Page 14 of Solar Shadows

Home, warm before the crackling fireplace, safe inside the protective bubble of this house. But myhead pounded as if giants marched in my skull. I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a tad hung over.

“Fuck…” I whispered.

I’d been placed on the middle of the three terracotta sofas around the coffee table by the fire. Riley sat beside me, Drake on the right sofa.

“Are you okay?” my brother asked, shuffling closer to me.

“Hey,” I answered. “What…what happened?” Man, I was so parched.

He touched my shoulder. “You passed out after that shade thing attacked you. After it…you’re okay, right?” His blue eyes scrutinized my chest.

I rubbed at the spot I’d been hit. “I’m good. Didn’t actually wound me. Weird, huh?” A searing pain raced across my forehead. “I need water.”

Riley grabbed a bottle from the coffee table. “Already prepared for that.”

I took it from him and gulped down half the contents of the chilled liquid heaven. “Thanks, honey.” I finished the rest of the bottle, and twisted myself to face him properly, picking up a cushion to cuddle. I was shaking all over, reeling from my visit to the fae woman’s orchard.

After a few beats, I told them what’d happened, my scalp aching in memory of her attack.

“What the hell?” Riley gasped, taking my hand. “How did she do that?”

I gave his hand a squeeze. “Don’t know. But she’s upped her game, eh?” I sighed. “Just what we need.”

My little brother shook his head. “So, she wants to taste us to do what? Cast a spell? Take our powers? Free herself?”

“Wish I had an answer for you.”

Drake leaned back, resting his arms on the back of the sofa. “I can try visiting her. Although she never really tells me anything.” His brows pinched together. “We really need to speak to the Winter Queen.”

I stretched my arms above my head. “Let me grab a shower and we’ll talk about this more.”

Riley nodded. “Erin said something about having a meeting in a bit.”

I rolled my shoulders. “Where is she?”

“Snacking on those cookies I made earlier,” he answered.

Riley baked chocolate chip cookies like an absolute pro. As a result, Erin became hooked, politely demanding he keep a constant supply flowing.

I laughed, getting to my feet.

Riley did the same, throwing himself at me.

He hugged me tightly, resting his head on my shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

I patted his back. “Likewise, honey.” I gave him a peck on the cheek and pulled away. “You can’t keep The Sun down for long.”

He giggled. “Good to hear.”

“See you in a bit, little brother.”

Along my journey toward blessed hot water andsome alone time to quell the shaking, I stopped by the kitchen to grab some painkillers for my headache. Ollie was there, leaning against the large white marble countertop before the panoramic windows. He nursed a bottle of beer, his white shirt open to expose a tantalizing amount of his dark-brown skin.

By Hecate, those arms. So big, so made for holding a guy through the cold winter nights.

I nominate myself to be held!

“You good?” I asked, opening the medicine cupboard on the other side of the large steel-and-white kitchen.