“Bilson!” the captain bellowed.
The door flew open. A scrawny man in a billowy white shirt blew in, sword at the ready.
The captain’s smile grew. “Bring the irons.”
The man stepped out only to return a moment later wearing a pair of leather gloves and brandishing a pair of iron manacles.
He lunged, encasing my wrist in fire. A long chain stretched between me and the man called Bilson.
I may not have been able to use my magic, but I didn’t need magic to destroy them both. As if he knew what I was thinking, the man holding my chain gave it a swift tug, keeping me from wrapping the iron length around the captain’s throat.
When I got out of this, I would make Caden Merriweather’s journey to death last an eternity. Make him wish he weren’t a true immortal.
Before I could voice my threats aloud, something sharp and cold slid across my throat, and the kiss of a blade stole my final breath.
40
AVEEN
Soft fingers grazedthe back of my shift. Even from behind closed eyelids, I could see sunlight brightening the bedroom. Dawn had arrived on this dark day. By some miracle, I’d managed to get some sleep, which was a blessing considering what I had to face today.
I hadn’t a clue what Caden would do when he found out I had no intention of staying with him. But as long as I had Rían by my side, I would be fine. Knowing we would be doing this together made it a little easier to breathe, even though I feared for his safety. We’d spent the evening distracting each other, but this morning, there would be no time for such things.
Suddenly, the tightness that had lived in my chest since Caden had shown up in Hollowshade loosened. It felt like the times Rían had cut me free of my stay. My breaths came easier. My being felt lighter. Such a strange sensation for the heaviness of the day.
My eyes flashed open, and I stared up at the ceiling high above. When I rolled toward my prince to wake him, I found the other side of the bed empty. I’d been so exhausted from the highs and lows of yesterday that I’d fallen asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.
“Rían?”
The sheets slipped to my waist as I sat up and stretched my hands to the ceiling. My stomach let out a pitiful growl. Hopefully I had some time to eat before we left for the port. I changed quickly and evanesced down to the dining room, just to practice. This magic lark was awfully handy.
Three heads looked up from the table, not four.
Two empty place settings sat across from my sister and Ruairi.
“Where’s Rían?” I dropped onto my chair and reached for the ladle in the dish of scrambled eggs.
Tadhg glanced around the table like he hadn’t realized his brother’s chair remained empty. “How the hell should I know?”
Keelynn sipped quietly from her cup of tea. “Was he not with you?”
I shook my head.
Across from me, Ruairi stuffed a hunk of toast into his mouth. When he caught me watching, he averted his gaze. Very suspicious.
I dumped the eggs onto my plate and jabbed the ladle toward him. “You know something.”
He pointed to his closed mouth as he chewed dramatically and mumbled some incoherent response.
“Swallow it. Now. Where is he?”
The pooka winced, and I knew—I bloody wellknew—exactly what he was about to say.
“Don’t get angry,” Ruairi began.
Had those words ever calmed an irate woman before? “I’m already angry. Now, tell me.”
“Yer man should be back any minute.”