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.”