Dark Fae(10)

It was so simple for her. As if she truly was a child. I scrubbed my hands over my face. “One day, I will die, probably very soon as I’m going to face Chaos with no training. Is that not enough for you?”

She tipped her head and chewed her lower lip. “Perhaps. Aednat wishes to be there, when the fatal blow is struck you, she may see your death with her own eyes.”

“If it is possible to do that, then fine by me.” What did I care who watched me die? If it made it so that I could move towards Bres and the Cauldron, then so be it.

Aednat smile. “I am satisfied.”

Her image dispersed on the wind and I was left alone on the beach.

With a stumble, I struck out down the beach. “How the hell am I going to know which way to the Cauldron?” I asked the sand and waves.

To my amazement, they responded. The ground shifted, small pebbles began to form arrows, pointing back the way I’d come. Well, that seemed simple enough to follow.

Picking up speed, I began to run down the beach, the sand giving way with every other step, forcing me to slow my pace. “Bres, where are you?” I muttered. This time the pebbles didn’t change.

It occurred to me then that Cora had been silent for some time.

“Cora, any ideas?”

A stirring within me, as if she were waking up, rippled across my mind. I am here. Follow the arrows. That is what I would do.

I wiped at my face and looked up. A familiar figure was striding down the beach.

“Bres!” I shouted, jumping to my feet and running towards him. His eyes barely had time to register shock before he caught me in his arms.

“Quinn, what are you doing here?” He whispered into my hair. For just a moment, I let myself feel him against me, our hearts beating against each other, the scent of him filling me up. Shaking my head, I pushed out of his arms. “You were taking too long. Did you get the Cauldron?”

“I’m sorry. Ta Cauldron refused to come with me,” He said, looking away. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

Remembering what Fianna had said about the Cauldron having a life of its own, I nodded. “Do you think we could convince it?”

“I don’t know. Quinn. You have to know I didn’t Charm you; I couldn’t Charm a mouse into eating cheese.” He reached out and took my hand, his fingers curling around mine.

“I know, I’m sorry, but I had no reason believe Luke was lying,” I said. Which begged the question, why had Luke lied?

Bres led me down the beach, following the pebbles that continued to show us the way. “Ah, maybe I would have done ta same thing if I thought I could keep you all to myself.” He gave me a lazy wink. I blushed, feeling the heat start in my belly and swirl outwards. He was giving Luke an out, one that he didn’t have to provide.

“Did you have to face . . .” I couldn’t quite finish it. Bres gave me a sad smile. “Yes, though to be honest, I feel better now, knowing that they are all satisfied.”

“A lot of people?” I asked.

“Yes. Far too many.”

The pebbles led us around a huge piece of driftwood that stood well over my head, to the edge of a fire pit where a large bubbling pot hung over the open flames. The swirls of mist that spilled out of the pot were soft pink, the colour of a newborn’s skin, and the scent was one of apple pies and fresh spring air. I breathed in deep, and let the smells permeate my lungs before I spoke.

“How do you talk to a cauldron?” I asked softly.

“You don’t. You talk to its Speaker.” A voice from the far side of the fire said, then spat.

Licking my lips, I sidestepped and peered around the large cauldron. A face peered back at me through the mist, an older gentleman in blue overalls. The Speaker looked suspiciously like . . .

“Don?” I asked.

Bres leaned close. “Who’s Don?”

“He gave us a ride, in his pickup truck to Cameron Lake,” I said, not sure if what I was seeing was real or some strange twist of my own mind.

Don grunted. “Well, you can’t be the Speaker all the time nowadays. Most people just think that the Cauldron is a legend and don’t even bother to look for it. So I got myself a real job. But just because we met before doesn’t mean that you can just take the Cauldron.” He lifted a finger at me, and then glared at Bres.

I crouched down in front of him. “Please, do you remember what you said to me, right before I got out of your truck?”

His eyes softened. “Refresh my memory.”

“You told me that love is precious and that I shouldn’t let it slip past me ‘cause I was looking for something perfect,” I whispered. “That’s why we’re here. Luke is dying, and . . .” I glanced up at Bres, then back at Don. “I need him. I need Luke to stand with me. Just like I need Bres. Without them both, I won’t be able to face what is coming. I know that now.” The words settled over me, filling me with the truth of them. I needed them both, without any doubt.