Page 84 of The Fallen Kingdom

Lonnrach crashes through it and follows. When I reach the door, it seals and disappears. As if it were never there to begin with.

Damnation!

I rush toward the end of the alley, but the walls are so tight now that I have to turn my body to the side. Desperately, I reach out a palm and release a burst of power. It slams into the buildings and creates a hole for me to escape through.

I hurtle out onto the street just in time to see Lonnrach and the girl up ahead. I give chase, but they’re too fast. I’m going to lose them.

Sorcha speeds around a corner and throws herself into her brother. They fall to the ground, striking each other. Sorcha smashes her fist into his jaw and slams his head into the pavement. By the time I reach them, Sorcha has him in an iron grip and the girl has disappeared down another street.

“She’s gone,” I pant. “Bloody hell.”

“Who is she?” Sorcha snarls at Lonnrach.

His smile is mocking. “You don’t know?”

She punches him in the face, a hard knock that splatters blood across the pavement. When he turns back, his lip is bleeding.

“Tell me.” She flashes her fangs. “I should have stayed behind to finish you off back in that field. I should have done it a long time ago.”

Lonnrach launches himself at her, but I’m there first. I grasp him by the arm and turn it at a painful angle. His scream is so, so satisfying. He deserves it after everything he’s ever done to me. He deserves more. He deserves to have his memory emptied. His hope destroyed. His will broken.

God, how I want to end him. My other hand is so close to my sword, all I have to do is take it out.

Then I hear footsteps behind me. When I turn, Aithinne is there, taking in the sight of Lonnrach on his knees and bleeding. Mortal.

He’s not my kill. He’s not Sorcha’s, either.

“He’s yours,” I tell Aithinne. He struggles in my grip, but I hold firm. “Remember what I promised you. We’d do this together, but he’s yours.”

“Sorcha.” Lonnrach sounds desperate now. “Sorcha. I’m sorry—”

“Now you’re sorry?” Sorcha laughs, and her fangs glisten white in the darkness. Then, to me: “Falconer, when you saw my memories, I didn’t show you that I asked Lonnrach for help to save our mother, but he refused because we were Unseelie.” She lets out a growl, teeth bared. When she speaks again, her voice is cold and quiet and angry. “What was it you said,brother?”

Lonnrach presses his lips together and shakes his head.

Sorcha grasps him by the front of his shirt. “Say it. Remind me.”

His whisper is so low, I barely hear him. I flinch at what he says, at the sudden memory of what it was like for Sorcha under the Strategist’s control. Lonnrach told her that. He’s her brother, and he abandoned her.

“That’s right,” Sorcha says with a smile. “How well I remember those words.” She strokes a fingernail down his cheek. “Now allow me to return the sentiment:You’re not my problem.”

Then she steps back and nods once to Aithinne. A silent message: she’s not going to do anything to stop us.

Lonnrach jerks in my grip as Aithinne comes forward, but I shove him to the ground, holding him tightly. He’s no match for my strength, not while mortal.It’s time. It’s time to end this.

Aithinne’s breathing trembles as she stares at him, but when she speaks, her voice is strong. “If I were half as cruel as you, I would make this the worst pain imaginable. I would make sure you suffered as long as you made me suffer. Your death would take me two thousand years.”

She slides her sword from its sheath and stands before him. She looks at me, a signal to release him.

I let Lonnrach go and he drops to his knees. When he tries to run, I shove him down again with my powers. Again. Again. Until he’s panting with exhaustion and fear, kneeling before Aithinne.

“My Queen,” he whispers.

“Am I that?” Aithinne places her fingertips under his chin and she looks almost gentle. “After everything, you’d claim fealty to me again?”

“Yes,” he says, almost desperately. “Yes.”

“Then consider this my last act as your Queen. I’m giving you a better death than you deserve.”

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