Page 27 of Shadows Ascend (Remnant Archives #2)

"Where love is regret." Kade nodded, reciting the next lines. "The end of your soul lives within the Sheol," he whispered.

"Beware and behave ." I gave my brother a wary look.

Kade grinned, stooping down to kiss Riella's forehead. "The darkness you will obey," he said, tapping her nose before he gracefully slid away on the silver path. "Stay alive Rem Rem and keep my favorite niece safe." He winked down at Riella, "I have yet to show her the midnight pegasuses."

Riella leaned in excitedly. "Oooo what are those Uncle Kade?"

He snorted and his smile widened with pure adoration. "Think flying unicorns, my beautiful niece."

Riella squealed with excitement, jumping excitedly, inciting the cù-sìth pup to do just the same. Barking her joy in the chaos, Blaithin pounced around us, stirring up the white sands that hovered in the cosmic air before swirling back down on itself.

Emon chuckled, scooping up our daughter in his arms. "I think we already have a flying unicorn right here!" He tossed her tiny body high into the sky, leaving behind her charming laughter before she came rushing back down.

"Do I look like a pegasus, Uncle Kade?" Riella called when Emon tossed her one more time causing her to flap her arms like wings.

My heart soared along her flapping arms and I knew this image would always burn bright in my memory.

"One better! You are a fairy princess flying in those stars," Kade shouted up at her.

Emon grunted when he caught her, nuzzling her nose affectionately, a feverish light glowing off her bronze skin. "The most beautiful fairy princess in all the lands…worlds…universes," he said softly, then set her down.

"How could I have forgotten?" Shea spoke, stepping forward with his arm resting on his knee, gazing at Riella with a soft smile.

"Every princess needs a crown does she not?

" Waving his hand still heavily adorned with the same rings I saw him wear yesterday, he produced a pure glass crown with a bright spark burning like it was alive in the center.

I watched as our daughter took the delicate headpiece, swirling green and gold eyes glittering in the twilight. "Is that for me, grandfather?"

He laughed softly. "It was made for you and only for you, crafted from the stars that danced the night your soul was born, this one right here," he pointed to the shimmering middle, "glowed and danced the hardest. I knew I had to capture its light for you."

I swallowed hard with burning emotion and Riella's bottom lip trembled before she flew herself into the death god's arms. He grunted and stilled, his eyes full of shock and wonder before they closed softly while engulfing her into his formidable hold.

The crown dangled in his hand, forgotten while the painful sad expression returned on his face.

I felt a wet nudge on my shoulder and looked up into the knowing red eyes of the death hound Sadhbh. I could tell that she sensed this was the right time to leave and I was inclined to take heed of the hound that delivered death omens.

"We must go," I said softly, watching my mother wipe away her own tears.

The death god cleared his throat. "Yes, yes, daughter, it is time.

" Pulling Riella away from him, he plucked the crown from her hands and placed it upon her flowing raven hair.

"It is enchanted to stay on you. Don't take this off my sweet little bird.

It will protect you even in lands where I cannot reach. "

Riella nodded determinedly, absently clutching another memento that hung in a chain around her neck through her shirt . "I will wear it forever, grandfather."

"See that you do," Shea responded gruffly, then whistled softly.

It only took moments for the death hound cub to plow through our little group, knocking every single one of us over with her clumsy excitement.

Her mother barked roughly before the young pup stilled, then sat, her tongue rolling out again.

"Blaithin," Shea scolded, "you must listen to your mother and take care of my granddaughter for me.

She will ride with you on the path." He wagged his finger at her. "Do not veer off the path."

Blaithin barked happily and then turned to Riella, her ears pulled back as she bowed with sheepish eyes at our daughter.

Riella grinned. "Don't be sorry Blaithin. I am excited too!"

The cù-sìth pup grinned her lethal canines before standing and barking again, looking at her back and then at Riella expectantly.

Shea waved his hand and suddenly a soft blanket of silver was laid across the pup’s back. Picking up Riella, he gently placed her up on her perch. "You wont hurt her holding onto her fur, but if you don't the blanket is enchanted to keep you astride."

The sky shifted and suddenly the stars swarmed, dancing happily in merriment around Riella and covering her in glittering dust. In that moment she captivated all of us—her innocent cherub face tilted up to watch the stars swirling, her eyes wide with pure wonderment, her mouth parted with an inhaled awe, and her hair flowing around her, illuminated by the shimmering glass crown upon her head.

"She is her mother's daughter," Emon's deep sultry voice whispered in my mind as he shifted closer to me.

I blinked and turned towards him, realizing his eyes had been watching me this whole time. "I don't want her to ever lose that—the feeling of this moment. "

Emon nodded solemnly, kissing my forehead. "We will protect it, protect her…" Then he snorted. "As if anything can stop us."

The cù-sìth hound nudged me one more time before my father raised his hand and both Emon and I were being lifted by the shadows to sit atop her massive form. She was not as large as Emon's fierce panther but she was close.

The pain that ached deep in my chest intensified, thinking of Ethereal and the destruction we left behind in Finlandia, what I had done to Quinn…Jar. I was even worried about Eshe, her bitchiness must have grown on me.

"Say goodbye to your family for now, my beautiful soulmate," Emon's voice rumbled behind me, dropping a kiss to my shoulder. "Our worries can wait at the very least for that."

Sniffing, I looked downward, meeting the eyes of my brother, mother, and my…father. Yes, I could accept that now…just. I placed my hand to my heart. "Till we meet again."

"We love you, our little chickadee," my mother called out while all three of them placed their hands on their hearts as well. "Stay safe on the path."

"Abeamus Sadhbh.” Let's go, Sadhbh. Leaning forward, I patted the space between her ears.

The stars that danced around my daughter shot back into the sky, exploding around her into bright bursts of color, saying their goodbyes.

The cù-sìth howled.

A haunting and foreboding sound. Its eerie call sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine—and I prayed it was not an omen for what was to come.