GAISCE (At Our Best, Book 3, Part 2 in Baile Series)

Chapter 17 Survivors

Isla

I opened my eyes, pulling back to watch Callum take his last breath, a smile on his foolish face. I felt horrible for the sacrifice that he had made, guilt and grief overwhelming me.

I looked past him to see the Queens of Fae engaged in warfare, each landing and blocking harsh blows.

A heat made me return my eyes to Callum, my eyes widening as his whole body ignited in flames. His skin darkened to obsidian and his bones snapped and realigned until a very live looking Doberman sat in his place. It was then I realised what had just occurred.

"You idiot!" I scolded him. "You stupid reincarnated idiot." Callum had been reborn, his primary form no longer human, but that of a common domestic hound.

Callum panted in response, his tongue reaching out to lick my hand.

"This isn't over." I warned before I rose to my feet. "Puca!" I called out to my shapeshifting friend. "It's time."

I stalked my way over to the Queens, clouds gathering as I did so. It was time to end the battle at its heart.

In an instant my sword cut through the air at the Unseelie Queen from behind. Anticipating my move the Queen whipped around to break the blade of my sword in half with her own bare hand. The Seelie Queen and I worked together, attacking from all angles. In the flurry of blades and fists nobody noticed an exchange between Puca and I.

"Look around, I have already won." The Unseelie Queen attempted to distract me.

I was aware that around us my friends were losing, their stamina wearing thin as even backed up by the Seelie Queen and Leander's army there was no end to the darkness pouring forth from the tree line.

"I will die before I let you take anyone I love." I declared.

"Then your wish is granted." Her skin peeled away in flakes until her whole form had disintegrated, blowing away in the wind.

The sound of a horn blew a loud and long note from the forest. Despite my vision of the very moment my blood still ran cold with fear as Puca and I took our places.

"Herne." The Seelie Queen's voice shook, old memories resurfacing.

"I think it's time I left." Puca and I turned and fled. Herne and his hunters sped hot at my heels, tearing up the field with the resonating sound equivalent to that of thunder. Thunder, the sound of pounding hooves had haunted my dreams for years. I had originally thought it was Gwyn, but it was his land loving cousin Herne the Hunter instead.

My heart thumped loudly in my ears to the beat of hooves against the earth, the edge of a cliff looming closer and closer.

I had seen the future, I had seen my fate and I caught up with my fate as Puca and I leapt off the cliff, plummeting headlong into the rocks jutting from the ocean below. My body hit the rocks hard, bones breaking with a sickening series of cracks.

The Seelie Queen

It only took me a moment to gather myself after watching my cursed child fall to her death. "Herne!" I screeched his name like a Banshee. "I will have your head!"

"It's not personal Rian." He looked down on me from his high horse, his eyes free form remorse.

"I think killing my daughter is more than personal."

"I'm not looking for a blood war." He had the right to look worried.

"That's a shame." I stepped toward him. "I had a mighty nice place on my mantelpiece for a head like yours." I reached up to flick one of his antlers with my finger. "You know I too like the hunt."