He gave a slow nod, expression grim. “The only reason they wanted to kill me was because they were worried I’d get to the cauldronfirst.”
“And if they’re no longer trying to kill you, then they aren’t worried about you finding thecauldron.”
“Because they already haveit.”
My heart slammed against my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. “But...how?”
He held up a hand and slid his cell from his back pocket. Dialling a number, he put the phone on speaker and laid it gently on the coffee table. After a few rings, the call pickedup.
“Alpha speaking,” Anderson’s familiar voice crackled over theline.
“Anderson, this is Lugh. I was hoping you’d have some progress to report on for me. In regards to the cauldron. Eoin, one of my associates, mentioned you have a lead on itslocation.”
A long moment passed before Anderson grunted. “I’m afraid it’s a dead end. I won’t be able to helpyou.”
And then the line clickedoff.
Slowly, I rose my eyes to meet Lugh’s. “Anderson was pretty shortthere.”
“He was indeed.” Lugh steepled his hands beneath his chin. “Seems someone else got to him and offered him a higherprice.”
“Bollocks.” I jumped to my feet and paced to the large window overlooking the Crown Square. The fae sat atop the bronze horse, the statue as regal as ever. The exact opposite of my twistinginsides.
“There is some hope,” he saidquietly.
Lugh didn’t know. We’d never had that talk. I whirled to face him, my entire body trembling. “Nemain killed my friend.” I shut my eyes. “No. Friend is too light of a word for what she was to me.” I flipped them back open, spearing his gaze with mine. “My soulmate. My platonicsoulmate.”
Sadness filled his expression as he stood and crossed the room to wrap his arms around me. Shock flittered through me, but then relief. With a sigh, I leaned against him, giving in to the desire to take comfort in his touch. I breathed him in, fire, mist, and pine cones. Soothing scents, ones that massaged some of the ache in my heartaway.
“If they’ve taken Saoirse, and they’re targeting you, then they still don’t have everything they need to bring Nemain back,” Lugh said roughly, his mouth against the top of my head. “And I don’t want them to get another chance at harming you. You’ll stay here with metonight.”
15
Itriedto argue my way out of The Royal Palace, but Lugh wasn’t having it. After about five minutes of protestations, I finally gave up, partially because...well, I didn’tfullywant to leave. The room on the top floor of the residential halls was ice cold, and the temperature had plummeted over the past fewdays.
I didn’t hate the idea of staying withhim.
Together, we changed the sheets, tossing the blood-drenched set in the wash—probably in futility. The things were heavily stained. After helping me slide the final pillow into its sleeve, he strode to the doorway and gave me a gruffgoodnight.
Well then. I blew out a breath, shrugged out of my jeans, and settled back into the bed in only my tank top. The thick sheets were cosy and comforting and drew me into sleep, even though I’d spent the past two days blissfully unaware of theworld.
But then suddenly I snapped awake, my heart hammering. I didn’t know if it had been two minutes or two hours, but something had very much startled me from sleep. I rolled out of bed and raised my fists before me...and then realised what had wokenme.
A soft, lilting song drifted through the cracked door of the guest room. It had an aching, haunting sound to it, the kind of sound that wanted to burrow itself deep into my bones. I’d never heard anything quite like it, and a strange magic washed over me as Ilistened.
Was...was thatLugh?
Obviously, I had to findout.
Grabbing a blanket from the closet, I wrapped it around my shoulders and tiptoed into the hallway. The sound was coming from downstairs. From Lugh’s quarters. I minced my way down the stairs and paused as I listened. Now that I was closer, I could tell it was a harp. I tiptoed the rest of the way to his door and peekedinside.
In the center of his living room sat a majestic, gold-trimmed harp that glowed in the darkness. Lugh sat before it, his eyes shut tight. His fingers whistled over the strings, that haunting melody rising majestically into theair.
I watched him, mouth practically touching the floor. The King of Wraiths was just full of surprises. First, he carried a hobgoblin to safety. Then, he played an instrument like this was such soul, such emotion that it brought tears to myeyes.
Nibbling on my bottom lip, my eyes caught on his biceps, his washboard abs, and his sculpted pecs. Yep, that’s right. He wasn’t wearing a shirt either, and I was flat-out gawking at himnow.
That rumble went through my core again, and this time, it had nothing to do with theSapphire.
