“Or it will kill you. She isn’t exactly safe, either. I knew, when she was a child, her life would be filled with attempts on her life. For seven years, I kept those at bay. For the past ten, it was Rhys that was her protector, even if it was only for his own personal gain so that he could marry her off. But now she has no protector but you. She needs you. Her fate is tied to yours, and you are the rationality she needs in her life. She’s a bit too trusting, like that Ferguson kid.” The king pointed over to Finn. “There’s nothing but trouble with that family. Ever since I turned down Maureen for marriage, she has had it out to do in our family. That boy may have thought he could use Nessa to get to power, but she was never his future. Not once did I see her ending up with him. Not that Maureen could care that I never saw that. My power was well-known to everyone, and they trusted my judgment, except for Maureen. The old woman has been crazy and power hungry since we were teenagers.”
“Yet Nessa seems to think Finn won’t betray her,” Devin replied. “You know otherwise, don’t you? And yet, here you are again, not protecting her,” Devin complained.
“I always thought you were more observant than that,” the king said, like he had known Devin his whole life. It was quite possible the old man did with his ability, but it was still strange to hear the man talk so familiarly to Devin.
Devin looked around the frozen room. What was left to observe? He already knew that Nessa would reach Finn before Devin could reach her. For every assassin lining the wall behind the one that was holding Finn, there was at least another in the room, cloaked and poised to attack back. That much he knew, and had already calculated what to do next. Devin looked back to the marble alter. The sidhe king was sliding a leg off the table to hang over the edge while still holding onto Devin tightly. His grip around Devin’s wrist was firm and impossible for Devin to break as that had been his first reaction when the king grabbed him. Devin mistook the grip for support as the old sidhe came back to life, but as he moved more, Devin knew the grasp wasn’t for support, but for holding Devin near.
“You can stop time?” Devin asked, as if maybe that was the answer the old man was looking for next.
The sidhe king smiled and nodded like a school teacher praising a student for finally figuring out the correct answer, or in Devin’s case, question. “That, among other things. Turns out I was the first sidhe born with not just one ability, but all of them.” The old man grinned and flopped his legs around a little.
“All of them?” Devin asked.
“Yes,” the king replied.
“You said there were hundreds,” Devin responded.
“Yes, and every single one I’ve tried, I’ve found I have,” the king proudly added. “She’s not as unprotected as you think. But I do know that she needs to find her own way. I can’t keep stepping in to help her. This is her journey now.”
Devin looked back at the old man. The sidhe king wasn’t a formidable man physically. From what Devin saw, Devin himself was at least a few inches taller than him. And even though he had magic and night human abilities, he was still an old man. The only thing Devin knew for sure was that the sidhe king radiated more power than he had ever seen. His ability to outdo every sidhe born was probably the reason he ruled for so long, and the reason they all gathered together to make him step down. The old man watched Devin intently. His eyes were appraising Devin as much as Devin was analyzing him.
“They feared you,” Devin assessed.
“As they will fear you,” the king replied.
“A day human? I get the feeling that not a single sidhe will ever fear me, and I’m fine with that,” Devin replied. He didn’t like where the conversation seemed to be going. Yes, he wanted to protect Nessa, but he didn’t want to do it as anything but a day human.
“Not if you are one of us,” the king replied, saying exactly what Devin feared he would say.
Devin shook his head. The king was now talking like Nessa. “That isn’t in the plans for me. I’d rather die than be a night human. I may have grown up in a world filled with blood, but I never plan to have a life dependent on it.”
“Good, then we are on the same page,” the king answered, throwing his other leg over the side of the marble slab and wiggling it alongside the other. “Night humans are a horrible breed. I personally despise most of them. I’d never want my granddaughter bound or married to one.”
“If you want me to be feared, but not a night human, how can I be one of you then?” Devin asked. The sidhe king liked his riddles as much as the next sidhe it seemed.
“One of my nice abilities is to transfer power without making a blood bond. I can give you sidhe powers without turning you. I can make you a sidhe that doesn’t crave blood.”
The sidhe king waited for Devin to respond. Devin did not. He was astounded by the suggestion. He had never heard of a day human with night human abilities. Devin spent each day of his life training to fight night humans, but he never imagined having their powers. He found ways to compensate for his day human abilities to put himself on the level as night humans. To become one without being one had never been a consideration.
“You need to be stronger to protect my granddaughter and whip these sidhe into shape. They have lost their way, and I know you are the one to find it for them again. Her destiny was never to change the sidhe world alone. She needed someone just as strong as she is to stand beside her. She needed you. It was why I went to sleep. She needed to find you.” The king stretched his legs straight. He was still waking up his body from his decade asleep.
Devin shook his head in disbelief. “With no disrespect, you’ve been asleep quite a while. I don’t know if these sidhe are the same as when you left. I don’t see a way to save them. They have done nothing but treat me like a pet. I have no plans to help them find their way, if they even can. I doubt there’s anything left to do to save them. They send assassins to kill each other. They are all secrets, and hide behind masks of magic. My only goal is to keep Nessa safe, and now I’m thinking that would be better done outside the sidhe world. This place would only kill her, if not physically, then mentally. She isn’t made for this world.” Devin’s resolve was growing. “Now that you are awake, you can lead them. Let Nessa have the life she deserves, away from all this. I don’t think you need us. You have more power than anyone. You can save the sidhe world.”
The sidhe king just nodded. “You think you have a say in your destiny, day human, but you do not. Everything is already set in motion. I promise you, you will be the day human prince I told them would be coming. You are the reason the sidhe will live on. You will save them.”
The old sidhe king let go of Devin’s arm and the world sped up around him. Devin was only a second behind running after Nessa, but he was already too slow. The time freeze let go only gradually, and he wouldn’t make it in time to stop her from trying to save Finn.
CHAPTER 12
Nessa didn’t even look back to Devin as she sprinted across the room. The male assassin, as that is only what it could be based on height and width alone, held Finn with a knife at his neck. Nessa didn’t know what family had male assassins, but Devin was wrong. Finn wasn’t with them. He was being held by them, and Nessa had to save him. Nessa had no clue how Finn followed her, but she was worried and ready to fight just the same. If she could just get to him in time to free him, they would be good. Finn was a good fighter. She was going to rely on that to get him away from the assassin.
“Don’t come any closer,” the male assassin said, his voice rough but somehow familiar. She searched her mind for all the males she knew that were about the man’s size. She couldn’t figure out who it was.
Nessa slowed down, but kept creeping forward inch by inch. She felt the hum of magic in the room and hoped it would be enough to use. She had tried to use it before, but was unable to. She was hopeful that her magic was recovering to the point of using it now. All magic was stripped when you passed through the lions, but it was slowly coming back to her in the lifeless underground cave
rn. Nessa’s own gift with plants was being fueled by the fungi that sparsely covered the walls.
“Finn, are you okay?” Nessa asked, looking him over for any other injuries.
“Nessie, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know they would follow me. I thought I had got past them, but they were right behind me, waiting for me to enter here.” Finn whimpered.
Finn was a strong warrior. It was so unlike him to worry about assassins. She had grown up with him, and he was always boasting about being better than everyone. Nessa had even trained with him. She was unsure how an assassin could hold him prisoner, but he had been taken. Now she needed to help him.
Nessa’s heart broke at the site of him. Blood was smeared on his face, and he struggled to stand. They had beaten him before making him come in the room. Nessa watched as Finn got the fate she feared for everyone she loved. In order to save her, they would die. Nessa needed to wake her grandfather, but now couldn’t even take her eyes off Finn. He was suffering for her just like Devin would.
“What do you want?” Nessa asked the assassin.
“You,” the assassin replied.
Nessa didn’t look away from Finn. Her bow was drawn, and she was sure she could hit the assassin if he did anything to Finn. She was a perfect shot. While she would rather get closer to attack with her sword, the bow was her best chance to keep Finn safe. The assassin’s eyes moved from Nessa to beside her, where Devin appeared.
“We’re kind of a package deal these days,” Devin added.
The assassin smiled under his mask, causing his eyes to crinkle at the corners. The other assassins Nessa had not seen began to fill up the space behind the first, and they all laughed at Devin standing a few feet behind Nessa.
“Eight against one and a half,” the assassin said.
“I don’t think women should be counted as half,” Nessa replied. The assassins laughed more.
“The day human is the half,” the assassin explained when the laugher died a bit. “Yet, you don’t seem to mind your odds.”
Devin stood beside Nessa and drew his blade. He didn’t even look to her. He was ready to fight.
“Actually, it’s more like eight against six, and I’ll take those odds easily, since I’ve already killed one of you a couple days ago. I wasn’t impressed,” Devin explained. The large assassin’s eyes changed from laughter to anger.
‘Six?’ Nessa questioned, keeping her eyes on Finn.
‘Four hidden assassins work for your grandfather here,’ Devin explained to Nessa while at the same time smiling back at the assassin, completely unafraid of provoking him.
“Oh, was he someone you knew? You’re all starting to look the same to me,” Devin shrugged. “Maybe you should lose the masks and we could tell you apart. Nope, forget that. I still wouldn’t be able to tell you apart.”
Devin was trying to draw the large assassin away from Finn. Nessa would stand a better chance with the smaller ones. The one holding Finn was massive, and Devin needed to be the one to take him on. Nessa was grateful for Devin trying to take the large assassin away from her, yet shocked at the same time. She had never heard him actually provoke anyone. And, of course, he was good at that, too.
“He’s mine,” the assassin said as all the eight assassins got ready to pounce.
Devin had provoked the assassins, which didn’t bode well for Finn, but then again Nessa already knew that Devin didn’t like Finn. That wouldn’t have gone into Devin’s calculation. Nessa placed her hand on Devin’s arm to stop him from moving forward to fight.
“You can have me once I unbind from Devin,” she said, willing to give her life for Finn. She wasn’t letting anyone die for her. It was time to stop the madness of the sidhe assassins that were following her.
“Unbind?” the assassin asked. Shock registered all around the room. Nessa saw the pain in Finn’s eyes, but she looked up to the assassin holding him. The assassin didn’t let go of Finn. Nessa realized she wasn’t going to get things her way. They weren’t about to make a deal. Devin would suffer now because of her.
The large assassin pushed Finn to the guy next to him and bounded across the room in an instant. The time for talking was done. The other assassins all eyed Nessa greedily; all wanting to be the one to kill her. Before Nessa could respond, four females flanked her, two on each side. Their sudden appearance startled the men in the magic-free room, and everyone froze where they were standing.
“You aren’t welcome here,” the female directly beside Nessa spoke to the men. “This is a place of rest. Please leave now.”
The appearance of the female assassins was shocking, but the woman speaking was enough to jar the men out of their shock. They attacked first, and the four women all responded by taking on the six assassins, allowing Nessa to run across the space to where Finn laid bound on the ground. She cut the ties around his wrists and helped him stand. Nessa gave him a quick hug out of relief that he wasn’t hurt beyond a few scrapes and handed him one of her swords.
“We need to help Devin,” Nessa told Finn. Finn didn’t reply. Nessa turned to go back to the fighting behind her.
“Nessa,” Finn said, calling her back to him. She turned and felt the sword plunge into her middle. The entire length of the sword went through her and out the back.
“Why?” Nessa asked as the pain jolted through her and blood began to seep out. Her magic couldn’t protect her from this. The spell she had placed on Finn was void in the magic-free room. Not enough had returned to Nessa yet to save her. “You’re my best friend. I thought you loved me.”
“Are you serious?” Finn sneered, his face contorted by anger and triumph. “I wouldn’t want you now that you’ve touched that human. It’s one thing to feed off of a day human, but you’ve dirtied yourself by just breathing the same air as him, not to mention binding to him and swapping bodily fluids. You’re tainted.”
Nessa had no clue how Finn knew that she kissed Devin, but she didn’t have time to question that now. How could Finn know any of it? How could Finn stab her? Nessa felt the pain of the blade still and tried not to cry out. She was a strong warrior. This was nothing. Tears formed in her eyes.
“But your mother said you wanted to marry me. You offered to marry me.” Nessa sucked in a breath as he pulled the sword from her. The sword made a sucking noise as it was pulled from her body. Blood spilled around her and she felt blood rise into her mouth, gagging her.
“My mother said what she thought would persuade you to marry me. It was never meant to be a real marriage, just one to give me the power we sought. The Ferguson family will rule the sidhe, one way or another. Marriage was just the easiest way,” Finn replied, stepping back and letting her fall to the ground. “You were to be a figurehead and nothing more, but you running off with your brother proved that you were more work than we wanted to put in. My mom ordered the hit, and I was more than happy to go. Any sidhe that lowers themselves to throwing themselves at a day human should be killed. You disgust me.” Finn pulled at the fabric slouched around his neck. It was an assassin mask to cover his lower face. He was the assassin that had tried to kill her at the rest stop.
Nessa wanted to say more, but could not. All she could do was look up at Finn as he talked.
“You may have thought you were safe, but I knew this was my opportunity when Ronan said you were coming down here. Even he doesn’t get how badly you will ruin the sidhe. He still believes in family over everything else, and it’s a good thing he saw me as family. He gave me this perfect opportunity. I’ll have to thank him later.” Finn smiled wickedly and looked across the room.
“This is payback for killing my cousin,” Finn yelled across to Devin.
Nessa felt the blood pouring out of her. She looked across the cavern to Devin. She hoped, without magic, their bond would be neutralized and her death wouldn’t be his. She was thankful for that at least. Her vision flickered to Finn. He stood towering above her. His mad glower was more of a grin now. He was happy to watch her die. All her childhood
memories were crashing down around her. The nice Finn, the helpful Finn, the Finn that took care of her when Rhys was mean; all versions of Finn were dying. He was never the man she thought he was. He hadn’t been her Finn, ever. Nessa closed her eyes and sucked in a painful breath. He had done his job well. She was bleeding out, but not quick enough to pass out before dying. She would feel every last bit of pain before she died.
Finn stepped around her as he waited for Devin to come to him. Nessa hoped Devin was too busy. Even more, she hoped the bond wasn’t strong enough in the magic-free zone, either. She didn’t want him to die, and she didn’t want him to face Finn injured. Finn would kill them both.
Devin sliced off the head of the sidhe assassin he was fighting a moment too late. As his cut severed the assassins head, he saw the blade poke out from Nessa’s back. His own body ripped open from the bond, causing him to fall to his knees momentarily. He pushed himself up with the sword he carried and made his way over to Nessa.
“How fitting, the day human comes to save poor Nessie. Hasn’t that been your life story, Nessa? Did you tell your day human boyfriend all about your wonderful childhood, where Rhys was ruthless and everyone else had to stand up for you? How about how your father protected you and ended up being the first kill for Rhys? Or how your mother tried to talk to Rhys about being kinder to everyone, meaning you, and ended up exiled? How you’ve never protected yourself for a day?” Finn mocked her on the ground. Nessa didn’t move as she bled out.
“That’s not the story I got,” Devin replied as he limped closer, trying to not let the blood show too much.
Devin needed to be strong. He needed the illusion of strength if nothing else. Devin knew those blue eyes were filled with hatred now. Devin knew exactly who Finn Ferguson was, the first sidhe assassin he ever fought with. Even when he was at his best, Finn was a formidable opponent. Devin hoped the lack of magic would scale Finn down a little.
“Devin.” Nessa coughed up blood. Devin wanted to kneel at her side and hold her. He was unsure if his blood could save her, but he would do that if he needed to. He wanted to protect her.