Chapter 6

CHAPTER SIX

As Justice eased the SUV to a stop in front of McDuff Manor, the gravel crunching under the tires, relief and dread filled me. The familiar sight of the old Scottish manor with its warm sandstone walls and cheery flower boxes usually brought comfort. Today, it only emphasized the weight of the news we carried.

The rest of them spilled from the manor like mad hornets. I fumbled with the door lock and popped the door. The crisp scent of pine needles wafted through the air, a jarring shift from the tense atmosphere that had permeated the SUV. My heart clenched painfully in my chest as I spotted Grady and Scott, their faces etched with curiosity and welcome.

A lump bubbled up in my throat, threatening to choke me. They hadn't been picked as part of the chosen for our task, and now I had to tell them their trusted friend Brody had sacrificed himself to save us.

My hands trembled as I stepped out of the SUV. The crisp Highland air hit my face, carrying the scent of heather and the promise of rain. The manor's windows gleamed warmly in the overcast light, oblivious to the tragedy we were about to unveil.

Justice came around the vehicle, his presence solid and reassuring. He clasped my hand. Our eyes locked, and in that moment, I saw my own pain and uncertainty reflected in his dark gaze. The silent support in his touch gave me strength.

The moment I had been dreading was here. The obvious fact of Brody's absence felt heavier than ever as I looked at the expectant faces of our team gathered on the manor's front steps. They deserved to know the truth, no matter how much it would hurt.

I drew a deep breath and squeezed Justice's hand once before letting go. With leaden feet, I stepped toward Grady and Scott. Their expressions shifted from welcome to concern as they registered the grim set of my jaw and the absence of their friend.

"Guys," I grumbled like a grizzly bear. "We need to talk. It's about Brody and Lisa."

The air thickened with tension as I prepared to deliver the news that would shatter our team's world. Behind me, I heard Damon and Zara exit the SUV, their presence offering silent support as we faced this painful task together.

Grady gave me a puzzled look, his dark eyes searching my face for clues. His long, raven-black hair was pulled back into a neat man bun, a few loose strands framing his rugged features. He was the exact opposite of Scott, who stood beside him, his blond hair buzzed so short it was almost invisible against his scalp. Both men were built like linemen on a football team. Their muscular frames tensed with concern.

The gravel crunched under my feet as I shifted my weight, trying to find the words.

"They were captured?" Scott asked, his voice gruff with worry. His blue eyes darted between me and the SUV as if expecting Brody to suddenly appear with a grin, explaining it was all a misunderstanding.

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat feeling like it might choke me. My hands trembled, and I clenched them into fists to steady myself. "No," I managed to say. "Lisa…she betrayed us."

Shock rippled through the group. Grady's eyes widened, and Scott's jaw clenched visibly.

"She gave the Crown of Envy to Maci," I continued, each word a struggle. "The Aegis serpent became angry." I had to take several deep breaths. The memory of the cavern's collapse flashed before my eyes, the sound of falling rocks echoing in my ears.

Justice placed a supportive hand on my shoulder. I drew strength from his touch, forcing myself to meet Grady and Scott's increasingly alarmed gazes.

"It started a cave-in," I whispered. "And Brody…he got us all out. But…" The words stuck in my throat, refusing to come out. How could I tell them their brother-in-arms wasn't coming home?

The silence stretched, heavy and oppressive. I heard the rapid breathing of those around me, saw the growing dread in Scott's eyes and the dawning realization in Grady's.

Damon shifted behind me, the leather of his jacket creaking. Zara's quiet sniffle broke the silence, a sound so small yet so laden with grief that it seemed to shatter the last vestiges of hope in Grady and Scott's expressions.

"But what?" Scott's words splintered with panic. "Where's Brody? Where is he?"

I drew a shuddering breath, steeling myself for the revelation that would change everything. "Brody saved us, but…" My throat constricted, choking back the truth. I swallowed hard and willed myself to continue. "He didn't make it. Brody's gone."

The words hung in the air, final and devastating. At that moment, as the color drained from Grady and Scott's faces, as gasps and muffled cries came from the team behind them, I knew nothing would ever be the same again. The safe haven of McDuff Manor suddenly felt like the eye of a storm, with the true tempest of grief and consequences yet to come.

The devastating news of Brody's sacrifice hung over us like a dark, threatening cloud, and I became aware of two figures standing slightly apart from the group. Garrick, the king of the Unseelie, had been silent as he watched the scene unfold.

He was as tall and muscular as Scott and Grady, his presence radiating an aura of power and barely contained wildness. An air of arrogance clung to him like a second skin, evident in the set of his broad shoulders and the tilt of his chin.

Garrick's sharp, calculating green eyes surveyed the unfolding drama with an unsettling intensity. His light brown hair fell in a shaggy mane over his shoulders, giving him a leonine appearance that only added to his regal bearing. Despite the gravity of the situation, he seemed coiled with energy, ready to spring into action at any moment.

At his side stood his mate, Maggie, a wolf shifter whose presence I had almost overlooked in my focus on Grady and Scott. Her dark hair was intricately braided, the plaits adorned with small silver beads. Tears swam in her eyes, her usual fierce demeanor softened by genuine sorrow.

I had been so focused on Grady and Scott, on delivering the painful news, that I had nearly forgotten the broader implications of our situation. The world seemed to hold its breath as the full nightmare of our loss settled over the group.

Suddenly, Garrick moved. The Unseelie king wrapped his arms around Maggie in a rare display of public affection, pulling her close as if to shield her from the pain radiating through our team. Yet as he comforted his mate, his gaze hardened, those piercing green eyes scanning the horizon with growing concern.

Then, his arm shot out, his finger pointing toward the dark, grumbling sky. The abrupt movement drew everyone's attention. "Something's coming," he announced, his voice carrying the unmistakable tone of command. "We need to get back inside."

His urgency unleashed chills down my spine. I followed his gaze to the menacing clouds above, now tinged with an unnatural, greenish hue. The air seemed to thicken, charged with an energy that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Grady and Scott looked up, and confusion glossed over their eyes. I stirred uneasily, torn between the fresh wound of grief and this new, unseen threat.

"What is it?" Justice asked, moving to stand beside me, his body tense.

Damon whistled, his face twisting into a sardonic smirk. "Great. ‘Cause our day wasn't craptastic enough already. What's next, we gonna have to fight off Voldemort and his band of merry douchebags?"

Garrick's eyes locked onto mine, his gaze so intense it felt almost physical. The lines around his mouth deepened as he spoke. "Unfortunately, yes. Something's hiding in those clouds."

He paused, glancing at the murky mass above. The sky had darkened to an ominous pewter, shot through with flashes of sickly green light. When Garrick looked back at me, his expression contained hope and desperation. "Sawyer, can you ask the Mirror of Aethereal what to do next?"

My face contorted into a scowl, frustration and fear battling within me. "Now?" The word escaped like a sharp-edged shard, laden with the echoes of our mounting setbacks.

Garrick's shoulders tensed. "The mirror might give us a clue how to handle what's lurking up there." A slight uptick in his tone made it more of a question than a statement. Clearly, he was grasping at straws, but who could blame him, considering our situation?

I gritted my teeth, feeling a familiar ache in my jaw from the constant tension. Logically, his request made sense. The mirror had guided us before, its cryptic visions often proving crucial in our darkest hours. But now, after everything that had happened, after we had failed so spectacularly…

The thought of facing the mirror filled me with dread. What if it refused to help, deeming us unworthy after our recent catastrophe? Or worse, what if it showed us a future so bleak it shattered what little hope we had left?

I inhaled deeply, steeling myself. Despite my reservations, we were out of options. With Lisa's betrayal and Brody's loss still raw, we needed any advantage we could get. Even if it meant risking further disappointment.

"All right," I whispered. "I'll try, but don't expect any miracles. The mirror might not be as forthcoming as before."

Garrick nodded in understanding. He knew as well as I did the price of failure in our world.

I had a feeling that whatever answers the mirror held would come at a cost.

As if in response to his words, a low, ominous rumble echoed across the highlands. It was too deep, too prolonged to be thunder. The flowers in the window boxes trembled, their petals shivering as if in fear.

"Everyone, inside. Now," Garrick ordered, his voice brooking no argument. He ushered the stunned group toward the manor's entrance. Maggie was at his side, her tears replaced by a look of grim determination.

As we hurried toward the safety of McDuff Manor, a twisted sense of irony burned in my gut. We had barely had a moment to process Brody's loss, to begin our mourning, and a new threat loomed already. It seemed even in death, our friend couldn't rest. The consequences of our failed mission continued to unfold.

The warm, inviting facade of the manor looked like our only refuge against whatever storm was brewing. As I crossed the threshold, ushered in by Garrick's insistence, I cast one last glance at the turbulent sky. Whatever was coming, facing it without Brody would make our task more daunting, but we had no choice. We had to press on, to honor his sacrifice by seeing this through to the end. Whatever that might be.