Finally, the cù-sìth slowed to a halt and I unwrapped my arm from my soulmate's waist, thankful, at least, that she still allowed my touch even if she hadn't spoken one word to me.
Dropping to the silver path, without any flourish this time, I held my hands out to her, a peace offering. She quirked a brow at me. I couldn't help but grin back—she wasn't going to take it.
Instead, she called out to our daughter with a sweet voice that I knew meant fucking trouble. "Riella, watch carefully, let this be your first lesson in shadows."
Throwing out discs in succession she stepped down from the death hound beast, her eyes glaring down at me. But I did not care, this gave me an excellent front row view of her gorgeous form and my eyes stayed glued on her powerful legs, clad in thigh high boots and skimpy black shorts that hugged her ass in a delicious way that made my hands flex hungrily. The shadows gathered behind her after each step, trailing like a cloak before she placed a graceful booted foot down on the silver path.
"With the shadows, you are reliant on no one and nothing." Her eyes were twin emerald blades cutting into my heart. Turning away, she crouched in front of Riella and tapped her nose. "They can build you a home, weapons, clothes, and even a companion. You can fly, surf, and tunnel through lands and air…all by yourself."
I chuckled, challenging my soulmate with a smug grin and crossing my arms in front of my chest, the pink shirt straining against my bulk. "Your mother is correct, my cub but also know that you cannot eat shadows, they cannot love you with their last dying breath, they cannot fight for you when you no longer can."
Remnant looked up and scowled.
I knelt beside them both, brushing back the loose strands of hair that had escaped Riella's braid. "What your mother is trying to say is that you need never feel indebted to another no matter how strong they are but should you choose tosharethat strength with someone," my eyes met Remnant’s, "you will have more than anything this life could everoffer you."
"Like you and mother?" Riella gnawed on her lip while her pookah hopped down from her shoulders to the silver path, uninterested in our conversation.
I turned towards Remnant who had her lips pressed thinly together before she blew out a hard breath, rolling her eyes.
Smiling, happy at least the silence was broken, I gathered Riella into my arms to stand, and then pulled my soulmate along with me. "Exactly like your mother and I."
A short bark had us turn to Sadhbh, her black shaggy head pointed towards where the sands rose upwards into a giant ascending wall. I could already sense the unrest, the pain, and the loss behind the wall of white sand, the decaying stench of death and bitterness of betrayal seeping from the waves.
“The Vagari,” I growled, the realm of Sheol’s banished and wandering souls.
"I believe this is where your journey ends, my dear friend," Remnant whispered and the cù-sìth mother bowed her head. Remnant dropped her forehead upon the death hound, her face etched with another painful goodbye.
I understood. The memory of the bitter grief I felt saying goodbye to Jar was still strong. Every part of me had screamed to find a way for him to come with us. One last adventure. It only took a singular look at his peaceful eternal grove and I knew I had no right to ask it of him. He was where his soul was the happiest and it was my turn to do everything I could to protect that.
Just like he had for me all those years.
Riella whimpered in my arms. "I don't want them to go."
Seeing the tears form in her beautiful swirling eyes was enough for me to forget all about my own grief. "Do not be sad, my little cub. You love your new friends, do you not?"
Riella sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. "Yes."
I gave her a sad smile. "When you love someone, you protect them. The Vagari is not a safe place for Blaithin and her mother. You would not want them to be harmed would you?"
My daughter's lip quivered. "No. I would not." Then she buried her face into my chest. "You aren't going to leave me behind are you faedere?"
Shocked, I hugged her tightly and my voice shook. "What makes you think such a thing?"
She cried quietly, her tears wetting my shirt. "Because you lovemeand you always protect me."
My hand stroked her hair. "Shhh, my cub. Do not upset yourself any further. Of course we are not leaving you behind," I reassured her.
Then I looked up hopelessly for support from Remnant."How do I fix this?"
Remnant went to open her mouth, but a sudden bark from Blaithin had us all turning to look down at the pouncing pup.
Riella hiccuped, her voice still quivering when she spoke. "Blaithin says she has something for me."
I nodded and gently lowered her to the path. Clumsily, the cù-sìth pup bumped into her with her own excitement. Snapping my hand out, I steadied Riella before she went sprawling to the ground.
"She says to hold my hands out." Standing upright, Riella looked between the two of us.
Remnant gave her an encouraging smile. "Go ahead then, little one."
