Her nails bit into my bicep. “What do you mean you don’t know? You just ripped out his bloody heart and you don’t know how long he’ll be dead?”
My stomach twisted even as I lifted my shoulders in a shrug. “I stab hearts, I don’t steal them. This was my first time using the Queen’s spell.”
Her hand flew to her throat, her face paling. “What if you did it wrong?”
I’d gone over the feckin’ spell at least twenty times. “I didn’t do it wrong.”
“Then why isn’t he waking up?” Her voice rose with panic.
“Because it takes a little time.”
“It does?”
“Probably.” What if Ihaddone something wrong? What if I’d actually killed him?
She dragged her hands through her curls, then started gesturing wildly toward the dog. “Put it back. Hurry. Before it’s too late.”
“Stop panicking. He’ll be fine.” Hopefully.
“This is all my fault. Why did I suggest taking someone’s heart?”
Ruairi sucked in a breath, and relief spilled through my chest, loosening my lungs.
Aveen gasped and reached for the dog’s hand. “Ruairi?”
His eyes opened, no longer a golden hue but black as pitch. The fang-toothed grin was the same, though. “Did ye miss me, human?”
I stuffed my hands into my pockets so neither of them could see how they trembled. “I told you he’d be fine.”
Aveen ignored me completely. “How are you feeling?”
He was awake and talking. What more did she need to know?
Ruairi stared down at their joined hands with his lips pressed together. “I feel…empty.”
Ah, yes. The emptiness. Sometimes—especially at times like this—I missed the peaceful side of that hollow feeling.
After a beat, he withdrew his hand from hers, sat up, and swung his legs off the edge of the bed. Pink stained Aveen’s cheeks as she watched Ruairi stand and start buttoning his shirt without so much as a second glance in her direction.
She eased to her feet and swiped her hands down her skirts. “Right. Well…” She cleared her throat. “I suppose that is a good thing. Wouldn’t want you scared when you face the Queen.”
Ruairi snorted but didn’t comment.
“I suppose…I should…um…go down and see if Keelynn needs any help serving lunch.” Her skirts swished and swayed as she hurried toward the door.
The thought of her being upset left my own heart breaking. I might not approve of their closeness, but I couldn’t bear to see her distraught. I evanesced into the hallway, catching Aveen before she reached the stairs. “Don’t worry. The moment we return his heart, he’ll be back to his normal, irritating self.”
Her lips rolled together, and although she looked away, I saw the tears clinging to her lashes. “Do you promise?”
I collected her in a hug, squeezing her tight. “I swear.”
* * *
The castle’s crowded courtyard reminded me of a cattle mart. The men who’d been standing guard outside the gates had come inside to join their wives and children hiding behind the wards. Together, Tadhg and I had shifted thirteen cottages. Nothing to be sniffed at, but it wasn’t enough. Every night these humans stayed together was another night their lives were at risk.
I would’ve evanesced straight to my room, but I’d already expended too much magic. My arms were heavier than lead, and my legs felt as if they could give out at any moment. Keeping my head down, I squeezed between men and women who smelled of sweat and smoke.
My boot barely met the first step leading up to the castle when someone called my name.