‘Such idealism,’ Vincenzo sneers. ‘But you’ll learn. And one day you’ll be just like me. Now, excuse me while I go and try to find a way to free my daughter from whatever you have done to her. I will not lose both my children. There must be a way…’
He glances at Niamh, his face twisting in disgust, before he heads for the doors, followed by the rest of his Kin.
And with that, most of the other Kin follow. All glancing worriedly at us and up at Vittoria before they go.
Niamh places her hand on my arm and when I look at her she smiles and shakes her head. No, I will never be like them, I will be ruthless but fair, and the Underworld will prosper. I just need Vincenzo to die– and that is something I can arrange.
‘Where does this leave us?’ MacGowan asks, coming towards us, although I notice he doesn’t come too close.
‘You should bring the King what he wants,’ Carruth says, joining us. ‘He’s within his rights to ask.’
‘But Matt is innocent,’ Niamh says.
Carruth looks her up and down, then smiles. ‘As you well know, Miss Whyte, no one is truly innocent. Somehow Matt needs to prove that he’s not guilty and in the end, that’ll be for the Court to decide.’
‘The Court set him free tonight,’ Niamh argues. ‘Perhaps we should see that as a sign.’
‘Perhaps,’ Carruth concedes. ‘Time will tell.’ Then he and MacGowan leave together and only myself, Niamh and Rose, remain.
‘Where did Matt go? she asks. ‘He was right there with you and then— What have you done with him?’
‘I didn’t do anything with him,’ I say gently.
‘Are you really going to do that?’ she asks me. ‘How can you, when you know it’s wrong.’
‘Rose, I—’ I stop. Rose doesn’t expect me to answer. She’s looking directly at Niamh.
‘Did you know?’
Niamh shakes her head, tears pooling in her eyes.
‘I’m so sorry, Rose.’ She reaches out, but my sister bats her hand away.
‘Nothing beats family, they’ve always got your back, right? They never lie to you about anything important.’ Her voice chokes off, even though her face remains calm, stoic. She never cries, but I can see she is desperate to.
‘You know I’d never want to hurt you—’ I start.
But she covers her ears with her hands and runs out of the chamber, Sean in her wake. With a final glance up at Vittoria, I offer Niamh my hand and lead her from the chamber.
‘Come on,’ I say. ‘We’ll fix things later. For now, I’m taking you home. For good.’
‘But what about Rose?’
‘I’ll give her some time, then talk to her.’
‘Will you really hunt Matt?’
‘Yes.’
‘But… Cillian.’
He puts his hands on my upper arms and gives me a slight shake. ‘I have to, Niamh. Don’t you see Vincenzo has given me no choice? But until his name appears on my palm, it won’t have a time constraint, nor will it need to end in his death.’
‘What if a hunt is never called?’
‘I don’t know. But if I don’t find him, Vincenzo’s men will. And I don’t think that will end well for Matt.’
‘But if you can’t send him back to St Marnox?—?’
