Luke looked down at me, his eyes full of confusion. “What happened?”
I quickly explained about Aednat, the poison, and the Cauldron. When I got to the part about Card, the pain of it hit me in the gut like a punch. I sank to my knees. I’d killed my brother, and though I didn’t love him like I loved Ashling, what did it say of me that I could do it at all?
Luke’s arms gingerly went around me, and I let my body collapse against his. I was exhausted and heart sore, and we still had so very, very far to go. Excalibur, the three Smiths, and Chaos all loomed ahead of me, of us.
A second set of hands touched my back and I reached for Bres. Luke stiffened up. “I need you both,” I said. He relaxed and Bres gripped my one hand, his fingers interlocking with mine.
“We have to keep her safe,” Bres said, as if I weren’t even there.
“Agreed,” Luke answered.
I grunted and closed my eyes, feeling grateful for this one moment of respite. It was far from perfect, but I suspected it was all I was going to get.
Fianna came to stand beside us. “You should rest before you seek out the three Smiths. Luke, while you may be feeling up to the task, your body should still heal. Bres and Quinn, you should rest too after your fight for the Cauldron.” She never mentioned Card, for which I was glad.
We were let to a third bower. This one was smaller and cozy. Three beds were made up of cedar bows, moss and maple leaves. They looked heavenly.
I crashed on the middle one, my eyes shutting as the two men spoke softly in the background. I didn’t care, as long as they didn’t start fighting, they could talk all night.
“Why did ya tell her I Charmed her?”
“Because I could see how hung up she was on you turning against her. It was better that way, for her to believe it was a clean break. How was I to know it was Chaos making you turn? I didn’t think you’d be coming back.”
“Next time, perhaps you should consider telling ta truth. Women always find a man’s lies, no matter how well he thinks he’s hidden them.”
Luke grunted, and with that they went quiet, apparently satisfied.
I relaxed and sleep claimed me immediately—but then, so did the dream. I was still in the bower but both boys were sleeping. They had moved their beds close to mine, one on either side.
How was it that I could love them both? I brushed the hair back off Luke’s forehead, feeling the silken texture of it run across my fingers. Turning to Bres, I did the same, my heart beating hard for both of them.
“Well that’s a problem I’d like to have.”
I stood up, my eyes seeing her, but my mind not believing it. Ashling stood across from me, her petite frame wrapped in an off-the-shoulder white gown that was fitted over her hips, flaring into a wide skirt. I looked down at my grubby jeans and t-shirt, surprised that they were even still intact.
She stepped towards me and I held up my hand. “How do I know it’s you and not Chaos?” Gods, the pain in her eyes nearly buckled my knees.
Ashling started to cry. “Please, I only have a short time. While she sleeps, my spirit can wander.”
That was all I could take. There was still a chance it was a trap, but I would run that risk. Three strides and I pulled her into my arms, her sobs muffled into my shoulder. “Quinn, I’m so scared, I’m not strong enough to fight her. She’s crushing me.”
I held her tight, not knowing what to say. “I’m still fighting for you; you can’t give up.”
“You have to kill my body; it’s the only way to stop her.”
“Hush, don’t talk like that. It isn’t the only way. Cora said I could free you if I took Card’s power,” I said, smoothing her hair down her back. The curls tangled in my fingers. In such a short time, we’d come so far. My hands still had spots of Card’s blood, there was swamp mud under my fingernails and the faintest etching of the Cauldron remained on the palm of my hand. Against her strawberry blonde hair, my hands looked as if they belonged to a criminal.
“I think Cora lied to you,” Ashling said, pulling back so she could look up at me. Her green eyes spilled over with tears. “I want to believe that you can save me, Quinn. I want to. But . . . “
I shushed her. “No, we won’t end up apart. I promise you that. I won’t give up.”
“Say hi to Luke for me,” she said, her eyes brightening. “I stayed with him, while he floated in between life and death.” Then she nodded, and flinched. “I have to go, she’s waking up. I’ll try to come again. And, Quinn… Thank you for stopping Card. Chaos has been rewarding him by . . .” she swept her hand up and down her own body. “Even though it’s not really mine anymore . . .” her voice broke and she stepped back, she lifted her hand and disappeared.