Radiant Shadows
Page 65

“I…” Devlin started. There weren’t words though, not ones he could speak. His envy over the way Irial knew Ani, his worry over her, his futile emotions—none were of the High Court. For a heartbeat, Devlin just stared at Irial, waiting for the mockery or chastisement or reminder that he wasn’t worthy of Ani.
Irial held out Ani’s coffee. “She needs you right now. Go.”
Devlin stood and took the cup—and paused at the roll of terror that told him that Gabriel had arrived.
Chapter 30
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!”