Radiant Shadows (18 page)

Ani had heard and felt everything Devlin shared with Irial. It didn’t mute her grief or rage, but it was comforting to know that she wasn’t alone. Devlin wouldn’t kill Bananach but he wasn’t going to abandon her, and she needed every strong faery they could rouse. She couldn’t lose Rabbit.

Or Irial.

Or Gabriel.

Or Devlin.

She heard the arrival of Gabriel—and with him Niall and Seth. She didn’t want to see them all at once though, so she stepped into Rabbit’s room and waited for Gabriel.

Rabbit sat on the edge of his bed, looking lost. He’d undoubtedly heard the earlier conversation in the kitchen, and he knew as well as she did that their situation was growing increasingly bleak. They didn’t speak. Instead, they waited—and listened.

Irial’s and Niall’s voices were low, but they were
here
.
Knowing the current and former Dark Kings were now both in her home was comforting; so too was the sound of Gabriel’s boots as he came down the hallway.

“I’m sorry,” was all Gabriel said when he came into the room.

“You failed.” Rabbit looked at Gabriel with a ferocity that was matched on their father’s face.

Gabriel didn’t look away from the challenge in Rabbit’s voice. “The Hunt will keep her—and you—as safe as we can.”

Ani shook her head. “Well, since killing War isn’t an option, I don’t really see how that’s possible.”

None of them spoke.

Ani went over, took her brother’s hand in hers, and tugged him to his feet. Reluctantly, he followed to stand in front of Gabriel.

Once Gabriel and Rabbit were face-to-face, Ani said, “Neither of you is to blame. I
get
the whole blame thing. She killed Tish because of me.” She let go of Rabbit’s hand and stepped back. “I couldn’t give Bananach what she demanded, not my blood or the king’s or Seth’s.”

She saw Seth and Devlin in the hallway behind Gabriel. She caught and held Seth’s gaze as she told him, “I considered killing you, but Irial and Niall wouldn’t like it. There’d be too many other consequences that would please Bananach. But if I’d thought I had to kill you to save Tish… maybe. Probably.”

“We need a plan,” Devlin started.

Seth looked over his shoulder to Devlin for a moment. “I know what I want: Bananach dead.”

Ani smiled. “Seth, I think this the first time I might actually see why people like you.”

Devlin frowned. “We cannot kill her.”

“I know.” Ani looked at him. “So what do we do?”

“The High Court’s
assassin
doesn’t make the decisions around here,” Gabriel growled.

“No, I don’t, but neither do you.” Devlin didn’t raise his voice or react to Gabriel’s menace. “Do you have any idea what your daughter is?”

“Dark Court.” Gabriel stepped into the hallway. “Unlike you.”

“Devlin!” Ani started toward them, but Rabbit put a hand on her shoulder.

“Wait,” Rabbit murmured.

Seth came into the room, giving Gabriel and Devlin space to sort things out. He reached out to Rabbit and clasped his forearm. “Sorry, man.”

Rabbit nodded. “I’m glad you’re here.”

Ani didn’t want to talk about grief, not now, not ever. She wanted to plan.

She raised her voice, though, and called out, “Irial?”

“Shush, love,” Irial called back. “It’s just territory stuff they need to square away before we can get to business. Let them talk.”

Gabriel and Devlin were glaring at each other.

“That’s
not
going to end with talking.” Ani sat down
beside Rabbit and watched the confrontation.

Her brother put his arm around her. “Gabriel needs to deal with his grief.”

“By beating my…” Her words faded as she tried to figure out what term finished that sentence.

“Your what?” Gabriel growled. He shoved Devlin. “Her
what
?”

“Stop.” Ani jumped up, crossed the threshold, and stepped in front of her father. “He kept me safe.”

“He’s the High Queen’s thug—”

“Yeah, and you’re the Dark King’s.” She rolled her eyes. “So what?”

Gabriel reached out like he’d move her aside, and without thinking, Ani caught his hand in hers—and stopped it.

His eyes widened, and he grinned. Before she could react, he pulled back his other arm like he was going to punch her.

“I don’t think so.” She ducked and swung, and—for the first time in her life—saw her father actually moved by her punch.

Reflexively, he punched back—not the insulting love taps he’d thrown before, but a true punch from a Hound striking out at an equal.

“You tried to hit me,” she murmured. “You actually tried to
hit
me!”

“I did”—he touched his face—“and you
did
hit me.”

She leaned against him. “Finally.”

Gabriel was staring at her with pride. “You got me one worthy of Che.
How?
”

“She’s barely—if at all—mortal.” Devlin’s voice was even, sounding falsely calm. “Her mortal blood has been consumed by yours, Gabriel. It’s part of why she is so unusual, and—I suspect—because Jillian had an ancestor who wasn’t fully mortal.”

“Huh.” Gabriel scooped her up in a hug. “Still my pup, though. Still not going to hare off on your own again without telling us. Right?”

“I was trying to make sure you all were safe.” Ani feigned a snarl, but she wasn’t angry with him for being protective. It was a Dark Court trait
and
a Hound trait. “And Devlin and Barry were with me. I wasn’t alone.”

Gabriel lowered her back to the ground. “Barry?”

“I named my steed,” she said.

Gabriel squeezed her shoulder, and Ani felt better.

With a flash of realization, she understood that Devlin had known that a bit of violence would soothe her. He mightn’t have the right words, but he understood her. She looked at him and smiled.

The relief in his expression made her heart tighten. She reached out for his hand. “So, now what?”

Devlin nodded and turned to Gabriel. “If the fighting has calmed you, perhaps we can proceed to the planning?”

“This doesn’t mean I like you any better than I ever did.” Gabriel flashed his teeth at Devlin. “You fail her, and I’ll beat you until you’re begging—”

“If I fail her, a beating will be the least of my pain.” Devlin pulled Ani close to him.

Gabriel paused, nodded at them, and walked to the living area, where Irial and Niall were waiting.

Devlin leaned back into the sofa and watched the others argue. They alternated between sitting on the worn leather sofa and chairs, pacing, and snarling at one another.

Too many kings at the helm.

Irial listened, but he was as forceful as he’d been as king. These were his people, his family. Niall, Rabbit, and Ani were precious to the former Dark King. The current Dark King was just as bad: Seth was as a brother to him.

And I must keep Seth safe as well. For Sorcha.

And Niall. Irial would be dangerous if Niall were to die.

And… all of them. For Ani.

And Ani.
Devlin glanced at her.
Most of all. Ani must be safe.

The thought of Bananach killing Ani was unacceptable. He understood then, on a very core level, that this was the danger of emotions. If she were killed, he would be willing to damn them all.

“Ani should stay with us,” Irial repeated.

“Think for a minute.” Gabriel shook his head. “You put all the targets in one building… Bananach isn’t a fool. She’ll come at us with everything if we make it that easy.”

“Do you have a better plan?” Irial’s voice didn’t get louder, but everyone in the room flinched.

Niall put a hand on Irial’s forearm. Irial pulled his gaze from the Hound who’d been his advisor for centuries and looked at his king.

“Gabriel’s right, and you know it,” Niall said. “You’re not thinking clearly. Let me handle this?”

For a moment, Irial looked down at Niall’s hand. “I cannot lose anyone else.”

“I know.” Niall did not look away, did not remove his hand. “We all want the same things. Your grief is in the way of your planning. Let your… king look after the court. Trust me?”

“Always,” Irial assured him. Then he left the room and went into the kitchen.

After he was gone, Niall spoke as if there were no doubt. “Ani and Rabbit need to stay together, but Seth cannot stay with them. I can take Seth to Faerie if he is willing to go.” Niall looked at Seth with a gentleness that seemed at odds with the illusion those in Faerie held of the Dark Court. “I won’t insist on your return to Sorcha, but if Devlin is right…”

“It’s cool. I can do more good there, but”—Seth pointedly looked at each of them—“once she is well, I’ll be back
here
. If there’s fighting with Bananach, I’ll be a part of it.”

Devlin said, “I’m not sure you, Niall, should be away from your court. Things in Faerie are untenable. They are used to seeing me as her voice and hands… if she is as unwell as I fear, I need to go.”

The Dark King looked at Seth, who nodded.

“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.”

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.

A full score of Ly Ergs filed into the house. Other faeries, some Ani did not recognize, followed.

Devlin stepped forward. “Do not do this.”

None of Bananach’s faeries attacked, but they had spread out so that the exits were blocked. They waited—for
Bananach to act or speak. Her faeries weren’t strong enough to overcome all of the fighters in the room, but they were numerous enough that there would be injuries.

Silently, Ani slid out a
sgian dubh
and handed it to her brother. Beside her, Seth had a short sword and several of his own knives. She pulled out one of the holy irons; her other
sgian dubh
was in her ankle holster.

As Bananach advanced into the house, Irial continued to move so that Ani was directly behind him; Niall did the same with Seth. Gabriel positioned himself so he was behind Devlin, but still in front of both Niall and Irial.

Devlin took another step forward, away from them, closer to War. “Talk to me. We can talk, can’t we?”

She lifted a bone knife and slashed open his arm dispassionately—muscles severed and flesh ravaged. “You were nothing more than an idea
Reason
had, but without my pulse… without me, you were lifeless.”

He grabbed her wrist with his other hand.

Bananach reached out and pressed her fingers into the wound. “I think I want that pulse, that blood,
my
blood, back now.”

“If you give your word that Ani will be untouched, I will give it to you freely.” Devlin was motionless as she ripped open his skin. “Sister, please, spare Ani.”

“Stop,” Bananach screeched. Her hand was still dug into his bleeding arm. “I must do as I must. Seth was never meant to live. The Hound didn’t do as she was told, but there are choices. There are always choices, Brother.”

She turned her gaze to Ani. “Come to me, little Hound, and I’ll spare them. Two lives I will give you. Your choice.” Bananach’s wings opened wide, and the shadows in the room shivered at the sight. “Would you save your king? Your lover? Your father? Two lives if you give me yours.”

Ani stepped up between her former king and her father. Her blade was unsheathed, but no one there—including Bananach—thought that a Hound with a blade was strong enough to be a threat to War.

“Spare all of their lives,” Ani said. “I’ll give you—”

“You can have my life,” Devlin interrupted. He put himself back in front of Bananach. “You can have my allegiance if you stop this.”

“
You.
You betrayed me. You took her, hid her. Why?” Bananach looked devastated. “You were my own. Our child…” She lunged at Ani with two bone knives—one in each hand now—as she spoke.

Irial shoved Ani to the side, and Bananach drove both knives hilt-deep into his stomach. Instead of falling, though, he stayed upright between Ani and Bananach, keeping his body as a barrier to reaching Ani.

“Iri!” Ani screamed. She wanted to go around him, to launch herself at the raven-faery, but to do so belittled the sacrifice Irial had made. He’d taken the wound that was to be hers, and she wasn’t about to ignore that in order to satisfy her own rage.

Not
now
at least.

Devlin grabbed Bananach and pulled her away from Irial
and Ani. She didn’t resist as he held her to him. Instead, she released the knives, sliding her hands over the white bone and letting Irial’s blood coat it.

Only then did Irial move. Now that Bananach was contained, he stepped backward. Niall caught him and lowered him to the ground at Ani’s side. Irial’s characteristic grace was absent; instead, he moved with almost mortal clumsiness as he tried not to jar the blades that pierced his abdomen.

The abyss-guardians that clung to both the former Dark King and the current one suddenly stood like warriors in the room. Ani had never seen so many of the shadowy figures. The entire room seemed populated with them. Steady flames of darkness formed an impenetrable wall of shadows encircling the Dark Kings—and Ani.

War smiled at them from the other side of the black wall, and behind her, Devlin, Seth, and Gabriel fought the Ly Ergs.

Inside their shadow fortress, Niall knelt beside Irial and pulled back the shredded shirt that covered Irial’s wounds. “Iri…” He looked like he was in as much pain as Irial.

“Hush.” Irial reached down and yanked out the first knife. Blood spurted from the wound, and Irial let out a small grunt of pain.

“Hold on for—” Niall started, but Irial had already taken hold of the second one and pulled it free as well.

In Irial’s hand was a bloodied hilt: the blade itself was missing.

“Left hand for poison. Not solid now.” Irial turned his head and smiled at Ani. “Not your fault, pup.”

“Iri…” She dropped to the floor. “We need… you can’t…”

“Devlin’s what you need. Go with him.” Irial looked away from her then. His gaze was only for Niall. “Trust yourself. I…” His words faded as a spasm of pain shook him.

Niall pulled off his own shirt and pressed it to the bleeding gashes. “You’ll be fine. Just—”

“No. Listen.” Irial wrapped his hand around Niall’s wrist. They seemed to forget that there were others in the room, that War was there, that a battle waited outside their shadowy barrier.

Irial kept his hand on Niall’s wrist and whispered, “Wish I hadn’t been king when we met.”

“Iri—”

“Get them gone. Safe. Not
here
.” Irial let go of Niall and pulled himself away. “You too. Get out of here. Now.”

The expressions that crossed Niall’s face were ones Ani didn’t dare name, but she tasted everything. Irial wasn’t the only one wishing things had been different.
Hoping they still could be.
The Dark King stood. Niall’s softness was only for Irial—and Irial had asked him to repress that tenderness. The shadows in the room shuddered as Niall crossed the barrier that they’d formed.

Ani started to stand, but Irial took her hand in his. “Not yet.”

Niall was every bit the King of Nightmares in that moment. The rage that played under the edge of his emotions welled up like black tar. Ani thought she would choke on it—the loss, the fury, the vengeance. Here was the true Dark King.

“Twice now you’ve struck what is
mine
.” Niall bit the words off as he stalked toward Bananach. “The girl Tish was mine to keep safe. Irial is mine.”

“Was,” Bananach pronounced. “He’ll not survive the fortnight. He knows it.”

A roar filled the room as Niall gave voice to the rage and grief that they’d all felt. He punched Bananach, shoved spikes of dark light into her skin. “You do not hurt what is mine.”

She stayed motionless, said nothing.

Niall didn’t look away from her as he spoke. “Leave here. Leave Ani alone. You are banished.”

Bananach tilted her head, looking inhuman, but her words were calm. “War cannot be banished. You know that,
Gancanagh.
You aren’t going to win. One by one, you lose. I grow strong as you fall.”

Niall didn’t take his attention from Bananach. “You gave me a vow of fealty. I could kill you for—”

“No, you couldn’t,” Bananach crowed. “My betrayer told you. Sorcha will die, and then all of you will die. Kill me, and I still win. Is the little Hound worth it? Is your anger over Irial reason enough?”

Then Gabriel’s voice whispered inside Ani’s mind:
Go to Faerie.

Ani looked up and saw her father in the doorway to the kitchen with Rabbit and Seth. They were opening a path for her exit.

Ani,
Gabriel snarled inside her.
Get them out of here.

She felt it then: the Hunt was here. The Hounds filled the too-small house.

Now
, Gabriel added.

Seth, Devlin, and Rabbit weren’t making much progress against the Ly Ergs, but they were keeping the tide from reaching her and Irial.

“Please, pup?” Irial said. “The Hunt won’t fight as well with you and Rab here.”

“Come with—” she started.

“No.” He had pulled himself to a sitting position with the aid of several abyss-guardians. “I stay with Niall…. Can’t really run right now anyhow.”

Gabriel and Niall were in a blur of violence with Bananach. In the hallway, Ly Ergs and other faeries Ani didn’t know were already fighting with Hounds. One Hound toppled a shelf onto a cluster of Ly Ergs. The red-handed faeries were scurrying everywhere like vermin. Several thistle-fey accompanied them. One female Hound grabbed the fire poker and speared it into the leg of a thistle-fey, pinning him to the floor with the brass shaft.

Ani made her way toward the kitchen, where Devlin was launching knives from the kitchen block. His aim was still precise one-handed, and despite the blood running
down his other arm, the look in his eyes told her that he’d rather fight.

If they didn’t get Seth to Faerie, there soon wouldn’t
be
a Faerie. If they stayed, they wouldn’t all survive. This wasn’t a fight they could win.

But it still took every once of control, more than Ani thought she possessed, to say, “Let’s go.”