She could feel the weight of that avoidance settle over her now, pressing into the space between them. She had feelings for him there was no denying that but she also had feelings for Kyron, and the confusion of it all had kept her distant. And then there was Emry, the guilt that gnawed at her for failing him, and the sting of Riona’s absence, now somewhere far in the north.
She met Eirin’s gaze briefly before looking at the others, her fingers tightening into fists at her sides.
“I need to tell you all the truth about what’s coming.”
Drystan, who had been mid sip of his drink, set his mug down slowly. Rhosyn leaned in slightly, her gaze locked onto Sorcha. Even Mason straightened in his chair.
Sorcha exhaled. “We know who’s behind the decay and monsters… It’s Bres, the ex-king of The Tuatha and Fomorians, and his son Vaelric… he isn’t just gathering power, he’s hunting others like me. Other children born with gifts. He’s raising an army, But he’s not looking to recruit them. He’s looking to drain them. He takes their power for his own…”
A few of them stiffened. Eirin’s eyes locked into hers. Sorcha forced herself to keep going. “He’s twisting them. If he succeeds, they won’t just be fighting alongside the Fomorians they’ll become something far worse.” She let that sink in before continuing. “I need to find them first. To warn them, to tell them what’s coming. Maybe some of them will join me. Maybe some of them won’t. But they deserve to know.”
The silence stretched.
“Gods,” Drystan muttered, running a hand through his hair. “So you’re telling us we either fight these half gods or save them?”
“Save them,” Sorcha corrected firmly. “If I can reach them in time.”
Rhosyn frowned. “And if you can’t?”
Sorcha clenched her fists, hating the answer she had to give. “Then we fight.”
A heavy tension settled over them.
“And what about your power?” Eirin asked, his voice quiet but steady. “You still don’t have control.”
Sorcha met his gaze, her throat tightening. “I know. That’s why I need to train. I need to learn how to use it, to wield it before it wields me. If I go into this blind, I’ll be just as dangerous as the things we’re fighting.”
Kyron crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”
She hesitated before looking down at Cat. “With help.”
Cat let out a long suffering sigh. “Finally, she admits she needs me.”
Drystan snorted, but the humor didn’t reach his eyes. “So let me get this straight. We go to Samhain, youcross the Veil, and while you’re off speaking to the Tuatha Dé Danann, we’re stuck dealing with creatures, Fomorians, and possibly a handful of kids that Vaelric is turning into monsters?”
Sorcha lifted her chin. “That’s the plan.” Drystan exhaled. “You’re lucky I love chaos.”
Eirin still hadn’t looked away from her, his expression unreadable. “You’ll need someone to watch your back.”
Sorcha’s stomach tightened. “I know.”
Eirin nodded once. “Then I’m going.”
Kyron’s gaze flickered between them before he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Rhosyn smirked. “Well, someone has to make sure you don’t all die.”
Eirin, still unreadable, simply nodded.
Sorcha let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Thank you.”
Drystan clapped his hands together, grinning. “Well, this should be interesting.”
Eirin’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer. Sorcha swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way her heart was beating too fast.
Mason leaned forward “I’ll pick the cadets to stay behind and watch over Lumora. We need the strongest, the smartest, the ones who won’t hesitate if trouble comes.”
Drystan stretched out in his chair with an easy grin. “That leaves me and Eirin to build targets for Sorcha’s training. We’ll make sure they can actually withstand her magic.”
