“We’ll take it,” she said again, and clung to him, clung to the kiss.
Whatever comes, she thought, be it blood and death, they had this.
• • •
THEY GATHERED, A CIRCLE FORMED FROM HEART AND SPIRIT, loyalty and duty, and sealed by magicks. As night grew deep, they took up weapons.
“We don’t have the name,” Branna began. “Until we do we must keep Cabhan from escaping, keep him within our borders, prevent him from shifting time.”
“We build the walls strong, lock the gate,” Connor agreed. “And use all we have to draw the demon out, to draw out the name.”
“Or thrash it out of him,” Boyle countered.
“We each know what’s to be done tonight, and how we’ll do it,” Fin continued. “We’re stronger for what’s shared among us, and if right’s meant to triumph, Cabhan ends tonight. There are none I would rather go into battle with than those in this room. No man ever had truer friends.”
“I say we go burn this bastard, then come back here for a full fry.” Connor hugged Meara to his side.
“I’m for it.” Meara laid a hand on the hilt of her sword. “And more than ready for the first.”
“You’ve given me family, given me home. This has been the best year of my life,” Iona continued. “And in this year, I’m going to marry the love of my life, and no demon from hell is going to stop me. So yeah, let’s go burn the bastard.”
With a laugh, Boyle plucked her off her feet, kissed her. “How can we lose with such as you?”
“We can’t.” Iona scanned the faces around her. “We won’t.”
“We have to prepare for—”
“Wait.” Iona wiggled away from Boyle, pointed at Branna. “What’s this? What is this?” She grabbed Branna’s hand, gave a tearful laugh. “Oh boy, oh boy!” And launching herself at Branna, squeezed hard. “This is what I’ve been wishing for. Exactly what I’ve been wishing for.”
“You’d think you’d have said something to the rest of us.” Meara grabbed Branna’s hand in turn as Iona swung around to wrap around Fin. “This shows right’s meant to win. Right here.” She pressed her cheek to Branna’s, swayed. “It shows it.”
“Far past time.” Boyle gave Fin a light punch in the chest. “But well done.”
Connor waited until Fin met his eyes. “So, you finally listened to me, and all my wisdom.”
“I listened to your sister.”
“As now you’ll have no choice but to do for the rest of your life. And you owe me a hundred.”
“What? Ah,” Fin said as he remembered the wager. “So I do.”
Connor gave Fin a full-on hug, then turned to take Branna’s face, to kiss her cheeks. “Now the scales are truly balanced. Love feeds the light.”
Branna closed her hands around Connor’s wrists, kissed his cheeks in turn. “Well then, let’s go burn the bastard.”
“Are we ready then?” Fin waited for assents, and for the circle to form.
“Our place, our time as the hour strikes three,” Branna said and drew a breath. “This dawn brings our destiny.”
“With fist and light we bring the fight,” Boyle continued.
“To end demon-witch on this night,” Meara finished.
“Three by three by three we’ll ride.” Connor took Meara’s hand, looked to Iona.
“With horse and hawk and hound our guides,” Iona said.
“And while these mists flow from me, Cabhan sees only what we will him see.”