Page 26 of Beltane

“Of course,” Miri agreed. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as we can,” Finn said. “Once we’re there, we’ll regroup with my other captains and sort out the details.”

At the mention of the other captains, a chill snaked down my spine and into my legs. This was real. There was anarmyof fairies waiting for us on the other side of the realm, one that was depending on us to defend the maniacal villain who had plagued their world for centuries. We were four pitiful humans who had been given a mutated fairy gift less than five years ago, and it all rested precariously on our shoulders. A wave of nausea followed that thought, reminding me of the first time I’d ever walked out on a stage.

“Be honest,” Lex said, glancing at Siobhan. “What exactly do you know about what happens next?”

Siobhan glanced at Finn as she cleared her throat and grew still, a trained soldier preparing for something terrible. “The last time we spoke, I told you that I believed you would hate me once you knew the whole story.”

Donnelly tensed, sitting up straighter. “Banshee…”

I remembered that as the nickname both he and Finn used for Siobhan.

“We have to get to Killwater because that’s where it ends,” she said, ignoring Donnelly’s warning. “On Beltane, we’ll slip through the veil and go to Faerie. After that…” Siobhan took a deep breath and looked at Ivy. “There will need to be a sacrifice. I don’t know what, but before this war is over…your hearts will shatter. You will lose what you hold most dear.”

My gut told me this was bullshit. There wouldn’t need to be a sacrifice. We would all make it out alive. I didn’t know how I knew that, but I did.

“I read about that in the lore.” Lex let out an exhausted sigh, like he was tired of the riddles and the half-truths. “What does that actually mean?”

Siobhan shook her head. “I don’t know. I wish I did.”

“That sounds quite ominous, doesn’t it?” Miri asked, playing with a piece of her hair.

“I’ve had enough of this fairy-tale bullshit.” Lex launched to his feet, causing Donnelly to stand as well, seemingly prepared to defend Siobhan if needed. Lex narrowed his eyes at him, like the fairy had gotten the wrong impression, and paced toward the whiskey crystal to pour himself a drink.

Siobhan’s features softened at Lex’s frustration. “One thing at a time, mate. The queen is a powerful ally. If we heal her, that’s a big step.”

“I’m worried about entering the queen’s mind if the king is so easily able to infiltrate mine.” Ivy chewed on her bottom lip, watching Diana comfort Poppy while she continued to cry. “I don’t want him hurting her anymore.”

“Which is why thefourof you will continue to work together,” Siobhan said. “You are strongest when the gift is complete. As for the king”—she refocused her attention on Ivy—“try to keep him out of your head. We can use it to our advantage if you can control it.”

“There are mental tricks I can teach you,” Donnelly said. “We’ll start working on them when we land in Dublin.”

Ivy seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding.

“There’s something inside him. I can feel it,” she said. “It’s like…a piece of himself that he’s hidden. He’s not entirely evil.”

“Well, no one’s entirely evil, are they?” Donnelly said. “He’s been alive longer than anything I’ve ever known. I’m sure there are countless pieces of himself he’s locked away over millions of years.”

I couldn’t even comprehend that length of time, much less consider who or what I’d be if I could live that long. But then again, time passed differently in Faerie. What would millions of years mean on that side of the realm? The entire concept hurt my brain to think about.

“No, this is different,” Ivy said. “It’s like…he’s forgotten that he used to love Diana. He’s forgotten that he used to be kind.”

Finn narrowed his eyes, studying me with a grim set to his mouth. “He has grown cold since I first met him. The things he’s done…the things he’s made me do…and now that he’s on this side of the realm, he’s even more unstable. We don’t have much time.”

“His separation from the queen is making it worse,” Siobhan said.

“Once we get to Killwater, what then?” Lex said. “Do you have a way to get into Faerie and take us with you?”

Siobhan smiled and held up her necklace, where a silver ring in the shape of ivy leaves dangled from the end.The ring.

“Christ, where did you get that?” Ivy held her hand out for it, and Siobhan took it off her neck and gave it to her. “I thought I’d lost it.”

“You did,” Siobhan said. “But that’s my fault. You weren’t supposed to go back to Faerie. I had no clue the gift would warp like this. When I created the ring, I enchanted it so that you wouldn’t be able to take it with you on your way out. It would get you back to your realm, but it would stay behind until I could collect it.”

“That explains it,” Ivy said. “I’d been so careful to hold on to it last time. I couldn’t remember letting go of it.”

Siobhan nodded. “Two days from now is Beltane. The veil between the realms will be thinnest. We’ll go into the woods then.”

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