by Skye Horn
I wish…
The door opened a few minutes later and Adrian shifted himself to sit between Thea and the others. Haven was supporting most of Kieran’s weight. She moved him in and allowed him to sit on the lounge chair that decorated the other side of Caden’s room, immediately staining it with blood. He leaned himself back against the wall, letting out a rugged sigh. His eyes drifted around the room until they fell on Thea. Adrian wanted to place himself between that gaze and her body, but sat frozen, glaring at Kieran instead.
The other man didn’t seem to care.
“How is she?” he asked quietly as Caden shut and locked the door.
“Nearly dead because of you,” Adrian muttered.
“Enough,” Haven warned looking between the two of them. “Kieran, tell us what you told the king’s men.”
“What?” Adrian started to ask but Caden shook his head at him, making him fall silent. He hated being out of the loop, but was glad they’d at least waited until he was in the room to discuss the matter.
“They wanted to know about a weapon. Apparently, you haven’t been sneaking around quite as well as you thought you were.”
He stared at them all with expectant gazes, but Adrian kept his face masked and Kieran shrugged.
“The king said that Morrigan knew you were searching for the weapon. She knew what the weapon was but she didn’t know where to find it. They wanted to know if Ainé had access to the weapon.”
Haven’s face had paled slightly, but otherwise, she kept her expression stoic. “And you refused to tell them so they beat you until you were hardly breathing.”
“They beat me until I told them what I knew,” Kieran said, and for the first time, Adrian saw a wave of shame shadow the other man’s face. As a soldier, they were trained to withstand huge amounts of torture to protect the secrets of their kingdom, but even the strongest man could break. “I was so angry with Ainé for not answering my prayer that I just accepted I would die and told them.”
They all stared at him in surprise. Adrian wondered again about this bond that Kieran shared with the Goddess. She’d abandoned him when he called out for help; what did that do to a person who had devoted so much of himself to her?
“She saved me even after everything I did to her,” Kieran said, staring past Adrian at Thea again. “The least I can do is tell you what I told them.”
Adrian leaned forward at the same time as Caden and Haven. They’d spent weeks trying to find the weapon that could hurt the Goddesses, when all they’d needed to do was ask Kieran. It was infuriating but also exciting to finally have a lead, even if they were the last to know.
“There was a weapon that was said to end the Goddesses’ immortality, possibly even kill them. The scholars of our kind have kept it safe for centuries, and although the Goddesses knew about the weapon, they lost track of it in their time within the prison realm.”
“The scholars of Gimmerwich?” Caden asked, eyes widening with hope. If the weapon was in Gimmerwich, then it was possible they had a chance to get to it. Gimmerwich was the most protected kingdom in Faerie. That had to explain why the king’s soldiers were gone. They were moving in on the weapon.
“Originally, yes. But every seven years the weapon is transferred to new hands in different kingdoms for safe-keeping. When Queen Ismara locked off the walls of Gimmerwich fifteen years ago, that transfer ceased. Ivandor was overrun by Malachi, and Gimmerwich was out of reach. Blackmire, of course, couldn’t be trusted with such a weapon.”
Kieran smirked at this, but Adrian spoke next.
“So where is the weapon, then?”
“Grimwalde,” Haven answered without waiting for Kieran. “Which is how you knew about it. Ainé must have known that Aragon had it. He’s a seer, and she’s been in communication with him for years.”
Kieran nodded at this. “The old man is smart, though. As soon as word of what Ainé had done to Thea reached him, he gave it to someone else for protection, knowing it was no longer safe with him. When the Goddess took over Grimwalde, the weapon was long gone.”
“Who? Who did he give it to?” Adrian asked, but Kieran was looking at Haven as if waiting for her to figure it out.
“Declan!” she gasped. “He’s part of the next generation of scholars. He would have read about the weapon in the libraries of Gimmerwich, and that’s why Aragon was so adamant about him leaving before your armies arrived! Why didn’t he tell us?”
“I overheard Ainé trying to find out where the weapon was from Aragon in Grimwalde, but I didn’t know it was a weapon until the king’s men attacked me.” Kieran shrugged and it looked like the movement hurt. “I assume Aragon didn’t tell you because the fewer people know about the weapon the safer it will remain. Plus, he wanted you to come protect Thea.”
Kieran met Haven’s gaze, but Adrian was still trying to process all of this new information.
“So Thea’s ex-fiancé has a weapon… and now that you’ve told Morrigan that, she is hunting him down.” He frowned. “Doesn’t that solve our problem? We will have the weapon that can stop Ainé.”
“But why do you think she didn’t tell us the plan, Adrian? That weapon isn’t just the only thing that could allow us to hurt Ainé. It’s also the only thing that could allow us to hurt her,” Haven said.
“Not the only weapon.” Kieran eyed Thea’s sleeping body and Adrian shook his head.
“If Thea faces either of them without the weapon, she could lose not only her own life, but your child’s. Are you really going to ask that of her?”
Kieran leaned his head back with a booming laugh. When his head lowered, his eyes were crazed. “You think our child will survive in a world with Morrigan in it? You can’t be that stupid.”
Adrian recalled the way Morrigan had spoken about the child’s power. He wanted to argue with Kieran, but there was no denying the truth. If Morrigan let the child live, she’d raise it for herself. Perhaps the Goddess didn’t expect Thea to survive at all, and that was why she’d intended to take Kieran off the playing board now, rather than letting him live as an incentive for Thea to keep fighting.
Caden was watching him from across the room, reading his gaze, and finally sighed. “He’s right, Adrian. We’ve only seen glimpses of what Morrigan is capable of. The only hope we have of surviving this is stopping both of them.”
Adrian watched Kieran twitch and knew he was fighting the instinct to defend Ainé. He wondered what that was like, knowing that his Goddess had abandoned him and yet still feeling loyal enough to her to want to defend her.
“Ainé is hunting the weapon too,” Kieran said. “I assume she doesn’t have it yet, or else she would have already come for Morrigan.”
Adrian heard the silent “and me” in Kieran’s words. He almost pitied the blind faith he’d been forced to give Ainé. To have your free will ripped away was the worst possible fate, and even if he fought it, there was no denying that when the Goddess called him, he would come.
“So basically, it’s a race to the weapon, and whoever gets to it first wins the war.” Haven frowned, looking hopeless.
There was a stirring on the bed behind Adrian. Thea was moving.
He turned to look at her just as her eyes blinked open. She met his gaze for one moment, then just as his heart skipped a beat at her relief, she searched the room for Kieran.
When she saw him, there was a flood of emotion on her face that made Adrian’s stomach twist into knots.
“You’re okay,” she breathed, tears falling freely down her cheeks. She reached out an arm toward him, but he did not move toward her, so she dropped it back to the bed, trying to push herself into a sitting position.
“Take it easy,” Adrian said, trying to hide the disappointment in his voice, but Caden watched him with a sympathetic smile that he hated.
“Did… did you say someone is hunting Declan?” Thea frowned, looking around for confirmation. Apparently she’d been just awake enough to eavesdrop, but Adrian was the one who resp
onded.
“He has the weapon, Thea.”
“The guard is with him,” Haven added quickly, resting a hand on Thea’s leg. “They will keep him safe.”
Thea frowned, but nodded anyway.
“Would you know how to find them?” Kieran asked, looking toward Haven. She looked unsure of whether or not she should answer that in front of him, and Adrian didn’t blame her. For all they knew, Kieran could have been communicating with Ainé this entire time. It didn’t seem likely, since they’d found him nearly dead, but they could never be too safe.
“I have an idea of where they are,” Haven said eventually. “But I’ve been gone for weeks. They could be anywhere by now.”
They elapsed into silence. Adrian didn’t see how they could get to Declan before the Goddesses did anyway. Ainé and Morrigan would have armies at their disposal, and they were just four Fae and Kieran, who Adrian was sure would betray them if given the chance.
“Adrian,” Thea said, and he found his gaze drawn to her quiet voice. He met her tired gray eyes and tilted his head curiously. “Morrigan said something when I first arrived. She said that if I got enough control of my magic I’d be able to find the others myself. Do you think she was lying?”
Adrian thought about that. He’d never heard of such a power before, but then again, he’d never known anyone quite like Thea. Her friends would have mental shields up against the Goddesses that would keep them from being tracked, but Thea wouldn’t be deterred. If she had the ability Morrigan had insinuated, she should be able to figure it out.
“It sounds impossible,” Haven said.
“Half the magic Thea does seems impossible,” Kieran added. “I’ve underestimated her enough times to say it would be worth trying.”
Adrian watched as Thea’s eyes drifted to meet Kieran’s again. Even without a soul bond, he could see the longing in her eyes. She watched Kieran as if he were the air she needed to breathe. How could he ever have thought he could compare to that? He would never be able to bring her closure to the loss she’d suffer if she lost him again.
“Careful,” Thea said, eyes darkening as she looked at Kieran. “That almost sounded like you believed in me.”
The corners of Kieran’s lips tugged up just slightly, and Thea lowered her gaze as if looking at him hurt too much. Adrian placed his hand on top of hers, not sure what else to do or say to ease her pain.
“Even if you could do it,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck with his other hand, “you’re exhausted.”
“I only need to reach one of them. Then I can rest.” She sounded more confident than she looked. Not a single person in the room looked convinced. “We can’t let either of the Goddesses get that weapon.”
“I don’t know…” Haven said, standing and pacing the room. She looked toward Kieran as if she didn’t trust him, then to Caden, and finally to Adrian, eyes pleading. She didn’t want Thea to do this, that much was clear in her gaze. But did they have a choice? If they waited for Thea to regain her strength, it was possible that the Goddesses would reach Declan before they did.
“We won’t be able to help you this time, Thea,” Adrian said, frowning. “We have to be ready for a fight if you are too weak.”
Thea nodded, understanding, and squeezed his hand, which he hadn’t removed from hers. “I will be fine.”
“What about me?” Kieran said, tilting his head. “If you took these off me, she could tether herself to me.”
Kieran held up his cuffed arms and Adrian rolled his eyes. “We aren’t idiots.”
“Yeah, you really think we’d let you go now that Thea has healed you? You’ll probably fly right back to Ainé to tell her Morrigan is after the weapon.” Haven glared.
“Oh, she already knows,” Kieran said, but rather than sounding relieved, he sounded annoyed. “I told her when I was begging for her to save my life. That was the only thing she seemed to care about. I’m sure she’s already moved her armies to stop Morrigan’s.”
“Now he tells us!“ Haven slammed her hand flat against the stone in anger.
Thea jumped beside Adrian at the sound.
“I’m telling you because you need to stop debating what you’re going to do,” Kieran snapped. “Thea needs to find Declan before the Goddesses do, and like you said, you all need to be prepared for battle. You have made it clear that I can’t be trusted, so unbind me and let me help by giving her strength.”
Adrian was about to start arguing again, but Thea’s words stopped him.
“He’s right,” she said, and he immediately wanted to turn his anger on her, but bit his tongue.
“How is he right?” Caden asked instead.
“I need every bit of strength I can get to find Declan. Kieran can provide that strength, and then we can leave. The longer we spend trying to find another way, the easier it will be for one of the Goddesses to reach the weapon first.”
“And if he runs back to Ainé?” Adrian asked, voice tight.
“Then he will have her wrath to deal with. After all, he is the one who spilled her secret to Morrigan.”
Kieran lowered his eyes, and Adrian knew Thea was right. Going back to Ainé would be a death sentence for Kieran. He’d betrayed her, even if under duress. The Goddess would not forgive that easily. Perhaps he was just playing his cards right now, trying to get on the right side of the battle, but something inside Adrian told him there was more to it than that. He’d seen the way Kieran held Thea. They all had. Something had snapped when she saved him. Whether that was a piece of his soul, Adrian couldn’t say, but Thea trusted him now and they were running out of options.
“I’ll get the keys,” Adrian finally said, but Thea shook her head.
“No, you’re going to get Sorlas.”
He looked at her in confusion.
So with a small smile, she added, “It’s time you readied her for battle.”
Chapter 27
By the time Caden returned with the keys the silence had grown more than a little awkward. Adrian had left to retrieve Sorlas from her cave, while Haven and Thea had ignored Kieran’s questions about who Sorlas was.
Thea figured that if anything went wrong on this mission with Kieran, it would be best to have a dragon as backup. Plus, Sorlas would be the fastest way to travel, since Thea needed to save every bit of her strength for what was coming.
As Caden unlocked Kieran’s cuffs, Thea rose to her feet, walking to stand beside her cousin, and Haven rested a hand on the hilt of her sword. The cuffs fell to the floor with a loud clunk and Kieran rubbed his raw wrists, staring between their three cautious gazes.
Thea tried to keep her eyes off his bloodstained shirt, but standing this close, it was nearly impossible. No matter what part of him she looked at, she felt miserable. She could meet his striking green eyes and see the stranger in her lover’s body. She could stare at his wrecked attire and remember how close to death he’d been. The muscle in his jaw twitched beneath his overgrown beard as her gaze drifted uncomfortably from one spot to the next, unable to find a satisfactory place to look.
Caden picked up the cuffs up and walked away, but Thea remained in front of Kieran, positioning herself between him and the door. His hair was a knotted mess from his time in the prison, and he smelled worse than anything she’d ever smelled in her entire life. She hoped focusing on that smell would keep her levelheaded.
“Let’s get this over with,” Haven said. Thea could hear her fingers tapping against the hilt of her sword, but she did not turn to see the impatience on her guard’s face. “How are you going to do it?”
Thea wished she had a real answer—one that didn’t sound like she had no idea what she was doing. Unfortunately, any confidence would be a lie. The most she could do to prepare was think about how it had felt to have either of the Goddesses invade her own mind. She had a lot of experience with it, after all, and had even summoned Morrigan herself once, but this would not be summoning a Goddess. It would be invading one of her friends’ minds.
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When Thea couldn’t think of a reply, Haven reworded her question. “Okay, who are you going to try to reach?”
“Declan,” Thea said immediately. “Just in case he’s been separated from the others for any reason.”
No one argued, so Thea got to work trying to prepare her own mind. The last time she’d done this, she’d had to conjure dark magic, but Morrigan had told her she needed balance and she couldn’t risk reaching out to Morrigan instead. She needed to be careful.
“You can do this,” Kieran said, surprising Thea with a kind gaze.
“I need you to take my hand,” Thea said slowly, regretting her decision to go through with this plan with every passing moment. She felt both Caden and Haven move closer to her, readying themselves, and then held out both of her hands to Kieran, waiting.
When his warm, callused fingers wrapped around her palms, she felt tiny. There had been a time when his touch would have made her feel safe, had comforted her, but that felt like another life now. She still felt the tingle of longing for that to happen again, but beneath that was fear of the unknown. He could turn on her or her friends at any moment, and if he did, she would be in no position to stop him.
She swallowed her fear, gripping his hands a bit more tightly, and closed her eyes, focusing at first on Declan’s physical features. She recalled the wave of his blond hair, the sharpness of his gaze, and the soft touch of his skin. He’d smiled at her reassuringly every time she’d thought her world would fall apart—had followed her to the altar even though he knew she didn’t love him, all to protect their kingdoms. His face flashed in her mind, but an instant later it was gone.
Her breathing quickened as she curled her toes into her boots and pursed her lips together, summoning as little magic as possible from Kieran, but it erupted like a flash of white, blinding her so quickly that she almost stepped away from him.
“Thea!” She heard Haven’s worry but shook her head. There was no turning back. She’d seen Declan; now it was just a matter of reaching him.
