Page 128 of The Unseen Hour

The two people I sought took me a laughably short time to locate. One with lighter hair than his brother, and one with darker. One with grey eyes, and one with blue.

“Remington? Reginald?” I asked as I approached them.

Both were dressed in the more intricate male fashions of Orion’s time. One in a deep blue tailored coat, the other in silver.

The two Shades turned and watched me but didn’t respond. Still, it was almost the hour. All the Shades were more active. This was my best chance.

“You’re Orion’s brothers, aren’t you?”

The one with grey eyes blinked heavily.

“Yes. That’s us. I’m Regi,” said the one with blue eyes.

“And I’m Remi. Our brother Rion. Do you know him?” asked the other.

I felt tears forming in my eyes. I had no idea how much they would be able to understand or remember, but for Orion I wanted to try.

“I’m in love with your brother,” I started.

I told Remi and Regi everything. How they’d ended up in the Meadow, where Orion was. I didn’t go into detail on what their brother had been through; that was his story to tell. But I gave them the broad strokes. That he’d been alone for nearly a century, that there was an angry god ruling the place, and that Orion and I would be going to Emrys with the god on the hour.

I told them how much their brother missed them, and how I felt about him. That I wanted to help them as well. I even told them about my father.

“I was too late for him, but we can still help both of you. That’s what I want. To help you, and Ry,” I finished.

Miraculously, they kept their attention on me through the entire story.

“He’s doing all this to free us?”

“Yes. To free all the souls. But if we succeed, he’ll never see you again. I wanted you to know everything he’s doing for you. How much he loves you.”

Regi’s blue eyes blazed in a way that reminded me of his older brother.

“We never did find out who meant to harm us. But Rion was willing to die trying, to keep us safe. It sounds like he’s still doing it.”

“And we can help. You’re going back as well? Let us shield you. We’ll stand at your side when we leave for the hour. We’ll keep you hidden while you cross over,” Remi promised.

It may have been an empty promise. They were this responsive only because the hour was so close. When I returned, I thought, they might have no idea who I was. But I was touched either way.

Three brothers bound by love for a century. Each still willing to do whatever it took to help the other. As much as I cared for my family, I hadn’t trusted any of them enough to share this much.

But Orion’s brothers immediately accepted what I said and expressed a desire to help. They were every bit the wonderful men Ry had said they were.

“I’ll return on the hour, then, and look for you. I wish there was something else I could do. I just didn’t want you to … I didn’t want you to leave this realm without knowing just how much Ry cares for you.”

“And we care for him as well. Always. Can you give him this?” Remi reached into his pocket and pulled something out.

“And from me,” Regi seconded.

They each handed over a small, dry bean.

“The kitchen? When you set up that scavenger hunt for him?” I asked.

Remi laughed.

“He told you about that? He was always such a good sport.”

“The best older brother,” Regi agreed. “We always had the most fun in each other’s company. When our father died, a lot of responsibility was put on his shoulders. We just want him to know we saw how hard he worked. That we appreciate what he did.”