Page 72 of The Unseen Hour

Orion sighed.

“It was my idea to go out that night, following the trail of the person who delivered the Thipp’s root. We were told by our butler that someone from town brought it directly from the apothecary. We trusted our staff implicitly and, as we lived on the same grounds, we had no reason to suspect any of them. We thought that maybe the person bringing it was swapping it for something dangerous, or being paid to do so. Now, of course, I realize the Thipp’s itself was dangerous enough. But that theory still stands.”

“So you waited for a delivery, and you followed him?”

“Yes. We were so ill by then, though. My youngest brother, Remi, stumbled and fell before we’d even made it off the estate. I asked Reg to take him home, and I kept going. I should have stayed and helped them. If I had, we might all three have made it back into the house. Then none of this would have happened. Instead, I insisted on going on alone. I’m the reason my brothers are dead.”

His expression was anguished, his eyes watering.

I moved over to him and sat down carefully, on the side of his uninjured leg. I put a hand on the side of his head, and he leaned against my shoulder.

“Oh, Ry. That’s not true. You were trying to save them.”

“I was the eldest, and the only parental figure my brothers had left. I should have suspected something sooner. Noises and clamorings on the estate and throughout the manor that no one could find the source of? The sudden onset of symptoms that plagued all three of us? Someone goaded us into seeking out a cure.”

I wanted to promise that we would find the person responsible, but whoever it was would be long dead themselves.

It would almost be better if they’d ended up in Death’s realm, instead of the Ether. I couldn’t imagine Ry having to see his brothers’ killer for nearly a century, even if he wasn’t sure who it was.

I ran my fingers through his hair, my hand pausing.

“Have you talked to them? Your brothers?”

He’d mentioned seeing them and trying to get them out, but he’d never told me whether they’d been at all responsive.

“I tried. But they’re typical Shades. Wandering in the Meadow. When I first saw them here, I was overjoyed. I didn’t realize what had happened to us, you see. Then, I saw what they’d become. I didn’t have a name for this place, or the hour, or anything. For weeks I lived outside, on the edge of the Meadow, barely surviving. I approached them every day, pleading with them to engage with me. After a while, it became clear they wouldn’t. They couldn’t. That’s when I began avoiding them. It became easier as more souls joined the Ether. I didn’t see them as often. I’ve spoken to almost every soul here, but I can’t bring myself to return to them. I wish they knew how badly I wanted to save them. I have no words adequate to apologize for what was done to them.”

His voice was rough, and my heart ached for him.

“Ry, this was not your fault.”

He wiped at his face.

“I’ve had time to grow used to it. That’s part of why I made my deal with Death. When we stop this hour and she frees the souls, my brothers will finally be where they belong. That’s how I make things right.”

“What about Charon?”

He harumphed, adjusting his leg again.

“What about him? I don’t care a single jot for what happens to that cursed god once his hour is gone. So long as we’re away from here and Death feels like she can face him without his Shades. I’m fine if he rots in the Ether.”

“But, when you arrived … he always greets the new souls. While you were here with your brothers …”

“Yes. He saw me first thing. A bumbling, grieving half-Shade. He was so triumphant, walking around that initial crowd of souls. Then, he came to me. Looking for my brothers, panicked, half-convinced that I was still in Emrys and the poison running through my veins had caused me to hallucinate. I was not at all how he’d pictured that celebratory first hour, and he was less than pleased.”

“What did he do?” I was afraid to find out, and he was well within his rights not to tell me.

“Lashed out. Those wings he has are for more than just flying. He swatted me with one and I careened into one of the Meadow’s trees. I was more banged up then than I am now, if you can believe it. Had to borrow what I could from some of the Shades’ pockets to fix myself up. I was ashamed of it, too—a grave robber as well as a careless brother.”

“You only did what you had to do!”

“Still, I try to avoid taking from the Shades, when I can. On occasions where it can’t be avoided, I always ask. Not that they’ll always respond. The cloak I took for you was likely the closest I’ve come to true thievery in a while. To be fair, you did look much better in it than the man who originally wore it.”

He gave a weak smile, attempting to add some humor to the moment.

I gave my best attempt at a smile back, but inside I was seething at Charon. And whoever had harmed the Holmes brothers.

Only one of them was still within reach, and I intended to make him pay for every single soul.