Page 112 of The Vanishing Throne

Kiaran’s words replay over and over in my mind.There are stories of the first sìthichean kingdom.

A place of immense power, created by old magic that doesn’t exist any more …

A place of immense power. Like the strongestneimheadin existence. ‘Derrick,’ I whisper, dread filling me. ‘What’s theneimhead?’

Derrick looks confused. ‘I told you, it—’

‘No.’ My tone is sharp. ‘What does it look like? What’s it made out of?’

‘I don’t know! It’s been there since before I was born—’ I go still. Derrick’s eyes grow wide as if he suddenly realises why I’m asking. ‘Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?’

I’m already moving before he can say another word, running across the balcony to the elevator. My heart is slamming against my chest, fear making my skin hot. We have to get out of here. We have to get everyone out of herenow.

Derrick zooms next to me. ‘I should have known,’ he says. ‘I bloody well should have known.’

‘Don’t dwell on it now.’ I shove the lever to send the elevator down. ‘Go warn Kiaran and the others. Hurry!’

He zooms down to the crowd below. Not a second after he leaves, the blaring warning sirens blast all around me, the sharp howl piercing my ears. In the city below, I hear people already beginning to disperse.

They’re already here. It’s too late.

The balcony stops and I yank open the gate. ‘Kiaran!’ I see him pushing through the crowd, calling my name. When he reaches me I’m trying to speak through my rushed breath, ‘It’s theneimhead. That’s what Lonnrach wants. They’re—’

A sudden pain lances through my skull and makes me stagger. I cry out and sink to my knees.

‘Kam?’

Falconer, Lonnrach’s voice echoes through my mind, making me go cold.Found you.

Run, I try to scream it, but the word lodges in my throat. Lonnrach’s influence hasn’t left; he has me weighted down, my tongue immobile. I feel for my powers, breathing just like Derrick told me to.Lonnrach’s hold tightens and it hurts like his bite.

The siren suddenly cuts and a loud boom shakes the city, like a clap of thunder from the top of the beehive. Everyone goesquiet. I follow their gaze – it’s all I can do, all Lonnrach will let me do.

And at the top of the structure, a crack forms, a fissure in the rock.Oh god. Another boom, a snap, and the fissure expands. The power of the crystals – Derrick’s and my power keeping the other fae out – is being warped, tested. The fae above strike it again.

I cry out in pain. Kiaran grips my arms, but I can barely hear what he’s saying through the agony. I can feel my powers straining to break Lonnrach’s influence and keep the wards up at the same time.

Lonnrach’s voiceenters my mind again. I swear I hear his smile.You won’t be able to hold it for long. Give up now.

The other fae slam against the wards again. My body shakes with the effort. I’m dimly aware of blood streaming from my nose and people jostling around me to escape. Kiaran is yelling something, but I can’t hear it over the rushing heat of power inside me that I can barely hold any more.

Again.

And I feel the first droplets of water on my face. Frigid, just like the sea.

‘Run!’Someone screams, and I realise it’s me.

In one last, desperate effort, I push my powers out of me like I did with the crystal to sever the influence Lonnrach has over me. Only then do I realise my mistake – my hold over the wards buckles. I strain to steady my power and hold the fae out, but I’m too distracted by the chaos all around me. All at once everyone at the ball flees for the back of the cave, jostling and shoving each other.

My control snaps, and the top of the rock structure caves in. A wall of seawater comes down.

Chapter 36

I grasp Kiaran’s hand and werace across the city square to escape the wall of water. The sea is closing in. Waves crash around us, the frigid water rushing around my ankles. The bottom of my dress soaks through, the fabric heavy.

‘Kam!’ Kiaran brings us to a halt once we’re far enough from the cascade. Still, I can barely hear him over the chaos, the falling debris. ‘We have to get the humans outnow!’

People are screaming, their cries drowned out as they’re sucked under the powerful waterfall. Without hesitation, Kiaran brings us to a halt and reaches out with his palm. The burst of power that comes from him is enough to sicken me.

---