Page 47 of Rory

Contempt filled her expression. “All living things end, Goblin. Someday even I shall go to eternal rest.”

“I would love to watch that, especially if you give me some time to open a bottle of champagne. Unhappily, I’m in a bit of a rush now. Here.” He removed a crystal, holding it on his palm and offering it to her like a piece of candy. “Eat this, and you don’t have to go on any longer. You can finally sleep.”

“I told you he wouldn’t listen.” Aosda entered the hall and stepped in front of her. “Put that thing away before I lose my temper, Goblin.”

Bodach sighed. “Now I suppose I’m to quiver with fear at such a threat? Just how long has it been since you’ve fought a dark Fae, old man?”

“You should be afraid, Gobster.” Mirry trudged into view, wearing only her black pelt of fur and a jaunty white fedora. “I told you this was a bad idea, Da-da. Come on, Klee. Let’s go back to my place and start up my new fire pit. My humans just installed it and it’s great. We can roast marshmallows and make s’mores until Jake arrives.”

“I thought you wiped that mortal’s mind, sweetheart,” Aosda said, frowning.

The giantess rolled her eyes. “I did. He just keeps coming back to the compound. I think it’s like sleepwalking, you know? Or that thing salmons do when they want to breed.”

“Will you shut up?” Bodach snapped at her. “I don’t care about you, Jake, or these two doddering fools. Get off my property before I feed you to my power.”

“Go back, my dear. I shall join you and Aosda at your home shortly.” After the old mage and the giantess walked away, Chlíodhna regarded Bodach. Instead of anger in her eyes there was something softer. “If you stop this and make amends to your victims, your punishment will not be an eternity of torment and suffering. The universe will permit you to finally die. I think that may be the only way you find peace in your existence.”

“Peace.” He spat on the ground between them. “Do you really believe you can stop me with that sort of dismal offer? I will have my treasure, and use it to assume my rightful place among my kind. Go and play with your lover and that idiot ape while you can.”

“I heard that,” Mirry called from elsewhere in the castle, making the walls and the ground shake.

Bodach saw how the immortal bitch was looking at him now, as if she pitied him. “I don’t need your sympathy.” He cupped one ear. “Do you hear that? It’s the sound of the world you know teetering on the brink of destruction.”

“No, that was the sound of your last ally abandoning you and sighing with relief, you foolish creature.” Chlíodhna’s expression grew strangely commiserating. “I’ve done much wrong in my past, and I now exist as I do because of that. I have accepted that I must pay the price for my transgressions. I spoke the truth to you because I understand why you hate this world, and Elphyne. I could be your final and greatest ally, but you’ve done nothing but insult me and those I care for most.”

“Mirry talks shit about you behind your back, you know.” He laughed at her. “And Aosda only uses you for your power and whatever else you two do. Are you even capable of having sex with someone else? I’ve always wondered.”

“What little hope that remained for you shall soon vanish,” she said, ignoring his taunting. “It’s not your fault that you were born like this, but you’ve had ample time to learn and change. Stop this before the universe takes its own vengeance for–”

“Shut up.” Bodach lashed out and battered her with all the power he possessed. The ancient bitch disappeared in a black cloud that dashed itself against a wall and vanished. He knew she hadn’t been killed by his attack, but at least she was gone. “You know nothing about me. None of you ever could. I will be the King of all the Fae, and when I am crowned, my first act as monarch shall be to toss this mudball into its ugly star, so you may all burn.”