Chapter 32
Devin
The fiddle trembled slightly in Devin’s hands, the only outward sign this wasn’t going to be quite like any other performance. He was about to play for his life.
No pressure, then.
He would have given his left kidney for the chance to belt out Danny Boy one last time, with nothing at stake but a handful of loose change. And he’d offer up his right one to have Bren beside him. The old Bren, before his transformation into a duplicitous soul-stealing death angel.
A comforting hand grasped his shoulder and almost immediately Devin’s tremors subsided. He took a deep, shuddering breath. The solid rock beneath his feet comforted him further, and he steadied himself on the narrow shelf at the base of the cliffs.
The wetsuit Airech had “acquired” for him felt strange to his skin after so many years of not wearing one. As his eyes skipped over the churning swell biting at the ledge he suppressed another shiver. But he didn’t have to face it yet. Right now all he had to worry about was doing what he was born to do—play a tune.
Fintan gave his shoulder another squeeze, and Devin turned to look into his untroubled face. If he doubted Devin’s ability to do what needed to be done, he was keeping it well hidden.
“Do you take requests?” Airech leaned forward from the other side of Fintan, his black waves whipping around his face. “Because I’ve got a catchy tune for you. Sounds like two howler monkeys fighting in a hurricane.”
“That’s the next song on my setlist, funnily enough.” Devin managed to muster up a half-hearted grin.
“That’s better.” Airech’s eyes twinkled. “Remember, get as high up on the wave as you can. Then all you have to do is ride it to the Otherworld. Easy as falling off a cliff.”
“I think you’ll find it’s ‘falling off a log.’”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Airech flashed another smile. “Don’t worry. I’ll be right beside you.”
“I wish Cap were here.” Devin felt like a chunk had been carved out of him without the hulk of a god by his side. And the thought he might never see him again drove paralysing panic through his veins like snake venom.
“It’s better this way. By using another portal and creating a diversion, he’ll lead the Sluagh away from us. And you know we can’t risk him swimming close to you in his aughisky form. In case something… unfortunate happens.” Fintan had the grace to look slightly uncomfortable.
“You mean in case he eats me alive.”
“Give him some credit,” Airech said with mock indignation. “He’d drag you under and drown you first.”
Devin smiled despite himself. But all too quickly the feeling of dread was swamping him again as Fintan caught his eye.
“It’s time. Play well, my fierce one.”
Afraid his voice might betray him, Devin didn’t answer. His fingers began searching out the song of the storm, finding each string without faltering as if they had invisible sheet music to guide them. The sound rose up into the air to mingle with the circling seagulls, competing with their cries.
After a moment Airech joined in, chanting in ancient Irish. His serene voice wove between the jarring notes, softening them into a melody. The beauty of it made Devin’s throat ache.
“I haven’t heard him sing that one before.”
“It’s the song of Amergin, his brother’s very first song. With this rosc his people conquered Ireland, and now it will lead us back to them.” Fintan gave Devin an encouraging nod. “Don’t stop, Devin.”
“But what does it mean?”
“I am the wind in the sea.” Fintan lingered on each word as if he felt them deeply. “I am the sea wave upon the land. I am the sound of the sea. I am the stag of seven combats.”
The whole sky reverberating under the song’s spell. Devin’s fiddle wailed, and Airech’s voice calmed it, their music rising in tandem with the surging sea. It reached a crescendo, terror and beauty intermingled, until Aileen’s reared in front of them, blocking part of the sky.
Devin’s fingers slipped, the discordant notes making him grimace. He closed his eyes to shut out the wall of water as its thunder chased his heart into a gallop. His bow paused in mid-air.
“Keep going,” Fintan urged him.
“I can’t, I—”
Fintan began to sing, his chant joining Airech’s, their voices entwining as seamlessly as their bodies had only hours before. Eyes flashing open, Devin was in time to see Airech reach for Fintan’s hand, and the gesture filled him with sweetness and strength. He recovered, his fiddle joining to make a trio. Aileen’s rose higher, towering above them.
“Devin, anois!” Airech bellowed. Devin placed his bow and fiddle on the rocky ground, running a fingertip along the dark wood in a soundless goodbye. He clasped Airech’s outstretched hand and together they dived into the seething silver foam.
Almost instantly Devin was torn from Airech. A smaller dumping wave tossed him like the spin cycle of a washing machine, leaving him shaken and disorientated. His father’s training came back to him, instinct conquering his terror as he curled up in a ball to ride the turbulence until it spat him out.
The pressure suddenly lessened and as his head broke the surface he felt Airech reaching for him. Fintan appeared by his side, seizing his other arm.
“See, what did I tell you? Easy.” The gold flecks in Airech’s eyes sparkled as he gave Devin a quick wink. He was saved from a savage retort by the salt water scalding Devin’s throat, rendering him speechless. Together they swam out towards the base of the giant wave, Devin struggling against the fear tugging at his ankles.
He tried to recall anything useful his Dad might have told him about his plans to body surf this monster. Though whatever it was, he should maybe do the opposite, considering how that had turned out.
“I know fuck all about the laws of physics, but Bren has inflicted enough on me to know this goes against all of them,” Devin shouted over the deafening roar.
Airech shrugged. “So does being immortal.”
“You’re both immortal. I’m not. Not really.”
“I survived the great flood, and was mortal at the time,” Fintan reassured him.
“You survived because the gods took pity on you and turned you into a salmon,” Airech pointed out.
“Yes. That is true.”
Devin groaned. “That’s not exactly an option for me.”
“Stop bitching and start swim—” Airech’s fingers dug into Devin’s bicep.
Turning his head towards land, Devin saw the ominous cloud choking out the sun, creeping relentlessly across the sky like an oil spill. His skull pounded to the keening of one hundred voices and the drumming of two hundred wing beats. The Sluagh gathered above Aill na Searrach, waiting for the command that would send them sweeping down over the water to hunt.
Despair clawed Devin from the inside. It was him they wanted. His instinct was to rip himself from Fintan and Airech’s grasp and slip quietly under the waves. If he took himself out of the equation, then his storm boys would be safe. Or at least have more of a chance, without him crippling their ability to defend themselves.
He’d almost drowned before. How bad could it be? Not as bad as being taken by these creatures, that’s for sure. And it wouldn’t come close to watching Fintan and Airech, impossibly outnumbered, fighting to the death for him. But he couldn’t give up now. Even if they haven’t worked out the particulars yet, his gods needed him. And if they were right, the world needed him, too. For… something.
“Devin!” Fintan’s look was as tender as ever, but his tone was insistent, his voice rough.“We’ll hold them back. You have to go on without us.”
“I’m not leaving you,” Devin protested.
“You’ll only make things harder of us if you stay, you weak, useless mortal! We don’t want you here!” Unlike Fintan, there was no gentleness in Airech’s face to counter his brutal words, but Devin wasn’t fooled.
“Nice try, but I know you don’t mea
n that.”
“Fine, don’t believe me, you infuriating human. But look!” Airech nodded towards the forbidding curl folding over them. “The wave’s going to break. You have to get to it!” Devin caught Airech’s dark eyes and saw his dread reflected in them.
“Please, Devin,” Airech implored him. “It’ll be alright. We’ll see you on the other side. I swear it.”
One by one the Sluagh began dropping out of the sky, gliding straight down the cliff face, hurtling towards them.
Airech’s hand found his, lacing their fingers together. “If one gets past our magic and goes for you, scream,” Airech ordered. He grabbed Devin’s face with his other hand and kissed him forcefully. “Promise me.”
“Airech, I like you. With or without the magic,” Devin said.
Airech, his face stricken, spun away from him, swimming to put himself between Devin and the rapidly approaching darkness.
Devin twisted in Fintan’s grip, his unshed tears blurring his last look at the god’s tender face.
“Don’t say it. Or give me a farewell kiss, either,” Fintan choked out. “Because this isn’t farewell.”
He enveloped Devin in a crushing hug and released him, moving into position to protect his other flank.
The keening sound of the Sluagh was almost unbearable, ringing in Devin’s ears, feeding his terror. He forced jagged breaths into his tightening chest, watching helplessly as the Sluagh hovered over Fintan and Airech’s heads, preparing to attack. He couldn’t wait any longer. It had to be now.
He sent out a silent last goodbye to Cap, somewhere behind them. Maybe the Sluagh had got to him already. But he couldn’t think about that.
Shaking himself into action, he began swimming towards the base of the giant wave, his arms and legs unresponsive, deadened by the cold. The unrelenting swell bitch-slapped him over and over. He bullied himself into moving faster, the pain spiking through his frigid muscles with every stroke. The effort surged him forward.
On the count of three. A haon… a dó… a trí…
He flipped around and kicked out frantically, fighting to get a purchase on the soaring wall of water. He only had seconds before it would collapse on him with a suffocating blow or leave him behind in its treacherous wake. The surf arched over his head, threatening to swallow him whole.
Hope jump-started his heart as the water took hold of him, thrusting him forward with sudden power. Paddling furiously, he kept pace with the rushing torrent as it swept him along.
He’d done it. He was riding Aileen’s wave.
Too late.
The tunnel of water was narrowing, folding in on itself, the deadly weight bearing down on him with no chance of escape. It was going to obliterate Devin before he made it to the Otherworld.
Loving the storm boys. Losing Bren. It’d all been for nothing.
He felt rather than saw something snatch him roughly by the neck of his wetsuit. It yanked him up and kept pulling, lifting him through the exploding wave and into the sky. The wind stung his cheeks and nipped at his bare heels as he cleared the surface.
His rapid ascent knocked the air from his lungs. Breathing was just about possible; shouting was out of the question. Watching soundlessly, he caught a glimpse of Fintan and Airech surrounded by the shifting swarm before he was carried up over them and away. The steady beat of wings pounded in his ears as one strong arm reached around his chest, gripping him tightly.
A very pale arm. Like polished marble.
Another arm slid under Devin’s knees, cradling him.
“I thought I told you this wasn’t fucking compulsory,” Bren murmured in his ear.
Chapter 33
Devin
From the safety of Bren’s arms, Devin looked around. The sea was suddenly still and the sky empty, except for a lone gull riding the currents. He craned his head to catch a glimpse of Airech and Fintan, but the glassy aquamarine surface below him was undisturbed. He looked back, expecting to see a swarm of beating black wings. Nothing.
“Don’t worry,” Bren said, obviously guessing what was on his mind. He shifted his hold on Devin, so their eyes met. “I’ve taken us over to the Otherworld, to be on the safe side. It’s only a precaution. You’re safe with me. Even without the sky-load of guardian angels watching our backs.”
“And Airech and Fintan?” Devin said hoarsely. “And Cap?”
“They’ll be fine. They can use any of their usual portals to escape, and they won’t be harmed. There’s no reason for the Sluagh to attack them, now I have you. No one’s going to start a fight with those three if it isn’t absolutely necessary. Even the Sluagh aren’t that deranged.”
The sun was low, tracing a golden path across the water. Despite the high altitude, the breeze was mild, thawing Devin’s aching muscles until they ceased their shivering. He inhaled deep, shaky breaths of balmy air as his scattered thoughts tried to regroup.
Focusing his attention on Bren, he gradually became aware of his stunning transformation. Bren was still recognisably Bren. Except this one looked like he should be modelling for Tom Ford, not busking at a scenic landmark in the rain. And then there was the impressive pair of feathered wings beating a steady rhythm above his head.
“Is it my imagination, or are you ten times hotter now? Or maybe a hundred times? And look at those wings. Are they detachable?”
“Well, they’re removable with a magic blade. It’s sort of excruciating, though, speaking from experience. Wouldn’t recommend it.” Bren’s smile was tentative, a faint imitation of his usual grin. “Does this mean you’re still speaking to me?”
Devin snorted. “You mean, have I gotten over you ending my mortal existence?”
He felt Bren’s arms tighten around him as he leaned forward until their cheeks brushed. “That’s not fair, Dev,” he said, sounding wounded. “I’m only making sure you have any sort of existence at all.”
Devin pulled his face away, nostrils flaring. “I’m a bit worried about the present tense you used there, angel. Because you know I’ve already made my decision. I’m going to Tech Duinn.”
“Seeing as this angel just rescued your arse from certain death, for the second time, I thought you might be in the mood to reconsider,” Bren countered. “Especially now you have no way of getting there.”
“You could take me there.”
“You don’t know what you’re asking.”
Bren came to a sudden stop mid-air, his wings working hard to keep them hovering. Devin, glancing down, saw the rock platform of the cliffs below. Their busking pitch. Even this untamed Otherworld version caused regret to spasm through him, making him wince. He felt the lightest touch as Bren’s lips grazed his temple.
“We’ve spent the last seven years together. And it worked. Why can’t we keep doing that, forever?”
If the pain in Bren’s voice had been a knife, it would have skinned Devin alive.
“Don’t think you can use emotional blackmail on me, you manipulative bastard,” he growled.
“I’m not trying to manipulate you. I only want to know why you don’t want to come with me. You’ll still be you. I won’t harvest your soul or your memories, I promise.”
“I know you won’t,” Devin said, softer this time.
“You’d be immortal. The same as you would be at Tech Duinn. Please, Dev. I want you safe. Your storm boys want to put you in the worst possible danger.”
Nearly all the time he’d known him, Bren had been the strong one. Devin hadn’t seen him this vulnerable since the night they’d met. He reached up to touch one of Bren’s perfect cheekbones. “I’m not saying it isn’t tempting, even after everything you’ve done. But I… I can’t. You don’t understand, Bren. I want them. And I want the danger. Something terrible is about to happen, and they need me to help them stop it.”
“I need you, too,” Bren said. “What terrible thing do you think is going to happen to me if you refuse? This was my second chance. I won’t get another one.”
Bren’s s
oft words winded him like a punch to the stomach. But Bren was one person. Or one angel of death. Devin didn’t know what he was anymore; all he knew was it didn’t change how he felt about him. The trouble was, nothing else had changed, either. If he didn’t make it to Tech Duinn and reunite with his gods, thousands of people might suffer. Maybe even millions.
“Please don’t make me choose,” he begged. “Why can’t you come with me? With us?”
Bren’s eyes narrowed. “With those gods? You have to be joking. I’m an angel. I don’t belong with them.”
“You did for one night.” Devin gave a small knowing smile.
“Don’t remind me.”
“Fair enough. But for an angel, you were pretty damn good at being human. You should know better than anyone; it’s never too late to be something else. They were all enemies once. Do you know Airech defended you, to me? Being in the same, uh, profession, he understands you.”
Seeing Bren’s grudging smile, Devin’s heart bounded with a delicious rush of hope.
“And Fintan. He’s a lot like you, so in his head sometimes. Think of all the intellectual conversations you could have. You could fill him in on what’s been happening in the world for the last millennium. And catch him up on every season of Lucifer.”
Bren gave a reluctant chuckle and planted a kiss in Devin’s tangled, wet hair.
“And Cap, I know he comes across as a bit of a grouch, even worse than me. But his heart is as big as his—”
“I don’t think I want to know the details, thanks,” Bren muttered hurriedly.
“I was going to say muscles,” Devin said, grinning. Bren bent his face to Devin’s, raining kisses on him, butterfly touches on his forehead and cheeks. Closing his eyes, Devin surrendered to them, sensing Bren’s resolve wavering.
“Now, isn’t this adorable.”
Storm Boys Page 21
