Page 31 of The Vanishing Throne

Aithinne snickers and Kiaran casts her a sharp glance. ‘It’s not funny.’

His sister tries to hold back a laugh, but doesn’t quite succeed. ‘I’m sorry,’ she says. ‘But you just … I’ve never seen you look like such acompletemess.’

Kiaran studies her with a narrowed gaze. ‘Andboth of you look like you’ve gone three rounds with a roving band of feral cats. I’d say we’re even.’

‘Even? Oh,please.’ Aithinne ticks off each finger. ‘Thus far the Falconer and I escaped through a forest of spiked trees, fought off themara, fled from Lonnrach’s soldiers, and defeated twomortair. You were shot by accident with some weapon composed of a wooden stick with a barrel on the end—’

‘A blunderbuss,’ I correct helpfully. Kiaran gives me a pointed look that says,Whose side are you on?

‘—so I’d say I win this round.’ She finishes with the sort of arrogant grin that makes it very clear that this must be an ongoing competition.

Sibling rivalry, it seems, is not just for humans.

If Kiaran’s glare is any indication, he’s contemplating about fifty different ways of killing his own sister. ‘Just remember,’ I whisper to him, ‘murder is frowned upon in most societies.’

‘Not mine,’ Kiaran says shortly. ‘She’s lucky I love her.’ He snatches the blunderbuss from meand inspects it. Then he unlocks the hold and dumps its contents into the grass.

‘Damnation!’ I make a grab for the weapon but he expertly evades me. ‘You’re wasting perfectly good ammunition—’

‘I’m sparing the next bastard you shoot, who could very well be one of your human friends.’ He thrusts the blunderbuss back at me. ‘The next time you want to kill someone, wait until you can actually see them.’

‘It’s no less than you deserve for—’ Then his words sink in. ‘I beg your pardon, did you sayhuman friends?’

Aithinne had said there were survivors, but could she have meant …?No, don’t hope. Do. Not. Hope.

‘That unbearably smug Seer, his mildly tolerable sister, and their group of humans,’ he says, ‘none of whom – I’m fairly certain – would survive being shot by that bloody thing you’re wielding.’

I press a palm to my mouth. ‘They’realive?’

‘Aye,’ he says drily. ‘It was a surprise to me, too. The pixie led them up to Skye to stay in the remains of his old kingdom. That’s where we’re headed.’

I’m so close to crying, I don’t think I can stop myself. They’re alive. They’realiveand nothing else matters. Tears are already starting to burn my eyes, clouding my vision.

Kiaran looks at me with an expression I’ve never seen on him. It takes me a moment to realise it’s dawning horror. ‘Kam. Kam, don’t do that. Don’t cry. Don’t—’

Then I’m crying and he puts his arms around me in quite possibly the most awkward, stiff embrace I’ve ever had in my life. And I adore every second of it.

Aithinne speaks from behind us. ‘I admit to being somewhat unclear on the function of human tears,’ she says. ‘So we’re sad about this? Should I menace someone?’

In lieu of a response, the only thing I can manage is something of a half-laugh, half-sob, becausethey’re aliveand I haven’t felt like this in so long.

‘For god’s sake, Aithinne,’ Kiaran says, his voice rumbling through his chest, ‘put the blade away. You’re not going to stab Kam’s idiot friends.’ Then, after a moment: ‘On second thought, the Seer really serves no purpose …’

‘Oh, shush.’ I look up at him, whisking the tears off my cheeks. ‘Don’t ruin this. It helps if you don’t speak.’ Then I press my face back into his chest. ‘And if you stop responding to my hug like I’m torturing you.’

Kiaran makes some attempt to relax, but he could use lessons in hugging. He ends up with one hand shoved up in my hair and the other giving my back athere therepat, but it’s the thought that counts.

‘Oh, don’t give me that look,’ he says to his sister. ‘Aithinne. Stop it.’

When I open my eyes, Aithinne is staring at us with her head tilted, a silly smile on her face. ‘Don’t mind me,’ she says, putting her hands up. ‘It’s not every day I see my brooding, sullen brother comforting anyone. I think it’s splendid. Please continue.’

Now I see why Kadamach wanted me to move heaven and earth to find you.

Oh lord, my cheeks are burning again. If the earth opened up and swallowed me whole, I don’t think I’d object.

Kiaran speaks to her through clenched teeth. ‘Any time, Aithinne. You’re welcome to shut up any damn time.’

That reminds me – Aithinne still has the fae vow written on her tongue. I pull back and Kiaran untangles his fingers from my hair. Is he reluctant? I can’t tell. ‘Release Aithinne from her vow,’ I say. ‘Now. It’s already hurt her enough.’

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