If he didn’t succeed in defeating the witch, the Danú would be left with the Queen. Someone had to stay behind and protect our people.
“This will be a mercy,” I assured my wife. “You’ll be ending a cursed life with a cursed blade.”
Something flickered in Keelynn’s glistening eyes.
“Thank you for giving me hope. Thank you for letting me love you.” Having her choose me was more than I could’ve hoped for. More than I deserved.
She took my hand, pressing something cold and hard against my palm. My ring. A ring to neutralize curses. The dagger wascursed. My beautiful, brilliant wife had just given me the key to surviving this. I was about to slip it on my finger . . .
Until I realized what would happen.
Fiadh never forgives. Fiadh never forgets.
The hateful witch would never let Keelynn or I survive this. The moment she learned we had thwarted her plans, she’d hunt us down. How could I expect the woman I loved to remain hidden in a castle with me for the rest of her life? What sort of life would that be for her? For me?
The tip of the dagger kissed my chest.
I couldn’t do it.
I let my forehead fall against my wife’s, looking into her beautiful gray eyes one final time, and said, “Thank you for setting me free.”
Then I held my breath as the woman I loved thrust the blade into my chest.
34
Out of darkness shines a light.
Bringing day to darkest night.
Find your soul’s one true mate.
For she will save you from your fate.
35
My eyes flashedopen to find a gray sky looming above. Pain lanced through my very marrow; lightning flew through my veins. My heart beat so hard and strong it rattled my ribcage.
“Kiss her.Quickly,” a voice called from the distance.
A voice I knew.
Rían.
That’s when I saw Keelynn lying on the grass, her arm outstretched toward me. Rían shoved my shoulder. My body sprang into action, rolling her over, panic seizing my chest when I met sightless eyes. With the world tilting, my lips claimed hers, tasting blood and magic, quivering as she gasped her last breath.
A woman shouted for Keelynn from the other side of the path.
Aveen.
How the hell was she here?
Fiadh’s body lay prone in front of the gates, black hair spread across blood-drenched grass. It didn’t take long to figure out what had happened.
Keelynn must’ve killed Fiadh.
The cursed dagger in Rían’s hand disappeared into a sheath at his side.
He’d brought me back.