Or they normally did,anyway.
Right now, they were swinging on theirhinges.
The team was meeting me here in twenty minutes. Imogen had shot me a text on the way to say they were getting suited up for a fight, and they were having trouble finding all of their weapons. The Cauldron Tossers had stolen some,apparently.
Before I’d left the castle, I’d left a note on the bookshelf, just in case Uisnech showed up to check on the spear. I didn’t want the little guy to freak out when he found the King—and his special weapon—missing in action. I still hadn’t been able to get ahold of him, the team were running late, and I was all alone down here with Lugh’s gleaming spear catching the attention of everyone who passedby.
Taking another glance behind me, I ducked into the gloomy alley and edged the door shut with my boot. I could take a quick look around. From what I knew about the close, it was a maze that could take several hours to fully explore, so I might as well do a quick scout ahead to see what I couldfind.
I headed for the shadowy staircase that led me down to a street with no sky. Gloom quickly surrounded me, the only sound the distant drip of water on stone. The stone walls rose high on either side of me, angling together at the top. Between them hung old scraps of dull brown laundry. Part of the tour, a demonstration of what life must have been like centuriesago.
The stench of sewage and dust swirled into my nose as I crept along the tunnelled street. I passed boarded-up windows in buildings that would have been home to businesses that tried to survive in the once bustling market. Fabric merchants, tobacco shops, restaurants. None of that was hereanymore.
The street sloped upward, and I ducked through an archway where several low-ceilinged rooms led to the next street. In my hand, the spear began to hum, and I stopped short, heartracing.
The spear continued to buzz against my fingers, and the golden rivets sparked with light. Biting the insides of my cheeks, I peered around the stone archway that led to the following street. There, in the distance, a faint light splashed onto the ground. It was the only light in the close other than the now-gleaming spear I carried withme.
That must be where the fae were hidingout.
Taking a deep breath, I tiptoed across the room and braced my back against the next wall. I waited, counting to ten in case they’d spotted me. When no one lurched out of the darkness, I did the same again. Peer, prance,hide.
Finally, I had nowhere else to go but into the middle of the street ahead. I closed my eyes and called upon all the courage I had inside of me. I didn’t want to take on these fae alone, but I had to be sure that Lugh was here. Then, the warrior team and I could make a solid plan ofattack.
I leaned the spear against the wall so that it wouldn’t give away my position. And then I inched my way into the street, doing my best to hug theshadows.
Slowly, I crept closer to the light. It was coming from a window on the ground floor, two buildings down. My boots scuffed against the ancient street as I edged ever closer. When I reached the building without incident, I pressed my back against the wall and ducked my head to lookinside.
My eyes darted around. It was some kind of stop for the tour. There was an ancient glass-blowing display in the center, and long shelves of delicate glass hung along thewalls.
And there they were. All of them. Eight fae dressed in black leather—we’d taken out a few already so this must be who was left. None of them wore masks, but I didn’t recognise them. They were surrounding two forms hanging from the ceiling by rattling chains. My heart leapt into my throat. I’d found Saoirse andLugh.
They both looked like they’d been through hell and back. Deep gashes slashed across their bodies and faces. Purple splotches circled red-tinged eyes. My hands clenched, and I swallowed a viciousgrowl.
How darethey.
The mating bond snapped tight, and Lugh’s head suddenly jerked up. He met my eyes through the grimy window, his dark irises churning with dread. Frowning, he gave a quick shake of hishead.
Unfortunately, that caused two problems. The first problem was this: I had no idea what he was shaking his head at. My presence here? Maybe. The fact I’d sauntered into the depths of Mary King’s Close without any backup? Probably. The understanding that I was about to do something very, very stupid? Mostdefinitely.
The second problem was...one of the Cauldron Tossers noticed Lugh’s head shake and turned to stare right atme.
The black-clad male gave a shout, and the rest of the enemies whipped my way. Well, there went my element of surprise. Three of them grabbed their swords where they’d propped them against the wall and charged towardme.
Fortunately—because it wasn’t all bad, just ninety percent—I was ready for them. I unsheathed my sword and swung hard at the first opponent to rush my way. The blade slashed right through his chest, killing him instantly. A part of me felt terrible for what I’d done, but then I saw Lugh hanging from chains out of the corner of my eye, one end wrapped tight around his throat, and I didn’t feel so terribleanymore.
The next two attackers came at me simultaneously. They swung in unison, which made their blows easy to dodge. I ducked low and then spun onto my back, holding my sword straight up. They both stumbled back, unsure of how to respond. And then I whirled to the side, slashing one right in theshin.
The enemy dropped his sword and hobbled back. “I surrender. Please don’t killme.”
I grinned and jumped up, eyeing the second. He narrowed his eyes, but then his gaze flicked to his fallen comrade. His sword clattered to the stone. “Yeah, I think I’mgood.”
He rushed over to his friend and helped him hobble down theclose.
Rolling back my shoulders, I strode through the open doorway where four more enemies blocked my path to Lugh and Saoirse. Behind them, the female leader, Fiona, flipped through a book and muttered to herself while waving her hands over acauldron.
Gundestrup’s Cauldron. My stomach flipped as I stared at it. The silver bowl-shaped vessel was probably as tall as my knees and just as wide. The sides were covered in six or seven uneven panels that were carved with images of animals and Celtic symbols. Its magic hummed, creating a strange, eerie song that caused tears to sting myeyes.
Fiona snapped the book shut, and then turned to me. She no longer wore a mask, and her brilliant blue eyes swept across me, smugness curving up her thin lips. She had yellow hair, kind of like mine, but it was dull and ashy instead of golden. “Look who it is. The mate of the nightmarewraith.”
