His cousin didn\u2019t react except to sway slightly on his feet, as if he didn\u2019t realize he was standing. He gave Seamus a little shake and his cousin snapped out of whatever strange fugue he\u2019d sunk into, blinking blearily at Phelan.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Leinth,\u201d Seamus murmured. \u201cShe\u2019s trying to hold them off. I need\u2014\u201d He broke off, taking a slow, deep breath. \u201cWe need to alert the Hunt and move.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJac\u2019s getting my staff and our kits. You should probably grab your weapons, Seamus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Seamus\u2019s lips thinned to white and he nodded slowly. \u201cYes. Yes, you\u2019re right.\u201d<\/p>\n
This doesn\u2019t bode well. <\/em>Phelan frowned, but squeezed his cousin\u2019s shoulder before he looked over at Aoife and Gray. \u201cYou two should probably stay out of this. Find Neve and make your introductions, then stay here where it\u2019s safe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere it\u2019s safe,\u201d his sister repeated, giving him a deadpan stare. \u201cIs anywhere here safe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey like to think so,\u201d Sif said, taking Aoife by the arm. \u201cCome on, I\u2019ll take you to Neve.\u201d<\/p>\n Gray hesitated. \u201cAre we under some kind of attack?\u201d<\/p>\n Another whistle echoed, followed by shouting\u2014Thom\u2019s voice, giving orders, coordinating their defense, quickly and urgently. People were moving and it was almost as if they stood in the eye of the storm.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably,\u201d Phelan said as Jacqueline appeared at his elbow, thrusting his staff and his kit into his hand. He gave her a tight smile as he took them both.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go?\u201d she suggested.<\/p>\n He nodded. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d He leveled a finger at Aoife. \u201cStay out of this, little sister.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t get to tell me what to do, Phelan.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen consider it a strongly worded request. Stay out of it. We don\u2019t know what we\u2019re facing and I really don\u2019t want to see you hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n And people getting hurt is what tends to happen in these kinds of situations.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJust humor me,\u201d Phelan said, his voice soft. \u201cPlease.\u201d<\/p>\n Aoife stared at him for a long moment before she nodded. \u201cAll right. But if I feel\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you feel me get hurt, I know that nothing I\u2019ve asked of you is going to stop you from ending up in the thick of things.\u201d Phelan smiled wryly. \u201cSo I\u2019m going to try to avoid that.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned and jogged toward the sound of Thom\u2019s voice, trying to quell the sick feeling rising in his gut.<\/p>\n Who was targeting them this time?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" His cousin didn\u2019t react except to sway slightly on his feet, as if he didn\u2019t realize he was standing. He gave Seamus a little shake and his cousin snapped out of whatever strange fugue he\u2019d sunk into, blinking blearily at … Continue reading