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I shook my head. “No, but I think she’s going to try really hard to do it when I refuse to give up the demon wolves. And I might get hurt.”

“If it’s saving the wolves or saving you, I pick you,” Fiona said softly. “I feel sorry for those women, but they made choices that got them into their situation. You shouldn’t have to die trying to save them from those decisions. Let Zara have the wolves if that’s all she wants. You said she didn’t intend to hurt them further.”

“What if I’m wrong and she tortures them? And who will stop her when she makes more? And who would stop her if she chose to do that to ya? She’s not operating with a human code of ethics, Fiona. Zara does as she pleases with humans because she believes she’s a superior being. In her own words, she’s a lion and the rest of us are antelope waiting on her to make us her dinner.”

Fiona groaned and scrubbed her face with both hands. “Dad should be here helping you. Why isn’t he here? He’s never been around when you needed him.”

I snorted at the very idea of Jack Derringer fighting at my side. “Oh, my darling child, that was never going to happen in any life I had with yer father. But Conn will be with me... and so will Lord Dagda. Two better sidekicks than them don’t exist. But I can’t be worrying about ya while the fight is happening. And I can’t let Zara use ya against me. She feels no remorse about killing.”

Fiona sighed heavily and hung her head as she nodded. “Okay. What do ya want me to do?”

“I want ya to fly to yer Gigi and stay with her. And I need to send something with ya on yer trip. There’s something valuable in our family that I can’t afford the female guardian to get hold of.”

“What now?” Fiona asked with another groan.

Despite her complaining, I could tell she was intrigued by my words. It meant my chances were better that she’d take what I said seriously and without questioning every bloody thing.

I looked at the ring and sent my intentions to it. I figured it knew enough about what was happening in my life to know that being with me when I breathed my last might not be a good situation for it. Goddess only knew what Zara might do with such a powerful artifact.

What if the ring couldn’t deny the guardian’s wishes as easily as it denied mine?

Not letting myself second guess my decision to give it to Fiona, I pulled it off. “Hold out yer hand, darling. I’m giving ya yer inheritance earlier than yer Gigi and I planned.”

Fiona’s eyes widened as she pushed her left hand toward me. She had slender fingers, so I slid the ring onto her biggest one. When it slid home and sized itself instantly to fit her, I saw her shiver in response. Her eyes lit with power as she raised the ring up to study it. But it didn’t turn into what it really was. It stayed in its more solid form.

I knew everything from that moment forward would be between her and the ring. I felt sure it would reveal itself to her eventually. I’d protected while I could.

I clasped both my daughter’s hands in mine. “Yer Grandfather O’Malley was charged in life with protecting the ring ya now wear. Gigi wore it for a while around her neck, and lately, I’ve been babysitting it. Yer guardian Great-Grandfather informed me during his visit that ya’re the one meant to be the ring’s next guardian. Yer latent magick—whatever that ends up being—is the magick the ring seeks out in a keeper.”

“Mom... I don’t know what to say. But I... I feel it communicating with me.”

“It’s a powerful artifact created by powerful beings. I can’t risk the female guardian getting hold of either of ya. So take the ring back to Ireland with ya and tell the Shadow Breakers I asked them to protect the ring and ya with their lives. But ya can’t tell them any details about the ring, Fiona. Just tell them yer mother said it was a family legacy and not a witch’s bauble. Tell them it’s yer legacy from theTuatha de Danann. They will help ya protect it until the day ya can do it on yer own.”

Fiona waved the hand wearing the ring. “Okay, but how will I learn about it if something happens to you?”

I shrugged at the question. “Gigi will explain what she knows of it. The rest will come when ya get visited by its other-worldly guardian, which could be an angel.”

And I meant that literally. But I had no time to convince her.

“Ya have an open two-way ticket to Ireland and back. I want ya through customs and on yer way as soon as possible.”

“But I can’t just leave you here… not like this,” Fiona complained.

I reached out and clasped her arms in a strong grip. “I know it seems like I’m always asking ya to give up yer life, but we’re talking real death here. Being a child of The Dagda is my purpose in the world, but ya’re my true legacy, Fiona Derringer. Your guardian Great-Grandfather will also protect ya if something happens to me. He’s invested in our family. Human guardians for that ring are precious and few. If an angel shows up, make sure Gigi is there with ya. She’s dying to meet a real one.”

My daughter snatched me up and hugged me furiously. “Do not die, Mom. I’m not ready to have a dead mother. I’m not ready to be an orphan.”

“Ya won’t be an orphan. Ya have a father who loves ya, even if he can’t be completely trusted. But I’ll do my best to stay alive as well,” I promised as I pushed her away. “Now, try to think of this visit with Gigi as a vacation. If things work out, ya might be returning as early as next week. And don’t take that ring off going through customs. Pretend it’s not there and it will pretend the same. Trust me. It’s got a will of its own and will talk to ya if it feels the need.”

Fiona nodded. “Are you sure my leaving is necessary?”

“Very sure,” I said, with no hesitation.

She nodded at the confidence behind my words and reluctantly got into the car. Rasmus walked by me, grabbed a quick kiss, and walked around to the driver’s side.

I stood there watching them leave until the Jeep cleared the corner.

A feathered being flew over the roof of the house to land in my backyard. I wasn’t surprised by the visit, but I was surprised that Orlin waited for Rasmus to be gone. The elder guardian was either spying on me, or having someone do it for him, because he always seemed to know exactly where I was.