Page 100 of In Your Light

This surprised Hadeom. “I didn’t know that. I only remember Fyn’s flute. But Áine, she’s...” Hadeom wanted to choose his words carefully, given it was very likely Salem was listening. “She’s very special. They all are, but I think she wields a power unlike we’ve seen in a very long time.”

Ciaran nodded slowly. “We’ve all sworn to protect her. And her brothers. The four of them are special.”

Hadeom sighed. “They really are.”

Ciaran dropped his voice. “I’m going to be very honest with you,” he began. “I’ve asked Salem to decide if you can stay here. It should be up to him. He was here long before us, and this cove is rightfully his. Plus, he has the godlings now, so he needs to feel safe for them⁠—”

“It’s okay,” Hadeom said. “I get it. I understand. There’s no need to explain. Fyn wants to stay, but he said he’ll go wherever I go. I told him I could show him the world. But he’s just found somewhere he feels accepted.”

Ciaran’s face fell. “I’ll be sorry if it comes to that. For what it’s worth. But it’s...”

“Understandable?” Hadeom finished for him. “I’ve suggested we could stay in the hut. I actually really enjoyed my time there. Thank you for allowing me to stay there. After leaving behind all that high-tech alien technology, going back to basics was kinda nice. Though I swear past-me would be horrified to learn today-me forwent flushing toilets and electricity.”

Ciaran chuckled. “What was the worst time?”

“Europe in the 1340s,” he said without even having to think.

Ciaran stared at him. “Wow. You were really there. What was the best time?”

“Rome in its early days was a lot of fun. Though Romulus never could take a joke.”

Ciaran clearly tried to gauge if Hadeom was joking. He wasn’t.

“But,” Hadeom added. “At risk of sounding like a lovesick fool, I would say the best time of my very long life is every second since Fyn walked into it. He is sunshine and warmth personified, and he came to me in a very dark time, pulling me into his light whether I wanted to go or not. I am well aware I don’t deserve his love, but he insists.”

Ciaran smiled. “Fate sure does have a way....” Then he cocked his head. “Can you hear that?”

Tobin stood up. “I can. It sounds like⁠—”

“Cern is coming,” Áine said, climbing down from the table. She held her little hand up, and one shadow raven perched upon her outstretched finger.

Aurin hurried to get the door for her. “Sweetheart, please wait,” he said as she ran outside. It was a rush to follow, between her three impatient brothers and an entire consortium, so Hadeom waited at the back.

Fyn found him, of course, sliding an arm around Hadeom’s waist as he leaned in for a soft kiss. “You did great.”

“We’ll see,” Hadeom said, trying not to get Fyn’s hopes up. “Salem might still say no.”

Fyn kissed Hadeom again, sending a thrill through his blood and a flood of butterflies in his belly. Fyn’s green eyes shone like emeralds in this light. Or maybe it was the pure light within him. Hadeom wasn’t sure.

“We should go out and wait for Cern,” Fyn said. “Your shadows are already out there.”

“They’re enamoured with the little ones. It’s really quite bizarre.”

“Maybe they’re happy now you’re happy,” Fyn said, pulling Hadeom with him out the door.

The rumble got louder, and a moment later, an old brown car came down the road at a slow pace. The old man never had any sense of urgency.

Hadeom could see he had someone with him. A woman.

When the car stopped, Cern climbed out, a wry smile on his face, his unlit pipe bobbing up and down when he spoke. “A welcoming party,” he said. Then he noticed the four little ones, who each now had their own shadow raven. Cern’s eyes met Hadeom’s. “Oh my.”

But then the woman got out of the car. She was familiar but long forgotten—until she wasn’t.

Salem gasped and let out an unsteady breath. His hand went to his mouth as his eyes welled with tears. “Mother?”

Chapter

Twenty-Two