Page 20 of The Vanishing Throne

At the top of the rocks, Aithinne stops short – so fast that I nearly careen into her. At the sudden, unexpected taste of iron heavy in my mouth, I go cold. It’s like a thick stream of blood, concentrated enough that I nearly heave.

I recognise that taste.Sorcha.

I shift around Aithinne and Sorcha smiles. ‘Falconer,’ she greets me. ‘AndAithinne. My, my, this is quite a reunion.’

She’s dressed in a shift like mine, only the black fabric of hers glitters like the night sky. Thebaobhan sìth’s beauty is uncanny, terrifying. I watch as fangs lower over her teeth and elongate enough to press into her full lips. She smiles wider, a nightmarish grin of pointed teeth.

Normally I’d picture my mother the night of her murder. I’d see Sorcha standing over my mother’s corpse, licking the blood off her lips as if she’d just had a satisfying meal.

Now I can’t help but compare her teeth to Lonnrach’s. Hereighty-two teeth resemble the ones that have left marks all over me. The truth is, Lonnrach and his sister have both claimed parts of me. Lonnrach claimed me body and mind, and Sorcha – she took part of my humanity. Ripped it away until I was left with that violent girl from the mirrors.

I grip the hilt of my sword so hard that my hand aches. I press down the memories just enough for me to speak. ‘You’re lucky Kiaran made that vow to you,’ I tell Sorcha. ‘If his life weren’t entwined with yours, I’d put this blade through your chest and cut out your heart.’

Just like you did to my mother. I’ll make sure you know exactly how it felt for her at the end. You should die the same way.

‘Tit for tat, as they say?’ Sorcha flashes her fangs in a hiss. ‘I’d dearly love to see you try.’

‘That’senough.’ Aithinne lashes out with her powers, quick and strong as lightning. I watch as a single cut opens across Sorcha’s flawless face.

Blood drips down Sorcha’s alabaster skin. ‘Strìopach,’ she snarls. I may not be familiar with the word, but I’m certain it’snota nice thing to call someone. ‘I’m here to help you, and this is how you repay me?’ Her lip curls. ‘I wish they could have killed you in the mounds.’

Aithinne stiffens. Out of the corner of my eye, I see her hand curl into a fist. ‘Youdon’thelp,’ she says coldly. ‘Never have.’

Sorcha, here to help? She can’t honestlythink we’re daft enough to believe her. More than likely she’s distracting us, preventing us from fleeing. I can hear Lonnrach and his soldiers drawing nearer. They’d be halfway down the path by now, moving faster.

‘You want to help me?’ I say. ‘Get out of the way.’

Sorcha looks amused. ‘Oh, believe me. There’s nothing I’d love more than to see Lonnrach snapyourpretty little neck.’ She looks at Aithinne. ‘You need to open the portal here. It’s not going toclose fast enough and he will just follow you right through. I’m here to make sure that doesn’t happen.’

Aithinne narrows her eyes. ‘And why should I trust you?’

‘Well,’ Sorcha says lightly. ‘You have two choices: Trust me, or take your chances with my brother.’ Her smile is cruel, cutting. ‘The word is you’re bothveryfamiliar with his …uniquemethods of interrogation.’

I want to know everything. I just need to use your blood to see.

I can’t help it. I step forward, pulling out my blade—

Aithinne puts a restraining hand on my shoulder. ‘One day,’ she breathes, too low for Sorcha to hear. Then a nod at Sorcha. ‘Fine.’ At Sorcha’s smug look, she adds, ‘But if you betray us, I will string you up by your intestines and make Prometheus’s eternal punishment look like a stroll through the woods.’

For the first time, I see fear flicker in Sorcha’s features. She’s afraid of Aithinne. Sorcha glances at me and, as if sensing I’ve noticed, hardens her expression. ‘I’ll hold Lonnrach off with my powers for as long as I can without him seeing me.’ At Aithinne’s sharp look, Sorcha grins, fangs flashing. ‘Wouldn’t want to make an enemy of my brother.’

Aithinne shakes her head and pushes past the other faery to continue across the rocks.

‘Oh, Aithinne?’Sorcha calls after us. Aithinne stops to listen. ‘Just so you know, this changes nothing between us. My loyalty is to him. It always has been.’

Aithinne’s jaw sets and I frown at her response. Before I can analyze Sorcha’s words, Aithinne is already striding away and I’m forced to follow. We can’t stay to see how she distracts Lonnrach and the other fae; we don’t have time.

Aithinne leads the way to the other side of the ridge.

We’re over the loch now, above the shimmering waters.The waves lap against the hard crags. She stops at the edge and looks over. ‘Here. I have to open it here.’

My heart leaps. Surely she can’t mean to jump. The drop to the bottom must be more than four hundred feet – high enough that a fall would leave me dashed against the rocks.

‘Right where we’re standing, aye?’ I say warily, dreading her answer.Please say aye. Please say aye.

Aithinne shakes her head and my hope wilts. ‘About halfway down.’ At my small sound of protest, she flashes a quick smile. ‘The rules are simple again. Don’t let go of me. Don’t let yourself fall to the bottom. You’ll likely die. See? Simple.’

I glare at her. ‘We really need to review your definition of this word. I don’t think it means what—’

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