Page 73 of The Savage Queen

The fae king wrapped his arms around her, sheltered her in the curve of his chest as he raised one of his axes and shielded them both from the reeds darting for Aisling’s heart. Not a second, a moment to bid Dagfin farewell as he no doubt already raced for Starn, Iarbonel, Fergus, and Killian. Out of time.

Lir swiveled, searching for a path out of Oighir. But there was no passage, no trail, nor a way left unmarked by chaos. Even as Fionn approached from behind. Rage freezing the edges of his eyes with ice.

“The mirrors,” Aisling said to Lir, pointing to the one cracked and splintered, leading into Castle Oighir.

“Fionn’s most likely bespelled them, to ensure we couldn’t flee regardless of the outcome of his test. It could lead straight into Oighir’s dungeons,” Lir said, the cord in his neck tightening.

“Fionn described it to me,” Aisling said, awarding herself Lir’s full attention as he searched her expression for answers, the sensation of it bone shuddering. “The mirrors harbor all the mischief and agency of thedraiocht. Simply asking thedraiochtfor access might be enough to circumvent Fionn’s orders and open the door we covet.”

Lir weighed her words. “A door to where?”

Aisling bit her bottom lip, shaking her head. “I suppose we’ll soon discover.”

“Lir!” Galad growled, elbowing a Sidhe guard in the jaw with one arm and punching another with the pommel of his greatsword.

Fionn neared. His eyes locked on Aisling and Lir, rendering his palace to rubble with the sheer force of his temper.

So, Lir wasted not another moment, running to the mirror, Aisling’s hand in his own, cutting down Sidhe after Sidhe, beast after beast. Any that threatened their path. The perfume of their blood sprayed the air and painted Fionn’s landscape of ivory, red.

At last, he paused before the mirror, waiting for the others to join them. And once they had, he met Aisling’s eyes.

“Hold onto me,” he said, picking Aisling up and pausing a breath before the mirror. His grip impenetrable, reminding Aisling of how they’d been torn apart when Danu had sent them forward in time. Aisling wrenched her eyes shut and called upon herdraiocht.

Fionn approached, a few paces away.

“YOU WILL NOT LEAVE!” he screamed, aiming at the mirror with his longsword.

Grant me access, Aisling spoke to thedraiocht.Open the door.

Thedraiochtcackled, thrumming with an energy that drove Aisling wild. So unlike how it’d behaved over the last several weeks.

Fionn’s ice struck the mirror, splintering it. The horrible crack of it echoed off the crumbling walls.

Grant me access! Aisling yelled.

Thedraiochtleaned a little closer,Oh dear friend, you’re never satisfied with where you are, are you?

And the door opened.

“NOW!” Aisling screamed, as she, Lir, Galad, Gilrel, Peitho, and Filverel tore into the mirror just as it burst into shards.

CHAPTER XXV

AISLING

Aisling emerged, gasping for air.

Everything was ice. Cold and water. Here and there, up and down, a streak of light and shadow.

Her eyes blinked repeatedly, chin struggling to stay above the surface as she gulped down mouthful after mouthful of water.

Arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her nearer and delivering them both to a shore of river stones and verglas.

They’d traveled to a pool amidst the Fjallnorrian feywilds, pummeled at one edge by a waterfall, now frozen over by high winter’s bite.

Aisling coughed up water, emptying her lungs as she rolled over. She couldn’t feel her limbs, but she could see them trembling.

“Use yourdraiocht,ellwyn,” she heard Lir say, his voice sobering.

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