and I sat perched on the edge of the slanted roof, just watching the area from a bird’s eye view. He’d been stoic and silent since the pier. That soft, silly side of him replaced by the laser-sharp, focused Knight. But there was something in his eyes that bothered me. And then I noticed our soulmate glyph was dark blue, the color of sadness, and I couldn’t take it.
I snuggled into his side, resting my chin on his shoulder. “What are you thinking about?”
“Just watching for this demon—”
“Riah,” I whispered and tapped on the dark blue crystal on the back of his right hand. “It’s me. Talk to me. I can feel you hurting.”
He sighed and hung his head. “I was thinking about my brother.”
“Malachi.”
He nodded. “Ever since I saw him in the past I haven’t been able to shake him from my present.”
I wrapped my arms around his. “I’m sorry. I wish you hadn’t seen that—”
“I’m not.” He held his head high but stared out at the street. “I had not seen his face in six centuries. ‘Twas bittersweet, yet I shall savor the memory nonetheless. The dreams are not helping.”
“What dreams?”
“I have this recurring dream since I was a young boy where I’m in a dark, smoky, shadowy forest that should terrify me, yet I feel…it feels like home. It is always the same until now.” He frowned. “Now there is a black dog with one red and one gold eye and black smoke coiling around its body. It does nothing. Just sits there blocking my path and watching, but I get the sense it wants me to approach him, to pet him. Or maybe I just like dogs and always want to pet them.”
My heart hurt for him. I knew how it felt to lose someone you loved and to have to live centuries without them. But he had it worse. His brother died. “Did the dog frighten you at all?”
He shook his head.
I hugged his arm tighter. “Dreams have meaning, but I’ve always said that if they don’t scare you while you’re dreaming them then they should not scare you when they happen for real. And your love for my dog is the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.”
He smiled at me and then frowned. “Where is he now?”
“Before I joined you up here I found him cuddled up with Albert and Chutney, but I ought to check on him.” I sighed and knots tightened in my stomach. “Though perhaps it’s time we check in with everyone else too.”
“I should think they have a plan of action, then again this is not an easy demon to defeat.” He took my hand in his and his silver wings popped out. “Either way, we have not seen the shadow demon reappear so we ought to be a part of the conversation.”
I nodded and pushed my wings out. They glittered behind my back, and not for the first time I wondered why my wings did not look like his. But it wasn’t the most pressing concern so once again I set the thought aside. “Let’s go.”
Without standing he leapt off the roof, pulling me into the air with him. Our wings flapped in sync as we slowly drifted to the stoop in front of the door. Peabo and Atley jumped off the bench with daggers in their hands.
“Oh, shoot.” Atley leapt back and lowered his weapons. “Sorry, sorry.”
“Don’t be, always be on guard.” Riah nodded his head.
Peabo groaned and plopped down on the bench. “Man, I’m not built for creepy shadow monsters. My anxiety can’t take it.”
I grinned. “Sorry we startled you. Everyone inside?”
They nodded.
“We’ve been above you on the roof. Haven’t seen anything but keep your eyes open.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Atley said with a salute.
I mimicked his salute and then followed Riah through the front door. As we walked down the hallway, I noticed it was eerily silent inside as well. All I heard was sniffling, like someone was crying. And then the hall opened up to the living room and we froze.
A single tan leather couch now sat in the middle of the room.
Four children who could not be older than Bentley sat lined up…crying.
Tegan and Tennessee stood right in front of them with their arms crossed over their chests.
I knew these kids had messed up. I knew they were the ones who accidentally summoned the shadow monster, but my heart still hurt for them. They were so little. So young. So naïve. And now they had both