Brother’s Best Friends Are My Mates novel Chapter 63

Lia

I hated keeping things from anyone, especially my brother. He was the one who was always there for me, never letting me doubt that he cared for me. If I had been in his position then I would’ve wanted to have the same information, even if it wasn’t something I should know.

But sometimes you can’t prevent someone from discovering something. No matter how hard you try, they will find out and do something stupid.

This is exactly what happened when I got home from school that evening. I spotted my brother in a situation I never expected to see him in.

The moment I stepped into the house, my stomach twisted. Michael was slumped against the couch, blood staining his shirt and dripping onto the floor.

“Michael!” I rushed to his side, my voice sharp with panic. “What happened? Are you okay?!”

“I’m fine.” He groaned, shifting slightly.

“Fine? You’re bleeding everywhere!” I grabbed the nearest towel and pressed it to his side. “Who did this to you? What happened?”

“It’s nothing,” he muttered, his jaw tight.

“Nothing? This doesn’t look like anything! Start talking, Michael.”

“Drop it, Lia.”

“No! Not when you look like you’ve been through a blender. What did you do?”

He stayed silent, staring ahead.

“Michael!” I shook his shoulder gently, careful not to hurt him. “I swear if you don’t tell me,”

“Lia, leave it alone,” he snapped, his voice harsher than I’d ever heard it.

I froze, my chest tightening. “Don’t you dare shut me out? Not when you’re like this. I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”

He let out a long breath, his shoulders sagging.

“Michael.” My voice softened. “Please. You’re scaring me.”

“It’s Gabi,” he said finally, his voice low and raw.

“What about Gabi?” I whispered.

“I found out you guys know where the Rosewater Coven is,” he admitted. “I went to try and get her back.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You what? Michael, are you insane?”

“I couldn’t just sit here anymore!” His eyes flashed with frustration. “She’s out there, Lia, and they’re-“

“So, you thought you’d go alone and… what? Take on a whole coven by yourself?”

He turned his head away.

“Michael!” My voice cracked. “Why didn’t you tell me? Or anyone? We could have helped you!”

“I didn’t want you involved,” he said through gritted teeth.

“Well, congratulations. I’m involved now,” I shot back, tears burning my eyes. “You could’ve been killed. Do you even care about that? About what that would do to me?”

He flinched. “I care, Lia. That’s why I didn’t tell you. I couldn’t risk it.”

“You couldn’t risk me? Michael, you’re bleeding out on our couch because you decided to play hero!”

“I had to try,” he murmured, his voice barely audible.

“And what happened? Did you even find her?”

His silence spoke volumes.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “You didn’t. Did you?”

“No,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “But I will. I’ll find her, Lia.”

“You won’t do it alone,” I said firmly. “Not again.”

“I can’t ask you to-“

“You’re not asking. I’m telling you,” I cut him off. “You’re my brother, Michael. You don’t get to do this alone anymore.”

For a moment, he said nothing, just stared at me with those tired, haunted eyes. Then he gave the faintest nod.

“Okay,” he whispered.

It was the brother I had grown up with–the one who was never one to give up even in times of difficulty.

“Rain is looking for his family clan. He hopes that if we appeal to them they will help.”

“Why would a vampire clan help us?” Michael asked, rolling his eyes. “They have no loyalty to us. Would they even want to help a half-vampier anyway?

I frowned. “Michael, must you be so negative? You don’t know that they won’t be willing to help.”

“And you don’t know that they will.”

My brother was being impossible. The hope I saw reflected on his face was gone, replaced by anger and resignation. I hated to see that look on his face.

It meant he was accepting things for the way they were, not willing to fight.

“Vampires have magic that is even more ancient than witchcraft itself, Michael. They are also very loyal, even if the person is half a vampire or has 1/3rd vampiric blood,” I said to him. “And before you roll your eyes at me, this is what I learned during my research.”

Michael shifted, leaning a little closer to me. He looked to be a little more interested in what I was saying, willing to give it a little more credence.

“What makes you think they will do what our werewolf association won’t do?”

“Wolves aren’t as in touch with magic as the other species are,” I pointed out, trying not to sound disappointed.

The only reason this didn’t apply to me was because I happened to be part witch. I was able to practice magic and was learning more every day. My teacher remarked every day that she was shocked at how fast I had been learning.

Most times, I took it as a compliment.

“I won’t do something like this again, Lia.”

I reached over to flick him in the forehead again.

“You better not do it again or you’ll be sorry.”

He smiled, even though it didn’t reach his eyes. Michael reached over to ruffle my hair, something he often did when I was young.

“Don’t worry, I won’t do this again. I promise.”

Despite how defeated Michael looked, he did sound a bit hopeful. He kept waffling in between both emotions.

I wasn’t going to criticize him for it. He was going through enough as it was.