‘Me, too.’
It wasn’t the most romantic reunion, but it was the best we could manage. That sickly green ray was emanating from Havok’s fingers and Emrick shouted a warning before blasting my uncle with something that made Havok let out a yell and drop his hands.
Immediately, Spite shot out a vivid purple ray, and I glanced round, horrified to see Trinity was in its direct line, but that she wasn’t looking in his direction. She was too busy firing blasts at Siofra.
‘Trinity!’
My warning was unnecessary. Sirius had obviously spotted the danger she was in, and he threw himself against Trinity, knocking her to the ground, where he let out a cry of pain.
‘Sirius, you’re hurt!’
I heard Trinity’s anguished cry but could do nothing to help. I was being blasted by both henchmen now, and it was taking everything I had to fend them off. I wished I could figure out how I’d slowed down time previously, but no matter how many times I threw up my hands nothing seemed to be happening.
Suddenly a white light enveloped us, and I heard Keely say, ‘At last!’
‘Don’t fire!’ Emrick shouted to us, and I lowered my hands realising we were behind a shield.
I looked round and saw Aidan and Killian standing by our side. Killian was holding the shield steady with one hand and he and Aidan were blasting the Pendragons. The two henchmen were killed instantly.
Havok glared at the O’Briens. ‘You again. Well, not this time, traitorous worms!’
He aimed a blast of purple light at Killian’s shoulder, knocking Killian and lowering the shield. We were exposed again. It was only for a moment, but in that time I saw the green light coming from Havok’s fingers and heading straight for me. I stared at it, too frozen with fear to do anything.
Suddenly I was flying through the air as if I’d been catapulted. I landed with a thud on the ground and rolled over and over before coming to a painful halt against a tree.
How had I escaped Havok’s attack?
I glanced round to see who had helped me, but everyone was busy fighting. Then I noticed Siofra, standing a little apart. She gave me a knowing look, put her hand on one of the dog’s heads, and the two of them vanished.
I lay there stunned. What had just happened? Surely Siofra hadn’t helped me? It made no sense. Someone else must have blasted me out of the way. Whoever had done it, I had no time to think about it.
I scrambled to my feet, looking around. Only Havok and Spite remained. Killian threw the shield around the others and Aidan blasted Havok with something which looked like a shimmering blue ice ball. It was a direct hit.
Havok gave an anguished cry and fell to the floor, not far from where his number one henchman, Malliss, lay dead.
Spite clearly saw he was outnumbered. With a cry of anger he vanished, taking the other dog with him. A moment later the bodies of Havok, Malliss, Greywood and Hawdon vanished too.
I sank to my knees, dazed. Havok Pendragon was dead? I could barely take it in. Then I realised Trinity was crying and hauled myself up off the ground.
‘Sirius! He’s hurt,’ she sobbed. ‘Do something, please.’
‘It’s okay. I’m all right.’ Sirius lay on the ground, sweat pouring from his forehead. His leg looked mangled and bloody, and I was pretty sure he was far from all right.
‘We need to get back to the island, now,’ Emrick said. ‘Are you all ready?’
We all grouped together, sitting beside Sirius, too weary and shocked to say anything else. We put our arms around each other and visualised the living room at Peloryon House, then we left Polkayne Woods far behind us and—at last—I went home.
Chapter 46
Trinity
What a couple of days we’d had! Sirius was badly wounded in his left leg, and I’d sat with him day and night, refusing to leave his side for a moment. Iliana had been horrified when she heard what had happened to him, and the whole Castle Clair family had moved to Peloryon House in a show of solidarity and support.
Of course, Castor, Iliana, Star, Sky, Celeste, and even Aurora had chastised us for not calling them to help in our battle with the Pendragons, although we tried to explain that there hadn’t been time.
Once Killian had got a warning about the Pendragons being in the vicinity he’d headed to Ballydraiocht to enlist Aidan, just in case, and the rest of us had rushed to Polkayne to see what they were up to. When we saw them with Wulfram there’d been no time to think about anything else, let alone send one of us to Castle Clair for reinforcements.
I was still amazed they’d let me go with them, but Keely had argued my case, pointing out that I wouldn’t be luring the Pendragons anywhere as they were already there, and that the more witches there were to fight them the better. Even Emrick had decided to go with us. In fact, he’d insisted upon it, and had also spoken up for me. Sirius had been reluctant, but I’d told him I had to start fighting my own battles at some point, and he had to let me take part or how was I ever going to learn to defend myself?