“I propose a swap,” Cate said, setting me back on my heels. “One I’m sure would please the goddess.”
Ailish tilted her head to the side to look at Cate. “And what would that be, milady?”
“I will stay in Selah’s place.”
My mouth fell open. “Never—”
Tom closed his hand on my elbow. “Let her finish, Selah,” he murmured.
“Why would you do that?” Ailish asked.
“Selah means a great deal to me, as you must know.”
“I see that you love her.”
Creases appeared at the corners of Cate’s eyes. “What guidelines did Cailleach give you?”
Ailish slid another look at me. “I’m to trap her in here is all.”
The flaw was glaringly bright, so much that Cailleach must have considered Ailish an acceptable sacrifice to achieve her ends. “But you get what you give, and trap yourself in the process.”
Cate shook her head. “Not if she’s using Cailleach’s actual voice, then it would be as though the goddess were speaking and the consequences would fall to her instead of Ailish. Much like the way Brigid’s blades work for us, except in this case only a select few are able to wield her voice without being destroyed.” She looked at Ailish. “For how long are you to set the curse?”
“Till death, milady.”
I gritted my teeth. Damn that old hag to hell.
Cate tapped a gloved finger on the dais. “Whose death?”
“The goddess didn’t say.’” Ailish scrunched her nose in thought. “I assumed she meant Selah’s.”
“A reasonable assumption.” Cate continued to tap her finger for a moment longer. “Or perhaps she meant her death. What do you think of that, Miss O’Bearra?”
“I don’t know—” Ailish’s breath caught, and she sat up ramrod straight, her eyes pinned on Cate’s. “I see where you’re going, milady.”
“Would you be willing to seal it to Cailleach then?”
Ailish didn’t answer at once. Her gaze dipped to the floor while a storm of emotions flew over her face. Half a minute passed before she looked up again, her eyes lit with determination. “I’ll do it, milady.”
Cate sighed. “Very good. I suppose blood is required, though hopefully not near the quantity required to break the curse, as we’re merely locking the door rather than throwing it open.” She withdrew Brigid’s blade from the folds of her skirt. Ailish saw it and sucked a hard breath through her teeth.
“Just a small poke,” Cate assured her. “And I shall add mine to further secure the door in case Carmen still has a descendant in the mortal world with a mind to claim her power.” She pushed the knife’s point into her forefinger. Blood swelled on the surface and ran to the floor.
“No!” I cried.
Tom squeezed my elbow again. “Trust her, Selah, as she trusted you with Julian.”
Ailish held a finger up. A moment later, her blood dripped to the stones where it bubbled and fizzed with Cate’s.
“Now say the words, Miss O’Bearra,” Cate instructed.
Ailish nodded. All I could do was watch and to trust them both. When she spoke, her voice sounded so altered, I didn’t recognize it. “Catria Ni Brid, theorannú mé tú go dtí go bás an Cailleach.”
... I confine you until Cailleach’s death.
A hiss of air passed over me, setting my teeth on edge. It rushed toward Cate, where it ruffled her cloak and blew through her auburn curls. She jerked upright, her torso rigid. Pain pinched her face. It lasted only a second, then her shoulders drooped and she exhaled a long breath. “I believe it is done. Go now, all of you.”
With a somber look, Ailish stood and crossed the distance between us, Paddy close behind her. “I’m sorry, Selah.”
“It’s not your fault. Cailleach should never have set us against each other like that.”
Her thin frame sagged. “I would have stayed afore I hurt you.”
And paid with her own life. “You are the bravest, most headstrong person I’ve ever met.” My arms ached to hug her. “But we’re in this together, Ailish O’Bearra, and I’d not have left without you.”
She nodded and a faint smile wavered on her mouth. “You’re lucky to have such a grandmam watching over you.”
More than I ever imagined before today. “Will your plan work to free her?”
“The lady thinks so. Pray to heaven she’s right, or it’s the devil to pay once I leave here.” Ailish glanced at the tunnel. “Cailleach be waiting for me.” Dropping her head, she walked by, like the condemned to the gallows.
Henry laced his fingers through mine. “Let’s go, Selah.”
I pulled my hand free. “What about Cate? It makes me sick, leaving her here alone.”
Still holding my elbow, Tom gently nudged me in the direction of the dolmen. I pushed back, but his strength was too much. “Go now. I’ll stay with her till it’s over.”