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Sweat dripped down my back. I had nothing left. I turned, stumbling, and then I was in Nathaniel’s arms as he sprinted toward the portal.
Nine
Evie
We had the sword. And we were all still alive.
Kyla gripped the hilt as if it were her lifeline. In many ways, it was.
“I’m taking this to Finvarra before anyone realizes we have it,” she said.
I studied the sword. It was glowing gold in the sun. “I’m coming with you.”
Kyla opened her mouth to protest, but I gave her a look. After a brief hesitation, she shrugged.
We both knew Kyla wasn’t her best self around Finvarra. I could say the same for Finvarra, but he’d had centuries of experience plotting and planning. If Kyla weren’t careful, she’d end up in some other awful bargain with the unseelie king.
Nathaniel didn’t look pleased, but there was no doubt he needed to stay behind. Finvarra and Nathaniel weren’t exactly buddies.
“Are you sure you’re okay? You don’t have any power left.”
“Finvarra won’t hurt me.”
Nathaniel nodded, taking the backpack I held out. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He leaned closer, and awareness thundered through my body. I knew what that tone meant, and my hormones were celebrating.
Lust curled through my belly. I wanted him with a kind of desperation that would have embarrassed me if I didn’t know he wanted me the same way.
Kyla had driven, so I followed her in Liam’s car. Since I was covered in various body fluids, I’d pay to have it cleaned before I returned it. I needed to talk to him soon. Now that I’d accepted that I was his Alpha’s mate, I wanted to make sure he was doing okay.
I jolted as a red truck swerved into my lane with no warning. “Asshole.”
My reflexes were slowing down. I needed to rest…
“Focus, Evie.”
The Duke Gardens came into view, and I parked, following Kyla’s loping stride to the portal. A few humans were standing near the fence, staring curiously at the red-pink portal. Kyla showed them her teeth, and they backed up as she scaled the fence with one hand, her other hand clenched around the sword. Her knuckles had turned white, and I couldn’t blame her. She was so close to finally ending her bargain with Finvarra.
I climbed the fence and followed Kyla through the portal.
Finvarra allowed us immediate entry to his library, where he was cradling a glass of something dark. His eyes brightened, shining an eerie gold as he took in the sword. Placing his glass on the table next to him, he swept his gaze over the two of us.
“Difficult day?”
Kyla opened her mouth. I elbowed her, and she clamped it closed, striding forward and handing the sword to Finvarra.
He took it, face blank as usual. But his eyes fired with vengeance as he surveyed the golden hilt.
“Our deal is now complete.” Kyla recited the words formally. She hissed, holding up her hand. The bronze mark was slowly fading. Relief made my head swim.
Finvarra watched her for a long moment. “Something tells me this is not the end for us.”
They stared at each other for a long moment. I fought the urge to back away.
Kyla just nodded at Finvarra and turned, stalking out the door.
“Nice work,” I told her as we walked out of the castle. “I thought you were going to try to rip his throat out for a moment there. Either that or…”
She gave me a look as we strolled back toward the portal. “There is noor.”
