“Inoursituation,” I amended. It wasn’t as if a handsome face would sway my father, or Robert’s.
“You didn’t tell her?” Tadhg’s eyes widened. Clicking his tongue, he shook his head, then stood and righted the chair. “Dearest Aveen. My chivalrous brother wants me to kill you.”
14
Tadhg didn’t sayhe was going to kill me. I must’ve misheard. That’s what this was. Some sort of misunderstanding. Even so, I stepped back. Away from Rían. Away from Tadhg. Until the backs of my legs collided with the bed. “I’m sorry, my brain is all muddled. I thought you said Rían wants you to kill me?”
“Why must you always be so feckin’ awful?” Rían snapped. “Aveen, look at me.” He took my shoulders, twisting me to face him. “It’s not as bad as it sounds.” His smile would’ve been more reassuring if it had reached his eyes. “If my brother kills you, you can come back.”
Bloody hell.
Hedidwant to kill me.
This was my punishment for bargaining with a fae.
I pulled free of his grasp.You can come back. “Humans cannot return from the dead. That’s impossible.”
“I assure you that it is quite possible. His lips are cursed, you see.” From over Rían’s shoulder, Tadhg winked and blew me a kiss. “All you need to do is kiss him, die, and then come back. Your father cannot expect you to marry Robert if you’re dead, and your family can save face.”
Cursed lips. Cursed to look like a woman’s fantasy. A Prince of Tearmann.
Only one being on this island had the power to kill with a kiss. “You’re the Gancanagh, aren’t you?” I whispered.
“At your eternal service,” Tadhg quipped, sweeping into a low bow. “Although I’d prefer if you called me Tadhg. Less formal.” His emerald eyes flashed. “Less dreadful.”
With me dead, Keelynn would be free to marry Robert. She’d get what she wanted.
And so would I.IfI came back. What if Rían was lying? What if I kissed the Gancanagh—kissedTadhg—died, anddidn’tcome back? I glanced at where Tadhg lounged on the chair, batting my curtains like a lazy cat.
“I don’t know if I can do it.”
“It’s the only way for us to be together.” Rían brushed my hair from my face. “Is our love not worth the sacrifice?”
Tadhg snorted.
If I didn’t know better, I would almost believe the tenderness in Rían’s gaze. But it was a lie. Rían had no feelings for me, and he certainly had no intention of marrying me. This was all part of our bargain. If I didn’t come back from the dead, Rían wouldn’t get his favor. He seemed selfish enough to collect on such things.
I could live, marry Robert, and be miserable. Or I could die, come back, and be free. The thought of Keelynn’s face when she’d found out about our betrothal played over and over in my head. I had spent my entire life looking after her. Why should I stop now?
Marrying Robert wouldn’t just ruin my life. It would ruin hers as well.
“Love is worth the sacrifice,” I said. Not my fictional love for Rían but my love for my sister. “I’ll do it.”
Rían’s thumbs stroked my cheekbones as he peered down at me, searching my face. “You’re sure? You’d really die to be with me?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Tadhg turn to watch us with a thoughtful expression.
The only thing I knew for certain was that, if I had to choose between my own happiness and Keelynn’s, I’d choose her every time. Even if it meant a visit to the underworld that could well be permanent.
“Yes,” I said. “This is what I want.”
Rían kissed me, hard and fast, then let me go to drag a hand through his hair. “Right. Yes. Right.” He began pacing along the rug between the fireplace and the bed, the floorboards creaking underfoot. “We should do this straightaway. The quicker you die, the quicker you’ll be back.”
Tadhg stood, his shoulders tensed and chiseled features draped in shadows. “What’s the matter? Afraid she’ll change her mind if you don’t rush her into it?”
Rían’s eyes narrowed. Cinnamon magic hummed in the air.
“I’m not going to change my mind,” I assured Rían, catching him by the sleeve. “But I would like a little time to say goodbye.”