“We do not want her as our leader,” the old woman said. She lifted her hand, power swirling around her. I wasn’t sure that I had anything left to stop her with.
Ashling began to stir. It would have to be enough; it wouldn’t matter if I healed her completely if I had let the Fomorii kill her when she was still helpless.
Literally powerless, using the last of my strength, I leapt at Gormley, tackling her to the ground. The blast of power hit me square in the chest, throwing me backwards. Time seemed to slow. I saw Bres and Luke, running out of the water towards us, Lir close behind them. I saw Ashling sit up, a hand to her head. Her eyes were clear.
I hit the throne, my back snapping with the impact. The bones crunched, splintering. I couldn’t stop the scream that ripped out of me.
I am here, granddaughter. The pain will be but a moment.
I’d given Ashling everything to heal her. She would be okay. It was the only consolation I had; I could feel my body dying.
18
Brilliant white light filled my vision and there was the sound of water on the sand, the soft shush of waves whispering in and out of the ocean. Blinking, I looked down to see that I was still in my khaki pants, tall boots, and white shirt, though the “white” could be taken into question.
My back didn’t hurt and the wound from Chaos’ sword was gone, but I had a cut on my leg that was bleeding all over the pristine beach, leaving a trail that was not being swept away by the water. Weird.
Across the sand came two figures. The first didn’t surprise me, her red hair floating on the wind. The other, though, shocked the hell out of me.
Balor.
He looked younger, the weight of years and worry had been erased, and he looked a great deal like Bres.
They approached slowly, almost languidly, as if there were no hurry.
“Cora,” I said, rushing forward and hugging her. She squeezed me back. “I’m so sorry, for everything, Quinn.”
“Don’t be. It’s okay now. Ashling’s all right,” I said, meaning it.
Balor reached over and took my hand. “You are an amazing woman, Quinn. I see why Bres loves you so.”
I blushed, not sure what to say, opting for a simple. “Thanks.”
Cora took my other hand. “You will not be here long.”
“What?” I whispered, confusion filling me. I was dead. This was where dead people went, to be with their ancestors. I’d felt my heart stop beating, felt my body die.
“Why are you here?” I asked Balor.
He shrugged, a soft smile lighting up his face. “To say goodbye, I think,” he answered.
Balor turned me to face the water. “What do you see?”
I squinted, the images dancing over the waves, became clearer. Ashling was bent over my body, her mouth open wide in a scream I couldn’t hear. Bres grabbed her, pulled her away from me, and put his fingers to my neck.
Then Ashling was there again, her hands on my face. She shook her head.
But what surprised me was Don. He was on the beach, and he had put one hand against my chest and one on my forehead.
Balor gently turned me back to face him. “I did you wrong; I judged you based on a skewed prophecy, instead of who you were, who you are.” He cupped my face. “Can you forgive me?”
I nodded, tears streaking down my cheeks. “Yes. But only because I know you did it for Ashling, because you love her too.”
He touched his forehead to mine, then turned and walked away. I blinked and he was gone; all that was left of him were his footprints in the wet sand.
“I too need to ask forgiveness, and say goodbye,” Cora said, her hands turning me to face her now.
“No, you said you wouldn’t leave me,” I whispered. “I don’t know you as my grandmother, but you are my friend.”
She smiled. “Be safe, Quinn. Keep following your heart. It hasn’t led you wrong, not once.” She bent and kissed me on each cheek. “Tell Darcy,” her voice caught and she put a hand to her lips. “Tell her that I love her and I want her to be happy. And that I’m sorry.”
I blinked and when I opened my eyes, it was Ashling in front of me, tears streaming down her face.
“Hey,” I said, my throat dry.
“Quinn, I thought you were gone!” She collapsed on me and I wrapped my arms around her.
It’s okay now. It’s all done. I said softly in her mind. You saved me.
“I didn’t. It was him.” She pointed to a slumped-over Don, his body still in death. One of his palms faced upwards, showing the faded image of the cauldron etched into it. I knew he hadn’t been able to save his Mary, but now he had saved me. I hoped that he was with her now, that they’d been re-united.