“Rían—”
“When I leave, I will not return. I’m begging you, do not let your foolish emotions get in the way. Swear to never set foot in the Forest and let me save you.”
Hesitantly, she extended her hand. My fingers slipped into hers, magic binding us to our promises. “You will always be mine,” I told her, wishing that it didn’t have to be like this. That our ending could be a happy one.
But villains didn’t get happily-ever-afters.
Those belonged to the heroes.
32
The momentI set foot outside the jail, I saw Ruairi standing across the square, a head taller than everyone else, golden eyes fixed on me. He raked a hand through his inky hair and had the good sense to look properly worried.
He’d been responsible for Aveen’s safety in Tearmann . . . and failed.
He’d been responsible for her safety in Airren . . .and failed.
And before this week was through, he would face my wrath.
But not here. Not in this town filled with humans going about their days as if the world was right as feckin’ rain. I nodded my chin toward the Arches, taking the short amount of time it took for me to get inside to try and collect the torrent of emotion swirling within me.
There was a room at the back, walls painted as black as my mood and built with no windows. Inside, a lone couple shared pints at a table near the entrance. “Get out.”
“Ye can’t just kick us—”
“I said,GET OUT!”
The pair launched upright and scurried toward the door. It slammed closed, leaving me alone with the pooka.
“You were meant to keep her safe,” I whispered, shadows collecting in my chest.
Ruairi bobbed his head once. “And I failed.”
No excuse. No begging. A simple statement of fact.
“Yes. You failed.” I withdrew my dagger.
Ruairi’s eyes began to glow, but he held his ground. “I’m no good to you dead.”
“You’re no good to me alive either.”
“Let me help you save her.”
“What makes you think I would trust you after you’ve failed her time and again?”
His jaw worked beneath his short beard. “Because you have no one else.”
“Tadhg—”
“Is likely drunk.”
“I will find someone else.” The only person I truly trusted was in prison for murder. But of all the Danú, and despite their many,manyfailings, I mistrusted Tadhg and Ruairi the least.
“We both know that’s a load of bollocks,” Ruairi ground out. “Just tell me what you need me to do, and I will do it.”
“You want to help? Fine. Before she’s executed at dawn tomorrow, they’ll offer her confession. That’s our window. If we miss it, she’s fecked. You’ll be the priest. I will get you in, but it’s up to you to get her out. And if you fail—”
He braced his arms across his broad chest, nodding once. “I won’t fail.”