by Kari Edgren
Julian shifted his attention to the glistening steel edge. Without speaking, he raised one hand and then slowly lowered it.
Henry’s sword moved in accordance. “What the deuce!” he cursed. His arms shook with the effort to keep the tip off the stone floor.
“Concede, Fitzalan. You’ve no hope of defeating me.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Henry gritted between clenched teeth. “Where did you learn to fight? Behind your mother’s skirts, I’ll wager.”
Sweat glistened on Julian’s brow from the struggle. “Brigid may take your gift of fire, Selah,” he said without removing his eyes from the sword, “but as you can see, Carmen taught me how to gain the power I need.”
I watched as Henry continued to fight an invisible force, his fingers white from the effort. He would never give up, never concede regardless of the odds. A whole army in her belly.
“Soul gathering...” The words fell numbly from my lips.
“That and more.” Julian returned his attention to me, and at that instant Henry’s sword flew upward as though released from some tremendous weight. “We were made for each other, Selah. Our powers are equally matched and neither of us are afraid to use it to get what we want.”
“Close your mouth, Stroud,” Henry ordered. “She’ll have naught to do with you.”
I met Julian’s gaze and found the devil staring back. A hot breath blew over the embers in my soul. Flames of pure hatred rose up, nipping at my ribs. I stared at the man who would take everything from me: Henry, Nora, Cate and Tom. Even my very soul by having me barred from the Otherworld. I clamped my teeth till they ached to keep from screaming.
“Deri,” Julian snapped. “It’s time we get started. Bring Nora to the throne and cut her open. I’ll have every drop of blood on the stones.”
“Won’t do it,” Deri growled. “Won’t kill the goody lady.”
“Oh, you’ll do it, sister—”
Time slowed to a crawl as I glanced around. My brother remained frozen, but well out of harm’s way. Marin stood rigid against Julian, anger burning the fear from her skin. Tom and Henry studied each other, silently plotting an attack that could end in one or both of their deaths. Cate’s face was hidden from me as she now stood almost three feet forward, having inched her way across a third of the distance between her and Julian. A little more and she might be able to fly at him, and quite possibly die as well.
To my side, Deri continued to twist the hem of her shawl. Nora remained stolid in the face of imminent death, a picture of grace and courage. Ailish stood quiet as a mouse, watching and waiting. Julian hadn’t mentioned her in his grand scheme, so she could well stay out of the way and leave the cavern unscathed—until he became king, and ruled Ireland with an iron fist, unyielding and merciless, for there would be no other way when his power sprang from a corrupted spring.
Her gaze met mine, and from the quiet resolve in her eyes, she had no intention of skulking into the shadows to wait out the ensuing carnage. She raised a brow in a question that seemed to ask if I trusted her.
I did, and I knew she would trust me in turn.
My face was a blank mask when I turned back to Julian.
“I said now!” he bellowed at Deri. A vein bulged at his temple. “Or your goody lady will suffer a slow and painful death.”
Agitated, Deri snatched at the air. “Won’t do it. Won’t do it—”
Setting my shoulders, I moved forward a step. “I accept your offer,” I said, each word crisp and clear.
Henry whipped his head toward me. “Selah...”
I refused to look at him. “I’ve never understood why Brigid keeps us in servitude when we are capable of so much more. She suppresses our abilities, and Ireland suffers for it.”
A flicker of hope lit Julian’s face. “What of Lord Fitzalan and Nora? Are you ready to see them sacrificed to break Brigid’s chains?”
“One or two lives are inconsequential when weighed against the greater good.” I swallowed the bitterness left behind from the lies.
Henry watched me, the weight of his eyes searching my face as he took in each word.
“I’ll get yeh, biddie girl,” Deri hissed, and a chill scraped over my back.
Julian’s nostrils flared over a self-satisfied grin. “Leave her be, sister, for she’s more sense than you.” His smile thinned, then, in a flash, he thrust a finger at Cate, bringing a yelp from Marin. “Move one step closer, my lady, and I’ll force Master Faber to gut you with his sword.”
Cate froze. Tom dropped the sword and knife as though they had suddenly scorched him. “Your command doesn’t extend to the living, not without direct contact.”
“Well done, blacksmith, but played that way, I’ll be the only one holding a weapon.” He turned to Cate and nodded toward one of the archways. “Let’s do this peaceably with the two of you walking from the cavern together, body and soul, into the Otherworld.”
“You mean pass to our death.” Cate laughed at the notion. “If you don’t mind, I’d rather stay and fight.”
Julian dipped a sardonic bow. “As you wish, my lady.” He lowered his gaze to the blade at Tom’s feet. The torches flickered as it wobbled and turned toward Cate, scraping over the ground when Tom stomped a massive boot on top of it. The tactic seemed to work at first until the blade began to squirm free.
Henry narrowed his eyes at Julian. Then he leaned left a fraction of an inch, and I realized he was about to attack at an angle least likely to harm Marin.
Fear and anger solidified to iron in my veins. “Let me do it.” My voice pierced the air.
The knife stilled, and Henry settled back on his heel as everyone looked to me.
Julian tilted his head in question. “Do what, Selah?”
In silence, I moved beside Cate and placed a hand on her neck. As I planned, her power rushed into me, straight to my head where she met two words.
“Trust me...”
Her eyes widened ever so slightly. “What do you want?”
“Can’t you see what he’s offering us? Freedom from both the English and Brigid. Promise an oath to serve his cause, and he may let you live.” My tone hardened to a threat. “Otherwise you deserve to die.”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I will never join him.”
My expression turned grim. “Then I am sorry as well, Grandmother.”
“Do what you must...” Her voice sounded in my head a split second before she reached for me, and I released a deluge of power.
I hated myself for bursting the handful of vessels that lined her mouth, nose and ears. With a scream, she fell to the ground. Blood flowed from her, pooling on the stone at her head.
The shocked silence turned to a heart-wrenching howl. “Catria...” Tom cried, her name cutting through the cavern like it had been ripped directly from his soul. In two strides he reached his wife, where he knelt on the bloodstained ground and scooped her lifeless form into his arms.
“How could you?” Henry asked, his steely voice just audible over Tom’s choked sobs.
Keeping tight control over every muscle, I turned to face him. “Were you not listening, my lord? I’m fed up with being Brigid’s slave. While she keeps us in hiding, humans have little choice but mistake us for devils. Yet despite the risk, I continue to serve day and night, and for what, so they can destroy each other with their petty squabbles? Or even better, hang me as a witch, when all I’m trying to do is help.” My voice rose with anger. “Lord Stroud...” I paused to consider my words. “Díoltas has found a way for us to finally come out of the shadows and be revered for what we really are. Only then can we save our people from the English.”
Henry flinched as though struck. “I don’t believe it.”
I fisted my hand until the bones creaked. “Then you are a fool, my lord, for I’ve
made no secret of where my heart belongs.” Our eyes locked and the air seemed to thicken around us. “Once the curse is broken, I will rule Ireland at Julian’s side.”
“Selah, stop,” Nora cried. “You don’t mean it. This cavern, the witch’s power, it’s sickened your mind.”
Her frantic voice pulled at me, but I refused to meet her eyes. “When did a desire to be free become a sickness? If you truly believe that, then you are the one who’s deceived.” Conviction threaded my words, rightfully so as I spoke from my heart. But such freedoms would never come from Julian. Through his rule, I would become a monster, and the humans we ruled, trod beneath our feet.
Julian laughed. I looked at him and watched with a blank expression as he forced Marin to the ground. Releasing his grip on her hair, he patted her head. “Forgive me, Marin, but we can’t have you running off now, can we?” Her body turned stiff, frozen just like my brother’s.
He straightened and beckoned me forward. I closed the remaining distance, fire snapping on my fingertips. Henry made no move to stop me.
Tilting my chin up, I saw the wolfish grin on Julian’s mouth. “I’ve dreamt of this moment when you would finally stop fighting fate and accept your place at my side.”
“We are descended from gods and goddesses. Who else is better fit to rule?” Slowly, I reached up to brush my fingers over his cheek and send a shock of power straight through his heart. More fire rushed forward, and I shook with anticipation and suppressed rage.
“Dearest Selah,” he said, his voice a low hum that sickened me. “Would that I could trust you again so soon.”
“Of course you can,” I whispered. “We want the same thing.” A hairbreadth away from him, my hand stopped as though hitting an invisible barrier.
“But I’ve felt your power and know the pain of your treachery.” He ducked his head, until our lips almost touched, and I bit my cheek to keep from retching when his hot breath brushed over me. “Once the curse is broken, I’ll be at liberty to trust you without fear of betrayal.”
Damnation! A scream gathered in my throat. I bit it back and lowered my arm. A muscle twitched in my cheek from the effort to keep a blank expression. “As you wish.”
Henry hadn’t made a peep during our interchange. Did he trust me? Or had my deception proved too convincing? I wanted to look at him, to plead for understanding. But the game had started and the risk too great.
Julian jerked his head toward Deri. “Take Nora to the throne and bleed her dry,” he ordered.
Deri shook her head till I thought it would snap free. Her mouth moved over a slew of words, though no sound emerged.
“Do it!” Julian bellowed.
She hissed again, ragged and feral.
“You’ll pay for this...” He took a step forward when Ailish cut a quick path to Deri’s side and grabbed her hand. Deri tried to pull free, but Ailish held fast. “It’s the only way,” she said. “Look in me head to see the truth.”
Deri curled her lip, exposing the top row of small sharp teeth.
“What do you want to stay in hiding for, huh? I’m sick to death of it, always pretending to be the same as humans.” Ailish nodded toward me without taking her eyes from Deri. “Selah’s got it figured out, joining with Julian like she did. Folks will come to know who we really are, and start treating us the way we deserve.”
My heart pounded a dozen painful beats before Deri finally gave the slightest nod, and I knew we’d just made a deal with a viper.
Ailish released her hand. “Compel her if’n you must, but do as your brother says.”
A moment later, a shudder passed through Nora’s body. She smiled at Deri, though her eyes lacked the glazed look from the theater. “Come, goody lady,” the wretch muttered. “I’ve to kill you now.”
Nora nodded and went without question.
Tom swayed to his feet. “You murderer,” he cried. Grabbing for his sword, he charged at me, his face consumed with hatred.
With a cry of alarm, Julian nearly tripped over his feet in an attempt to clear the path between Tom and me, his instincts stronger than his newfound power.
I closed my eyes, praying either for a quick death or that Tom had joined the scheme.
Steel clashed against steel. “Leave her be,” Henry growled.
“She killed my Catria.” Tom swung low. Sparks sprayed where the swords scraped against each other.
A soft wind hissed over my nape, there one moment, then gone. With a shiver, I glanced into the dark tunnel at my back. Nothing appeared or stirred, and I whipped back around at the sound of metal clashing. Having recovered, Julian returned to my side. My fingers itched to grab him, and I cursed myself for missing the opportunity presented when Tom first charged, and Julian’s barriers would have most likely been down.
The two men circled the throne, their yells echoing off the stones. Ailish cringed where I’d left her. Nora crouched on the dais, Deri at her side.
“I thought to slice Fitzalan’s throat,” Julian said, obviously enjoying the fight. “It’s no matter, so long as Lugh’s blood soaks the ground.”
Ailish hurried closer to us, her hands hidden from view, and a look of pure determination on her face. Julian ignored her, no doubt thinking she only wanted to escape the swords while I could see clear as day that she intended to gentle him away as she had done to me on the Sea Witch. I tried to shake my head without drawing his attention, to give her warning of the invisible guard. A small hand peeked from beneath her sleeve—
Power surged from him, and she flew back several feet to land on her buttocks. Julian barely moved despite having just tossed one of Cailleach’s descendants. He stalked forward to tower over her. “Do you really think I’d leave myself unprotected from any of the Tuatha Dé? My mother learned that lesson with her freedom.”
Ailish glared at him. “You’ve an evil heart—” Her gaze jerked over his shoulder to the tunnel. Raw fear filled her eyes. “No...” she said, scampering back on her behind.
I spun on my heels to find a young man standing near the tunnel entrance. A black patch covered one eye. “Well, Balor be a Fomorian,” he snarled.
As the young man reached for the patch, Ailish ducked her head. I slammed my eyelids closed a split second before Julian’s scream filled the cavern.
A hard shove knocked me aside. I fell to the ground, my eyes popping open on impact.
Julian rushed toward the man, a dagger drawn. “I’ll kill you!”
The man scrabbled for his own blade. Julian sprang forward, when his body jerked suddenly. The torches waned, the green light turning erratic as it danced over the spear lodged in his back. Henry stood just in front of the throne, Tom beside him. Cate pushed up and started to stand. Nora rushed over, her eyes darting over each of us, wanting to help but not sure what to do.
Julian’s breath came hard, and he stumbled a step. His body shook. A loud crack splintered through the walls, showering us with rock dust. The spear quivered. Then it slid from his back, and the long wooden shaft clattered on the floor. Slowly, Julian turned around. Rage seethed from him. Another crack splintered overhead, sending stone chunks crashing to the ground.
His fevered gaze landed on Nora. Dagger clamped in his hand, he stepped toward her. “Your blood. Now—”
My mind snapped, and I lunged at him, grabbing his legs. Brigid’s fire poured from me, not just from my hands, but from every pore. The ground shook as it seeped past the fissures in his weakened armor.
“Let go,” he snarled, trying to shake me off.
I tightened my hold when a childish chirrup wove a path inside my ears. “Blood on the stones, cracks in her bones.”
“Get out of my way, you halfwit!”
“Me mam be dead, yehr belly be fed.” Deri’s chirrup turned to a hiss as she wrapped bony arms around her brother’s waist. “Y
eh’ll not have me goody lady.”
Our screams joined into one. Ice tore through me, turning my blood to frozen shards. Julian attacked with both Brigid’s fire and a dark power that clawed at my mind.
Fire and Ice. The world smoldered and frosted around me. War raged, and my body sagged, drained of all strength. Darkness moved closer. My fingers slipped, and the stone floor rushed up, slamming into my face.
Panicked voices clamored in every direction. Someone reached for me, wavered, then blurred to nothing. Sound dimmed. Pain soothed to numbness as I fell into blackness, farther and farther away.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Death’s Voice
Warmth bathed my face. Light brushed my eyelids. They fluttered open to reveal a frame of leaves around a perfect blue sky above. Something tickled my ear. I tilted my neck just enough to see a forest of lush green grass. Its softness cushioned my head, held my body with the same embrace as a feather mattress.
I sighed and stretched my legs to their full length. The grass felt velvety smooth against my bare calves and feet. Blissful perfection. Inhaling deeply, I savored the heavy sweetness that flooded my nose. Warmth and quiet calmed me. My eyelids drooped, and I drifted closer to the promise of oblivion—
“Welcome, Daughter.” A woman spoke, her melodic voice familiar.
My eyes blinked open, but only leaves and the sky appeared.
“Come sit with me.” She spoke again, just out of sight.
Pushing to my elbows, I turned to see Brigid at the spring, her knees bent to one side behind her. Long auburn hair fell over her sheath, silken fire against the whiteness.
She beckoned me to her. “Come, Daughter. Let us speak.”
Sleep continued to call. I nudged it aside and moved beside her on the grassy bank. Tucking my knees to my chest, I pulled my own sheath close and stared into the shimmering water. My reflection stared back, bemused as I felt.
I didn’t remember crossing over. With effort I tried to recall kneeling at the altar, the scent of burning herbs while I recited the Gaelic words. Nothing came to mind, much like it had never happened.
