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“It doesn’t get much stronger than a ‘chraobh.” I smirked, well aware of how condescending I must’ve looked. I hoped I could goad him into punching me. All I needed was one of my hands. There was a blade in one and a sword in the other. Both could kill him. Then I’d rush to my babies, and I’d hold them as their wounds mended. “I’m the creator of this world. I’m the mother of all mothers. I’m the tree of life. Nothing will kill me.”

The tight jaw told me that pissed him off. He didn’t like arrogance. He would’ve preferred I was meek and quiet. “Of course not. Nothing ever dies. But you need a dose of humility, don’t you,goddess?”

I tried to keep from showing my confusion, but I’d never heard that word. I didn’t know what it meant.

“You pay no mind to them, do you?” he spat. “The mortals, that’s what they call you. A goddess. Infinite. Without fault. Perfect. You’re none of those.”

“And you are?”

He snorted.

With stealth, he released my wrist. In the time it took for him to situate his knife, I had mine at his throat.

He stiffened.

The vines behind him were only a few inches away now, and I held them there. I may need them in a moment.

“They named me the Whore Queen for centuries. Believe me, boy—titles, name calling—they’ve never meant much,” I snapped. “Explain to me what the fuck your goal is, Metatron. Kill me? Kill my children? So I can die, and your brother can decide which body I go into when the maalaichte cnihme return? Please, ask yourself what the point of that is. To make me stronger? I can’t get much stronger than I am.

“You aren’t doing this for the reasons you think you are. You’re doing this to aid a tyrant. That’s what they are, and you were just someone who was easy to manipulate. Why do you think they sent you here? Do you think you matter to them? They knew it’d end like this, with my blade at your throat.

“But congratulations on your noble venture. Aren’t you tough. Aren’t you apatriot.Aren’t you justsoimportant to your cause.” I laughed with no humor. “They’re eternal. My babies will wake up in moments, and perhaps I’ll let them use you as target practice. My daughter’s getting good with a bow, you—”

He laughed.

Not a dry one. Not a taunting one. A true, deep, belly laugh. “They aren’t waking up.”

“They’re eternal. They—”

“And there’s a way to kill eternal.” He spun the blade in his hand. “Did you look at the handle, do gràs?”

I hadn’t had the opportunity, and I wasn’t going to let him divert my attention now. Out of the corner of my eye, however, I did see it.

A gem.

Inside it swirled white, and golden, and lilac energy. Surges of red and yellow danced within it as well, none combining, only drifting around one another.

Just like those jewels we’d trapped the souls Lux had stolen into this afternoon.

Nix had told me when I was first pregnant with Mirobhail that his soul was white. Vanna’s was golden with flecks of purple. Friel’s was red, and Aein’s was yellow.

My babies.

My babies’ souls were inside that crystal.

My babies.

Friel and Aein hadn’t been here. They’d gone home with Mum to let Sadie and Sany out. She was getting together more things to bring to the dinner. The twins were tired, and they wanted to go with their grandmother.

I thought they were safe.

I thought we were all safe.

But this son of a bitch had my babies’ souls in that crystal. That meant he’d killed them too. That meant my babies, all of my babies, were dead.

Only if you don’t get the crystal. Nix can put them back in their bodies if you get that crystal.

But Nix hadn’t come. I sent him a message, and he didn’t come. He always came. Nix never left me. Healwayscame.