Bramblepoint Bring that summer on your shoulders

She closed her eyes at his first words – surprise filtering through her that even after all this time not knowing, he would still love her. Her breathing began to settle, her heartbeat becoming regular once more as the knot of fear began to unfurl itself from her chest. She was safe in his embrace, that was what mattered. That and – “Where is Cypress?” She ached to believe her little brother was out there, alone somewhere. She had hoped he had been with Shrike – that the two would have stayed together. But had they even become that close?

She had blurted the question, almost not hearing his own admissions, and finally she blinked, realizing he wanted her. “Yes,” she quickly uttered, her nose pressing closer to his nape, knowing she would follow him wherever he went. Shrike was her family now – she could only hope her siblings would eventually find her. “Yours. Us.”