Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely 4)

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?”