Page 133 of In the Shadows

could find their source of power, then maybe the curse of immor-

tality would be broken and the Ladon Vitae destroyed. Every

eternal day, every endless winter and infinite summer, she hoped

that Arthur was safe. And with vicious focus she prayed that he

would find what he hunted.

And then one day, the Earth started turning again. She felt it

in the sudden painful thump of her heart, the way the dust motes

seemed to swirl instead of hang lifeless on the air, the way the

ocean no longer felt like an ageless companion, but rather a sleep-

ing giant she could never comprehend.

She knew, then, that Arthur had done it. He’d destroyed the

Ladon Vitae’s power and returned all of them to mortality. And

with the mortal breath bursting in her lungs, she laughed and raced

to the top of her house to watch for Arthur walking up the hill.

He didn’t come.

All her long, aching years of waiting, all Arthur’s suffering and

hunting, and still they were alone. Sometimes she wondered

whether she ought to leave, give up on the lifetimes spent hoping.

But whenever a storm raged over the sea, she watched it. She

remembered his eyes, and she knew she had made the right choice.

Find me, Arthur, she would whisper.

I’ll wait forever.

Come home.

Maine, Yesterday

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the end

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