Page 109 of The Unseen Hour

Orion grabbed my hands. “Look, this could be a good thing⁠—”

“A good thing! You could be killed!”

“He’s not killed me yet. I’ll be able to find out what he knows this way, and I’ll do everything I can to share that with you. Go back to the cottage and wait there.”

“I will not! I’ll keep going. At least to the edge of the Meadow.”

That was where Death tended to meet us. If I could get the other deity to intervene, that seemed the most likely spot.

I threw my arms around Orion, but he pried me off.

“I’m sorry, Starlight. I don’t know what would happen if you do that. Look, you’re about to see something disconcerting. But I’m all right. You need to remember that. Don’t panic. I’ll be o⁠—”

In front of my eyes, Orion faded into the fog, and then that dissipated as well.

I stared for a few moments, wide-eyed, at the empty space in the woods in front of me.

Then, I screamed.

For several chaotic moments I was certain I’d just seen the man I loved die. He’d already told me that Charon had disintegrated some of the Shades when they didn’t do what he wanted, and the other people who had made it to the Ether alive.

But, he’d said ash. There was nothing left of Orion. And he’d gone with the fog.

I took several shaky breaths in and out, still too fast and shallow to actually be much help.

He’d told me he was all right. He’d acted like he knew something was coming for him.

Come to think of it, I’d never seen him go to Charon. Not really. He’d left when he saw the fog, and then I’d assumed he’d walked the full way. But that made no sense. Given that Charon’s residence was west, well past the Meadow, Orion couldn’t have traversed the distance and back to his cottage in the time he’d managed in the past.

Somehow, Charon had transported him via the fog.

I put a hand to my head, feeling like I might fall over.

It was almost too much to wrap the mortal mind around, but it had to be right. The alternative was unacceptable.

“I’ll follow him. I’ll keep heading to the Meadow.”

And if I didn’t meet with Death on the way, I’d keep going. I would walk all the way to Charon’s if I had to. Without Orion touching me, I wouldn’t be able to get on the grounds. At least according to what Death had said when she’d connected the two of us.

It didn’t matter. If I needed to, I would stay outside whatever border his estate had and throw stones, yell, and shake the gates until he saw me.

I didn’t want to die, but I would risk anything for Ry.

I ran, my satchel bouncing on my back. The path between the trees had become familiar, and I leapt over twisted roots and ducked low branches without a second thought. I’d never been so coordinated, but memory served me well.

I only slowed when the trees grew sparse and I could see the Meadow. A few of the glowing orb moths floated by in front of me.

We were getting closer to the hundredth hour, and Orion was right about the Shades. They moved quicker and farther afield. Their faces, from what I could see, were still impassive. But some zig-zagged in erratic patterns as they floated above the flowers. Certainly more animated than in January.

My mind made up, I approached the Meadow on my own. There wasn’t any sign of Orion or Charon. No chill, and no fog. If the god of the Ether was distracted with his Head Shade, then he wasn’t watching me.

I took a deep breath.

“I could use some help! We got what you wanted, but he’s got Ry!”

A few of the Shades looked over at me, in itself a sign that they were more attentive, but Death didn’t respond.

She’d never given us a way to summon her. She just appeared when she wanted to. I’d accepted it because she was on our side, and we needed the help, but at that moment I resented it.