The magic from human blood carries traces of iron.”
I closed my eyes for a second, focusing my thoughts. “I understand Aoife is your family and you don’t want to see her harmed. What we need is to come up with a way to stop her we can agree on. Niamh had her imprisoned in the fey globe when we met. That seems like a justified punishment.”
“She managed to escape the fey globe, though,” Niamh said, glancing Aodhan.
I wasn’t sure how to continue without accusing Saoirse, and I knew that wouldn’t be my best move. “Tighter security measures would have to be taken. I mean, there has to be a way to keep her trapped, right?”
Saoirse watched me, her expression tranquil. “Of course, Allison. Aoife has performed detestable acts against you and your family. I appreciate your compassion.”
My mouth opened, but I thought better and I closed it. Telling her about my desire to take Aoife’s life with my own hands wouldn’t be a good idea.
I took a deep breath and tried again. “My compassion is not for Aoife.”
Her returning smile melted my anger. There was no question why she was the most powerful member of her race. Just one look from Saoirse and you would hand her your soul.
“She’s hiding in the fháillan mine. We’ll need to sneak inside to get everyone out. What do we have to do to get her in the fey globe?” I spoke to everyone in the room, but it was something I was trying to work out in my own mind.
That’s going to be complicated, if she can see what you’re doing.
Doubt crossed Aodhan’s features. His mouth pressed into a thin line as he waited for Saoirse to speak.
“We need to contemplate our options,” she said, giving Aodhan a beguiling smile. He blinked and stood. Rubbing his hand over his buzzed hair, he walked to the corner of the room and back, frowning.
We’ll have to come up with two separate plans. One real plan, and one plan for Aoife to overhear. It won’t be easy, but it’s doable.
The hand around mine tightened. I forced myself to smile at Ethan, unsure how we’d be able to pull this off. Aoife would know we were coming for her, but could we take her by surprise?
“I can rally Deaghlan and my guards in two days time,” Saoirse said, tapping her finger on her lower lip.
It will have to be tomorrow, really Niamh thought.
We all nodded, making me think Niamh had communicated with the entire group.
After some more discussion on the logistics of our fake plan, a serving girl came to show us to our room to freshen up before dinner.
Remember to keep silent about our real plan, Allison. The only way we can finish this is if we have the element of surprise.
I’ll remember.
The girl brought us to the room I’d stayed in whenever I’d been a guest here. As she shut the door behind her, I felt hyper-aware that Ethan and I were alone in the same room he’d spent the night with me the first time. Nothing remarkable had happened, but we were very rarely alone.
As if he could read my mind, he turned and a slow smile lifted one side of his mouth.
“What?” I said.
He shrugged. “I was just thinking that in a few days there’s a good chance all this will be over.”
He advanced toward me, placing his hands on my hips.
“It’s hard to imagine my life going back to normal,” I said as my heart picked up speed.
“I don’t know if that will ever happen,” he said, his eyes glinting as he pulled me to him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, though it was difficult to speak when his lips touched the place where my neck met my shoulder.
“You,” he said each word between slow kisses until his lips were just below my ear, “are far from ordinary.”
“Hmm,” I said, not knowing if I could form a more intelligible reply.
It seemed he was done talking, because we were moving backward until my legs hit the bed. He pressed his hands on my shoulders until I sat and he hovered over me.
Seconds later, I was on my back and his arms were on either
I closed my eyes for a second, focusing my thoughts. “I understand Aoife is your family and you don’t want to see her harmed. What we need is to come up with a way to stop her we can agree on. Niamh had her imprisoned in the fey globe when we met. That seems like a justified punishment.”
“She managed to escape the fey globe, though,” Niamh said, glancing Aodhan.
I wasn’t sure how to continue without accusing Saoirse, and I knew that wouldn’t be my best move. “Tighter security measures would have to be taken. I mean, there has to be a way to keep her trapped, right?”
Saoirse watched me, her expression tranquil. “Of course, Allison. Aoife has performed detestable acts against you and your family. I appreciate your compassion.”
My mouth opened, but I thought better and I closed it. Telling her about my desire to take Aoife’s life with my own hands wouldn’t be a good idea.
I took a deep breath and tried again. “My compassion is not for Aoife.”
Her returning smile melted my anger. There was no question why she was the most powerful member of her race. Just one look from Saoirse and you would hand her your soul.
“She’s hiding in the fháillan mine. We’ll need to sneak inside to get everyone out. What do we have to do to get her in the fey globe?” I spoke to everyone in the room, but it was something I was trying to work out in my own mind.
That’s going to be complicated, if she can see what you’re doing.
Doubt crossed Aodhan’s features. His mouth pressed into a thin line as he waited for Saoirse to speak.
“We need to contemplate our options,” she said, giving Aodhan a beguiling smile. He blinked and stood. Rubbing his hand over his buzzed hair, he walked to the corner of the room and back, frowning.
We’ll have to come up with two separate plans. One real plan, and one plan for Aoife to overhear. It won’t be easy, but it’s doable.
The hand around mine tightened. I forced myself to smile at Ethan, unsure how we’d be able to pull this off. Aoife would know we were coming for her, but could we take her by surprise?
“I can rally Deaghlan and my guards in two days time,” Saoirse said, tapping her finger on her lower lip.
It will have to be tomorrow, really Niamh thought.
We all nodded, making me think Niamh had communicated with the entire group.
After some more discussion on the logistics of our fake plan, a serving girl came to show us to our room to freshen up before dinner.
Remember to keep silent about our real plan, Allison. The only way we can finish this is if we have the element of surprise.
I’ll remember.
The girl brought us to the room I’d stayed in whenever I’d been a guest here. As she shut the door behind her, I felt hyper-aware that Ethan and I were alone in the same room he’d spent the night with me the first time. Nothing remarkable had happened, but we were very rarely alone.
As if he could read my mind, he turned and a slow smile lifted one side of his mouth.
“What?” I said.
He shrugged. “I was just thinking that in a few days there’s a good chance all this will be over.”
He advanced toward me, placing his hands on my hips.
“It’s hard to imagine my life going back to normal,” I said as my heart picked up speed.
“I don’t know if that will ever happen,” he said, his eyes glinting as he pulled me to him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked, though it was difficult to speak when his lips touched the place where my neck met my shoulder.
“You,” he said each word between slow kisses until his lips were just below my ear, “are far from ordinary.”
“Hmm,” I said, not knowing if I could form a more intelligible reply.
It seemed he was done talking, because we were moving backward until my legs hit the bed. He pressed his hands on my shoulders until I sat and he hovered over me.
Seconds later, I was on my back and his arms were on either
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