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Giving her a small smirk, he crossed his own arms, and she felt some part of her lose the small hope she’d had. The hope that perhaps they could be more than enemies, that maybe he was safe in a way she couldn’t understand. That maybe she hadn’t been the one to kill him since he couldn’t remember.

“He is my king.”

And with that, any lingering hope she held was crushed at his words.

Kian was in fact Fomori as Cyerra had said.

Bryn stared at the man who was nothing more than an enemy to her now.

“If you manage to come back somehow, I will end you again,” she vowed.

“I can hardly wait for you to try.” He smiled, disappearing into the shadows once again.

Chapter 25

Brynsettledinachair beside Jace’s bed. Pushing a strand of hair out of his face, she knew he was out for the count since he didn’t flinch. He was also drooling quite a bit, and Bryn was never more irritated at the lack of photographic equipment in their lives. This would have been a wonderful form of blackmail for later.

“He will be out for a while. . .,” Niamh whispered as she looked in the door, checking on Jace and still not making eye contact with Bryn.

“What did I do wrong, Niamh?” Bryn asked, looking at her cousin since she found herself unable to look at Niamh either.

Niamh, who had been a friend and confidante for so much of Bryn’s life, found out who she was and now couldn’t even look at Bryn.

“What do you mean?” Niamh asked, stepping into the room, the anxiety in the air unmistakable

“You fear me now,” Bryn stated what had been obvious all along, and yet she’d ignored it, refusing to believe anything could hurt their friendship after all they’d been through. The two women the town hated and feared had once stood together to face the world, and now they couldn’t be further apart.

“I... do.”

Bryn closed her eyes at the admission, trying to hold the tears back.

“But not because of anything you did. When I touched your skin... it triggered my geas as if I had said the damning words myself,” Niamh admitted. “It hurt, and I panicked, unsure what to say to you since I couldn’t explain without further triggering it... and”—Niamh took a slow, deep breath— “because I worry that when it all comes out, when the geas is gone and I can finally tell you everything, you’ll hate me.”

Bryn opened her eyes and turned to look at her friend. A woman stood before her, but it was not the Niamh she had known. Not the lively fire starter who did not care a wink what anyone else in this town thought.

No, this was a woman terrified that what Bryn was becoming would mean the end. That when her own secrets spilled, it would be enough to push Bryn away.

“I will love you always, Niamh. You’ve been the truest friend I’ve had.” It was a promise Bryn would keep. There was nothing in this world that would change her love for Niamh.

“I do hope you’ll always feel that way.” Niamh opened the door the rest of the way.

Her thoughts went to the Founder’s Day Festival, and Bryn started to put two and two together.

“It has to do with Declan, doesn’t it?” Bryn asked, wondering what could have happened to make Niamh give him such a murderous look.

Niamh closed her eyes, her knuckles going white as she squeezed them tightly.

Bryn wet her lips, her body tense as she prepared to ask a question she really didn’t want to know the answer to but felt compelled to ask anyway.

“Niamh, did you. . .?” Bryn couldn’t finish the words. They hurt far too much.

Niamh’s eyes popped open in horrified shock.

“Gods no! I have done nothing with him. I may have crossed some lines, but that is not one I ever will. Plus... my tastes do not go that general direction...” Niamh let that statement hang in the air, as if awaiting judgment.

Ah. Right. Bryn remembered her true love had been a woman from when Niamh had told her of her past. How had she never known Niamh liked women?

“Get that look off your face,” Bryn chastised. “I hope that’s not the secret you think will make me hate you because I didn’t think you’d ever think so low of me.”