Meryn stood and stretched, rubbing her lower back. "We better get back home. I kinda want to be there when Aiden hears what happened."
"So that he knows that you're okay?" Adelaide asked.
Meryn shook her head. "No, so I can watch him freak out."
"Oh dear." Adelaide shook her head and hugged Meryn tight.
Amelia and Beth were still grinning.
Meryn turned to Ryuu. "I'm hungry."
He sighed. "Of course, you are. You've only been eating nonstop all morning."
"I want a Colton sandwich, it seems to be the only thing that satisfies Meryn two-point-oh." Meryn said, a dreamy look on her face.
Amelia turned to Beth. "Colton sandwich?"
Beth shuddered. "A crazy sandwich Colton and Aiden created as a child. It has peanut butter, mayonnaise, pickles, cheese, and beef jerky."
Amelia licked her lips. "That actually sounds kinda good."
Ryuu looked from Meryn to Amelia. "I think I need hazard pay."
"Man up, squire, you have sammiches to make." Meryn grinned evilly at Ryuu.
"Of course, denka."
"Ladies, your coats." Marius appeared in the doorway with their coats.
"The phone call to Byron should be interesting," Adelaide chuckled.
"Tell Dad I said hi." Meryn had one arm in the sleeve of her coat but kept turning in a circle trying to find the opening for the other sleeve. Ryuu stopped her spinning and held the coat open for her.
"You girls stay safe," Adelaide said as she walked them to the door.
"We will," They replied in unison and grinned at each other.
"Definitely need hazard pay," Ryuu murmured under his breath as they headed to the car.
Amelia kept smiling, but inside, she was worried. Just as she started to feel the darkness in her heart begin to lighten, she feared that whatever light Darian had carried would be turning back to darkness.
CHAPTER NINE
"Hold on, Darian, I'll help you with that," Oron called from across the training grounds. Darian looked up and nodded. He had been expecting his brother to say something sooner, but they had both decided to keep the fact that they were brothers low key to keep their queen safe.
Oron fell into step beside him as they lifted their weight equipment to carry back into the storage shed. Aiden wanted the course clear before Penny came out to play. Once inside the shed, Oron turned to him.
"Brother, your light..." he started.
"I know."
"Why don't you claim your mate? Merging your souls could keep you from turning." Oron sat down on one of the crates.
"It's too late, Brother," Darian said in a somber tone.
Oron punched the side of a stacked crate easily breaking the boards. "Don't say that. Let me go to Mother..."
"No." Darian shook his head.
"You're both so damn stubborn," Oron cursed under his breath.
"I promised Amelia that I would hold on as long as I could, but the light I received from her is already fading, and the darkness is returning." Darian sighed. He wanted so badly to be able to give Amelia a child, but in his heart he knew he wouldn't make it until the next winter solstice.
"When I..."
"Don't!" Oron stood and turned away from him.
"Brother, please..." Darian said quietly.
When Oron turned to face him, his jaw was clenched.
"When I turn, promise me that you will take Amelia to Éire Danu. She'll be safe there." Darian smiled at him. "Please."
With tears in his eyes, Oron nodded. "I swear on my honor she will be safe."
"Thank you, it helps knowing that she will be taken care of." Darian stood. "Come on, let's not keep the commander waiting."
Oron hesitated. "Are you sure nothing can be done?"
"The darkness is too great. Even if I were allowed to go back home, the portals would never accept me."
"We could try."
"When the time comes, don't hesitate to kill me. It will no longer be me. Already the darkness is leeching away everything that makes me who I am. Don't let it take my honor." Darian laid a hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Hold on," Oron begged.
"I will, as long as I can." He let his hand drop and walked toward the door. "Come on, old man, I still have enough life left in me to kick your ass." He turned and watched his brother swallow hard and force a smile.
"Old man? Just because I used to change your diapers..." Oron smiled.
Darian winced. "Don't let the guys hear you say that."
Oron's smile disappeared. "It should be me, I'm older. I shouldn't have to watch my little brother fade."
Darian looked out at the training grounds where the men laughed and tussled with each other. "Fate doesn't make mistakes. If this is my destiny, then it must be for a reason."