“They attack. And they attack at the slightest provocation,” Whispen supplies. “Very terrifying. White creatures with beady eyes and gaping mouths. And arms that drag behind them.”
Macha smiles. “Go on.”
“And then there’s the ones who live in the trees.” Whispen does indeed go on. “But that’s not all. The exiles now live in peace with the dwellers.”
Macha frowns. “Noted.”
“So there may be a few bumps on the path.” Morrigan shrugs. “It could be worse.”
Finnian laughs at that, though it sounds more of a scoff. “All right, tell me more of this insane plan of yours.”
“Soon,” Morrigan hedges.
“When do you plan to go?” Finnian asks.
“You three leave in a few days, maybe more,” Morrigan answers. “I have but one more errand we must run first.”
They do it again. They look at each other. I point to them both. “You two are up to something.” I squint at them. “I don’t like it. What are these errands?”
“We need another.”
“Another what?” Kieran presses.
“You want to wake another god.” Finnian, again, figures it out. This is why he is the smart one.
“Next round,” Donn interrupts, slamming pints on the table. “On me.”
I spin around first to grab one. “He speaks!”
Donn leans over the bar, his eyes brown and warm and familiar somehow, though I only see him on the rare occasions I’m out this far. But there is something else there.
For a moment I swear I see Tadhg imposed over his features. As though Donn was the glamour all along.
Then it’s gone.
I set my pint down and rub my eyes, laughing because Donn is still staring at me.
“Orion,” Donn says, leaning forward a little more. “We are going to need to get something from you.”
“Whatever it is you need, I am at your service.” My words feel slurred more than they should. I glare at the glass.
Did he… No, he wouldn’t drug me.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” Donn smirks and again he flashes between Tadhg and himself. “This is going to hurt.”
“What?”
That’s when he slams his hand inside my chest.
Fire. Ice. Both at once.
My vision goes white and I can’t breathe, can’t think, can’t?—
6
Ash
This.Bitch.
