Kyla shook her head. “Shocking.”
“The Dearg Due hit up her father first, draining his blood. And then she took revenge on her husband, who’d already found a new wife.”
“Cold.” Kyla took a seat at the chair in front of my desk, stretching out her legs. But her eyes were intent.
“Yup, she thought so too. Anyway, she devolved into bloodlust and roamed southeast Ireland, focusing her rage and hunger on men. Then she disappeared. That’s where it gets interesting. According to Aubrey, the seelie king got wind of the attention she was drawing to his people. Taraghlan ordered for her to be brought back to his realm, and she retaliated. She vowed that she would find what he wanted the most and ensure he never got it.”
“Something tells me that’s the sword.”
“Yup,” I popped the P. “That’s where we come in. But here’s the thing. She takes blood from men, but that’s not what she takes from women—”
A crash sounded from elsewhere in the penthouse. I paused, shrugging when there were no other sounds.
Kyla angled her head, likely hearing something I couldn’t. Then she turned her attention back to me. “Why hasn’t the seelie king dealt with her by now?”
“The Dearg Due is powerful enough that Taraghlan can’t compel her to tell him about the sword. He can kill her, but then he’ll never know if she had something important, and the Dearg Due are impervious to torture.” I shrugged. “Something about how they suffered enough during their mortal lives. So he sends his people to visit her every few months, in an effort to convince her to help him. So far, it hasn’t worked.”
“Sounds like she’s got the light fae over a barrel. I can respect that.”
I perched my butt on the edge of my desk. “I know, right?
We both jolted as my office door slammed open. I cursed as coffee sloshed over the side of my cup, and Kyla reached for the box of tissues on my desk, passing me a handful.
I’d seen Ag angry before, but he typically went with cold disdain. This wasn’t cold. He stalked toward me, and a breeze swept my hair back from my face. His wings were extended.
His voice was low, tone frigid. “What, exactly, do you think you’re doing?”
I slid off the edge of my desk and planted my feet. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”
A muscle jumped in Ag’s jaw. “Finvarra would have heard you were in the seelie realm the moment you went through that portal. He has spies everywhere.”
“I know.” I shivered. It was as if the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees.
“You will go to the unseelie king. And you will get down on your knees. Then you will beg.Beghim not to see this act as an act of war. You will convince him that you temporarily lost your mind, but you recognize the importance of the alliance between our people. And you will do whatever it takes to demonstrate your regret and commitment to that alliance.”
“The alliance can be fixed when Samael wakes up,” I snapped. “We have a more immediate problem we need to handle.”
“Are you stupid, or do you just not care about your people?”
My power curled around me at the disdain in his voice. Kyla shifted until she was standing next to me, but she stayed silent.
I threw my hands in the air. “I’m trying to save him, you stubborn ass.”
Ag merely bared his teeth at me. “You believe Samael will awaken? Think very carefully about the circumstances you want him to wake to. And maybe spare a thought for the world you will leave behind if you both die and you have burned through all of our alliances.”
He turned and stalked out. I took a deep, shuddering breath and forced my power back behind my shields.
Kyla glanced at me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I deserved that.”
She frowned, but I shook my head.
“I’ve already contacted the unseelie king.” I reached into my pocket for the letter I’d had Vas send to him. The king had returned it with his reply, and I handed it to Kyla.
She let out a choked sound and read it aloud.
Hey Fin,
