Page 54 of The Unseen Hour (The Unseen Hour Duology #1)

O ur 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?”

He was trembling. Whatever he had to say, Charon wanted it kept secret, badly. He clutched at his chest with one hand, and I rushed forward, but he shook his head.

“I have to say this. I can’t … You can go home. But I can’t.”

He huffed, falling to his knees.

“Ry!”

“I have to, get it all, or I won’t. I can’t start again. Charon knows. Not about us. He knows I want to leave. Told me, I can’t. I’m connected.”

My stomach sank.

“We can’t leave? Why? Why not?”

I looked around frantically, half-expecting Charon to show up in the cottage and kill us both. I put one hand on the dagger at my side. For Ry, I would try to fight a god.

Orion shook his head.

“ You can go. I can’t. I belong here. I can’t leave.”

He started to take deep breaths, and though he still had a sheen of sweat on his skin, his muscles relaxed a bit.

Ignoring his protests, I bent down to help him up. His skin was fevered and blazing. Almost uncomfortable to the touch.

“You can’t? Did he threaten you? I don’t care if he is a god! I’ll go back to his home right now and—” Orion’s hand gripped my wrist.

“No. Starlight. We have to do what we promised we would. End the hour. Save the souls. Then you’ll be safe. And I will survive, just like I always have.”

I blinked, unable to absorb his words.

“I can’t believe what I’m hearing. I don’t think you believe it, either. Did he threaten me ? Is that it? He’s found out about me and he’s trying to keep you in line?”

I had no proof, but I knew the god was ruthless. I wouldn’t put anything past him.

“It wasn’t about you. It was about me. He asked how I felt about being Head Shade, and living in the Ether. He could tell I longed to go back to Emrys, and he told me it wouldn’t be possible. Charon is many things, but he’s not a liar. Everything he’s ever threatened has happened.”

I froze, then turned my head to look at him. His shoulders sagged, and his gorgeous blue-flecked eyes were fixed on the ground.

“Not when it comes to his hour. He thinks he will win, but he won’t. We will. And then you can go home. We can go home. Together. We have the music, the baton, Death’s instructions, and each other.”

He shook his head.

“He told me that I’m stuck here. That even though I’m not dead, I can’t hope to escape back to Emrys.

I was angry, and I argued with him. I’m honestly surprised he didn’t resort to violence, but I think he got more enjoyment from crushing my hopes.

Told me that even if I tried to hide in Emrys and avoid returning, it wouldn’t work because I have no anchor.

I mentioned the other souls that he’d destroyed and he said that if they’d escaped they would have stood a chance, because they still had people to go back to.

It’s too late for me. There’s no one else alive waiting for me. I have no anchor back in Emrys.”

I grabbed his shoulders and planted myself in front of him.

“Ry, you can still go back. You will have an anchor. When we break the hour I will be alive, and I know you. I love you. I would miss you. I’ll come for you, as soon as the music is destroyed. I’ll meet you at Charon’s church and make sure that you stay.”

My heart was cracked, and I waited to see if he would shatter it or not.

He heaved out another deep sigh.

“All right. All right, Starlight. We’ll try.”

I wanted assurance, but I would take what I could get. He’d been beaten down by Charon so many times before. I would believe enough for both of us that this time, Orion could win.

I would be strong for him. If necessary, I’d be the one to face a god.

“This is it,” I said, crawling into our shared blankets later that night.

“It is,” Orion agreed.

The following morning was when he would meet Charon.

He would lead the Shades with the god. I would sneak to the back of the mass of Shades as they exited the Ether, as far from Charon as I could get.

Once we made it to Emrys and Charon went off on his own, Orion would go to the church ruins and the cemetery. I’d go to Death’s church.

We had one shot.

Orion paused before climbing under the blanket with me.

Once we returned, our sleeping arrangements would no doubt differ.

I had to believe we would be successful in keeping Orion in Emrys.

That meant our relationship would cause gossip the likes of which Fox Haven had never seen.

A long-dead duke and the missing daughter of the Hipnosis?

Instant news. A Hipnosi daughter returning after a year-long disappearance with a mysterious man at her side?

Just as good for gossip fodder. Even if we had to leave Emrys to be together, if someone saw me we’d be the main topic of conversation for years.

It wouldn’t bother me either way, but I hoped my family wouldn’t suffer.

I was going to be infamous no matter what, reappearing after a year.

Our story would depend on how much of what happened was witnessed by the people of Emrys.

Would they see our action with their own eyes, or would we just be the town fools, laughed at for our fantastic tales?

Would I even have Orion, or would I be back around everyone I loved and feel entirely alone?

And what of him? My own feelings were the least of my concern. What would happen to Ry if he were trapped in the Ether by himself again, with only the creatures for company?

“Starlight? What’s the matter?” I jumped as I realized Orion was kneeling in front of me. He reached a hand up and wiped away a tear.

“We will succeed. You will see your home again. You have my word.”

That just made it worse, and more tears made their way down my face.

“That’s not it,” I managed, struggling to keep some hold on my emotions.

“Then what?”

I took a few shaky breaths, trying and failing three times to get the words out before I managed it.

“ You are my home. I don’t want to lose this.”

I sat up, reaching for Orion. He wrapped his arms around me .

“You will always have me. You own my heart. No matter what forces try to come between us, I belong to you.”

I sprang forward, kissing his cheeks, the stubble across his chin, his full lips. His tongue swiped against my bottom lip, and I opened my mouth to him.

He pressed me back down against the blankets, holding his body above mine as he continued the kiss.

Orion peppered a trail of soft bites down the curve of my neck.

The contact sent a thrill along my spine, and I sighed, leaning into him.

Like so many times before, our clothes quickly ended up in a pile on the floor, nothing more than an inconvenience.

I never wanted to see another dress again.

I’d never have removed a corset or layers so quickly.

Orion’s mouth continued downward. His tongue grazed my hipbone, and I jerked.

“Beautiful,” he murmured. “Adventurous, compassionate, strong. I never thought I’d find someone like you.”

Then, he pressed his tongue against my core, and brought up one hand to rub against my clit. He continued his torturous teasing, and I moaned, throwing one arm over my mouth to muffle the needy sound.

Orion reached a hand up, tugging my arm down.

“I want all of you, Starlight. Every shiver, every moan, every shudder. I want every sound and moment of your pleasure, uninhibited.”

With his hand he gently held my arm down.

Familiar pressure built in me. Orion’s tongue flicked out, and I shattered, screaming his name.

“Ry!” I broke his hold, both my hands reaching and pulling on his back, tugging him toward me. His mouth captured mine again.

“I need,” I said breathlessly when we broke apart.

“Tell me,” he urged .

I smirked, grabbing his cock instead. He gasped. I guided him toward me, and when he thrust into me I screamed again, throwing my head back against the blankets.

Orion lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around him. He held me against the wall, thrusting into me, one hand anchored above our heads to steady himself.

When he tensed with his release, I came apart all over again.

“Starlight,” he panted against my chest as I shook. After a few moments, he carefully helped me climb down him so I stood on the floor.

He’d gone without stars for a century, and I would make sure he saw them again.