Page 89 of In Your Light

“We could use him,” Ciaran added.

“Yes,” Bre agreed.

“I will speak with him,” Hadeom said. “Though he does not always answer.”

“He screens his calls?” Sawyer asked. “What kind of god does that?”

Ciaran sighed and folded the papers he was still holding. “We still have plans to discuss.”

“What are they discussing?” Hadeom asked Fyn quietly.

“The new mine that was approved in this forest,” Fyn answered.

Hadeom went very still. His dark eyes met Fyn’s. “The vehicle you saw by the old bridge.”

“Yes. They have some kind of approval to go ahead.” He shrugged. “Sawyer and Ciaran met the boss man. It didn’t go well.”

Sawyer sighed and rolled his eyes. “It went as well as expected.”

Fyn squeezed Hadeom’s hand. “We need to stop them. We can’t risk humans coming here. That’s why we met here. We’re working out a plan.”

Hadeom nodded slowly. “I can stop them,” he said simply.

All eyes went to him.

“That sounds very ominous,” Sawyer said. “And not entirely legal. And a little bit like premeditated murder.”

Hadeom stared at him. “Just a little?”

“I think we’re done here,” Ciaran said. He smiled at the sprites and Bre. “Thank you for coming today. We will end this one way or another.” Then he turned to Pax. “We need to put any differences aside until this is done.”

He nodded. “Agreed.”

“You’re all welcome in our village at any time, no invitation required. And that goes for any of your kind. If you hear anything or see anything, please let us know, and we will do the same. We will stay in touch, yes?”

Pax nodded. “Yes. I do appreciate that my people are closer to the front line than yours. We stand to be discovered or face moving camp, which you do not. So I appreciate your effort on our behalf.”

“It’s not a hardship, Pax,” Ciaran said. “If one of us isn’t safe, none of us are safe. And rest assured, as soon as they finish that bridge, Tenebrae is in the firing line.” He looked at Bre and the sprites again. “If the mountain becomes unsafe, you’re all welcome to stay in Tenebrae. There are vacant houses, garden plots. You will always have a place to stay. Safety in numbers, and all that. You are never alone.”

Fyn smiled at Ciaran, and he knew then that he’d made the right call to move to Tenebrae. Ciaran was a great leader, one that Pax could learn a thing or two from.

Zaq clapped Fyn on the back. “See you again soon. Two days? Another run, perhaps? We can exchange any new details.”

“Sounds great,” Fyn replied. “You’ll need to come and see my house. It’s amazing.” Then he looked at Pax and decided to offer an olive branch. “That goes for you, too, brother. You’re welcome in my home.”

Even if Fyn wasn’t welcome in his.

Pax’s gaze darted from Fyn to Hadeom, then back to Fyn. He gave a slight nod before he turned and walked to the far end of the clearing, where he waited for Zaq.

“Take care,” Fyn said to Eva. “Remember what I said.”

She nodded, and Zaq threw a smile over his shoulder as the faun disappeared into the forest. The sprites were already gone.

Fyn turned to Hadeom and took hold of both his hands. “I’m so glad you’re here. Are you feeling better? I was so worried.”

“I was in a very dark place, but I heard you,” Hadeom murmured. “Your song. It called to me and showed me the way back.” He looked down between them and let out a long sigh. “I was so lost.”

“What happened?” Fyn asked. “Was it all too much?”