Sorcha wished she had something to hold onto to help her stay standing. “He promised my mother he’d return.”
“He was going to. I was with him, trying to talk him into changing his mind. I couldn’t understand what it was about the mortal that drew him. In one last bid to hold onto what she had, his wife sent men after your mother. Eamon and I were able to stop them, but he realized that his wife would never stop. Even if he got the divorce, she’d keep coming after your mother. We stood right here under this tree that last night as he tried to find a way to have the woman he loved.”
A tear slipped down Sorcha’s cheek.
“To stop his wife, Eamon went back to Delma and their sham of a marriage. What he didn’t know was that she had Fae watching your mother to make sure he never returned. One of those spies learned that your mother was pregnant with you. Eamon’s wife sent mercenaries to kill both you and your mother. My brother stopped her again, and that began the war between our families. From that moment until now, your father has protected you. His wife’s hatred moved from your mother to you, so he believed that all he had to do was keep you safe.”
Sorcha shook her head as more tears came. “Don’t say it. Please, don’t say it.”
“Your father’s wife was the one who ensured your mother died. Delma set everything in place, then misdirected your magic. Your sister was a casualty of their war, I’m afraid.”
Sorcha fell to her knees as she doubled over from the pain of her uncle’s words. She didn’t want to hear anymore. It was too painful.
Her uncle continued. “I’ve never seen your father so furious. He went after his wife in an epic battle that killed many in our families. He ended up wounding her gravely, enough that she went into hiding and left you alone. At least, that’s what he thought. He let his guard down little by little, and that’s when she struck again. I haven’t spoken to him in ten years, not since his anger tore our family apart. I thought his ploy of being wounded was just that, something to get me to see him. But one look and I knew he had little time left. That’s when he told me one of his friends betrayed him and led him into a trap that his wife had devised. She told him she’d put a price on your head. It’s big enough to draw any and all Fae to you.”
Rage the likes of which Sorcha had never experienced before filled her. It pushed away the grief and the pain and dried her tears. She lifted her head to her uncle. The knowledge that she hadn’t been the one to cause her mother’s and sister’s deaths was like someone had lit a match. And she was the powder keg.
“I know that look,” her uncle said. “It was in your father’s eyes the day he tried to kill his wife for your mother’s murder. You’re the only thing that has kept him going these past years. I’m here on his behalf to tell you all of this. But also to ensure that you have a fighting chance against those coming for you.”
Sorcha fisted her hands as resentment and fury churned to mix with the magic that thrummed through her. There was no stopping it even if she wanted to. She had imprisoned herself for something that hadn’t been her fault. Her mother had lived alone for nearly thirty years, pining for a man she didn’t think loved her. All because another woman couldn’t accept that her marriage and the life she craved was over.
Her uncle laughed, though the sound held no humor. “You’re a strong Druid, and you’re a powerful Halfling. But neither of those will help you now. You might be able to live for a little while, but you’ll constantly be on the run.”
“Not if I kill her,” Sorcha said. “Where can I find her?”
He blew out a breath and laboriously climbed to his feet. “Our two families united in marriage because both had political sway. The difference was that her family lost most of their money. She’s shrewd and cunning.”
“And very full of herself. I’m going to do the one thing she’ll never think of. I’m going to go after her,” Sorcha declared.
Her uncle stared at her for a full minute without speaking. Then he bowed his head to her. “Before you do that, let me take you to see your father. There’s still time.”
It was on the tip of Sorcha’s tongue to agree, but she wasn’t going anywhere without Cathal. “Tell me where he is. I’ll get there on my own.”
“There isn’t time for you to drive,” her uncle said with a frown.
Sorcha lifted her chin as she got to her feet. “I never said I was driving.”
A slow smile pulled at her uncle’s mouth.
Chapter Nineteen
“This is fekking nonsense,” Cathal said after the Light had vanished, and he dropped his veil to face Sorcha.
She, however, didn’t seem to care what his thoughts were. “I’m going. I’d like for you to take me.”
“You haven’t used magic in ten years. Now, you want to charge in after a woman who is hell-bent on ending your life?” he bellowed. “For the love of all that’s magical, someone help me out here! Aisling?”
The Dark dropped her veil as she walked toward them. “Don’t look to me to agree with you. I’m on Sorcha’s side.”
“For fek’s sake,” he mumbled and dropped his chin to his chest. After a moment, he blew out a frustrated breath and looked up to see Sorcha and Aisling standing together. “This is suicide, Sorcha.”
Aisling lifted a shoulder. “Not if we’re with her.”
“That wasn’t our mission,” he reminded her.
The Dark glared at him, anger shooting from her gaze. “Did you hear nothing of what her uncle said? How can you stand there and act as if it doesn’t matter?”
“You think it didn’t affect me?” he asked, fury filling his voice and expression. “I want to find this bitch myself and rip her limb from limb, but I’d like to keep Sorcha alive more.”
Aisling propped her hands on her hips. “We were sent here to find out about Sorcha. Well, we have. But there’s more to learn. If she’s going after the crazy stepmum, then I’m going with her to do what I can.”
“That’s walking a line we might cross.”
Sorcha walked to him and put a hand on his chest. “Then don’t come. I don’t want you to do anything that goes against what you believe.”
“It isn’t that.” Though he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her the truth. It was a long story, and right now, they didn’t have time for any of that.
“Thank you for everything,” Sorcha said and rose up on her toes to place a kiss on his cheek. Then she faced Aisling. “Can you take me to my father?”
Before Cathal could ask Sorcha to wait, Aisling took hold of her and teleported. Cathal ground his teeth together and followed the duo to the address in Ireland that the uncle had given Sorcha. However, he made sure to appear veiled and behind them. Aisling likely knew he’d follow, so she didn’t look for him. Sorcha was too taken by the act of arriving at her father’s home to even think of looking around her.
Cathal watched as the two of them walked over the estate grounds to the manor house. Fae stood guard everywhere. To his trained eye, Cathal knew they were experienced men who knew how to do their job. Cathal wanted to go into the manor with Sorcha, but he decided to stay outside and make a few rounds himself.