“Yes,” I said softly and reached up to tug the necklace over my head so I could hand over the ashes. “This is the Kelley bloodline. Well… One is missing aside from me,” I acknowledged even though I knew he would already be aware of that. I was sure he knew everything.
He barely glanced at the bottle before popping it into an inner pocket of his jacket.
“I have no claim on Amira’s blood,” he informed me dismissively, and I breathed a sigh of relief that I would not have to go back and kill my cousin. Did it mean that she was the only Kelley who was truly innocent if he did not require her sacrifice?
“I did everything as you asked,” I hedged cautiously.
“And I rewarded you. I brought your mate to you and gave you the opportunity with him that you desired.”
I nodded with a painful swallow.
“He… He may reject me.”
“Yes. I did warn you about that. You chose to stay for him regardless,” he reminded without any remorse.
“Yes,” I whispered, not wanting to cry in front of this ruthlesscreature. “I just… I had to know.”
He grunted and then turned back to his drink.
“Then are you ready to finish our deal?” he asked.
I was severely tempted in that hopeless moment to be done now that I knew the future I had held on for might be out of reach. It had been weeks of silence from Rian only to be fed mere crumbs of affection a few hours ago. And it was not enough. Not after what I suffered just for a chance at that perfect life we might have shared. He said he wanted to try, but I was not sure I trusted him to make a meaningful attempt. Or that I would even survive this heartache long enough for him to figure it out.
But I raised my chin and shook my head stubbornly.
“I will not leave him yet. Not until I help him protect the Four Courts and avenge the fey.”
The god did not look at me as he raised his glass up to his lips again and paused.
“There are no guarantees, Nuala. Fate remains beyond my control, and there are limits to how I may interfere with mortals as youwellknow,” he reminded me.
He was utterly nonchalant as if we were not discussing the end of my pathetic life. The moment I could decide to sever the thin thread of hope that was barely tethering me to the world anymore.
I thought of the cabin I had escaped to in my dreams. The man who was supposed to be my peace after the war that was waged upon my mind and my flesh. The promise of our beautiful children that had helped me through the very worst of the torture.
It was faded now. The joy and laughter had been going quiet in my heart as the future slowly died inside of me. Everything I had held on for had begun to crumble like ash slipping through my fingers, just as I’d finally had it all within my grasp. The life I had bargained my family’s bloodline for, my reason for enduring a hellish existence, was slippingthrough my fingers. It would soon be gone completely, and I knew it would leave me with no more reason to carry on with a soul in tatters.
But there was still the faintest thrum of hope beating in my stubborn chest. And I could not abandon it. Not yet. So I raised my chin even as the tears gathered in my eyes and met his indifferent gaze when it was finally turned toward me again. He already knew my decision.
“I may not need the full fey lifetime I bargained for, but it is still important for me to help him win this war.”
“As I said, I cannot guarantee victory. But I will come for your blood and ashes when his war against this world is over either way. And you want nothing in lieu of the life promised to you originally?” he verified.
“Death will bring peace. That is my only wish now.”
It was dark by the time I returned to Autumn Court, and it was clear something was wrong when Darragh appeared in front of me almost immediately. He did not say a word as he took hold of my arm with a firm but gentle grip and then dragged me straight into his own portal.
I glanced up as the portal closed behind us and jerked to a stop in shock at the number of fey that were standing in Rian’s yurt. I had never seen so many strange people in his personal space since he usually held all his meetings in the war tent. It was only ever the other riders and me who were permitted to be in his home.
Everyone turned toward us, but my attention had fixed upon only one man.
Rian had been pacing, barking orders too quickly for me to fully understand his ancient dialect of Sìth Gaeilge, but he froze when our gazes locked. There was a frantic glint in his eye that was momentarily softened with relief before it evolved into apalpable rage. The crowd of fey parted for him even before he stepped in my direction and began stalking across the room. His strides were clipped, and every muscle in his powerful frame was coiled as if ready for battle.
But what was even more unsettling to everyone else in the room were his shadows, which began steaming off his arms and shoulders with every step.
I could vaguely hear the fearful mutters all around us as everyone took another step away from me and out of Rian’s path. And yet I could only watch, enraptured as my mate came toward me like a tempest of unbridled anger. His power and wrath did not frighten me, and in spite of the intensity emanating off him, he cupped my face with utmost tenderness when he reached me. My eyes closed as he let healing magic flow into me even as he checked me over and found no injuries. I could feel his shadows clinging to my lips and wrapping around my pulse point, as if they also needed to ensure that I was safe.
I could feel an agitated thrum within his magic that felt wild and unsafe, so I carefully exerted my will over his shadows to help diffuse them before they hurt someone. Then I opened my eyes and looked up in time to see his relief as I took on some of the burden of power.
