“Hey! I was emotionally distraught which, by the way, was her fault.” Zeph jabbed an accusing finger in my direction.
“Ah yes, bewitched by a three-year-old. You poor creature.” Camilla giggled. Beside her, Freddy had a hand over his mouth to hide his own smirk. Too bad it did nothing to hide how red his face was.
“I suppose I can send another message to Jack. That kid always likes an excuse to sling some ice around and we’re gonna need some backup.” Hank combed fingers through his long white beard, then flicked a meaningful glance at Eldrick. “What about you, pretty boy? Your daddy still sitting on his royal fanny on the throne of nightmares? We could use some of his strength.”
Eldrick rolled his sterling eyes. “My father resents my existence and quite frankly, I’m not all that enamored with his, either. We don’t speak. I assure you, he would not agree to see me, even if I went to the trouble of seeking him out,” he snapped bitterly. “Besides, I have no intention of debasing myself to groveling before him like some sniveling child.”
“Right. Cause nothing you do is childish or pathetic.” Zeph had that devilish, taunting grin on his face.
“I might be able to call in a few favors.” Camilla tapped her lips thoughtfully. “After all, we only need to stall him long enough to open the Fibbing Gate.”
Looking around at all my friends, I found myself hopeful again. Everyone was working so hard.
Well, almost everyone.
My eyes fell to Eldrick, who was still sulking his seat with his arms folded. He and Zeph were spitting insults at each other from across the table, which wasn’t anything new, but hearing Eldrick refuse to aid in our cause by asking his dad for a little help made my skin feel flushed and my teeth clench. How could he refuse? Didn’t he care if Fir Darrig captured me and took the faerie throne? Didn’t he care about any of us? We could all die in this fight!
As I went back to explaining the rest of my plan, I found it hard to make eye contact with him or even look his way. He was acting like a pompous jerk. How could he go from being encouraging and supportive one moment to being so cold and stubborn the next? Were his issues with his dad that bad?
The only thing that distracted me for even a fleeting second was when a crumpled piece of paper fell out of the book Freddy was frantically flipping through. The yellowed, faded page fluttered through the air, landing right in front of me. Before he could snatch it back, I caught a glimpse of what was written on it. It was a diagram—a design for what looked like a fancy revolver.
I flicked him a curious glance.
Freddy colored and winced, like I wasn’t supposed to see that. “I-it’s just a basic design,” he stammered. “Something your mother and I were working on a long time ago.”
“My mother wanted a gun?”
“Not just any gun!” Freddy’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “A magical revolver. A Claidheamh Soluis.”
My brow scrunched at the sound of the strange word. “A what?”
“It means ‘Sword of Light,’” he replied and wafted a hand in the air dismissively. He picked up the page and stuffed it back into his book. “A story for another time, maybe. Besides, it’s not like I actually got to make it. It was just an idea. I didn’t even finish the prototype.”
“Probably for the best.” Eldrick snorted. “Handing a human a magical weapon like that would likely be catastrophic.”
I cut him a glare, biting my tongue. Angry words lodged in my throat, and I could practically taste fire in my throat.
Zeph must have noticed my change in mood because after our makeshift war meeting was over, he followed me back to the tiny room in the back of the bar. Everyone else had dispersed to send messages, call in favors, or—in Eldrick’s case—do nothing. I didn’t trust myself to be in the same room with him. I knew I would say something or my temper would get out of control.
I waited until Zeph had closed the door behind us in the privacy of that small back room to let out a deep sigh of surrender. I knew what I was in for even before I turned to face Zeph. He was standing right behind me with that persistent slant to his frown.
“You gonna tell me? Or are we doing this the hard way?” He widened his stance like he was preparing to tackle me.
Stepping toward him, I hugged my arms around his waist and laid my head against chest.
“No fair,” he grumbled as he put his arms around me.
“Eldrick is only fighting with us because of the contract, isn’t he? If he wasn’t spelled to stay with me, he’d be long gone by now.”
Zeph put a hand on top of my head. “Why the hell are you worrying about that idiot at a time like this? Who cares why he’s fighting with us? If he has his butt out there doing something useful, what does it matter?”
“Because I thought he was my friend.” I’d been carried away, thinking the contract wouldn’t matter to Eldrick. I’d fooled myself into believing he wanted to be around me. The coffee dates, the prom dress, the help studying—he hadn’t wanted to do any of it. He was just following orders because of his contract with my father.
“Don’t let it get to you.” Zeph combed his fingers through my hair. “Eldrick’s always had his own agenda. He’s got a shitload of baggage. Major daddy issues. Probably some mommy issues, too. Trust me; the last thing you want is for him to dump it all in your lap. Quit worrying about him.”
“Right. Cause my lap is already full of all your baggage.”
“Exactly.” He obviously hadn’t caught the sarcasm in my voice. “And hey, if his motives mean that much to you, then ask him straight out. Or better yet, give him a test. Let him out of the contract. If he sticks around to fight with us, then you’ll know he really is a friend. Otherwise, good riddance.”
I leaned back so I could stare up at him. I had to be sure he wasn’t bleeding from the ears or suffering from a psychotic break. Didn’t he realize how badly outmatched we were? Hadn’t he been listening at all? We’d need all the help we could get in order to stand a chance against Fir Darrig. “But we need him, don’t we?”
“I dunno about you, but I’d rather die in the midst of my friends than live surrounded by people who don’t care about me. Otherwise, what’s the point, right?” Zeph gave me that crooked smile and kissed my lips firmly. “But it’s your call, princess. You do what you think is right.”
I had been expecting the day of the Singing Moon to seem different, but when the sun rose on that frigid spring morning, it felt like the start of a normal day. The air was bitter cold. There was a fresh dusting of snow on the ground. People in business clothes were walking to work, yammering into cell phones, and carrying trays of paper coffee cups.
As we loaded our bags of gear into the trunk of Hank’s car, I was a nervous wreck. I sat in the back seat next to Zeph while Eldrick and Hank sat up front. Behind us, Camilla and Freddy followed in their sporty, white sedan. We left the downtown area, driving past the suburban neighborhoods out into the countryside.
We passed houses where I vaguely recalled my childhood friends had lived. Horse pastures and large barns dotted the landscape, all blanketed in frost and snow. The wind carried the musk of livestock and the faint hint of smoke from chimneys. I’d lived in the city so long it felt like I didn’t belong here anymore. Or maybe that was just because my memories of it were so blurred.
We drove for another half hour, far away from any other sign of civilization, before Hank turned down a long driveway. It twisted and snaked through a line of hardwood trees, over a small bridge, and emerged in a large, open field surrounded by forest on all sides. When the house appeared through the naked tree limbs, a torrent of confused emotions swelled in my body; I hadn’t seen my family home in so long.
The beautiful old farmhouse looked like a cracked memory, standing at the crest of a hill overlooking a sweeping pasture. Parts of the roof had caved in from the fire. The whitewashed porch was charred, and the windows had been broken out.
Of course, it was ab
andoned now. My father had left it to me in his will, but I had never come back after his funeral. The fact that it was so far out on the outskirts of town, hidden away from the public eye, was probably the only thing that had saved it from being demolished. Seeing it made my head hurt—as though someone were driving a spike right between my eyes. I whimpered and sat back, rubbing at my forehead. When I squeezed my eyes shut, memories flickered to life from some dark, forgotten corner of my brain. Playing hide and seek in the trees with William, drawing on the front steps with sidewalk chalk, and blazing down the twisty driveway on my bicycle with pink tassels on the handlebars.
“What is it?” Zeph put a hand on my arm.
“I-I … remembered something. Something from when I was a little.” I squinted up at him, my head still pounding. “I thought the memories wouldn’t come back until the feather was destroyed?”
His mouth was set in a hard line. That’s when I realized—his hand on my arm felt colder than normal. “My time’s almost up,” he muttered. “In a few hours …”
“In a few hours it won’t matter,” Hank interrupted. “The curse will be broken, you’ll be fine, and then our only problem will be shoving Fir Darrig’s big ass through that gateway as soon as possible.”
I took a steadying breath. Hank was right—now was not the time to lose my focus. Too much was riding on this. I had to be clear. I had to stay calm. Lying back in my seat, I kept rubbing my forehead until the throbbing pain gradually faded.
We stopped at the front of the house, and I peered past my reflection on the car’s window at the place that had been my childhood home until a few years ago. My stomach twisted into knots and no matter how hard I clenched them, my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
My legs tingled as I climbed out of the car. I helped take the bags of supplies out of the trunk and spread them out on the driveway. Hank stalked off a few yards and began sending out his acorn messages—one to Jack and one to Fir Darrig on Zeph’s behalf. When he was finished, he came back to join me in emptying the trunk. He pulled out a familiar large duffel bag packed full of supplies and an even longer gun case.
Camilla and Freddy set off to walk the perimeter of the property to put up alarm wards so we would know when we had company. Eldrick and Zeph started going over battle plans. There was a lot to do, and plenty I needed to prepare, but my mind still raced. My palms were sweaty and I couldn’t concentrate. I crouched before one of the open bags, arming myself for battle with the spellwork materials. I packed my coat pockets with a Sharpie, Zeph’s lighter, and a few twigs that I had already charred on the ends so I could use them to draw spellwork in the snow. Two little bags of salt, the staurolite stones, and a travel size can of hairspray completed my collection.
I tucked my mom’s iron dagger into the side of my boot where it wouldn’t be so obvious. Having it made me feel strangely confident, like I could stand a bit taller. But I couldn’t help but think about that drawing of the magical revolver I’d seen in Freddy’s book. What would it be like to fight with a weapon like that? Better question—what was it going to take to get Freddy to actually make it for me?
“There’s that prance.” Zeph smirked as he walked past.
“Strut,” I corrected.
“Tomayto, tomahto.”
Regardless of how I walked, I wasn’t a helpless waif anymore. I could pack my own punch.
Now that I was outfitted, all I had to do now was wait. Everyone else was still busy preparing. Eldrick and Zeph were staring down at a crudely drawn map of the property, arguing about where to make our final stand if things went bad. Hank was checking his shotgun and packing his pockets full of shells. Freddy and Camilla hadn’t come back from putting up wards yet.
My gaze wandered away, pulled as if by gravity to a place at the far edge of the property. With everyone concentrating on other things, it wasn’t hard to slip away unnoticed. I walked through the snow, past the house, to a small grove of poplar and evergreen trees on the far corner of the clearing.
There, sheltered by the arms of the trees, were three gravestones.
I stared at the names engraved on each one: Marcus, Marissa, and William Barton.
This was all that was left of my family—three cold stones almost buried by the snow. My mother’s ancestors had owned this property, almost a thousand acres, for a long time. As far as I knew, most of it was just untamed forest with a few lots sold here and there. I’d never suspected it had anything to do with being some kind of royal descendant—and maybe it didn’t—but it was sort of a family tradition to have a home burial here on the family land.
Beside William’s grave there was an empty spot, a place meant for me. My stomach fluttered at the sight of it.
I pulled out my mother’s necklace from under my shirt, slipping it over my head to run my fingers over the beautiful blood-red stone. The tiny spells etched onto the back made me wonder what they were for. It couldn’t just be coincidence that Fir Darrig’s princess had been wearing this, too. It had to mean something.
And that strange presence about it, as though it had an aura all its own, still pricked at the back of my mind …
“Been a while since you came back here, huh?” Zeph’s voice came from right behind me. I jumped in surprise.
“I just couldn’t bear to see this. The house, the property, these …” My voice faded in my throat. It hurt to look at them. I put the big heart-shaped ruby back around my neck.
“Perhaps it is good to remember now,” Eldrick spoke up suddenly. I was stunned to find him standing behind me, too. “Remembering what Fir Darrig has done to your family may give you courage.”
My heart skipped a beat, but not because of anything Eldrick had said. His presence reminded me that there was something else I had to do—something I’d been psyching myself up for all day. Today was going to change my life forever, for better or worse. I didn’t want to go into this battle with any lingering doubts about who I could trust.
“You’re right,” I said as I turned to face them. “My family deserves vengeance, Zeph deserves saving, and I have to stand up for myself. This is my fight.”
My eyes met Zeph’s for a moment. He knew what I was about to do. I could see it in his expression, but instead of giving me any reassurance or confirmation that this was the right thing to do, he just looked down. He couldn’t make this choice for me.
“Which is why I’m letting you go, Eldrick,” I added.
He frowned. His silver eyes narrowed, and his head tilted to the side, as though he suspected he was misunderstanding.
“Your contract has been fulfilled. You’ve been a good friend to me and … and there will never be any way I can repay you for everything you’ve done. I’m so grateful for every moment.” I forced a smile as I extended a hand toward him. “Well, except for the ones where you tortured me and trapped me in the closet.”
His frown hardened and his glare became as sharp as steel. “Why?”
“You’re risking your life by getting involved in this. And I don’t want you to do that because you have to, or because my father’s contract demands it. If you fight with us, I want it to be by your own choice. So, you are hereby released from your contract. Eldrick, you are free.”
Eldrick didn’t move. His eyes went wide. He gaped at me for a few seconds, and then his gaze moved down to my hand. Slowly, he reached out to take it.
The instant our palms touched, I felt the prickle of magic on my skin. Whispering bells echoed in the air, and Eldrick shuddered hard. His hand gripped mine harder, strong fingers squeezing tightly. Then he sucked in a sharp breath and abruptly snatched his hand away.
His silver eyes flashed wildly as he glanced between Zeph and me. He looked confused, like he wasn’t sure what to do. His chest heaved and his nostrils flared as he sucked in deep breaths.
I took a small step back. I wondered if he might attack me again. The feral expression on his face certainly made that seem like a possibility. Befo
re I could say another word, a column of swirling black shadows rose around him. The darkness engulfed his tall form, and in an instant … Eldrick was gone.
I had my answer.
“I’m sorry, princess.” Zeph put a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Loyalty isn’t something his bloodline is known for.”
My throat constricted. I set my jaw and I shook my head. “It’s okay. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t prepared for either answer. At least now I know where he stands.”
Only, it wasn’t okay. He’d been like family to me. And now I didn’t know what to think. Had it all just been an act? Was our entire friendship a farce?
I was still biting back tears when we rejoined Hank and the others, they gathered around with curious expressions. I guess they could tell something was up.
“Eldrick won’t be fighting with us,” I announced.
Camilla’s expression paled. “Why not?”
I hung my head. I felt like such a coward, I couldn’t even find the words to explain to them what had happened.
Zeph squeezed my shoulder and stepped in to rescue me. “It doesn’t matter. He made his choice. But we don’t need him anyway.”
I wanted to agree with him; it shouldn’t have mattered that Eldrick abandoned us, but it did. Mentally, I was scrambling. My plan was falling apart already.
Preparations continued and I tried to swallow my sorrow and concentrate. The wrenching feeling of betrayal made my stomach turn sour. I wanted to be angry, but I was angrier with myself than I was at Eldrick. I felt stupid for believing he liked me or wanted to help us. I had been so blind.
At dusk, everyone began to take their places. It was almost time. Freddy, Camilla, and Hank stood inside shielding circles that were spelled to make them invisible, both to humans and to fae. They would be undetectable until they stepped outside those circles. It would be a surprise ambush—we hoped.
In the middle of the pasture behind my family’s house, I stood with my hand in Zeph’s. Together we watched the horizon turn gold and red as the sun set behind the forest. My hands were sweating and trembling like crazy. I tried to at least look composed and confident, but I couldn’t stand still. It felt like my chest might explode as my pulse hammered and skipped.
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