He didn’t argue, another sign that he was not feeling himself. Otherwise, he’d probably be ordering me straight back to my healing ward bed. I slid beneath his shoulders, trying my best to support his weight, and helped shuffle him back to thepalace.
On the way, he explained that he and the rest of the team had fought at least a hundred angry vamps while they’d searched for the fae in charge. And I told him what had happened when Quentin showed up. He didn’t seem particularlysurprised.
“We should have known he was going to find a way to get inside the castle,” he huffed as we reached the door. I pushed it open, and we shuffled into the hallway. “There was always a plan behind the Sapphirescheme.”
“You think he used the Sapphire to get us to seek out the sorcerer so that…what?”
“It was a trap,” he said, sighing as we finally entered his room—with its millions of books. “He wanted me to go to Jezebel. Most likely, he didn’t expect you would come, too. He must not have realised your strength as awarrior.”
“Of course he didn’t.” I rolled my eyes. Everyone underestimated me. “That said, we kind of underestimated him as well. I don’t know about you, but Ireallydidn’t expect him to be teleporting around thecastle.”
Lugh frowned. “That is a very rare gift. And I don’t doubt he’ll use it again, for whatever he hasplanned.”
We reached Lugh’s bed, and I eased him onto the mattress. Only a few hours earlier, he’d been tending to me and not the other way around. My heart ached as I watched him close his eyes, settling onto the mound of pillows. It felt like I had a rock stuck in mythroat.
“Lugh,” I said quietly, reaching out a hand toward his face and then pulling it back. “I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t answered that text message,I—”
“Then, he would have gotten to the spear some other way,” hedrawled.
A snake squeezed my heart. “How? No one else inside this castle knows where you keep thespear.”
“Uisnech knows. So does Saoirse.” His eyes flicked open. “Please don’t blame yourself for this, Moira. He was going to kill Uisnech. You didn’t have achoice.”
“But yoursoul…”
“Yes, my soul.” He sighed and shut his eyes once again. “Uisnech is the only reason I even have a soul. If it weren’t for the goblin, I’d be lost in the nightmares. I’m glad you saved him. I wouldn’t want him to sacrifice his life just to give me moretime.”
I sucked in a sharp breath at the resigned tone of his voice. He was so very tired, and he spoke as though he’d given up all hope. I’d never seen him like this before. Lugh was a lot of things, but a defeatist? Never. Not untilthis.
Not until I’d failedhim.
“I could have stopped him some other way,” I argued, balling myhands.
“And how would you have done that?” Eyes still shut, Lugh arched a brow. “He canteleport.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I don’t know why you’re so calm about this. Quentin stole your spear. The very same fae who was working to bring Nemain back from the dead. You know what this means, right? He probably has the cauldron. He’ll use the spear’s magic to bring her back, and your soul will be goneforever.”
“I have lived a very long life as Lugh.” Sighing, he sat up in the bed, reached out, and wrapped his hands around my shoulders. His forehead pressed against mine, and Lugh breathed in deep, as if pulling my scent into his very soul—the one he still had, for now. “And I met mymate.”
I shivered, curling toward him. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Surely he hadn’t given up. We could fight this. We could track down Quentin, fight him until he bled out on the ground before us. Find the spear and take itback.
“Lugh.” Closing my eyes, I breathed him in and wrapped my hands around his. “Please don’t talk like this. We’re going to fight this.Together.”
“Is it really so different than everything you’ve been saying all along?” He pulled back and searched my eyes. “You’ve been convinced that Caer’s prophecy will come true, and the proof is before you in dazzling lights. This is our fate, Moira. You wereright.”
Frowning, I pulled away from him. “What are you talking about? This has nothing to do with Caer. If anything, it’s the totalopposite.”
He gave me a sad smile. “When I lose my soul, I’ll become the King of therealwraiths. I will have the power to unleash nightmares upon this world. That is why you will end up killing me, Moira. To protect the world. Fromme.”
“No.” I hissed the words as tears burned my eyes. Taking another step away from him, I shook my headhard.
“It makes sense,” he said softly. “You would never kill me as long as I’m Lugh. The prophecy only adds up if I’ve become somethingelse.”
My hands ached from where I clenched them so tightly by my side. “I refuse to let thathappen.”
“Moira.” He sighed. “I’m afraid we have no other choice. If I become what I fear the most, then I don’twantyou to spare me. I don’t want to see this world destroyed, least of all by my ownhand.”
“Stop this.” The tears began to fall now, hot and heavy onto my cheeks. “Stop talking like this. It isn’t you. You’re the King of the Court of Wraiths. Stand up andfight.”
