Red splotches blossomed on Julian’s cheeks. “Your threats are meaningless.”
The warrior gleamed in Henry’s eyes. “Believe what you will, but let me assure you, only one of us will leave this cavern alive tonight.” He raised the sword another inch.
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.”