When the Stars Threw Down Their Spears: The Goblin Wars, Book Three by Kersten Hamilton Read Free Book Online Page B

Wylltson said. “As I said, I could feel the shadows. And just after the kids left, something came walking through the park that I could see.”
    “Hellhounds?” Teagan guessed.
    “Hellhounds!” Seamus actually turned his head this time. “There are hellhounds loose in Chicago?”
    “Watch the road, boyo,” Mamieo said. “The hellhounds have been dead for weeks. Finn killed one, and Raynor killed the other.”
    John Wylltson shook his head. “It wasn’t any kind of animal. I saw two ragged, dirty children walking toward me. I remembered that Mamieo had taken Aileen from Mag Mell as a child, and I started toward them thinking they might need help. But when I got closer, I could see that they weren’t flesh-and-blood children. They were statues, like you’d find over a child’s grave. I was close enough to see that they were weeping ashes from empty eye sockets when Raynor grabbed me. He covered my face with his hand and shouted for Joe to run—and then there was fire all around us.”
    “What were they?” Finn asked. “Why would they burn down the park?”
    “I don’t know,” John Wylltson said. “Raynor was too busy trying to put out the fire on Joe to explain, and Joe was too busy protecting the invisible phooka.”
    “Joe’s the Green Man who planned and planted this continent,” Teagan explained before Seamus could ask. “Raynor called him to town to talk to the old willow in the park. The willow’s roots had grafted onto roots of trees in Mag Mell. That’s how the door opened.”
    “He’s all right?” Finn looked worried. “I owe him. Joe helped me get into Mag Mell after your daughter broke up with me.”
    “That kiss in the park did not look like you had broken up,” Mr. Wylltson said disapprovingly.
    “It didn’t, did it?” Finn grinned, and Teagan felt a blush spread all the way to her toes. “The tragedy was temporary. You know I’m the man for her, John.”
    Teagan caught Seamus McGillahee’s eyes in the mirror, studying her.
    “I know you say you’re the man for her,” Mr. Wylltson said.
    “Tell me what I have to do to prove it to you. I’ll do it.”
    “Ah.” Mr. Wylltson rubbed his chin. “Now, that’s an interesting offer, Mr. Mac Cumhaill. I believe I’ll take you up on it.”
    “For heaven’s sake, John Paul,” Mamieo said. “The boy went into Mag Mell and brought your girl out. Isn’t that enough?”
    “Actually, I brought him out,” Teagan said, but everyone ignored her.
    “No, Mamieo.” John Wylltson sat up taller. “It’s not enough. My daughter is too young to be serious about anyone, and much too young to get married.”
    “A phooka?” Seamus interrupted. “You mentioned a phooka?”
    “I brought him out of Mag Mell as well,” Teagan said. “But—Joe was on fire, Dad?”
    “Raynor put him out. Then we all had to get out of the park before the fire department arrived. Joe carried the phooka, and Raynor helped me. After he’d brought us safely to the house, he went back for his stuff. That’s one fast-moving angel.”
    “Isn’t he?” Finn agreed. “I had a devil of a time getting past him when I jumped into Mag Mell.”
    “Wait,” Teagan said. “Is Gil at our house?”
    “Who’s Gil?” Seamus asked.
    “The phooka,” Teagan and Finn said at the same time.
    “Joe is watching over him in the backyard, so there’s no need to worry. And speaking of our house,” Mr. Wylltson said, “if you turn right at the next street, and then take the next left, we’ll be there.”
    Seamus made the turn in a calm and almost legal way, but there were no parking spaces in front of the Wylltsons’ house. A group of teens were standing on the sidewalk—three boys. No, two boys and a girl, Teagan realized, as the one who’d been squatting stood and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand.
    They were too similar not to be from the same family, from their long, thin legs to their multitoned hair. Red and black. It had to be dyed.
    Finn turned