When he cranked his neck back toward the top of the cliff, Kiera gritted out, “He’s dead, Quinn.” I wanted it to be true. “Your ally isdead. You bet on the wrong faerie.”
The color leached from his whiskered cheeks. For a second, I thought he might try to run and hide, which, considering the scope of this cell, wouldn’t have been efficient, albeit instinctual.
“I suppose you expect me to bite the apple now,” he muttered.
I tipped my head to the side. “I murdered a man today because it was either him or me, and I chose me, but I have zero desire to murder another one.” I turned my gaze back to the top of the cliff, willing Remo to hurry.
Quinn stalked toward me. “Give it to me.”
Cruz stepped between us. “What do you want to do with it, Quinn?”
“I want to eat the fucking thing and be done with this sorry-ass life.”
Cruz put a hand on the man’s shoulder, but Quinn shrugged it off. “They’re going to come—”
He snorted. “Yeah, and you’ll be proclaimed a hero, but Kiera and I will forever be the villains . . . the traitors. And me, even more so now.”
“Quinn,” Kiera whispered his name as she stepped out of the water. “You promised not to leave me.”
“You have all of them now. You don’t need me.”
“I do need you.” A tremor shook the proud line of her shoulders, making the golden claws and fangs strung around her throat clink and cast riotous tinsels over the wet sand.
“I’m sorry, honey, but I’m tired.”
She rushed into his arms, and he caught her, hugged her tight, and it reminded me that those capable of hatred were also capable of love.
Had Kingston ever been capable of the sentiment? Sure, he’d loved himself, but had he ever loved someone else? Maybe his mother . . .
“The apple, princess. Hand it over.”
Cruz was still standing between us. “Are you certain, Quinn?”
“Yes.”
“Please, Quinn . . . don’t do this,” Kiera croaked.
The bearded Daneelie shut his eyes. When he opened them, they were slick with tears but sharp with determination. “Go away, Kiera.”
“Don’t—”
“Go!”
She backed up. “You selfish asshole!” And then she twisted around and ran.
Quinn cringed but extended his hand, and Cruz shifted sideways to give him access to me. He stayed close, though, perhaps worried eating it wasn’t Quinn’s intent.
After handing him the apple, I pressed my palms together. I didn’t extract my dust, but I readied it.
For a heartbeat, Quinn stared at the space between thepanemandaloewhere Kiera had taken refuge. “Cruz, you’ll take care of her, right?”
“I will.”
Quinn’s Adam’s apple bobbed. In slow motion, he brought the apple to his mouth, parted his lips, and sank his yellowed teeth into the crisp red skin.
His brows snapped together.
His body jerked.
