“We’re pretty much siblings now. Siblings often fight.”
A ghost of a smile flickered across his face. “Who would have though it, eh? Once, we faced each other on the battlefield. Now, we’re family.”
“Which is why I’m going to have to save your ass,” she said, smiling. “Luckily, it doesn’t look like these cursed fae have any idea what the hell is going on.”
“They definitely know they have a new snack standing in front of them.” He cut his eyes her way. “Other than that, I think you’re right. There’s a strange vacant look in their eyes. Nothing like what I saw in Lorcan.”
“Because Lorcan is the source,” Reyna whispered, suddenly understanding. He might lose his grip on his old self, but he would always be aware of who he was and what he was doing. But when the curse spread to others, they would lose their grip on reality. It was exactly what the Ruin had shown her in her dreams. Unseelie would spread his magic across the world, twisting minds, breaking them, until every soul alive was nothing but a shell of their former self.
Reyna shivered.
“Which means this curse is spread through blood, isn’t it?” Thane asked, staring down the enemy. Reyna nodded. It made sense. She and Nollaig had wondered why they hadn’t caught the curse yet. They were both Fomorians, but that shouldn’t have made them immune to a magical affliction. The great winged creatures were powerful, but they weren’t indestructible. If they were, they wouldn’t have set an elaborate magical trap called the Ruin.
They hadn’t caught it yet because they hadn’t feasted on blood, and no one had feasted on theirs.
One of the cursed fae pounced. He leapt toward Thane, fingers curved into claws. With a shout, Thane whirled on the attacker, slicing his blade through the humid air. The blade made contact with the cursed fae’s flesh. Droplets of blood flicked onto Thane’s face.
Reyna rushed forward. She spun her dagger toward the nearest fae and slammed the sharp edge into the back of her neck. Ripping the dagger out of the enemy, she jumped toward the next attacker. The shadow fae roared, the strands of his hair limp and caked in dirt. He flashed his teeth toward her. They were jagged and sharp, just like the wood king’s had once been.
This curse was changing them. They were becoming something else.
And they needed her help.
Unfortunately, she’d have to kill a few of them first. If she could avoid it, she would, but she had to protect her sister.
The cursed fae leapt toward her. She had no choice but to raise her dagger between them. The blade cut deep into his neck, killing him instantly. Another fae slammed into her side and knocked her sideways. She stumbled, and pain crashed through her arm.
Reyna glanced down at the dagger piercing her armor. The leather had stopped it in its tracks, but the force of the blow still sent waves of pain through her arm. With a growl, she yanked the dagger out of her armor and threw it back at her attacker. It thunked into the fae’s forehead. Shock flickered across the enemy’s face as she tumbled to the ground.
Heaving, Reyna turned to Thane with the song of battle in her blood. He’d felled the other attackers. Blood painted his boots and his face.
He grimaced. “They look like creatures from old children’s tales. Not fae.”
“The curse. It’s done this to them.” Reyna wiped the blood from her dagger and slid it back into the sheathe. “We probably shouldn’t stay here. Others might have heard the fight.”
Thane paled. “I hope we never have to see a cursed fae again.”
Reyna nodded but kept her thoughts to herself. She did not think they’d be that lucky.
* * *
When they reached Craobhan, Reyna wanted nothing more than to crawl into a bed and sleep for days. But there was little time to rest. They sought out The Green Rose, and Thane, Rhain, and Reyna settled in at a table while Glencora slept. Nollaig stood watch outside her door, just in case anyone tried to sneak up on them. There were wards around the village. No one could enter who meant the villagers harm, but Reyna and Glencora did not call this place home.
“Did you find anything?” Reyna asked, wearily settling into the table next to Thane. Rhain took up his favorite spot along the back wall between the two battered shields. He’d read some pages the night before, but they’d never had a chance to speak about them.
“Nothing to help us with the curse,” Rhain muttered, tipping the Wood Whiskey back into his open mouth. His neck bobbed as he drank. When he slammed the tankard down on the table, he motioned for another. “Though I did read some interesting tidbits about the Namhaid.”
Reyna perked up, straightening on the wooden bench. “What does it say?”
“You might not like it.”
“Great.” A heavy stone tumbled through her gut. “Well, go on then. Get it over with.”
“I’d hate for you to stab the messenger.” He tossed the book across the table. It fell with a heavy thump before her, dust swirling off the leather cover. Even after all this time, dirt still clung to the creases, as if it had sat there for centuries.
With a frown, Reyna cracked open the cover. “Which page?”
“Six.” He grunted. “That damn number. Always comes up, over and over again.”
