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Moire.
Whatever had pulled me out had dragged me far enough that Moire was half out of the quicksand and crawling the rest of the way out. Her top half dropped onto the hard dirt, and she took shallow, rasping breaths.
We’d almost died.
“What in the heat cycle,” Kieran rasped as he dropped beside me. He gripped my shoulders, turning me toward him as he scanned my face and asked, “What happened?”
He was somehow more handsome than before despite the cut on his cheek. I reached out, touching it and getting dirt on his face. The buzz between us jolted, and I winced. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get you dirty.”
I went to remove my hand, but he grasped it and murmured, “Don’t you dare apologize.”
“Of course she’s touching the Winter King,” Curry spat from across the quicksand.
I tore my attention from Kieran and glanced at Curry, Lesli, and Mackenna, who were standing in front of the quicksand.
I hoped like hell the three of them fell in. For the first time, I believed I might be able to kill someone … and that terrified me.
Something raked across the dirt behind me, and I spun around to see vines heading back into the hedges. I shook my head, wondering if I was imagining things. I’d been oxygen deprived.
I connected to my magic by accident but couldn’t do it when I was trying. That sounded like my luck.
Moire heaved herself up, and I stood to help her. We needed to get away, and I wasn’t sure she could walk. She was still gasping while hunched over, and Curry and the others were behind us.
Sighing loudly, Kieran rasped, “Go help her. I’ll hold them off.”
My steps faltered. Had I heard the king right? He was protecting two Summer Fae from their own kind?
I decided not to question it and to trust him since he’d vowed to be my ally.
When I reached Moire, I watched Lesli move forward to walk into the quicksand, but Curry caught her arm and said, “Look at them. It has to be gainmheach luath.”
“That’s not just a horror story they tell the young?” Mackenna tilted her head and dipped the tip of her toe into the sand. It sank. “Frozen waterfalls. It’s real.”
“Go. I’ll catch up to you,” Kieran said as he moved forward.
The jackass truly thought I would leave him. I helped Moire to the side by the hedge to sit and said, “Stay here and yell if you need me.”
She nodded, leaning against the hedge as I turned to find Curry moving around on one edge like I’d done while the women went on the other side.
“Fight them,” I commanded, rushing to Curry. “I got this jackass.”
“Jackass?” Kieran’s brows furrowed, but he shook his head as if he’d decided it didn’t matter what I meant. “You are hurt.”
“I’m fine.” My lungs had been screaming, but with the last several breaths, my energy had returned. “I promise.”
He nodded, though his jaw clenched. We drew our swords, and he ran to fight the women as I focused on Curry.
Curry lunged, and I lifted my sword. Our blades clanged as he moved toward me. He swung his blade hard, not holding back like Kieran had, but he wasn’t as strong as the Winter King.
I blocked each blow, and from Kieran’s side, I heard the sickening sound of a blade cutting skin.
The crowd near us went wild, and the heat intensified as a body thudded to the ground. Lesli. She clutched her throat, and blood spilled between her fingers.
Something hard crashed into my chest, and I stumbled back. I caught myself and lifted my sword, staring at Curry again. He’d used my distraction against me.
I knew better.
He swung, aiming for my head, and I ducked. His sword whooshed inches above my head. While I was down, I kicked him in the knee, and he fell backward … into the quicksand.
