Page 106 of The Fallen Kingdom

“Of course.” She puts her hand in mine with a quick smile. “I hate you, too.”

At my other side, Kiaran’s fingers thread through mine. “Now, Kam.”

I let down the shield, and Gavin and Daniel hurtle toward the Morrigan. She looks at them like a hunter catching sight of her prey. Her powers build, ready to attack.

“Shut your eyes, Kam,” Kiaran rasps. “Don’t watch. Don’t listen.”

I close my eyes. Next to me, Sorcha begins to sing. Her beautiful, high, melodic voice fills my ears and blocks the sound. She gives me peace. One last moment of peace so I don’t have to listen to my friends being slaughtered.

Lena presses her hands to my shoulders and whispers, “Say these words.”

She whispers in my ear a language, a song. I meet the Morrigan’s gaze as I sing with Lena. Our voices entwine with Sorcha’s, then Kiaran’s. The power builds and builds through our collective voices, through our bodies, our hands. I fight to stay with them. The song takes on a life of its own, surrounding us as if it were carried on the wind.

Then it hurtles toward the Morrigan. She fights against us, her voice rising in a song of its own. But I push back. I direct it.

Sorcha and Kiaran’s energy crashes through me so hard and painfully that I almost fall to my knees. My veins are on fire. My bones are heavy. Blood begins to stream from my nose, my eyes. My voice strains, rasping in my throat, but I keep singing. I push all the agony down and use it to focus. I have to do this. For Derrick. For Catherine and Gavin and Daniel.

Derrick’s amused voice rises from my memories.Going out for a slaughter?

Going out tosavepeople.

A change of pace for you. I like it.

In the midst of everything, I almost smile.

I open my eyes just as Aithinne’s body jerks. Her mouth opens in a wide scream and her back arches like something is being ripped out of her. The startling blue sapphire of the Morrigan’s irises burns blindingly bright as power explodes around us in all directions. The buildings still left standing shudder to their foundations.

Then everything goes still and silent and calm.

Aithinne collapses to the ground, blinking in confusion. Her eyes are her own. The Morrigan is gone. She’sgone. I can’t feel her there anymore.

“We did it,” I whisper to Kiaran. He catches me as I fall, easing me slowly to the ground. He orders Sorcha to go see to Aithinne, his voice sharp.

“You did it.” His touch is gentle as he wipes the blood from my face. I rest my cheek against his chest. “Kam. Kam, keep your eyes open.”

A startling crack draws my attention. Around us, the few remaining buildings are beginning to crumble, falling into the streets.

“It’s almost done,” Lena says quietly. “There isn’t much time left to save your realm.”

“Tell me what to do,” Kiaran says.

“Not what you have to do.Her. She’s the only one who can break the curse.”

Me? But I’m not—

A jolt goes through me as I remember her words.

You have my daughter’s blood in you, her powers. My blood, the Cailleach had said. I am of her lineage, connected by blood.

I’m a child of the Cailleach. A child of the Cailleach who can tell a lie.

Kiaran must realize it, too. When he looks down at me, his expression is determined. Decisive. “Lie to me, Kam.”

“What?”

“Lie to me.”

Sacrifices that which they prize most: their heart.

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