Page 85 of In Your Light

“Áine, no!” Salem yelled from outside, and Otis almost tore the door off racing outside, Kellan half a step behind him.

There, in the middle of the street, stood Hadeom, and a few metres in front of him stood Áine. She was in human form, wearing a coat and boots, her golden-bronze hair neatly brushed.

“It’s okay, Pappa,” she said.

Salem and Aurin were racing up the street behind her, three kittens scampering not far behind.

Otis took another step closer, but Áine put her hand up to stop him.

“They won’t hurt me, Uncle Otis,” Áine said.

They?

Then Áine put her hand out, her little index finger curled, and the darkness in Hadeom shimmered, and in a blink, four small shadowy birds were drawn out of Hadeom and flocked to Áine, one landing on her finger.

Salem gasped and was about to rush in, but Aurin stopped him. The little girl squealed in delight as the shadow birds danced around her. And then the kittens joined in, chasing and playing with the birds.

Then Áine held her hand outstretched, one shadow bird still perched upon her finger, and Hadeom went to his knees before her, his face a mask of pain and relief.

“Go now,” she said.

“Thank you,” Hadeom murmured.

The four shadow birds flew back into Hadeom, and the air around him seemed to pull into a point, as if reality was being sucked in to a single entity, drawing Hadeom inside himself. Then, with a silent pop, a large raven appeared, as if he were made of shimmering blackened shadows, and bulleted up into the sky while letting out a shrill cry.

Everyone stood there for a moment, utterly stunned.

Then Áine raced back to her fathers and jumped up into Salem’s arms. “Did you see, Pappa, did you see? I told you they wouldn’t hurt me. They do what I say.”

Salem nodded, barely able to conceal the abject horror in his eyes. As if they hadn’t all just witnessed her control the shadows of Hades. “Yes, baby girl. I saw.”

Chapter

Nineteen

FYN

Fyn stood beside Zaq and Eva, all of them whispering their conversation so as not to disturb the gathered leaders’ discussion. He couldn’t help but notice Pax. He stood with his arms crossed, his jaw set. He looked angry, as usual, but Fyn could admit Pax also very much belonged to the leader committee. He’d earned that, and despite the bad blood between them, Fyn was proud of his brother.

“How’s he been?” Fyn asked. “Treating everyone okay?”

Zaq shrugged. “He’s fine. Like I said, he was harder on you than anyone else.”

Fyn knew that all too well. He looked at Eva and at her pregnant belly. “You are radiant,” he said. “I’m so very happy for you both.”

She smiled, leaning into Zaq. “We are blessed.”

“You look tired, Fyn,” Zaq murmured. “Everything okay? Are they treating you okay?”

“Oh yeah, they’re great,” Fyn replied quickly, needing to reassure him of that. “They’ve all been very kind to me.”

“So, what’s wrong?” Zaq had nothing but concern in his eyes. “I know you, Fynny. Something’s not right.”

Fyn smiled at him. Well, he tried to. Zaq had always been able to see the real him.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” Zaq pressed. “The guy you like? At the hut?”

Fyn’s gaze met his, and he gave a nod. “He’s not at the hut anymore. He’s at my new place.”