There were times when he seriously wished Acheron was the twenty-one-year-old snot-nosed kid he appeared to be, and not an eleven-thousand-year-old wise man.
This was definitely one of those times.
"I'm going to take Sunshine back to town with me."
"No," Talon said automatically. "She stays here so I can protect her."
"It wasn't a question, Celt. You need time away from her to think. Time to clear your thoughts before tomorrow night."
He started to argue, then realized Ash was right.
He was going to have to let her go anyway. He might as well do it now.
It would be easier for both of them.
"Okay, I'll go get her."
Sunshine knew something was wrong the minute she saw Talon come through the door.
His face was haunted, his eyes dark.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Acheron's going to take you back to your loft." His voice was so dispassionate that it made her stomach tight.
"I see. And do you agree with him?"
"I do. I think it's for the best."
But she didn't want to go. The depth of how much she wanted to stay startled her. "I see."
Woodenly, she started gathering her things. But inside, inside she was dying.
Talon couldn't stand seeing her like this. He wanted to grab her and run away to a place where no one could find them. To hold her safe.
The only problem was, no one could hide from a god.
Sooner or later, Camulus would find them and then she would die.
He took her backpack as she reached for it. "I've got it."
She nodded, her eyes bright and shiny.
Neither one of them spoke as he led her outside to where Acheron was waiting. He handed her backpack to Ash.
"It's, uh... it's been fun, Talon," she said. "Will I see you again?"
He looked at Ash, who watched him with an arched brow as if he wanted an answer to that one himself.
"No," he said slowly.
She cleared her throat, but didn't speak. Instead, she walked over to Acheron. "I'm ready."
Ash stepped back and let her lead the way to the catamaran. "Celt," he said, "if you change your mind about our discussion, call me."
Talon nodded.
His heart breaking, he watched Sunshine strap herself in. Ash started the boat and then headed them out into the swamp.