Radiant Shadows

Chapter 28

Ani didn’t steer; at the speeds they traveled back to Huntsdale, it would be impossible for her to try to direct her steed. Barry was currently in the form of a GT by Citroën; one beauty of being able to shift form at will was that the steed could be a car that wasn’t even in production. She knew that Barry had plucked the image from her mind to make her smile, but even the joy of rocketing across the country in a matte-black version of the gorgeous concept car didn’t cheer her.

The weight of the situation felt like it had settled atop Ani’s lungs, making breathing more difficult than it should be. Faerie was dissolving, and Devlin could be caught in that. Ani wasn’t sure if she could go to Faerie. Sorcha had ordered Ani’s death; Devlin had disobeyed her. Would she kill me if I went there? Would it be worse for him? Ani couldn’t figure out whether she would be a help or hindrance if she went.

Being in Huntsdale where Bananach was didn’t sound particularly appealing either. She’d fled to avoid War’s attention, but the only faeries she knew who were strong enough to stand against Bananach were in Huntsdale.

If I’m going to die either way, I’d rather stay with him. She was pretty certain that wasn’t a line of argument that would be useful in discussion with anyone. She glanced at Devlin. His eyes were closed, and his face was expressionless, but she felt his fear and anger. He wasn’t hiding his feelings.

“Why does Seth matter to Sorcha?” Ani asked. “I get that she made him a faery and all, but… what’s the big deal about him?”

“That’s a question I intend to ask the High Queen.” He reached out and laid his hand atop hers, entwining their fingers. “What I know right now is only what Rae told me.”

“And you’re not telling me everything, are you?”

“No. I’m not,” he admitted. Devlin pulled his hand away rather than hide his emotions. “The queen’s secrets aren’t mine to share, but… I can say that I need to bring Seth to her.”

“There are secrets about the queen and Seth?” she asked.

“Yes.”

They traveled in silence for a few moments until Devlin finally said, “She has Seth. Perhaps she will not oppose my being solitary.”

Ani stilled. “Could you do that?”

“Many faeries do so.” That wasn’t a real answer though: Devlin wasn’t most faeries.

Neither am I.

The idea of Sorcha letting him walk away seemed ludicrous. He was hers as much as Gabriel belonged to the Dark King.

Could I convince her to let me come and go in Faerie?

What happened next was dependent on so many things beyond their control and so many answers they didn’t know.

Like why she wanted me dead.

She reached out and took Devlin’s hand again.

He turned his head and opened his eyes. “I’m sorry I can’t set this aside, but after—”

“Duty isn’t something to apologize for.” She held his gaze. “I’m glad you aren’t afraid of me. I’m glad you found me, and”—she smiled—“didn’t kill me.”

His emotions vanished as he asked, “Which time?”

“Any of them.”

“And I am glad you didn’t kill me”—his emotional guard slipped only long enough for her to glimpse how worried he was—“and that you kissed me.”

She brushed her lips over his. “Which time?”

“All of them.”

They went back to silence as the landscape blurred around them.

With her free hand, Ani dialed Tish—and was dumped into voice mail instantly.

“Call me,” she said.

She was about to call Pins and Needles when the phone rang. home was on the caller ID. “Hey.”

It wasn’t Tish or Rabbit. Irial was calling from the shop number. “I need to you to come home,” he said.

Her hand tightened on her cell at his emotionless tone. “On the way already.”

“With Devlin?” Irial prompted.

“Yeah.” She glanced at Devlin. “He’s here. Did you need to talk to him?”

“Not yet,” Irial said. “Stay with him until you get here. Promise.”

“What’s going on? Iri?” Ani felt her hands start to sweat. “Talk to me.”

“I will. I’ll meet you here… at the studio.” His voice was gentle, but there was no doubt as to his lack of malleability. “Come home, Ani.”

“Is everything okay? Where are Tish and Rabbit? Are they with you?”

Irial’s pause was almost too long. “Rabbit’s here, and Tish is at my house.”

She disconnected and told her steed, Barry, I need you to go faster. Can you?

Maybe a little. Barry had already covered almost all of the distance they’d crossed, but holding two passengers and traveling at its fastest pace wasn’t easy.

Nothing in this world can move as fast as you, she told the steed.

In this world or in Faerie, Ani, Barry added. I would be even faster there.

If I go—

If we go, Barry corrected. I am your steed, Ani. We will always be together… even though it means putting up with him.

After Barry’s voice faded away, Ani was left with nothing to do but break the silence with music or conversation. Strangely for her, loud music seemed unappealing, and conversation felt futile. Everything felt tenuous.

Devlin reached out for her hand again, and they sat in the dark of the car, silent and holding on to each other for several hours.

At some point, she fell asleep, and the next thing she heard was Devlin saying, “Wake up, Ani.”

Good idea, Barry said. We are here.

She blinked her eyes and tried to focus on the road in front of them. Now that they were in city limits, Barry had slowed to a normal speed and resumed his default appearance of a Barracuda.

I am exhausted, Ani.

“Rest,” she murmured. Gently, she stroked her hand over the dashboard. “No one has a better steed.”

“Agreed,” Devlin said.

They pulled around the back of the shop. Before the engine was off, Irial was standing at her door. He opened it and took her hand. “Come inside.”

Still sleepy, Ani let him pull her close to his side, but it felt odd to be so near anyone but Devlin.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“Inside first.” Irial looked over at Devlin, who’d immediately come to stand on the opposite side of her.

Ani stepped inside the studio. “You’re scaring me.”

The lights were all off, and the CLOSED sign was in the window. Through the glass, Ani could see several Hounds standing guard at both ends of the block. Devlin entered the studio, but positioned himself between her and the door, so anyone who managed to get past the Hounds outside would have to confront him. As nervous as she was, she didn’t object to being protected instead of standing beside him. He glanced at her, and then returned his attention to scanning the street, the shop, anywhere threats could lurk.

“Iri?” she asked.

“Sit down.” Irial tried to pull her over to a chair. “We can talk out here. Rabbit’s finally sleeping.”

“Rabbit’s sleeping?” She looked around, listened to the pervasive stillness in the studio, and felt her fears rise up. “Where’s Tish? Why is she at your house?”

“I’m sorry.” Irial had hold of her arm, keeping her still, trying to direct her to the chair.

“What’s going on?” She tugged her arm away. “Are they hurt? Who’s h—”

“I’m so sorry. I thought they were safe; I thought she…” Irial had tears in his eyes.

Ani felt panic rising. “Take me to Tish.”

She looked over at Devlin. He stepped closer to her.

Irial started, “Ani—”

“No! Where is she?” She pulled away from Irial and went toward the door that led from the shop into the living space of her home.

“Ani. She’s gone.” Irial pulled her hand away from the door, peeling each finger from the knob. “Bananach killed Tish. Tish is d—”

“No!” Ani shoved him. “She’s… no. Tish didn’t do anything. She didn’t have anything to do with Bananach. She’s…”

The floor seemed to come up to meet her as she slid down the wall. The world felt wrong. Her stomach twisted as everything that made sense in the world was suddenly gone.

“Tish is dead? My Tish gone?” Ani looked up at him. “When?”

“Last night.” Irial crouched down in front of her.

“How?” She pushed away every emotion, not by choice, but by necessity. Her feelings threatened to drown her. She shook from the intensity of the rage snarling inside her. Rage made sense, chased away the tears. Her skin stung like crawling things were all over her. It hurt too much to even let the anger well up.

Focus.

She took several breaths, caught Irial’s gaze, and asked, “How did she… did it happen?”

“It was quick,” Irial hedged. “Can we leave it at that for now?”

Ani stared at him. Her once-king, her protector all of these years, was undoubtedly devastated too—and guilt- stricken.

“For the moment,” she whispered. There were tears inside, but letting them fall meant Tish was really gone.

She can’t be.

Ani stood. “I should go to Rabbit.”

“He’s fine. Your house is the safest place in the city tonight. I promise.” Irial reached out and brushed her hair back. “I’m sorry, Ani. We thought we had enough guards, and she hadn’t tried anything. There were Hounds here, and if Tish hadn’t…”

“Hadn’t what?”

“She slipped out.” Irial scowled; at himself or at Tish, Ani wasn’t sure. “You’d think they could keep track of her, and… I don’t know why she did it.”

“She didn’t like to be caged. She did better than I do, but after a few days, she was still Gabriel’s daughter, and…” Ani shuddered at the thought of telling her father. “Does he know?”

“He does. The Hunt all know.” Irial looked lost, like he wanted to say something that would make everything right, but there was nothing. “Ani…”

She looked at him, not wanting to comfort him, not wanting to hear his words, not wanting the conversation to continue.

“Go check on Rabbit, please? I need… I need…” Ani’s words faltered. She looked past Irial to Devlin.

He crossed the room to her side.

She folded her arms over her chest, but it didn’t stop the trembling.

“Bananach would have to kill me in order to touch Ani.” Devlin said the words evenly. “Anyone killing me is very unlikely.”

Irial looked from one to the other, and then he left.

The quiet in the room was so much worse than before. It was empty. Tish wouldn’t ever come running into the studio again. She wouldn’t be there arguing over the music they played. She wouldn’t scold Ani. She wouldn’t anything.

Bananach had killed her.

Ani’s heart felt like it would stop, and for a moment she wished it would. It should’ve been me. Tish was gone, and Ani was left without her.

Ani looked at Devlin. “I want her dead for this.”