Then the voice came, a silky tone of death.
“A valiant effort indeed,” Kane said as he stepped out of the shadows. “But I’m afraid you’re wrong.”
CHAPTER THREE
Deirdre
All that effort,and we were still no closer to escaping. If this wasn’t life or death–or worse than death, if Kane got his way with me–I might have given up then and there from the sheer futility of it.
My legs barely held me upright, my knees quivering. I clutched the back of Crispin’s shirt, my breath hitching as a thousand frantic thoughts surged through me, each more desperate than the last.
All Father, please, keep us safe.
As I prayed, Crispin slowly let his pack slip to the ground and unsheathed his sword. As much as I loved him and as capable as he’d always proven to be, the fact was, this was not a fair fight. Even an army of Crispins might not be enough to overcome a powerful being like Kane.
Most kings would send an enforcer to do their dirty work.The fact Kane hadn’t proved his fearlessness. Kane was indestructible. Invincible.
Immortal.
Which promised a harrowing future for me if he won… which was exactly why we had to fight back, even if it seemed futile. Because I’d rather die trying to escape him than be forced to live, and lie, under his rule. Crispin and I had built a life together, and I refused to let that go.
The Deathless One eyed us as one would when they thought you were insignificant. Dirt smudged across the corded muscles of his chest. Bits of snapped twigs and leaves stuck to a few of his twisted braids. There was nothing kingly about his appearance. In fact, he appeared more like the savage fae stories I’d heard growing up.
His disheveled appearance didn't seem to bother him. In fact, I found it extremely unnerving how someone as important as King of the Fae was out here chasing us like a bunch of runaway hens.
“This is all very unnecessary,” he said, slipping his hands into his pockets. “There’s no reason to fight when you know she’s been mine since birth.”
“She’s not going with you.” Crispin gestured for me to stay behind him.
“Your tenacity is admirable. Futile, though.” Kane strolled closer. “You see, the human and I must fulfill the ancient prophecy. Only our union can bring balance back to the lands.”
His eyes rolled a bit as he said it, as if he didn't believe it himself.
Which made little sense, because why would he come for me if he didn't care about the prophecy? There were plenty of fae for him to marry.
“Tell them I'm dead,” I blurted out, moving out of Crispin's protective stance.
Kane cocked his head to the side.
“You can tell them you weren't able to find me and that I died a long time ago. No one has to know the truth.”
“I am many things,” Kane said. “A liar is not one of them. You will do what you were born to do.”
“No!” I tossed my pack to the ground. “I won't. I’ve moved on. Crispin and I are already married and there’s nothing you can do to change that.”
“Except make you a widow.” Kane smirked, his gaze moving toward Crispin. “You were the one who struck first. As a king, it is my right to respond. Your arrogance will be your undoing.”
“You’re notourking,” Crispin spat back. “We owe no allegiance to your kind.”
Glancing between the two of them, I wondered what happened before I arrived. Crispin wouldn’t have been foolish enough to attack the king first, would he?
Or what if Kane referred to me? I had attacked him.
“Very well. If you want to fight…” Kane took his hands out of his pockets and held them wide, lifting his palms to the sky. Shadows seeped out of them, swirling around his hands and his arms. “Then a fight you shall have.”
He reared back his right arm and shot a globe of darkness at us.
Crispin grabbed my arm and spun me out of the way. “Go, remember the plan.”
