Page 130 of The Unseen Hour

“The three of us would have done anything for each other. Go with them tomorrow. If they can help it, they won’t forget. They’ll keep you safe. And so will I. No matter what it takes, or what happens, Starlight. I will make sure you get home.”

He’d said as much before, but he sounded more fervent this time.

“I know, Ry. I trust you, and I’ll have your back.”

“I have something for you as well. The book. It’s not what I’d call finished, but I still feel like you should have it.”

He went to the shelf to pull out his latest story. I flipped it open and thumbed through the pages carefully, drinking in his familiar handwriting. I read a few passages, not in order, but on whatever pages fell open.

“Wait. This is … this is us. You wrote us.”

There was a section about the cavern, and the woods. On seeing me for the first time. Our entire story for the past year, from Ry’s perspective.

In one moment the spark I’d been missing for a hundred years returned, lighting up my entire world.

A love story, and an adventure, from his perspective. The same poetic writing I’d fallen in love with, but it was directed at me.

I clutched the book to my chest, overwhelmed.

“I never expected something like this.”

Orion ran his hand through his hair.

“I’m glad you like it. I’d hoped to work on it more in Emrys, but this seemed like the best time.”

I shook my head.

“Not the book, although I will cherish it. I never expected a love like this.”

I threw myself into his arms again, and he kissed the top of my head.

The Ether hadn’t provided what I expected at all.

And I had no intention of letting Orion go.

CHAPTER 52

Our last full day in the Ether sped by faster than I’d imagined possible. I’d thought time would drag on while we waited, but the purple and orange lights overhead were already giving way to blue and green. The following evening, we’d be in the Meadow.

Orion would be leading the Shades along with Charon, and I would be hidden in the back of the crowd, hopefully with tree hoppers in tow.

I wanted to go after my father’s killer as soon as possible. They’d already escaped justice for years, and I didn’t intend to let that continue.

But Orion had waited all this time to go home, for decades not really believing he ever could. If he needed time to adjust to being back, I would give it to him.

Orion ran a hand over the back of his neck, stretching. We were plucking a few last fruits that I’d try to carry back in my satchel. Maybe we could grow some of the Ether’s food in Emrys, or wherever we ended up.

Ry grimaced, and I went to him.

“Did you hurt yourself? You’ve been working too hard.”

He’d claimed Charon hadn’t harmed him on his visit. I’d seen no bruises, but he’d looked pained on more than one occasion.

Orion wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. When he released me, he stepped back. His eyes met mine for barely a moment; then the blue and grey flicked downward, as though he couldn’t bear to hold my stare.

“Starlight, there’s something I have to tell you. I’m not supposed to share this, but I must.” He was breathing faster, a sheen of sweat on his brow. “It’s about the hour. The Shades. When we free the Shades, and … and⁠—”

“And free ourselves. Yes?”