“Magic has more accuracy than we ever could.” Fionn held Echo’s frightened gaze. “I need you to stay supernaturally still while I use magic to remove the stake.”
“Okay,” she whispered, her mouth barely moving.
Elijah felt fingers intertwine with his and glanced up in surprise to find Niamh. She squeezed his hand in comfort. “Fionn can do this.”
He gulped and nodded, his attention moving back to Echo. Everything was in her eyes. Everything she hadn’t gotten the chance to admit.
Elijah hoped she sensed that he knew. He knew everything she couldn’t say.
Something softened in her expression and she held her breath as Elijah felt the tingle of magic fill the air. Part of him wanted to look at the stake, to make sure Fionn was pulling the damn thing out as slowly and steadily as possible with his magic, but he held Echo’s eyes instead.
I’m here.
I will always be here.
“Done.” Fionn tossed the stake away and Echo immediately reached for Elijah. She cupped his face in her hands as if he was the most precious thing she’d ever seen.
Niamh let go of him, and Elijah wrapped his arms around his mate.
He knew he held her too tightly, a bruising embrace, but he was almost afraid to let go. Elijah buried his face in the crook of her neck, inhaling her familiar scent, groaning, and shaking in relief.
“You saved me,” Echo whispered. “That light came from you.”
“Yes.” Elijah lifted his head to meet her silvered gaze. “It just … blasted out of me. Like Niamh said it could.”
“Nice timing,” she teased, the silver bleeding from her irises as her passions calmed.
But he saw the darkness in the back of her beautiful eyes.
“I killed William.”
She flinched. “He would have killed me. Maybe one day I’ll have a breakdown about that, but today is not that day.” Echo turned in his arms. She kept her hold on him even as she faced the others, eyes on Fionn. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “You’re welcome. But we’re drawing attention, and Elijah just unleashed a level of power that will bring all kinds of curious supernaturals our way. I think it’s time we leave.”
“What about …” Echo nodded solemnly to the pile of ash.
“Ashes can be used in spells, so I think it’s best we dispose of these completely.” There was a question in his voice.
Echo lifted her chin. “That monster tried to kill me. Do whatever the hell you want with what’s left of him.”
One day, Elijah was afraid Echo would remember that William raised her … and what happened here today would torture her.
As if she sensed his concerns, she turned to him. “I’m okay,” she promised.
Elijah could only nod and trust that she knew herself better than he did.
With a casual flick of Fionn’s hand, the ashes disappeared.
“We need to go.” Conall spoke up at the sound of sirens blaring in the background.
Before anyone could respond, however, Niamh let out a soft cry. Elijah and Echo turned to witness her slam backward as if hit by an invisible force. Kiyo bridged the short distance between them to catch her as she began to seize in his arms.
“Vision,” Kiyo gritted out, protectively cradling her against his chest.
Elijah watched on in concern as Niamh shook with incredible force in her mate’s arms. It was strange, but he’d only known the Irish fae a few days, and yet he felt a kinship toward her he couldn’t explain. The same with Rose and even Thea. Ithurthim to see Niamh in distress.
“Can’t we do something?” he bit out between gritted teeth.
