Even though everything felt so damning around me, I understood that these four gentlemen roused me from my slumber for something. Cleaning my eyes, I never removed Philip’s skull from my chest. Finally greeting the one on my bed, I saw him studying how I wouldn’t let go of my soulmate. “Why have you woken me? If Philip does not exist, then I no longer want to either.”
The man who had kissed me awake using my loves head, never let his eyes stray from where I held Philip to me. Only one word spilled from his lips, creating a new level of fear, heightening my heart rate. “Morrigan.”
“Morrigan? So I take it my people were not victorious in her slaughter.” Releasing the skull just enough to rest on my lap, I uncurled my limbs. I sat Philip down to listen to what these people had to say, but my hand never left him.
“After Morrigan destroyed your world, she moved into ours. It was around fifty years ago, and our people are not fairing any better than yours did.”
“So why wake me? Why come into my lands if you know we lost?” This all felt confusing because none of it made sense.
The man residing on the bed with me, pulled out a blade from his back. The handle of it was clear in a translucent way that I had never seen before. The blade itself was slightly jagged along its sharper edge to ensure pain and suffering when plunged into someone.
Six gems spotted down the handle, lining up with the steel. Each a different color. Black started at the top, leading to an emerald next. A sapphire stone was below that one, then an amber yellow rounded next. The last was a white stone, holding a diamond edge and milky center. Even for my wealthy family, I knew this hadn’t been a cheap blade. I also had no idea what the handle was made from being the clear color it was.
The man still hadn’t handed me the blade only showing me that it was behind his back. Instead of feeling fear, I knew if he was here to kill me, he wouldn’t have woken me up to do it. Still, the questions danced within my eyes. He saw them lingering behind my stare because none of this made sense to me. “Áine sent us to you. She said you would know who she was.”
“Was?” I heard the past tense of his tone. He was hesitant to tell me more, forcing me to share what I never wanted to. “Áine had raised me as her own until that week before my birthday came. It was only then I found out that my supposed aunt and uncle were truly my parents.” Hearing about the death of the one who raised me felt like that dagger had punched into my chest and twisted the blade within my heart. It wasn’t enough to simply lose the love of my life. No, I had to lose the one I called mother as well.
The man sitting on the bed with me could clearly see how distraught this made me over her death. He didn’t need to answer the question for me to know what the answer was. “She used what was left of her magic to create that dagger. She said the only one who could wield such power was the one who was touched but never killed by Morrigan. She told us where to find your prince’s corpse for us to get his skull in order to wake you up. My condolences for all that you have lost.”
“Why would Áine pick me to be your champion?” In the back of my mind, I remembered all the times that Áine forced me to go out in the forest to hunt. She also had Philip teach me self-defense in order to ensure my protection. I remembered those sparring sessions with the prince because our touches felt so heated. We always started off with the intention of me learning more, but we often ended up rolling down a hill in each other’s arms instead.
“We are not sure, but I do know she was wise enough to never lie to me. If she believes you’re the person who can stop Morrigan, then we will believe that too.” Using two hands, he gently handed the dagger over for me to see the intricate designs up close.
Once it sat in my grasp, I could feel the power within it. The handle lit up like a light, filling me with a sense of purpose. The blade was alive all on its own, made by the goddess herself. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the magic as it told me we belonged together in a way that I had only felt with Philip.
Vengeance, it whispered for only me to hear. The little voice inside my mind was dark and depraved in ways I understood all too well. Even with the handle lighting up to be a force of brightness on its own, blinding everyone around me, I knew its true intentions. Áine made me this blade because it matched my heart. She must’ve known the second I touched this that I would rectify what had been done. With what remained of her power, I knew this was what I wanted to accomplish.
“I am in,” I told all the giant men standing around me. Not once had they told me their names, but that didn’t matter. They were the ones who would take me too Morrigan.
The one on the bed provided me with another smirk that told me he was proud of the choice I had made so fast. All the others felt like it was an abrupt change to how I had felt moments ago. Letting the dagger pulse in my grip, my free hand placed over the blade before feeling each of the gems by themselves. It was the most unorthodox yet beautifully displayed stones I had ever laid eyes on. While feeling it, I understood that it held another source of power. I knew Áine would never let me fail, protecting me with a magical blade.
“Where, might I ask, are we going now?”
4
Alasdair
She agreed too easily. Something about that bothered me, so I’d question it because it didn’t feel right. Cullen was right when he had spoken of us believing in Áine. That she was the mother of our best friend and true leader of her court, we knew her to be honest and accurate in all her doings. It just didn’t feel right with how quick this woman was to change her mind. Her process made me wonder if Áine had somehow blessed the blade for this girl to recognize whatever message she wanted to relay.
“You’re really okay leaving with four strangers you don’t even know the names of, to a place you don’t even know?” Flabbergasted, I wasn’t sure how to approach the strange woman.
Standing from the bed, we watched as her simple gown of silk spilled around her feet. Her hair was in perfect curls as though she hadn’t been resting for a century. She didn’t look old enough like I planned her to be. Resting her hands on her hips, the sternness in her stare told me to not question her again.
“Áine was the one who raised me as her own. If she sent you to me to help you, I will gladly serve in her honor. And as for the names, I am Briar Rose.”
Watching her like a hawk, I also knew my eyes lingered on her succulent body. For a woman who stood a full head lower than us, she was one who rivaled nymphs in beauty. Clearly, those thoughts I’d keep to myself.
“I am Prince Cullen from the fall court.” Cullen called her attention. Bowing his head at her, I watched as his Auburn waves flickered over his face.
“As the prince who hails from the winter court, you may call me Bain.” Bain was a little more terrifying than the rest of us because he didn’t look human at all. Still as handsome as the group was, he just wasn’t humanly handsome. His shoulders were wide, wearing a tunic top that wasn’t tucked into his leather pants. All of us wore cloaks over our clothes just in case the cold settled in.
“I am Alasdair, hailing from the summer court.” I finally let her take me in fully, knowing she’d find me attractive. While she gave me a moment’s glance, she quickly shifted her gaze to Ferus. My stomach knotted from her rejection of my attraction because mine was so strong toward her.
Hating how that made me feel, I knew better than to speak of it. The princess just lost her soulmate, so maybe she just needed time before she warmed up to the idea of being with me. Until then, I’d charm her like I did everyone else.
~
Briar