Gold

by Talia Vance

  I feel Liam’s hand on my hair, gathering it behind my neck. “The spell will be stronger coming from you.”

  I jerk away, breaking his hold. Austin stirs on the table. He moans, and tries to lift his head without success, letting it fall back onto the marble with a thud. He opens his left eye, but his right eye is swollen shut. “About bloody time,” he says.

  I brush a finger on his puffy cheek, pulling my hand away when I see him flinch. “I’ll get you out of here.”

  Austin swallows. “Save yourself.”

  Liam grabs my wrist. “Don’t worry. You’ll put him out of his misery in just a minute. But you can’t perform the ritual looking like that.” He nods at Sherri.

  Sherri looks me up and down, taking in my still wet hair and clothes. “Jesus, Paxton. Did you swim here?” She bends over and pulls a white gauzy cloth from a bag at her feet. She throws it at my chest. I clutch it out of instinct. “Change into that. And do something with your hair.”

  Sherri still holds the knife in her hand. There’s no way I can get to her before she could hurt Austin. Not to mention that she’s got all the powers of a Seventh Daughter, and I’ve got no weapons and no plan. My best hope is to stall them until Joe and Braden find us.

  I place a hand on Austin’s shoulder and give him what I hope is a reassuring squeeze. Then I walk behind a screen on the left side of the altar and change into the dress Sherri gave me. It’s too big, hanging low across my chest. The skirt brushes the stone floor. There are no pockets, so I take the little packet of broomstraw from my jeans and tuck it into my bra. I plate my hair into a thick braid that stretches to the middle of my back, taking as long as I can.

  Liam steps around the screen. “Enough. This will have to do.” He grabs my arm, his fingers pressing so hard that I’m sure I’ll have a bruise. Sherri points to a huge book open on the pulpit. “She’ll need to learn the words.”

  “There’s no time. The ritual must be done at least 48 hours before the Gathering or it will be of no use.” Liam pulls me until I stand directly in front of Austin. “She can repeat after you.” He takes the knife from Sherri and forces it into my hands. He covers my hands with his own, applying so much pressure, that it’s a wonder my fingers don’t break. He holds the knife above Austin.

  I kick and thrash against his hold. I can’t get any leverage. Liam is too strong for me to do any real damage.

  “Don’t worry bandia. Your affection for Arawn will not be wasted. A blood sacrifice is only as powerful as the bond that is severed. The higher the price, the greater the reward.”

  “For the love of all that is sacred,” Sherri says.

  I twist and try again to break free of Liam’s hold, but he pulls me hard against his chest.

  Austin rolls onto his back. “Did you go to the ruin?”

  I shake my head.

  “Good,” he whispers. “You will live.” He closes his eyes again.

  “You will too,” I say, but Liam has moved my hand so the knife is directly above Austin’s heart.

  Austin grins up at me through his split lip. “Let him do it, Brianna.”

  What? Has Austin lost his mind? I am not going to let Liam force me to kill him.

  Liam laughs. “Even Arawn recognizes that he is worth more to the cause dead.”

  Austin winks the eye that isn’t swollen. “A thousand years of otherworldly night.” He quotes the spell I used to banish him to the underworld for a thousand years. He thinks that Liam’s role in his death will lead to Liam’s banishment? Austin might be right, but I’m not about to let Austin die.

  “No.” We’ll find another way. I can get Liam to the gateway. If I can get the necklace back, I can use the banishment spell on Liam.

  “For the love of all that is sacred,” Sherri says again, more emphatic this time.

  “Say it,” Liam growls in my ear. “You’ll be doing him a favor. If he dies as a tribute he will be given a special place in Avalon. Will you leave his soul to fade with the masses?”

  I can’t fight Liam off. So I go with the truth. “I can’t do it. I don’t have magic.”

  Liam laughs. “That has been painfully obvious for some time. This is your chance to make yourself useful. The blood of the deity that once ruled the gods will be a powerful sacrifice in itself, but your loss will be personal. Blood magic doesn’t require anything more. It thrives on suffering.”

  Sherri steps forward. Wind whips around her skirts. Another curl of hair falls into her face. “We’re running out of time.”

  Austin raises an eyebrow, then winches at the pain. “You did say this would end badly.”

  “I never said that. You did.”

  “Shut up!” Sherri sends a blast of wind so powerful Austin flies off the altar, straight at Liam and me.

  Liam lets go of me to get out of the way. I can’t do anything but put my arms out and toss the knife away as Austin crashes into me and we fall to the floor in a heap.

  My elbow hits first, slamming against the stone. My back hits next. Austin lands on top of me. He barely gets his arms out to break his fall, but he rolls to the side when we hit, doing his best to minimize the impact.

  I struggle for breath. Pain shoots from the center of my shoulder blades. I scream out before I realize I’m breathing again.

  Sherri stands over me, her hands lit with blue fire. “You are such a disappointment.”

  Austin rolls onto his stomach and stretches toward the dagger. I try to distract Sherri. “A disappointment? To you?”

  Sherri sends a ball of flame at the dagger just as Austin reaches it. He pulls his hand back with a gasp. “To every Seventh Daughter that came before. You are a pathetic girl who lets stupid crushes take precedence over everything else. When the gods are back you can have any boy you want, but for now you must do what you were born for.”

  I clutch at my chest, fumbling for the little packet of broom straw. It’s not a weapon, but it is a shield. Once I have it, I clench my teeth against the pain in my shoulder and crawl until I’m directly in front of Austin, between him and Sherri. It takes all my concentration to plant my feet and pull myself up off the ground. I stand to face her. “I’m the only one who gets to decide what I was born for.”

  Sherri’s smile is hideously beautiful. She raises a fiery hand in my direction. “Then I guess I get to decide what you die for.”

  The ball of fire comes at me so fast, I barely register the blue blur before it slams against my chest and explodes in a burst of purple and indigo. The force of the blast sends me backwards. I hit the ground hard but my chest feels okay. No burning and no pain. Not even a hint of smoke or flame on the white dress. I push myself up on my elbows. “Or not.”

  Her smile falters. “What the … How did you do that?”

  Liam roars from behind Sherri. “Stop!” He moves past me and grabs Sherri by the neck. “Her fate is not yours to decide.”

  Nice of him to step in after Sherri landed her fireball.

  Sherry’s eyes are huge as Liam throws her against the altar. “I alone decide whose blood will spill.” Apparently, I’m worth something now that I’ve survived a shot to the heart.

  Liam spins around, abruptly letting his hands fall from Sherri. I stand up, doing my best to deflect Liam’s attention away from where Austin still lays.

  Liam’s eyes are wild. “I’ve underestimated you.”

  I hear Austin moving behind me, but I keep my gaze on Liam. “Not my problem.”

  He narrows his eyes at me. “You have magic.”

  The doors to the church swing open. Braden, Joe, Samuel and Mikel come through all at once.

  I smile. “I have something better. I have friends.”

  FORTY-SEVEN

  Liam takes in the trio of giolla walking calmly up the aisle. He grabs Sherri by the waist and drags her in front of him like a shield.

  Joe lifts his chin slightly. “Liam.”

  Liam shrinks back, even though Joe hasn’t done anything remotely aggressive. Liam c
atches himself, thrusting his chest out to try and cover. His eyes flit from Sam to Mikel. “Only three of you left?”

  Joe takes a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his coat and taps it against his palm. “It’s no concern of yours.”

  “Isn’t it? You have failed so badly that nearly all the demigods are extinct.”

  Failed? At what?

  “Not all.” Joe tears at the plastic wrapper around the pack.

  Liam stands straighter. “Three bandia. And of those, only one is worth anything. The others fell prey to that damn bonding curse. But we will bring back the gods and restore balance to the earth.”

  Austin struggles to his feet behind me. Once he gets upright, his arms wrap around my waist. It’s not clear if he’s holding me, or if I’m holding him up. Either way, it’s a relief to feel his warmth.

  Joe stuffs the plastic wrapper in his pocket. “It is not your place to question our methods. We have prevented chaos. And we will continue to do so.” He walks around Liam, toward Austin and me. He places his hand on Austin’s forehead and whispers something in Gaelic. “Now, there are more.”

  Austin stands up straighter behind me.

  Joe looks from Austin to Liam. “You tread very close to the line.”

  Liam curls his upper lip into a sneer. “I am well of aware of my limitations. I haven’t killed anyone.”

  Joe takes out a cigarette and puts the pack back in the front pocket of his long coat. “Killing is not the only sin that leads to banishment. I suggest you watch yourself.” Joe nods to Austin.

  Austin takes my hand and leads me through the church, past Liam and Sherri, past Sam and Mick. Austin’s gait is smooth and graceful considering the beating he took. Braden holds the door open for us and winks at Austin as we walk across the threshold.

  I glance up at Austin as we get into the car. Dried blood still stains his chin, but there’s no sign of the cut on his lip. Both his eyes are open and clear. The bruising on his face is already faded to a light shade of brown, and getting lighter. I bring my finger to his cheek just as the last of his injuries disappear.

  “How did you do that?”

  “Magic.” He laces his fingers with mine. “Either Joe is really pissed at Liam or he wants to make sure that I’m at the Gathering. He gave me access to my power.”

  “I don’t understand.” Joe gave Austin access to his power? How? Joe is a freaking historian.

  The car doors open, and Mikel slides into the back seat with us. Joe and Samuel take the front.

  “Where’s Braden?” I ask.

  “You see room for a bloody waterhorse?”

  “Watch it, Mick.” Sam turns around to face us. “That bloke is my charge.”

  Mick waves him off. “Don’t look at me. I’m not the one who returned magic to a sodding god.”

  Joe puts the key in the ignition. “Don’t think you can call him a god anymore.”

  Mick snorts from the seat next to us.

  Austin squeezes my hand.

  “What the hell just happened?” I look at the four boys in the car.

  “Joe restored Austin’s powers,” Mick says. “It’s our job to keep the balance, and Liam had too damn much power.”

  I try to process this. “Just what kind of magic do you guys have?”

  “We have only what we need,” Joe says from the front seat. “When we need it.”

  Austin laughs. “I don’t know whether to love you or hate you.”

  Joe stares at the road. “It’s not my concern.”

  Mick takes my hand and squeezes it. It dawns on me what Austin meant when he said that Joe wanted to ensure he was at the Gathering. Austin has his powers back. He won’t be able to ignore the call to the Gathering. Austin is back on the front lines of the war whether he wants to be or not.

  In this case, restoring the balance means arming a soldier for battle.

  I don’t say anything as we drive the rest of the way to Lorcan. The place has already been cleaned up inside. The table in the front entry even has a new vase on it, complete with fresh flowers.

  Austin doesn’t let go of my hand as he leads me down the hall and up the stairs. He doesn’t stop until we are inside his room with the door shut and locked behind us.

  He turns to face me. “What the hell were you thinking coming after me like that?”

  I push against his shoulders. “That I couldn’t let them hurt you?”

  “And you were going to stop them how?” Austin raises his voice. “With logic and reason?”

  “I had a sword. You taught me how to use it. I didn’t realize I was supposed sit back and let them kill you.” Not that I ever could.

  The little creases between his eyebrows are back. “It helps no one if we’re both dead.”

  “Stop acting like a whiny, domineering god. Just because you got your powers back doesn’t mean you can start bossing me around.”

  “Is that what you think I’m doing?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  “Maybe.” He flops down on the leather couch, still dressed in only his underwear. “Since when do you care what happens to me?”

  I feel caged. Trapped. “What?”

  He shakes his head. “I’m the bastard that got you to kill your boyfriend, remember?”

  “Why are you bringing this up?” Is he going to do this now? He has to know that things have changed between us. Of course he does. He’s told me he loves me, and we both know that I haven’t exactly reciprocated. He wants to force my hand.

  “You tried to kill me yourself. Now you want to save me?” Austin’s eyes are pained, accusing. “You can’t help me anymore. Your powers are gone. You need to get out of here while you still can.”

  “I won’t let you fight by yourself.” The words come easily. Why can’t I just admit that what I feel for him is something more than like. More than lust.

  “That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said.” Austin’s face turns haughty. He looks every bit the obnoxious god I used to loathe. “I’ve got powers now. I’ll be fine. You won’t survive five minutes.”

  “I won’t leave you.”

  “Why not, Brianna?” Austin is on his feet again, stalking me like a predator. I back up until the wall stops me. He keeps coming, closer, until his bare chest nearly touches me. “Why won’t you leave me?”

  I reach up to rub away the dried blood that still sticks to his chin.

  “Why?” he asks again.

  I know what he wants, but I can’t give it to him. I care about Austin. I want to be with him. These last few weeks have been perfect. Can’t that be enough? At least for now? “Don’t make me say it.”

  I stretch up to kiss him, and he kisses me back, pressing me into the wall. Into him. His tongue thrusts into my mouth with a force that steals my breath.

  “God, Brianna,” he says, his breath hot in my ear. He licks a line of kisses down my neck and along my collarbone, pushing a gauzy sleeve off my shoulder. “You were magnificent. I’ve never seen anyone, human or god, act so brave.”

  “I thought—”

  “Shh.” He lifts his head and meets my gaze. “I didn’t get this chance at life so I could watch you die Brianna. Don’t take chances with your life for mine.”

  “I’m not letting you go to the Gathering by yourself.”

  “Tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow.” He slides the sleeve of the dress from my other shoulders, baring me to him. “We have all of tonight before we need to worry about tomorrow. I’ve waited over a thousand years for these moments with you, and I do not plan on wasting a second.” His lips blaze a trail to my breast.

  I tangle my hands in his hair and pull him closer.

  I can’t give him the words, but I can give him tonight. For now, it’s enough for both of us.

  FORTY-EIGHT

  In the morning, Mick greets me in the kitchen with a steaming mug of coffee. I walk past him and pour a cup of tea.

  He pushes the mug at me again. “But I made it with the steamed
milk you always say you miss. And some vanilla syrup.”

  I place a lump of sugar into the tea and stir. “You’ve been pushing tea on me since I got here. I’m kind of used to it now.”

  Mick lifts the corners of his lips in that almost smile. “So I guess bribery is out.”

  “Since when do you need to bribe me?”

  He sits down at the counter across from me. “What if I told you there was a way to stop the war? To prevent the battle that Liam has planned from ever going forward?”

  “I’m listening.”

  “Last night, Joe told me about a bandia and a Son of Killian who bonded, and lived to tell about it.” He raises his eyebrows at me.

  Me and Blake. “It’s old news.”

  “That’s never happened before. The bond always ends in death. Always.”

  “Didn’t Joe tell you that part? It did. End in death, I mean.”

  Mick shakes his head. “It should’ve ended there. In the normal course of things. By the end, the bandia and the Son want the other one dead. They pray for it. But you brought him back. Even after sharing a soul, you cared enough about the son of a bitch to bring him back.”

  “It doesn’t mean anything.”

  “It means everything.”

  “You’re losing me.”

  Mick picks one of the sugar cubes out of the bowl and turns it over in his hand. “The point of the bandia’s curse was that the Sons and bandia could never really love each other. They could feel only feel lust.”

  “Loost?”

  He laughs at my bad translation of his accent. “Attraction. Not love.”

  “Got it.” I sip my tea. “Been there. Done that.”

  “You and Blake. You didn’t grow to hate each other. You grew to care for each other. It’s the only explanation.”

  My teacup clatters against the saucer as I set it down. “We weren’t in love.”

  “But your souls didn’t try to overpower each other either. You had something more. You broke the curse. Together, you could change everything.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “That you and Blake, if you gave it a chance, you could break the curse and end the war.”

  “I love Austin.” The words come so easily in the light of day.