Chapter 107

Briar’s POV

I remembered my grandmother stating my mother was bonded with a man. What man, it was never said.

Now Malachar is trying to resurrect him? I gave Slade a look. "How can I...believe you?"

Slade ran a hand through his hair, "Briar, I know it’s complicated—"

"And hurt her too," Kieran interjected, his voice sharp as a blade.

"Yes," Slade admitted, his shoulders sagging. "I hurt her. I betrayed her trust. I know that. But this is bigger than our personal history."

"Nothing is bigger than that," Kai said coldly, his sword still trained on Slade’s throat. "You destroyed what we had with her. You sold her out to a monster."

"Because I was trying to protect her!" Slade snapped, some of his old fire returning. "Do you think I wanted to hand her over? Do you think it was easy watching her trust shatter when she realized what I’d done?"