“Reyna?” a voice shouted into the depths of the trees.
Lorcan’s lips flatlined. He knew that voice. In any other circumstance, he’d be overjoyed to hear it, but one or both of them might die from this encounter.
Thane stepped through the brush, following Wingallock, and came to a sudden stop when he saw an unconscious, blood-drenched Reyna in Lorcan’s arms. His nostrils flared, and the branches of his tattoo snapped tight.
“What have you done to her,” Thane growled, stalking toward him. A sword whistled from behind his back, sharp and deadly. “I knew it wasn’t you. I knew it!”
“Thane, wait,” Lorcan said hoarsely, swallowing down the pain. “It really is me now. The Cursed One was in control before. He led her to the waterfalls and drank her blood. I managed to get control again, just long enough to bring her back to you so that you might save her.”
“You’re lying!” Thane shouted. His entire body trembled with rage.
“I know why you would think that, but you have to listen to me,” he pleaded. “If you don’t take her, she’s going to die.”
“Put her down,” Thane seethed. “And step away from her. Where the hell are her damn clothes?”
“Back at the waterfall.” Slowly, Lorcan lowered Reyna to the ground. He gently laid her across the fallen leaves, a knife slicing his heart in two.
“Now, step back.”
Lorcan blinked at Thane. “Listen to me, Thane. You need to get out of here. I don’t know how long it will be before the Cursed One regains control. He’ll kill all of you.”
“Stop talking like that.” Thane waved the sword his way. “And step the hell away from Reyna Darragh.”
With a heavy sigh, Lorcan took a step back. “If the Cursed One was in control, he wouldn’t bring Reyna back to you like this. He wanted to kill her, Thane. I’m bringing her to you to save her.”
Thane swung the sword his way. Lorcan stepped back.
“This could be another one of your tricks,” he said with narrowed eyes, slowly leaning to Reyna’s side to feel the pulse in her wrist. “Another twisted attempt to get us to trust you.”
“It would be a poor attempt.”
“She’s alive, but she needs healing.” Thane glared up at him. “I should kill you for this.”
“Do you know what, Thane? You probably should.” Lorcan’s hands hung heavily by his sides, all the fight seeping out of him to join Reyna’s blood on the ground. He didn’t think there was a way to undo this curse, and even if there were, it might be far too late once they found it. How many would die before the Cursed One was done with this world? How many would suffer?
“Dammit, Lorcan,” Thane muttered. He collected Reyna into his arms and stood, his sword forgotten on the ground. “Run. Now. Hold off your bloody curse as long as you can and get far away from here. We’re trying to save you. We…can it hear us? The curse?”
“It knows everything.”
“Fuck. Just get the hell away from here and don’t stop fighting.” Branches snapped in the distance. Thane’s head jerked toward them. “And go now. I don’t think the others will be as understanding.”
Lorcan hesitated, his eyes locked on Reyna. “What about—”
“I will take care of her. I promise you. Now, go.”
Lorcan took one last look at his beloved’s face, and then he ran.
29
Reyna
Heat spread through Reyna’s neck. Light danced against her closed lids. A strange scent whispered into her nose. Fire and nettles, snow and ice. She flipped open her eyes to see Nollaig peering down at her. Well, the shadows beneath her hood, anyway.
“There she is,” Nollaig announced. “I told you she’d be fine.”
Several more faces blurred into view, all furrowed in concern. Her sister, Glencora. Thane. Even the wood fae male from Craobhan was there, too. Memories rushed into her head, awakening alarm.
“Oh my gods.” She pushed up from the ground, her body trembling. Her fingers found her neck, but the blood was gone. Even her skin felt smooth, as if the attack had never happened.
