The Brother She Forgot
1518 Words
CURRENT BEARER OF THE BROKEN CROWN.
The words bled across the page.
Luna stared until the letters blurred.
Ethan Vale.
Her brother.
A fragment of memory surfaced—summer sunlight, a silver pendant split between them, a promise she could no longer hear.
Then it was gone, leaving only an ache.
Darius’s arm tightened around her waist.
“Luna.”
She barely heard him.
“My brother is alive.”
Darius looked at the Book.
“It says he carries the crown.”
“I can read.”
Her voice came out sharp.
Darius turned her gently toward him.
“Look at me.”
She met his eyes. Concern, not command.
“You’re overwhelmed,” he said.
“I’m fine.”
“You forgot how to breathe.”
“I remembered.”
“Eventually.”
She pulled away. “Ethan.”
The Book offered no answers. Only the name.
Luna touched the page.
Darius caught her wrist.
“You already touched it once.”
“And it showed me the truth.”
“It also let Lucian reach you.”
“That wasn’t its fault.”
“You don’t know that.”
“You’re doing it again.”
“Doing what?”
“Turning fear into control.”
He released her but didn’t step back.
“Then what’s your plan?”
“I need to find Ethan.”
“That’s not a plan.”
“It’s the start.”
“You barely remember him.”
“He’s still my brother.”
“Possibly.”
The word landed hard.
Darius saw it.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes, you did.”
“I meant the Book could be misleading.”
“It showed Lucian’s true name.”
“And memories you can’t verify.”
“I saw Ethan before Lucian appeared.”
“That doesn’t make it safe.”
“What would make it safe for you?”
Darius didn’t answer.
Nothing would.
Luna turned back to the Book.
“Ethan Vale. Show me where he is.”
Nothing.
Darius folded his arms. “The ancient magical book is unimpressed.”
“Are you enjoying this?”
“No.”
“You sound like you are.”
“I’m trying not to destroy it.”
“That would be unhelpful.”
“It would be satisfying.”
Despite herself, she almost smiled.
Then the floor shook.
A crack split a golden pillar.
“We’re leaving,” Darius said.
This time she didn’t argue.
She closed the Book.
Darius reached for it.
Silver light hurled his hand back.
“I’m starting to dislike this place,” he muttered.
“You disliked it before we entered.”
“Now I’m certain.”
Shadows gathered beyond the bridge.
Darius stepped in front of her.
“Can you carry it?”
“I think so.”
“That wasn’t convincing.”
“It weighs like Mason after dinner.”
A voice echoed.
“I heard that!”
Mason appeared, bloodied but alive, Evelyn behind him.
“You’re alive,” Luna said.
“Surprised?” he asked.
“You were fighting a hallway.”
“It was aggressive.”
Evelyn arrived. “Alden is holding the entrance. The Hall is collapsing.”
“Lucian?” Darius asked.
“Gone,” Luna said.
Evelyn looked at the Book. “You found it.”
“It found me.”
Mason frowned. “Is that good?”
“No,” Darius said.
“Yes,” Luna said.
“Great,” Mason muttered.
Shadows formed.
“Take Luna,” Darius ordered.
“I’m right here,” she said.
“And carrying what Lucian wants.”
“I can fight.”
“You can barely hold it.”
“That’s personal.”
“Luna.”
The warning was familiar.
So was the fear.
“Fine.”
Mason blinked. “You agree?”
“Don’t sound shocked.”
“I am.”
“Move,” Evelyn said.
They ran.
The Book pulsed, light spilling out and repelling shadows.
“Can it do that more?” Mason asked.
“I’m not controlling it.”
“Try asking nicely.”
“It doesn’t answer.”
“Threaten it.”
“That’s your job,” she said.
Behind them, Darius roared.
Luna looked back.
“Keep moving!” he shouted.
She forced herself forward.
One choice: trust him.
She hated it.
Then a spear flew.
Mason shoved her down.
The Book fell open.
Wind exploded.
Names rose like constellations.
The shadows froze.
Mason stared. “Did you do that?”
“No.”
The names struck the shadows.
Not killing them—releasing them.
Faces flickered inside the smoke.
Luna’s breath caught. “They were the forgotten rulers.”
“All of them?” Mason asked quietly.
“Maybe.”
Silence fell.
The Book closed.
Mason picked it up. Nothing happened.
“It likes me,” he said.
“You’re not a king.”
“Authority is overrated.”
Luna took it back. A broken crown briefly glowed.
Then footsteps returned.
Darius and Evelyn arrived.
Darius checked her instantly. “Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He looked at Mason. “Why was she on the ground?”
“There was a spear.”
“And the Book?”
“It released the shadows.”
“You dropped it?”
“I was avoiding being stabbed.”
“That’s acceptable.”
Luna blinked. “That was reasonable?”
“Don’t expect it again.”
He pulled her into a brief, tight embrace.
“I’m here,” she said.
“I know.”
“I don’t like you angry.”
“I am angry at everything.”
“That’s fair.”
“Move,” Evelyn said. “The building is collapsing.”
They ran.
Alden held the silver doors shut with glowing sigils.
“Take the Book outside,” he said.
Darius stepped forward. “I’ll hold it.”
“No,” Alden said. “The Hall rejects kings.”
“You can’t do this alone.”
“I don’t need to.”
He looked at Luna. “The Book can close it.”
“How?”
“Speak its true name.”
“I don’t know it.”
“Yes, you do.”
The walls cracked.
Alden weakened.
Darius supported him.
“Every place has a true name,” Alden said. “The Book remembers.”
“Open it,” Darius said.
She did.
Pages turned violently, then stopped.
A phrase appeared.
The Sanctuary of Unchosen Crowns.
She read it aloud.
The Hall bowed.
The doors began to close.
“Go!” Darius shouted.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“One life at a time.”
He lifted Alden and ran.
Their fingers met through the closing doors.
Then they slammed shut.
They returned to Blackwood Estate in silence.
The Book rested between them.
Darius had tried to move it. It rejected him every time.
“I could throw it out the window,” he muttered.
“It contains every supernatural name,” she said.
“Annoying,” he replied.
She traced Ethan’s name.
“Do you remember anything else?” Darius asked.
“A swing. A pendant. A house.”
“Blackwood?”
“I don’t think so.”
“It’s like holding water,” she said.
“We’ll find out.”
“You believe he’s real?”
“I believe you.”
She leaned into him.
“What does ‘bearer of the broken crown’ mean?”
“Maybe Ethan has one half.”
“And Lucian the other.”
“Maybe.”
“Is he dangerous?”
“Yes.”
“Fast answer.”
“He carries a weapon that controls bonds.”
“That doesn’t mean he chose it.”
“No.”
“But I’ll treat him as a threat.”
“He’s my brother.”
“And you’re the woman I love.”
The words still hit.
“I won’t harm him without cause.”
“And if he threatens me?”
His eyes flashed gold.
“I know.”
She sighed. “He might not be the enemy.”
“I hope not.”
“Why?”
“Because you smiled when you remembered him.”
Her chest tightened.
“You noticed?”
“I notice everything.”
The Book shifted.
A map appeared.
THE BEARER IS MOVING.
Then:
DESTINATION: BLACKWOOD ESTATE.
Darius went still. “He’s coming here.”
Final line:
HE IS NOT COMING ALONE.
The car stopped.
A man stood in the road.
Tall. Dark hair. Silver pendant—half missing.
Ethan.
Luna’s breath broke.
He looked at her.
Familiar blue eyes.
He smiled faintly.
Then wolves emerged behind him.
He raised a hand.
“Luna,” he called, “don’t let Darius touch the Book.”
She froze.
Darius opened the door. “Stay inside.”
“No.”
“That’s my brother,” she said.
Ethan stepped forward.
“Luna,” he shouted, “don’t let him touch it.”
Darius looked down.
A black line crept across his wrist.
The Book whispered his true name.
Kael.
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