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. “Yeh’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.
“How did I get here?”
“I summoned you.”
My head popped up at the revelation. “Why?”
“Because you were dying.” The answer was simple...and terrifying.
I looked down at my form, the curve of my knees and my bare feet surrounded by vibrant green. “Am I...” I swallowed hard. “Am I dead?”
She shook her head. “Your human body lives still. But not for long, and not unless you wish to stay in the mortal world.”
“What do you mean? What happened to me?” Blurry images pushed in from the sides. Julian starting toward Nora... He intended to kill her to further weaken the curse. I’d grabbed his legs to stop him, covering him with fire. A little had seeped through the cracks of his armor, but it was taking too long and he was almost to Nora. Then Deri...
My breath rushed from me, and I clamped my arms tighter around my knees to help contain the memory. “It hurt so much. I... I couldn’t stand it anymore.”
“You were fighting too many at once. The child attacked with power from Cailleach and the witch. Her brother fought back, using my fire and everything he had stolen from their mother. If you had not broken contact, you would have already died. Even so, your body is barely habitable.”