“It wasonetime!” I raised my hand in exasperation. “And definitely a mistake . . . on both our ends. It was fun, don’t get me wrong, but he doesn’t exactly seem like thelove-you-for-eternitykind of guy. Not to mention, he’s top on David’s shit list right now.”
Breena spun, eyes wide with a hand over her heart.
“Carwynn wants an eternal love bond,” she said fondly, eyes gleaming. “That’s so sweet!”
“Good luck with that,” Aine scoffed, rolling her eyes. “The only thing I’ve ever learned from men is not to trust them. They’ll do anything to get what they want. Give ya the world, so it’s easier to steal it back right from under you.” Her face turned to the sky, gazing at the fresh glitter of twilight, as though lost to a distant memory.
A piece of my heart sank to a cold, dark abyss hearing the pain behind Aine’s words.
Who did that to her?I knew she wouldn’t answer if I asked, but the urge to throttle whoever hurt her brewed inside me. Some asshole, no doubt.
“David’s right, ya know—to hate him.” Aine spun around to face me. “I do too. Lochlainn never should’ve put ya in harm’s way that night. He’s a selfish, greedy bastard. Could’ve gotten you killed.” She gave me a hard, warning look, but it softened as her eyes fell to the sliver of new scar peeking out from my sweater. No doubt, remembering when I’d come home after the attack.
Aine and Breenalooked like two moms who’d pulled an all-nighter worrying about me by the time I’d returned from David’s—after the Dullahan incident. They had a full-on freak out when Finley showed up asking if I was all right. They were ready to tear my head off until I broke down, rehashing the horrors of the night. Scolding expressions immediately transformed into warm hugs and waterworks. A part of me cracked open in a way I hadn’t felt before as I told them about almost dying—again, the strange flower magic I’d conjured, who my real mother is, who my adoptive father is. My soul exhaled the moment I released those secrets—the moment I let someone in. I’d spent enough time being shut out and lied to, I didn’t want to pay that forward to my friends as well. So I took a blind bargain and told them the truth—despite David’s instructions not to.
The tension between David and I finally broke that night. Although a thousand more questions settled in my mind, at least some weight had lifted. Bad energy between us never felt right. It’d slowly eat away at me. I was still pissed, but at least I had a better understanding of him now. As per the new information about the Skell King and some prophecy… that was going to take some time to digest.
I also came clean about the things I was hiding from him, like the work I did for Lochlainn and the deal I’d struck to use his resources to search for the relics in my dreams. David wasfar from pleased, but to my surprise, he agreed that Lochlainn’s collections were a good start. He believed me—that the relicsmeantsomething—and could possibly be a clue to help restore Loveland. It looked as if someone had an invisible gun to his head as he gave me his strained approval. But at least he was trying. Letting me grow, allowing space for me to make my own decisions. And my first independent decision was to let Aine and Breena in on my secrets.
They were completely shocked at the mention of an Ancient . . . and the Skell Queen, mymother.
“Carwynn—fucking souls’ sake! This is next-level madness!” Aine gripped her head like a vice, both hands pressing into her temples. “Do you think it was the Skell King who sent the Ancient after ya? I mean, how would that even be possible? And how would he know you’re here? And your mother—theHallow Land Queen! Sacred souls!”
She spiraled like a tornado. And honestly, I couldn’t blame her.
Breena didn’t blink an eye at the news of David being the Lord of Loveland.
Turns out, the Aos Si elders knew. They’d known he was my guardian but were instructed to keep it confidential. That kind of trust spoke volumes—David clearly had a deeper connection with the Aos Si fairies than he let on. Which explained why he’d been so adamant to move me to The Mounds, of all places. He hadn’t even disclosed my mother’s identity to the Lord of Luckland. Or at least, not until after the Dullahan incident.
“I knew it!” Breena exploded. “It didn’t make sense to me why the Lord of Loveland would wake up one day and be like,‘Hey, ya know what, maybe I’ll adopt some stowaway Ferie child today!’” Her eyes were wild, buzzing with energy. “I knew there had to be a bigger reason behind it! This makessomuch sense now!”
Aine looked pale, anxiously picking at her fingers.
Breena, on the other hand, looked ready to ride out to battle.
“There isno chance in hellthat Skell bastard is going to put a bony finger on ya! We’ll make sure of that!” Her eyes blazed.
Aine had unexpectedly placed a hand on mine, squeezing, unspoken words passing between us. She was with me.
My roommates. Myfriends.
That moment with them hit somewhere deep within—filling a void in my heart I hadn’t realized was still empty.
Breena’s screechbroke through the torrent of my thoughts.
“Look!” She pointed to an opening among the trees. “We’re here!” She rushed forward, a little pep in her step. “Also, I agree. I second Aine on that one—Lochlainn would be a shite match for ya. And especially if the wholelocked-his-heart-awayrumor is true . . .”
Wait, what the hell did that mean? Locked it away as in,magically? On purpose? A consequence of using too much power?
Aine followed Breena, disappearing past a large tree trunk.
“What do you mean—” I opened my mouth to ask but froze.
All the hairs on my body prickled, standing on end. My inkling flared, putting my senses on high alert.
I waited, expecting the usual spirit intrusion, but nothing came. Not until Ifeltit—like I’d cast an invisible line into the dark, unknowingly hooking it on a soul. Spirits had always barged in relentlessly, speaking to me, whispering. But this was entirely different. It was as if I could touch its warmth, palpable and alive. Not just sensing it, butfeelingit, invading its space like spirits had always done to me.
I turned around, scanning the near-black woods.
