me to the couch that faced the window. I felt his intent ; h e wanted me to see the weather. He wanted me to see the effect I was having on the world outside this palace. He didn’t sit down by me ; instead , he sat in front of me so I would have no choice but to look into his blue eyes when my emotions fought to take control.

Rose was the first one that came in. She sat on the arm of the couch beside me and wrapped her arms around me , trying to emanate as much calm as she possibl y could . I needed more than she could give me. I needed Preston.

“Where are Preston and Libby ?” I said as my eyes moved to Brady.

“Home , ” h e said calmly. “Do you want them here?”

“The question is , do they want to be here ? I f they did , they would be , ” I said , quietly taking in calm breaths.

My father had come in the room and walked to the bed so he could look over Landen and Drake. I tried to ignore him , to pretend they we re just in another part of palace , talking about me. Finding a way to protect me. I felt my father’s astonishment and looked to him before I could stop myself. When he felt my stare , he looked over his shoulder at me ; his eyes were hazel, full of the worry I felt in him. “I don’t know what you did , baby. But it helped. Their lungs are taking in air. Their heart s are beating. Their souls are on fire.”

“But they’re not here , ” I replied as I stared at my father with pleading eyes. He left Landen’s side and came to mine , studying every part of me , looking for damage.

“Don ’t be mad at me about before,” my father said steadily . “I wanted to calm you down for your health . We needed to calm you down to save this town from destruction.”

I stared forward into Brady’s eyes . “I’m calm. I w on’t take anything. I have to figure out where they are.”

“You might find them with sleep,” I heard Perodine say behind me.

I turned to see both bedroom doors open and Marc and Ashten , along with a few servants , moving her table in here. The t able that had the scroll on it along random books.