Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton Page B

with my life.”
    “Good,” she said. “You need more people you can count on, and despite his colorful past, the demonic reaper has proven himself.”
    My tone became grim. “When Will wakes, I have to tell him about Cadan. He still doesn’t know that Cadan is his half brother and he’ll find out that Cadan was the one who took me to Antares. He won’t be happy, but he’s going to have to deal with it. I just have to time the conversation so that it’s soon, but not on top of a lot of other bad news.”
    “True,” Nana agreed. “It’s sensitive information and better it come from you than anyone else. Will is smart, though.He’ll take the news in stride.”
    I nodded. “I’ve got to get going. It’s almost dark and he needs all the protection he can get while he’s healing. He’d be helpless against an attack and Merodach knows where we live. If he knows, then the worst of our enemies know.”
    “Should you maybe leave that house?”
    “Where would we go where we wouldn’t endanger innocent people?” I asked. “Sammael is gathering strength. We’re relatively safe right now, because he used up too much energy when he was resurrected and battled not only us but Azrael too. He needs to recharge and this will take time. However, ‘relatively’ isn’t positively, so we have to be careful. His lackeys could show up at any moment. Besides, that house is home.”
    “You know what you’re doing,” Nana said with assurance. “Will I see you tomorrow?”
    “I think so,” I replied. “I’ll watch over Will with the others tonight, attempt to study, and then finals start Monday. I’ll call you and let you know what’s going on.”
    Nana got to her feet with me and we hugged good-bye. “Come by soon, sweetheart.”
    “I will,” I promised. “I’ve got a lot to do before I can relax.”
    I drove to Will’s to join the guard shift with Marcus and Lauren. Replacing Will’s bandages let me get another look at his wound, which continued to heal well. One more day.
    One more day.
    Evenwith studying all night, I wasn’t feeling confident about my exams, but at least I only had two today. I was exhausted physically and mentally. Sleep was inconsistent and fitful, and I hadn’t had a chance to rest after the journey to find Antares. The only thing that kept me going every day was knowing Will would wake soon and we could finish this fight with Sammael at last. I took up my post in Will’s room, napped a little beside him, studied, and waited. When I changed his bandages, the wound had closed and he seemed to be normal again. He just wouldn’t wake up.
    I’d been dozing when I felt movement beside me. My heart leaped into my throat and I looked down into Will’s face, holding my breath. He moved his head left and right as he tried to speak.
    “Will?” I asked softly, touching his cheek, barely able to contain my joy. “Can you hear me?”
    His eyelids fluttered and he groaned. “Ell…”
    “Yes,” I said, and kissed his forehead. “It’s me. It’s Ellie.”
    His eyes opened and my breath caught. It felt like I hadn’t seen that incredible green in years. He looked right up into my face, squinting blearily, but there was recognition there. “Ell…?”
    My smile was ear to ear as I brushed the back of my hand across his cheek and he leaned into it, closing his eyes again. “Hi,” I whispered.
    He lifted his hand to mine and gazed back up at me. “Dreaming…again….”
    I squeezed his hand tight. “You’re not dreaming anymore.”
    His smile was weak, but the sweetest thing I’d ever seen. “Miss…you…Ell….”
    “How do you feel?” I asked. I put a palm to his forehead and then tested his pulse on his wrist. His fever had gone down and his heart rate seemed to have returned to normal.
    “Came…back…to me….”
    I shushed him and kissed him again. “Of course I came back to you. I promised you I would. Do you remember? Do you remember the horses?”
    “You…,” he