Radiant Shadows (Wicked Lovely 4)

“So Ani and Rabbit come to the house with Irial and me.” Niall’s gaze flicked toward the doorway through which Irial had vanished. “Devlin can deliver Seth to Faerie.”

Ani had stayed quiet far longer than Devlin would have expected. He’d watched her expressions as her life was being decided. He knew that their plan wasn’t going to please her, but he wasn’t going to step in and give voice to Ani’s objections. That wasn’t his place.

She looked at them all. “And then what? We wait? I live in seclusion, under watch forever?”

Irial returned to the doorway between the living room and the kitchen. “Is our company so awful, pup? Niall isn’t always glum.”

She went over to Irial. “You know the Hunt doesn’t do well in a cage,” she murmured. Then she turned to Gabriel. “Could you live caged?”

Gabriel growled. “’S different.”

Rabbit spoke finally. “It’s not.”

Ani flashed a grateful smile at her brother.

Devlin suggested, “You could remain here while I take Seth to Faerie. I’ll return as soon as I’m able, and we’ll keep roaming…. Or come with me now.”

She looked over at her father and then at Devlin.

“Come with me,” Devlin said.

She didn’t speak, and he hated that in the wake of Tish’s death she was having to deal with the consequences of Sorcha’s mawkish behavior. He hated that she had to deal with any of the losses in her life that his sisters had caused.

Irial’s voice interrupted the strained silence. “You are a child of the Dark Court, beloved by the last Dark King and”—he glanced at Niall, who nodded—“under the protection of the current Dark King.”

“And mine,” Devlin added. He walked over to stand in front of her. “Whatever punishment the High Queen would offer, whatever anger she has for either of us, is only on my skin, not yours. She will not ever harm you as long as I draw breath.”

For a heartbeat, no one in the room moved. A vow of such extremity was rare, but to have a High Court faery offer it was unheard-of. His life, his safety, all were secondary to Ani’s now.

Ani immediately said, “No. I release you from—”

“Yes,” Devlin interrupted. He took her hand in his. “My vow, Ani: whatever punishment she might mete out is mine to accept, not yours. I am not asking for anything in return. You are not bound to me or beholden, but you are mine to keep safe. Neither my queen nor my other sister will harm you while I live. My life for yours. That is the answer we have. Should they need blood or death, it is my body that will absorb the strike.”

Suddenly, Gabriel growled. “Move.”

A gust of wind battered the building, and the howls of the Hunt rose up.

Gabriel shoved to the front so that he stood facing the door to the studio. “Behind me.”

From inside the studio, glass shattered.

He tilted his head, listening. “She’s here. Ly Ergs.”

“Back door?” Niall took command. “Devlin, get Seth and Ani to Faerie as soon as you can get passed them.”

Gabriel and Irial stayed facing the studio; Devlin and Niall turned toward the kitchen door. That left Ani, Seth, and Rabbit in the middle, protected on both sides.

Bananach came through the doorway to the studio in a blur of bloody feathers. “What a lovely little vow you’ve offered the pup, Brother… but I don’t see why I need to strike only one of you. The more bodies, the better.”

CHAPTER 31

Bananach’s face was painted in patterns drawn in wet ashes and woad. Her wings were charred at the tips, and the blood on her arms was still fresh. “Your Hounds fought well, Gabriel.”

He growled, but didn’t go to check on them. “They’re not done yet.”

“Yet here I am.” Bananach spread her hands wide.

Ani felt the Hunt. Her mortality was gone. For the first time, she could feel a connection to the Hunt. Those not here already fighting would come, would knock down the walls, would bring blood and death into her home. But not soon enough. Gabriel knew it too.