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“Who? Me?” she asks, her eyes widening, one hand on her chest as if she’s completely surprised.
“Yes, you,” I snarl. “I’ve had enough of your snark. None of you Fae have been helpful. All your cryptic words and mysteries. The world has gone to hell in a handbasket, and I get it, the dark manipulated all of you too. Well congratulations, hope you understand now how much it sucks.”
Siobhan’s smile broadens, flashing her fangs, as her eyes gleam with delight.
“We must work together,” Dugald says, cutting Siobhan off from whatever she was about to say.
“Must? Pretty strong word coming from the guy who can’t give a single straight answer.”
“Quinn,” Moira says.
“No,” I shout. “No more Quinn. I’m done.”
Pressure is building in my head. Any moment it’s going to explode. I have no idea what will happen when it does, but I don’t want to find out.
“You’re just like your mother,” Dugald mutters under his breath and I’m not sure he said what I think he did, but it holds all my attention.
“What did you say?”
My voice is barely above a whisper, but the room has gone deathly quiet. The only sound is that of everyone breathing. Well, everyone except Siobhan who doesn’t seem to need to. I’m focused on Dugald, but Moira’s eyes widen and her lips purse in my peripheral.
“Nothing,” Dugald says, shaking his head.
“No,” I say.
A surreal calmness settles in my head. The noise is gone, the pressure dissipates, leaving only me. Here, alone, and focusing completely on Dugald. He frowns, his eyes narrow and dart from me to Moira, who tries to subtly shake her head.
“Stop,” I order Moira, pointing at her without turning to face her. “He said it; let him own it.”
“Fine.” He throws his hands up. “You’re too much like your mother.”
“You know her.” It’s a statement, not a question, and the look on his face says it all. “What happened to her? For real this time. No more lies.”
Moira gasps and Siobhan giggles. She is the only one of us who is enjoying herself.
“Quinn, the darkness is free. We have to—”
I stride right to him, tilting my head back and glaring, which cuts him off mid-sentence. I don’t speak, not out loud, but my will and intention are clear. He shuts his mouth and his jaw tenses, then he blinks.
“What. Happened. To. Her.”
ChapterSix
Dugald meetsmy glare with a steady gaze as we engage in a battle of wills. My heart beats so loud in my ears I’m sure that everyone here can hear it too. Dugald cracks first when his eyes dart to Moira.
“Tell me,” I demand.
Dugald looks back to me, then returns his gaze to Moira, clearly looking for help.
“You’ve cracked the egg,” Moira says. “You’ll nae be putting it back together now.”
Dugald makes a surprise move, brushing a lock of my hair away from my face. As his fingers lightly graze my skin, I suppress a shiver and hold back feelings fueled by memories I can’t recall but am dimly aware of.
“Tell me,” I repeat.
“There isn’t time,” Dugald says, speaking at last. “We have too much to do.”
“Make time,” I say. “Isn’t that the Fae way? Your realms run on a different time flow than my world.”
