In the Shadows

“At least my destruction is one of peace and rest. Unlike

yours.” Smiling, Mary pulled the scarab beetle pendant out of her

pocket and draped it over Arthur’s head. “Are you ready?”

He swallowed, then nodded.

He was.

twenty-five

T

he waves lapped at the rocks, nearly reaching

their feet where they had stopped. Thom couldn’t

go any farther on his leg, and Charles needed to rest as

well. Thom sat, heavy with the weight of failure.

“It’s over,” Charles said.

“Oh, Charles.” Thom hung his head. “I’m so sorry. If I’d been

faster, or cleverer, or —”

&nbs

p; He was rewarded with a small rock bouncing off his shoulder.

“Don’t be daft. I meant it in a good way. As good as can be, given

the circumstances. We’re free.”

“Not all of us,” Minnie whispered, standing apart from the

other three, her back to them and her toes in the water.

“That was his choice.” Cora took Thom’s hand in her own.

She radiated both sadness and peace, and Thom found her skin

infinitely comforting. “He could have come with us. But he chose

to keep his fate tied to them. And I’m very sorry for it.” She

squeezed Thom’s fingers. “What will you do now?”

“We aren’t going home, if that’s what you mean.” He couldn’t

think on his father without feeling sick to his stomach. Whatever the

Ladon Vitae had done, whatever horrible webs they had woven

around him, it didn’t matter. In the end, he hadn’t fought for his

sons. Thom would never go back to him. Neither he nor Charles