Page 67 of In Your Light

Aurin smiled. We know. Thank you.

I’m going to speak to Hadeom and find out what the hell is going on. We had no idea he was staying at the hut. Or who he even is. He’s Sawyer’s boss. The one who came to take Lusca. We didn’t know Salem knew him, or what he did...

Salem appeared behind Aurin, and the four little ones peered out from behind him, their eyes wide. He realised then that they’d had quite the scare too.

Are you guys all okay? Ciaran asked them.

Ukko nodded, Nyx and Áine nestled in closer to Salem, and Llyr came to the front but still stayed safe in the tangle of Aurin’s arms.

I hissed at him, Llyr said.

You did, Ciaran said with a smile. Then he gave him a little pat on the head. You were very brave.

Then Ciaran took in Salem and the sadness in his eyes. Are you okay?

Yes, he said quietly.

I’m going to see Hadeom now, Ciaran said. I know Cern said you should go to the hut, but honestly, I’d prefer you stayed here. We can protect you better here. And if they begin to rebuild the bridge, that site’s closer to the hut, and I’m not comfortable with that. It’s probably best if Hadeom goes back to the hut, anyway, until he’s healed or recovered or whatever. I just want you to know, Salem, we didn’t know who he was. To us, he was just Sawyer’s boss. We only learned that he knew Cern when Hadeom came to get Lusca. He did ask about you, but we told him nothing. Given he was friends with Cern, we didn’t think he meant any harm.

Salem nodded. He is a malevolent god. The slayer of monsters.

The slayer of monsters? Ciaran repeated. What the...

He is the reason Salem spent centuries hiding, Aurin said.

And he was this close all along, Salem added, shaking his head in disbelief. I didn’t know.

We will stay here, Aurin said, looking at his little den.

And we will stay with them, Pania said.

Otis nodded his agreement.

Salem’s tentacles entwined with Aurin’s. I... I think I want to see him.

Aurin pulled him tighter. What? No, Salem.

I need to confront him, Salem said quietly. I’ve hidden long enough, and I will not have our children live their lives in the dark the way I spent mine. He took my mother’s life, and he stole centuries from me. I won’t let him do that to our babies, Aurin. It ends now. It ends with me. It has to, my love. He ran a tentacle up to Aurin’s face and nuzzled his babies at the same time. You all deserve a life so much better than this.

I’ll go with you, Otis said. He won’t touch you, I promise. He won’t even get close.

It’s not him touching me I’m afraid of, Salem said. It’s his shadows.

His shadows..., Ciaran mumbled. What the fu... I mean, what the hell is he?

Llyr looked up at Aurin. Dadda, he was gonna say “fuck.”

Ciaran turned an embarrassed shade of red. Sorry.

Aurin sighed. He gave Ciaran a stern glare but cuddled little Llyr. I know, baby. I know.

Chapter

Sixteen

FYN

Fyn had just put his blanket over Hadeom when Ciaran and Sawyer knocked lightly on the door. “Fyn?”