Try to get her away from the rest. Charm her.
He blinked several times. But he said nothing back to me, only gave a slight nod.
“Lady,” he reached up and put his hand on her knee. “May I speak with you in private, away from all these ears? There is something I’d like to discuss. About Ashling.”
I could feel the dose of Charm he used even fifteen feet away. Chaos leaned into him, her hand stroking along his face. “Do you know how the gods caught me the first time?”
Oh, I had a bad feeling about this. Draw back, Luke. This was a bad idea.
Too late.
Her hand whipped around his throat and she started to squeeze. “They used a pretty boy to Charmed me into the trap. Very clever. I do so love a handsome man on my arm.”
She tossed him backwards and his body slammed into the ground, jerking against the chains as they pulled tight. “My apologies,” he coughed. “I didn’t know. It’s just… Ashling has been on my mind since I first met the two sisters, and I’ve dreamed of her most nights.”
Chaos leaned forward. “Truly?” I tensed, wanting to know the answer, too. Is that what Ashling had meant when she’d mentioned falling in love with someone? With Luke?
He nodded, rubbing at his throat. They shared a long gaze, one that neither seemed willing to break.
“Hmm. Well. We shall see.” She snapped her fingers and the Fomorii fell back, making a ring around the throne.
I had to push thoughts of Luke and Ashling back in order to focus. It was now or never.
With a single swift move, I pulled Carnwennan from the scabbard, a burst of light shattering the shadow veil that I was hiding behind.
“Chaos, I have a deal for you. The sword that would be your death...for Luke’s freedom.”
17
The Fomorii lurched forward, but stopped as Chaos raised her hand. “Wait, I believe the stupid twit means it.”
“Quinn, no! You can’t do this!” Luke yelled, lunging as if he’d get between me and Chaos, the chains again pulling tight, stopping him.
She didn’t step towards me. “Lay it on the ground and back away, and I will let your man go.”
I didn’t hesitate; I just laid Carnwennan down, and backed off a good ten feet.
She waved her hand. “Further.”
I hope you’re right about Carnwennan, Cora said. So did I.
Another ten feet and Chaos seemed satisfied. “Well.” Leaning towards Luke, she grabbed his face and kissed him with a deep, thorough kiss. “I suppose I’ll never get my chance with you. Too bad, even the girl liked you.”
No doubt she meant Ashling.
With a flick of her wrist, the chains fell from Luke. He made as if to come to me.
“No, Luke, this isn’t for you. You can’t save me from this. It’s my choice.”
He was shaking, anger and frustration written all over his face.
Chaos laughed. “Listen to her, or I will throw you back in chains.”
And then I did something I’d never done before —I lied to him. I’ll be all right. Go get Bres and Lir; they are waiting for you in the Labyrinth. They know what the plan is. I knew he would believe me; I’d never given him a reason not to. His jaw was tight, but he left, running down the beach and diving into the water. It wouldn’t give me much time.
“Now, I suppose it’s just you and me, Chosen one,” Chaos said, strolling towards Carnwennan. She didn’t bend to pick it up, but flipped it up with her foot, catching the handle as the sword turned.
A few swipes through the air, then she threw the sword backwards. “I cannot use a sword like that, not when I have my own. I think that I should like to share my story with you, before I kill you. Do you mind?” She lifted Ashling’s perfectly arched brow at me, the jerky, marionette that she had been when she’d first taken over my sister’s body was nowhere evident.
“Actually, I’d rather we just got to it,” I said. This was not part of my plan. I knew I only had so much time before the cavalry showed up.
“Well, I’m feeling rather in a mood today.” A crowd was starting to gather, Fomorii and Tuatha alike. Out the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of Darcy, her hands over her mouth. She may have had the mark, but she was still seeing her daughters face off in what was going to be a battle to the death.
Chaos strolled around me, circling me, within a foot of my reach.
My jaw twitched. There was no time. I had to do it now. I Called Carnwennan to my hand, felt the smooth bone against my skin and swung towards Chaos. “I don’t care about your story, but let me tell you mine.”
A sword appeared in her hand, the same black sword I’d seen from my vision. The power that had caused the black tendrils to destroy the Fomorii made up her sword, the black smoke solidifying instantly into a razor sharp blade. I had no doubt that one scratch from it would end my life. As we engaged, her eyes were wide with fury. “Kill her!” She screamed.