Page 180 of The Mirror of Beasts

“You will hear us in the birdsong that wakes you from a dark dream—”

“—and with each echo of your heartbeat—”

Caitriona sank to her knees, and Olwen sank with her. Both accepting the comforting embrace of the earth as the souls of their sisters began their final ascent into the starry night. They whispered, each voice bright with joy.

“We love you—”

“We love you—”

“You are our sisters—”

“Always.”

Silvered light streaked through the air behind me, forcing me to turn back toward the clearing. The adrenaline that had finally eased came roaring back.

Lord Death was gone, but his death hadn’t sealed the tear between the worlds. Its smoldering edges cut down through the fabric of the sky, bit by bit. The souls of the damned spilled forth from it in a torrent.

Nash’s words drifted back through my mind. There must always be a king in Annwn. If he’s gone, another will have to take his place. The dead require a warden.

A strange certainty washed over me, as if I had already accepted the choice before recognizing there was one to make.

I couldn’t ask this of anyone else or let them believe they should offer. Caitriona and Olwen had already lost everything.

I released my grip on Neve and she carefully made her way to the others. My hands curled at my sides, but they shook all the same. The thought of crossing over into that world and imprisoning myself there after what had become of Creiddylad left me nauseous.

This time, at least, it would be my choice.

I followed the path of the boulders back to the clearing, searching for where I’d thrown the crown of Annwn. Yet, as the mist parted, I saw that someone else had found it first.

Cabell rose through the soft cover of mist, straightening to his full height. Half of his form was missing, blending into the ancient forest. The edging of the mantle of Arthur was just visible, draped over his bare, human body.

He held the horned crown of Annwn like a delicate glass between his trembling hands. Blood and dirt painted his face and the sleeves of tattoos on his arms.

The world tilted beneath my feet.

“Cab, no,” I said, staggering toward him. “If you put that on—”

“I know,” he said, his dark eyes finding mine.

“You don’t,” I said.

“It’s right … isn’t it?” he asked softly. “After everything … it’s right. It’s all I can offer. I won’t use the magic for anything other than collecting souls. I swear it, Tamsin.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I said, struggling over the rough terrain. “If you put that on, you’ll be a prisoner to Annwn too, until you die, or someone takes it from you.”

He looked down at the antlers and moss that grew around them, the way the shadows adorned them. “Maybe by then I’ll have made amends.”

“No,” I said stubbornly. I stopped a few feet away from him. “Your place is here, in this world.”

“It was never here,” he said. “You know that now, don’t you? Deep down, you know.”

Knowing was different than accepting.

I held my hand out, and to my surprise, he came toward it, but not to pass me the crown. He brought his hand to mine, his fingers gently squeezing mine before releasing.

“Cab,” I tried again, not bothering to hide the panic in my voice. “Cabell, listen to me.”

“Long ago, in a place nearly lost to memory,” he began, “a little hound dreamt he could become a boy to keep the sister he loved safe …”

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