“You can show me on the map,” Sawyer said, “so I’ve got it logged. In case.”
“We’ll map it out.” Bran rubbed Sasha’s shoulder. “Steady now?”
“Yes.”
“I’d say some food would be in order. And wine.”
“Won’t argue with either.”
“Soup’s on. Anni, why don’t you check on that? I’ll get the map.” Sawyer gave her hand a tug, and left Doyle alone with Riley.
“I don’t like explaining myself,” he began.
“Then don’t.” She started to walk away; he gripped her arm.
“I wanted to talk to a brother, and a witch, because I’d be talking about going back where I lost a brother, and killed the witch who cursed me.”
“Okay.”
“That’s it?”
“Jesus, Doyle, buy a clue. We all know it sucks, we all know it’s brutal. So you needed to lay it out to Bran first. Fine. I— We’re with you.”
“I’d have spoken to Sawyer before you.”
“Now you’re pissing me off again.”
“Why did you come out here with the other women?”
“I wanted some practice. Sasha needs the practice.” Then she mumbled a curse. “And okay, I wanted the female for a while. I get it.”
He hesitated, then gentled his hold on her arm. “If I had a life to lose, I’d put it in your hands. That’s trust and respect.”
“I could be an asshole, claim that’s easy for you to say. But I’m not an asshole, and I know it’s not. We’re cool.” She held out a hand to shake on it.
He gripped her elbows, hauled her up, kissed her. “You’re not a sister to me.”
“Good thing.”
“But you are . . . essential. Going where we’re going tomorrow, I want you with me.”
Struck, touched, she laid a hand on his cheek. “I will be.”
He dropped her to her feet, considered a moment, then took her hand. Rather than shake it, he held it as they walked back to the house.
• • •
Well armed, they set out early in the morning. Riley rode with Doyle on his bike as they traveled away from the coast, wound through land where the hills rolled green and serene into a sky that held in a sweet summer blue.
She imagined Doyle taking a similar route on that very hard day, on horseback. Hooves striking the ground, Doyle’s cloak flying as he pressed for speed. A faster trip now, she thought as they whizzed around curves where wild lilies sprang yellow as the sunlight they danced in. But a harder one for him. Before he’d believed he’d save his brother, bring him home to family.
Now he knew he never would.
But if they found the star . . .
Did that place that had once held such evil now serve as the resting place for the Ice Star?
Either way, they rode toward a fight. And she was more than ready for one.