16. Death and Sunny Dispositions

CHAPTER 16

Death and Sunny Dispositions

" A ny signs of the rebels?" Ryker addressed the fae beside him as he crossed his arms and shifted his stance, rubble crunching beneath his feet.

Charred seats, tumbled columns, a burned stage, and snowflakes made of ash were all that remained of Jade Academy's concert hall.

Ryker had arrived in Sandhaven four hours ago. As soon as he'd stepped out of the Void, he'd started digging through the remnants of the building with dozens of other soldiers. The hours had gone by quickly. Ash and dirt clung to him like a second skin, but they were no closer to uncovering any answers.

"No, sir." First Lieutenant Felicity Cross, an earth fae who'd been on Ryker's squad for years, shook her head. The movement dislodged a few strands of dark brown hair from her braid, her olive skin dusted with as much ash as Ryker's. "We're still sweeping the area for them."

"Good," he grunted.

The rebels had vanished like a morning mist, but they couldn't hide forever.

Ryker had sent three of his best fae trackers to look for them on the ground, and several winged elves were searching the skies.

They would find them. It was just a matter of time .

Until then, Ryker would remain in Sandhaven. In many ways, he was grateful to be here. He wasn't one to sit back and let others get their hands dirty without participating. Not joining the investigation after the explosion at the Masked Ball had nearly killed him.

However, he'd be lying if he said his mind was entirely devoted to the task. Between his father's illness, River's training that he was woefully neglecting, and everything with Brynleigh, Ryker's mind was split and running in a thousand different directions.

The sooner they got a lead on the rebels, the better.

At least Brynleigh made it to his apartment. The tracking device in the bracelet had notified Ryker of her movements half an hour ago, and a short while after that, she'd messaged him. Relief had been a cool river coursing through his veins when he'd read the message. Thank all the gods, she was safe. That was one less thing to worry about.

"Have the injured been taken care of?"

"Yes, sir. They've been transported to the nearest hospital for treatment, and extra medical teams have been shadowed in," Felicity said.

Ryker ran the back of his hand over his sweaty brow. The desert heat wasn't his favorite, and his lack of sleep was catching up with him.

"Keep me updated." Hopefully, there wouldn't be any other casualties.

By the time he had arrived, the death toll had risen to twenty-five. Three Representatives, fifteen humans who worked at the school, five elves, and three shifters had all died at the hands of the Black Night.

The only consolation was that none of the youth had lost their lives. A few were injured, but the production had been running behind, so most of them hadn't been in the building when it blew up.

So many deaths, and to what end?

The rebels hadn't made any demands, and no one could figure out the game they were playing.

"Do you need anything else?" Ryker asked, hoping the answer would be no.

Between the dirt, ash, sweat, and the fact that he'd been awake for over twenty-four hours, he only wanted to shower and sleep.

Unfortunately, with a single nod, Felicity dashed his hopes. "Representative Challard asked to speak with you, sir. She's outside. "

Ryker's stomach twisted in a knot. He wasn't sure what the Representative wanted, but considering he had her to thank for Brynleigh's limited freedom, he couldn't ask her to reschedule.

Knowing it was never wise to keep a powerful witch waiting, Ryker thanked Felicity and went in search of Myrrah Challard.

Ryker found the witch Representative fifteen minutes later. It wasn't that difficult. Not only had the blast destroyed the concert hall, but it had wrecked much of the massive park outside as well. Charred trees were bent in half, benches were in shambles, and the once-green grass was black.

The night was fading, darkness giving way to dawn. Pastels streaked along the sky, the perfect backdrop to the sky-blue ribbons swirling in the air several hundred feet away.

A witch was here. The magical ribbons were as good as a calling card. All magic that didn't come from elemental fae was colored.

Green for Earth Elves, purple for Light Elves, red for Death Elves, silver for Fortune Elves, and blue for witches. Ryker had heard stories of golden, godly magic before, but it hadn't been seen since the time of the High Ladies of Life and Death.

Ryker strode past several groups of soldiers and Representatives, following the magic until he saw Myrrah.

The witch was crouched over something Ryker couldn't see, magic slipping from her palms. She looked like she'd just stepped off the pages of a history book from the Four Kingdoms. A long black robe flowed around her. Midnight hair swirled in an unseen wind, tendrils flying every which way. Bare feet stood on the ashy ground, toes digging into the soil. The wind carried her voice to Ryker's ears, the incantations murmured in a language he did not recognize.

His magic thrummed in his veins, power calling to power.

Keeping his distance because only a fool would dare interrupt a witch while they were working, Ryker slipped his hands into his pockets and leaned against a tree. He would wait for Representative Challard to notice him .

Soldiers milled around, gathering evidence, taking photos, and roping off the scene. They glanced in his direction, but no one approached him.

Several minutes passed before the blue ribbons disappeared into the early morning sky. Myrrah straightened, dusted off her hands, and turned.

Physically, the Representative looked around thirty years old, but she'd seen two centuries come and go. Myrrah's face was smooth, save for a few wrinkles at the corners of her dark brown eyes. Her mouth curved up, and those eyes flickered with recognition.

"Hello, Captain." She dipped her head in greeting. "You're right on time."

Ryker's brows furrowed. "On time for what?"

Myrrah extended an arm, her sleeve flowing like an inky river. "Tell me, youngling, what do you see here?"

It grated on Ryker's nerves when people answered questions with questions, but what was he supposed to do? A lifetime of dealing with his mother and her colleagues had taught him that one should not ignore Representatives and their questions.

Ryker stepped forward and eyed the item at Myrrah's feet.

His lips slanted down. "It's a rock."

More specifically, it was a charred stone the size of a large melon. Flat on one side, it was edged in black as if it had been plucked out of a fire.

"Not just a rock," she said cryptically. "Look more closely."

Ryker did as she asked, leaning over and studying the stone. Several lines were gouged into the surface, but he didn't recognize them.

He reached out, intent on touching the stone, when the witch hissed, "Careful, Captain."

His hand froze mid-air, and he glanced up. "What's wrong?"

"Don't touch it. Death has been woven into the fabric of this magic," she said ominously. "You may look, but you must keep your hands to yourself."

That warning would've been helpful before she asked him to take a closer look.

Gritting his teeth, Ryker drew back his hand and pulled a thread of water from his palm. The translucent ribbon swirled in the air, seeming out of place amid all the destruction. He twisted his fingers, directing the magic to curl around the stone.

The moment the liquid touched the rock, the shale glowed. The swirling lines rearranged themselves over the flat surface, forming an emblem he knew from his research. A dagger speared a crescent moon—the Black Night's symbol.

"This is how you knew who did it," he murmured.

"Mhmm," the witch said.

Ryker pulled back his magic, and the lines returned to their prior state.

"Fascinating." He stared at the rock. "The dark magic laced into the shale… what do you think it means, Representative?"

He had his suspicions, but he wanted to hear her thoughts.

Myrrah's robes rustled as she kneeled beside him.

"Nothing good. Black magic is dangerous no matter which form it takes. It always requires a sacrifice. Sometimes, it's blood. Other times, it takes part of a soul." She turned to him, her eyes piercing. "It's unnatural."

Ryker grimaced.

Gods damn it all. Of course, black magic was at play. Why not? With his luck, this meant he'd be away from home for even longer. In the past, he never cared when work pulled him out of Golden City for extended periods, but it wasn't just about him anymore.

Brynleigh was waiting for him.

That thought had Ryker turning to the witch and lowering his voice.

"Thank you for your help with my wi… vampire." He raked a hand through his hair. "I couldn't leave her there."

The Representative shifted, her gaze sweeping over him for a long moment. He didn't flinch beneath her scrutiny, letting her look her fill.

Eventually, Myrrah sighed. "I had a wife once."

Threads of ancient pain were woven through the Representative's words, forming a tapestry of grief Ryker was far too familiar with.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." He prided himself on knowing each of the Representatives and their family members by name, but there were far too many for him to know their individual histories .

"It was a long time ago." Myrrah stared straight ahead, twisting a blue ribbon through her fingers. "Ven died a few months before the Black Night attacked my coven. We were so young, Ven and me, and we thought that together, we could conquer the world."

A small smile danced on Ryker's face. He was familiar with that feeling, too. When he first met and fell for Brynleigh in the Choosing, it felt like the entire world was at their fingertips. He thought they could do anything, be anything.

"You loved her," he murmured knowingly.

"With all my heart," Representative Challard agreed.

Myrrah wasn't known for being forthcoming with her words, often spending days considering even the smallest request before answering it. When she spoke, people listened. For that reason, Ryker fell silent once more, not wanting to pry into obviously painful memories.

"We fought the day she died," the witch whispered, her voice far off. "We were always fighting and making up, but this was one of our worst arguments ever. We both screamed and threw things at each other. We said things we didn't mean. And then, Ven…" Myrrah shuddered. "She was stolen from me before we could mend what was broken between us. She died that very night."

Ryker's chest ached. "I'm so sorry."

The words felt painfully inadequate.

"Me, too." Myrrah stared at the destruction, her jaw working as several more minutes passed in silence. When she spoke again, her voice was softer than before. "Ven would've wanted you to have the chance to fix things with your wife. She was such an optimist and always saw the best in people. That's why I agreed to your deal. Of course, more information about the Black Night will be helpful, especially considering all this, but…"

Ryker's heart twisted as he put himself in Myrrah's shoes. Living with that devastating kind of hurt for so long would break most people. He dipped his head as a newfound respect for the witch Representative filled him.

"Thank you. We're… it's hard, but we're working on things."

That was why he had asked Brynleigh to return to the apartment. He was done running. He was under no pretenses that rebuilding what they had would be easy, but he wanted to give them a fair shot.

"If the love you share is true, never give up." Myrrah stood, and Ryker followed suit. The witch's eyes crinkled, lines creased her forehead, and suddenly, she looked much older. "Whatever you do, Captain, don't let her go. You never know when your last day might be upon you. Cherish every single one you've been given."

Were those prophetic words or ones stemming from a broken heart? Ryker wasn't sure. Either way, he stored the advice deep in his soul.

"I will."

Their conversation drifted back to the charred stone.

Myrrah would bring it back to her coven, where they would attempt to disentangle the threads of black magic woven through it. She left soon after that, and Ryker was called into a meeting. He listened with half an ear, Myrrah's words echoing through his mind.

Whatever you do, don't let her go .

He wouldn't let Brynleigh go. Not ever again. He would continue to fight for them because deep down, buried beneath the pain, hurt, and sorrow, he still loved her.

Even if it killed him, he'd love her until the day he Faded.

Buzz, buzz, buzzzzzzz

Ryker's phone vibrated on the nightstand, waking him from a nightmare. Around noon, he'd stumbled into the hotel room the army had procured for him. After taking the fastest shower of his life, he'd collapsed on the bed and fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep almost instantly.

He glanced at the clock, grimacing. It was just after five. He hadn't gotten much rest, but it would have to be enough.

Groaning, he reached over and pulled his phone off the charger. He held his finger over the sensor, unlocking the phone and swiping past work emails. He would deal with those later.

A missed text from his sister a few hours ago caught his eye.

River

Dad's improving, thank Dyna. He's awake, and this morning, he raised his right hand. They're going to try him on solids tomorrow. The meds seem to be working.

Ryker exhaled and typed a brief message, reminding his sister to train and thanking her for the update. He didn't expect an immediate response. River was probably at Dyna's temple, praying to the fae goddess and making an offering.

He scrolled up to the message that had just come in and clicked on it.

Brynleigh

Hi.

One word had never sounded so good.

A smile pulled at the corner of Ryker's lips as he sat up, the sheet falling to his waist. Myrrah's words echoed in his mind as his thumbs flew over the keyboard.

Ryker

Hi, back.

Two checkmarks confirmed the message was read, followed almost instantly by three dots. He leaned against the headboard, waiting for the phone to vibrate.

How are things?

That's a stupid question. Of course, they're bad.

I think I'm nervous.

Ryker huffed a quiet laugh, bringing the phone with him to brush his teeth and prepare for the evening. They'd be working around the clock until they uncovered a lead.

I'm nervous, too.

And things are… not great. I'll probably be here for a few more days.

Setting the phone on the counter, he ruffled through his duffel bag for some clothes. He'd just pulled on his pants when his phone vibrated again.

Okay. Yesterday, I… retrieved a book that belongs to Jelisette. I think it might be of interest to you.

Ryker frowned.

Retrieved?

Black dots appeared and disappeared as time ticked by. His stomach twisted into knots.

Stole.

Does that bother you?

It probably should bother him, but a few days ago, he'd watched her kill someone. A minor theft didn't seem like that big of a deal in comparison. Besides, it was for a good cause.

Honestly, not really. Did she see you?

That was the far more pressing question. He held his breath and waited for her reply. Every second dragged on until those black dots danced across the screen.

I wouldn't be alive if that were the case.

True.

An alert popped up on his phone, reminding him of a meeting in half an hour. He confirmed his attendance and finished getting dressed before letting Brynleigh know he had to go.

I'll update you if I find anything interesting in the book.

*thumbs up emoji*

The moment he pressed send, he berated himself. What kind of Mature fae sent emojis? She probably thought he was an idiot, which was not exactly the impression he was aiming for.

"Way to fucking go, Waterborn," he muttered, unwrapping a muffin from the hotel mini-fridge and devouring it in three bites. It was dry, and he grabbed a water bottle to wash it down.

His phone vibrated again.

*Bat emoji* *Sun emoji*

The corner of Ryker's lips curved up, and he chuckled.

What's that supposed to mean?

He was used to the normal face emojis, but these were more advanced. Maybe River could help him. She was more up-to-date on these types of things.

You don't know?

He shook his head before he realized she couldn't see him. His fingers flew over the screen.

Let me guess, it means you have a… sunny disposition?

There was a pause, and if he listened hard enough, it was like he could hear her laugh as those three dots appeared.

Only when I'm with you.

His smile transformed into a grin, and he slipped on his shoes.

I like that.

Is there enough blood in the apartment for you?

Let me check the fridge.

She must have sped over there because the following message came through almost instantly.

I have enough for a few days.

That wouldn't do. He didn't want her to run out.

Ryker navigated through his contacts. Tapping on Atlas's name, he quickly asked the fae to pick up their bags from Waterborn House and more blood before dropping them off at the apartment.

Atlas agreed, adding that he would also bring extra food to the kennel for Marlowe on his way to the university. The earth fae was a professor, his studious nature having helped Ryker pass several classes in university.

Gods, Ryker was lucky to have two best friends who would do anything for him.

Letting Atlas know he owed him one, Ryker switched back to his chat with Brynleigh.

Atlas will bring more tonight after class. I don't want you to go without.

Three dots appeared, disappeared, and then appeared again.

Thank you, Ryker. That's very kind of you.

Ryker glanced at the clock, realizing he would be late if he didn't get going. He slipped out of the hotel room and took the stairs two at a time. Gripping the railing with one hand, he balanced his phone in the other.

Have fun reading.

Have fun… captaining. Is that a word? If not, I'm making it one.

He snorted and pushed open the door with his hip. As he was slipping his phone into his pocket, it vibrated again.

This was nice. *Heart emoji*

Despite the morose reasons for his presence in the desert city, Ryker felt more relaxed than he had in weeks. Maybe talking through texts was easier because it reminded him of how their relationship had started, or maybe it was just because they were both trying to fix things, but things between them almost felt… normal.

And it was good.