He strode through the camp, barking orders, slapping people out of his way. At least I didn’t have to worry about tripping over anyone else. Most people gave him wide berth, avoiding his reach.
At the edge of the camp, he halted and stared out across the beach. What had once been the Fomorii army now lay a mixture of humans and Fomorii as I’d known them.
You truly gave them the choice? Cora asked.
Yes. I didn’t want to steal what some felt was their heritage.
Nuadha yelled out. “My lady, I’d have a word with you.”
This was it. My heart picked up speed, and my palms grew sweaty.
A green flag was raised, and Nuadha started out across the sand, me close on his heels. As we passed the first line of Fomorii I realized that Gormley was there and she was looking straight at me. My blood chilled. Bres had said that the old Fomorii had strange abilities, but who knew one of them would be to see through the power of Carnwennan?
With a slow wink, she turned her back on me, not raising the alarm. Nuadha halted in front of a row of huge Fomorii guards. They slowly peeled away, revealing Chaos sitting on a throne studded with jewels and draped in fur, as if the heat didn’t bother her one bit. She was wearing a body suit of leather that was studded with small metal spikes along the arms and legs. Her hair had been shorn close to her head, bangs left to hang over her eyes. Luke sat beside her, chains stretching from his neck and hands to the base of the throne. Other than being tied up, he didn’t look as if he’d been hurt.
“What news have you of my . . . sister,” Chaos asked, her black eyes staring right past me.
Nuadha bowed at the waist. “She has gone to ground, or to water, it would seem. Other than that, we do not know.”
She leaned forward, pulling Luke close by his neck chain. “And what of you, pretty boy? Hmm? Where do you think your precious beloved has gone with that handsome Fomorii warrior?”
Luke didn’t answer. He just stared past her. She slapped him hard, drawing blood. I flinched, but he didn’t. “Answer me or I will cut out your tongue, and see if I can make it speak that way.”
The silence stretched and just when I thought he would call her bluff, he spoke. “I have no idea where they might have gone. I wasn’t privy to the plans. I was just told to stay here.” His voice didn’t give her one ounce of inflection, though his eyes looked pained as he stared up into her face. Maybe she hit harder than it looked.
“Hmm. I see,” she murmured, running her fingers over his face. “You are quite lovely. Perhaps I will keep you as the first of my harem.”
His jaw tightened, as did mine. My hand inched towards Carnwennan, but I had to wait. I couldn’t face Nuadha and Chaos. It had to be just me and her.
She flicked her hand at Nuadha. “Go, you are boring me.” Nuadha saluted, and I stepped aside as he turned on his heel and strode away. Now, it was a matter of cutting Chaos out of the middle of all the Fomorii.
With everything I had, I tried to speak to Luke mind-to-mind. I’m here.
Luke’s eyes widened, and then he started to cough, covering his shock well.
Try to get her away from the rest. Charm her.
He blinked several times. But he said nothing back to me, only gave a slight nod.
“Lady,” he reached up and put his hand on her knee. “May I speak with you in private, away from all these ears? There is something I’d like to discuss. About Ashling.”
I could feel the dose of Charm he used even fifteen feet away. Chaos leaned into him, her hand stroking along his face. “Do you know how the gods caught me the first time?”
Oh, I had a bad feeling about this. Draw back, Luke. This was a bad idea.
Too late.
Her hand whipped around his throat and she started to squeeze. “They used a pretty boy to Charmed me into the trap. Very clever. I do so love a handsome man on my arm.”
She tossed him backwards and his body slammed into the ground, jerking against the chains as they pulled tight. “My apologies,” he coughed. “I didn’t know. It’s just… Ashling has been on my mind since I first met the two sisters, and I’ve dreamed of her most nights.”
Chaos leaned forward. “Truly?” I tensed, wanting to know the answer, too. Is that what Ashling had meant when she’d mentioned falling in love with someone? With Luke?
He nodded, rubbing at his throat. They shared a long gaze, one that neither seemed willing to break.
“Hmm. Well. We shall see.” She snapped her fingers and the Fomorii fell back, making a ring around the throne.
I had to push thoughts of Luke and Ashling back in order to focus. It was now or never.
With a single swift move, I pulled Carnwennan from the scabbard, a burst of light shattering the shadow veil that I was hiding behind.
“Chaos, I have a deal for you. The sword that would be your death...for Luke’s freedom.”
17
The Fomorii lurched forward, but stopped as Chaos raised her hand. “Wait, I believe the stupid twit means it.”
“Quinn, no! You can’t do this!” Luke yelled, lunging as if he’d get between me and Chaos, the chains again pulling tight, stopping him.
She didn’t step towards me. “Lay it on the ground and back away, and I will let your man go.”
I didn’t hesitate; I just laid Carnwennan down, and backed off a good ten feet.
She waved her hand. “Further.”
I hope you’re right about Carnwennan, Cora said. So did I.
Another ten feet and Chaos seemed satisfied. “Well.” Leaning towards Luke, she grabbed his face and kissed him with a deep, thorough kiss. “I suppose I’ll never get my chance with you. Too bad, even the girl liked you.”
No doubt she meant Ashling.
With a flick of her wrist, the chains fell from Luke. He made as if to come to me.
“No, Luke, this isn’t for you. You can’t save me from this. It’s my choice.”
He was shaking, anger and frustration written all over his face.
Chaos laughed. “Listen to her, or I will throw you back in chains.”
And then I did something I’d never done before —I lied to him. I’ll be all right. Go get Bres and Lir; they are waiting for you in the Labyrinth. They know what the plan is. I knew he would believe me; I’d never given him a reason not to. His jaw was tight, but he left, running down the beach and diving into the water. It wouldn’t give me much time.
“Now, I suppose it’s just you and me, Chosen one,” Chaos said, strolling towards Carnwennan. She didn’t bend to pick it up, but flipped it up with her foot, catching the handle as the sword turned.
A few swipes through the air, then she threw the sword backwards. “I cannot use a sword like that, not when I have my own. I think that I should like to share my story with you, before I kill you. Do you mind?” She lifted Ashling’s perfectly arched brow at me, the jerky, marionette that she had been when she’d first taken over my sister’s body was nowhere evident.
“Actually, I’d rather we just got to it,” I said. This was not part of my plan. I knew I only had so much time before the cavalry showed up.
“Well, I’m feeling rather in a mood today.” A crowd was starting to gather, Fomorii and Tuatha alike. Out the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Darcy, her hands over her mouth. She may have had the mark, but she was still seeing her daughters face off in what was going to be a battle to the death.
Chaos strolled around me, circling me, within a foot of my reach.
My jaw twitched. There was no time. I had to do it now. I Called Carnwennan to my hand, felt the smooth bone against my skin and swung towards Chaos. “I don’t care about your story, but let me tell you mine.”
A sword appeared in her hand, the same black sword I’d seen from my vision. The power that had caused the black tendrils to destroy the Fomorii made up her sword, the black smoke solidifying instantly into a razor sharp blade. I had no doubt that one scratch from it would end my life. As we engaged, her eyes were wide with fury. “Kill her!” She screamed.
“No,” Gormley shouted, holding her hand to stay the Fomorii. “We will not fight your battle.” But not all listened.
The Fomorii ranks split, fighting one another. The Tuatha in the crowd swept into the battle, uncertainty obvious on their faces. Who did they fight?
Chaos and I we were at the center of it, our blades flashing bright and dark, as we slashed at one another.
“My sister was the only person I had, and she was stolen from me,” I said as our blades locked. We wrestled for control and I ended up shoving her backwards. Not a graceful, skilled move, but it worked.
Pressing my advantage, I leapt towards her, a wicked downward thrust from Carnwennan skidding off the edge of her sword. That was not a move I knew.
Carnwennan has a mind of its own and knows how to fight. Let it guide you.
“I tried to save her, but failed.” Tears prickled at the edge of my eyes. “But I won’t fail this time.”
Chaos’ eyes widened, then narrowed. “You cannot save your sister.”
“Watch me.”
I spun in a half circle, Carnwennan whistling through the air. Chaos tried to avoid the blow but I shifted my balance at the last second, turning the slash into a thrust that took her through the stomach. The move left me wide open.
The world around us disappeared. Chaos screamed, rage turning her face into a twisted mask. The black sword arced through the air, slicing deep into my side. Like a bomb going off, pain exploded through me.
Steady, Quinn. It is almost done.
Shaking, my hands gripped Carnwennan, my one palm over the stone that held Aednat’s soul. “Take her,” I whispered.
An image of Aednat flickered beside me for a moment. She smiled then disappeared. Finally, she had the satisfaction of watching me die.
A bright swirl of blue and green light erupted from the blade’s hilt and wrapped around Chaos.
“No, you can’t do this!” She screamed her defiance. The soul gem started to hum and dark tendrils of mist started to seep out of Ashling’s body.