Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (108)

“Honestly, he’s the one I felt bad for,” Brae said.

I nodded. “But you know what? That douche canoe never messed with us again.”

Dex just shook his head. “You two truly scare me.”

“Good,” I said, opening the back door as I saw Wylder step out.

We’d landed on a system of sorts. Kol dropped me off with Dex and Brae after we took Skylar to school. They took me to and from therapy and then to work, where Wylder always met us outside. I did not step outside once during my shift, and then Kol would come pick me up and take me home with Sky.

I wasn’t alone for a single second. I wouldn’t lie; it was suffocating. But I also wasn’t an idiot. It was needed until they found this monster.

A shiver raced through me, even though the sun was out. Because I couldn’t help but wonder if it really was Travis. Was he still playing his torturous games?

Rolling back my shoulders, I smiled as I crossed to Wylder. Travis, or whoever this was, didn’t get to win. They didn’t get to steal my life when so much had already been taken from me.

“Morning,” I greeted.

Wylder studied me for a moment. “You seem good.”

As I looked back at the eldest Archer, I couldn’t say the same about him. His eyes housed dark circles beneath them, and they were bloodshot. I frowned. “Are you okay?”

He scrubbed a hand over his face. “Haven’t been sleeping all that much.”

I knew why. All the Archer brothers had been working on this case, trying to pull together the pieces to figure out who the hell this was and where they might be hiding. Kol had finally shared what they did in the shadows, helping missing persons get the justice they deserved. And I was so damn proud of him—of all the Archers.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “It means more than I can say.”

Wylder’s expression gentled. “I want to help. I just wish I were contributing more.”

His gaze traveled back inside, and I saw it land on Cora, who was already at work refilling saltshakers. It wasn’t just me that Wylder wanted to help. It was her.

“We’re going to get him,” I vowed.

Wylder turned back to me. “We are.”

“Morning, boss man,” Brae greeted as she walked up to our mini-huddle.

“Morning. You two want to tackle the condiment refills?” he asked.

“We’ve got it,” I said.

“Just make sure you don’t cross them,” Dex called through the open window. “I just learned how vicious they can be.”

Wylder looked confused, but Brae and I just laughed as we made our way into the bar. We waved at Cora, who answered in kind, but she, too, looked like she hadn’t been getting a whole lot of sleep. I needed to get her alone so I could really check on her.

I followed Brae toward the stockroom so we could get the jumbo tubs of ketchup and mustard. She held the door open for me, and I slipped inside, flipping on the overhead lights.

“How was Marly today?” Brae asked.

She was careful not to inquire when Dex was around, because she knew it was usually a bit of a tender topic for me. But when I started sharing a little more, she’d gotten more comfortable asking.

“Good, hard, exhausting, hopeful,” I told her honestly.

One corner of Brae’s mouth tugged up. “Sounds like you’ve covered all your bases.”

I stilled, my hand resting on one of the many shelves packed with bar-and-grill supplies. A wave of nerves took flight in my stomach, but I reminded myself that their presence only meant this mattered. And my conversation with Sky that morning reminded me to be brave.

“I love you.” The words were barely audible yet like the boom of an explosion all at once.

Brae’s jaw dropped. “You don’t say the L-word.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “I’m trying to get better at it. And I’ve always felt it. You have to know that. You’re my sister in every way that matters.”

Tears gathered in Brae’s eyes. “I love you so much, Supernova. I’m so in awe of who you are, and I’m so sorry you’ve gone through what you have.”

“I’m not.” It was a simple but powerful truth.

Brae studied me, confusion swirling. “You’re not …”

“Don’t get me wrong. That pain will always live in me. But the beauty that came afterward? This life I get to live now? You, Owen, and the Archers—Kol?” My tears crested over, tracking down my cheeks. “It’s everything. And it’s a gift that I can feel all the more deeply because of what I went through.”

“Nova,” Brae croaked.

I moved then, pulling her into a hug and holding on tight.

She only cried harder. “You’re hugging me.”

“It’s been too long.”

“It has.”

The door opened. “Hey, do you guys—oh shit. I’m sorry, I—”

We turned, still hugging, to see Cora, frozen in the doorway.

I just beamed a watery smile at her. “We’re hugging out the bad. You want in?”

“I, uh …”

“Come on,” Brae encouraged.

We opened our arms to Cora, who looked comically unsure as she slowly walked toward us. The moment she was within reach, we pulled her in and began a sort of rocking dance, which only made us all laugh.