Page 36 of The Unseen Hour

I hauled air into my lungs, staying on my feet but leaning against a nearby tree trunk.

Orion was right. I’d relied on my living status to be part of my exit strategy. Being able to leave regardless was excellent. I could blend in with the Shades, and Charon would be none the wiser. But only being able to leave during the hour? My family would be without me for a year. My friends. Pellix.

By the time I returned, they would have held a funeral, mourned me.

I’d tried to be a good daughter, and instead I’d ended up hurting everyone else I loved.

This was always a possibility. You’ll still return home, and they’ll just be happy to have you both back. Come on Celia, rally!

What was done, was done. This gave me a year to find my father, and a year to process what my decision was putting the rest of my family through back in Emrys. Now, though, I had to handle what was in front of me.

I stared up at Orion. Even if I hadn’t been slouched against a tree, he would have been taller than me by several inches.

“You admit there’s a way back. You know the way the Ether works, and I have the antidote we could try once we’re actually in Emrys. If we truly have to wait for the next hour, that leaves us a year. We could work as a team. Please? Wouldn’t you do anything to rescue someone you loved?”

He stared at me for several seconds, the flecks in his eyes, as I’d thought, a perfect match for the lights from the previous evening.

“All right. I’ll try and help you, but don’t get your hopes up. As I told you, there’s no one else down here like us. I don’t want to raise your expectations only for you to end up disappointed.”

“But he could have hidden from you. Maybe he’s got his own spot in the woods, staying safe from you and Charon. You’re Head Shade, so maybe he didn’t trust you?”

It’s possible I shouldn’t, either.

But he’d been nothing but kind so far, and it’s not as if I had other options. I’d much rather work with Orion than face an unknown realm alone.

Orion was staring at me again, studying me.

He cleared his throat.

“Fine. We’ll look. That’s all I can promise.”

I nodded, trying to appear as though I’d anticipated the answer all along. In truth I was ready to fall back against the tree again with relief, but I didn’t want him to think he’d paired himself with a weak ally.

“Then let’s get going.” I turned on my heel, fully prepared to march straight back to the Meadow.

“Right now?”

“Yes, of course. No time better. Although”—I glanced down at myself—“I think I would like that change of clothes after all, and at some point I’ll need to wash these.”

“They’ll be loose on you, but you can wear some of my other clothes.”

It didn’t take long for him to lead us back to his small home in the woods. The clothes he’d offered me the previous evening were sitting folded on the chair that sat near the fire.

“They’ll be too big, but we can belt the pants and roll the sleeves.”

Before I could even ask, he stepped out and closed the door behind himself. I changed quickly. As soon as I’d removed Temple’s riding breeches, I realized how good it felt to be out of the dirty garments. I longed for a bath, but that would have to wait. It wasn’t as if there was a tub inside the cottage. I’d have seen it immediately.

After tugging on the new trousers and a soft, long-sleeved linen shirt, I felt much better. The trousers were a light tan, the shirt a muted blue. Both were too large, as expected. I found some rope on a shelf that could be used as a belt. The shirt sleeves took several attempts to fix, but eventually I rolled them tightly enough that they stayed at my wrists. I threw the Shade’s cloak Orion had given me yesterday over the attire, already anticipating the chill of the Meadow.

“Ready!” I announced, throwing the door open.

Orion raised an eyebrow at my outfit, but if he had any negative opinions, he was smart enough to keep them to himself.

“In that case, Celia Hipnosi, let’s show you the Ether. I didn’t have time to tell you much about your new surroundings yesterday, but this walk will be a good opportunity. After all, if we’re partners, I should try to make sure you don’t get yourself killed before you can return home.”

His tone had left open to interpretation whether or not he was kidding.

CHAPTER 19