\u201cRelax,\u201d Seamus\u2019s voice whispered from somewhere close. Thom blinked and realized he could see again\u2014from a vantage that wasn\u2019t on his knees at the warding lines. He and Seamus hovered together somewhere far above the trees of the ravine. He could see himself down near the rim, Seamus gripping his hand. Thom\u2019s heart started to beat a little faster.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the hell is this?\u201d he breathed, glancing sidelong at the master of the Wild Hunt.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you still hear it?\u201d Seamus asked quietly. \u201cThe laughter? I think I can hear it now, too, but I need your help. You know the lay of this place far better than I. We need to find the source. It\u2019s less dangerous this way.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow are you doing this?\u201d<\/p>\n
Seamus smiled briefly. \u201cPhelan never learned every<\/em> trick in the book. Just a little trick I\u2019ve refined. They can\u2019t see us up here and physically we\u2019re down there.\u201d<\/p>\n Thom squinted. He could see faint shadows below, pale and silvery even in the dark. He sucked in a breath. \u201cWe\u2019re like ghosts.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSomething like,\u201d Seamus agreed. \u201cNow focus. It\u2019s a woman laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr a girl,\u201d Thom said, shivering. He twisted slightly, eyes scanning the darkened trees. It wasn\u2019t any good\u2014it was too dark to see.<\/p>\n Then he saw a dark blot against the white of the arboretum, crossing the snow-covered expanse and moving in the direction of the rubble that used to be Au Sable Hall. \u201cThere.\u201d<\/p>\n Seamus looked just as the figure twisted, blue-eyes flashing bright even at this distance.\u00a0 Thom gasped, body stiffening.\u00a0 Seamus clamped down on his hand even tighter.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let go,\u201d the elder man hissed. \u201cDamn you, whatever you do, don\u2019t let go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happens if I let go?\u201d Thom managed to ask.<\/p>\n \u201cConsidering the look we just got?\u201d Seamus grimaced. \u201cSomething devours you before your soul makes it back to your body.\u201d<\/p>\n The laughter rose to a shriek and the woman\u2019s words shivered Thom\u2019s bones right to the marrow.<\/p>\n \u201cI see you, Father,\u201d the dark figure in the arboretum shrieked. \u201cThe time\u2019s finally here. A reckoning comes, face me if you dare or the blood of your blood, bone of your bone will pay the price for your reluctance.<\/p>\n \u201cI have him already,\u201d she cackled. \u201cIf you want him back, come to me.\u201d<\/p>\n She sprinted across the white and disappeared amidst the shattered concrete and broken glass of the building. Seamus sucked in a breath, swearing softly.<\/p>\n \u201cPhelan,\u201d he breathed. \u201cShe\u2019s got Phelan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJ.T. has Phelan,\u201d Thom said, heart starting to beat faster. His stomach roiled. Something wasn\u2019t right. Was Seamus right?<\/p>\n Of course.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cFrakking\u2014\u201d Thom swallowed bile. \u201cShe clawed his soul free, didn\u2019t she? Somehow, she\u2019s got the most important part of him.\u201d<\/p>\n Seamus set his jaw. \u201cNot for long she doesn\u2019t. Not if I have anything to say about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe called you Father.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe\u2019s Albina\u2019s daughter,\u201d he whispered. \u201cThesan. Blood of my blood, flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone.\u201d Seamus\u2019s expression hardened. \u201cBut not<\/em> soul of my soul.\u201d<\/p>\n They plunged back toward their bodies in the blink of an eye.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cRelax,\u201d Seamus\u2019s voice whispered from somewhere close. Thom blinked and realized he could see again\u2014from a vantage that wasn\u2019t on his knees at the warding lines. He and Seamus hovered together somewhere far above the trees of the ravine. He … Continue reading