Page 131 of The Unseen Hour

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.