There was so much she wanted to tell Rordan. He had only been in her life for a short time, but he had made a huge impact. One thing was for certain—she had developed feelings for him. Strong ones. Feelings that were, in fact, love.
She smiled, thinking about it. But the grin quickly faded as her mind called up why Rordan was currently away. She blinked up at the stars. Different scenarios ran through her head. Some, where Rordan won. Others where her brother did.
Fianna sat up as a knot of unease filled her stomach.
From the moment Dorcha opened his mouth, nearly everyone in the room was enthralled. Sadly, Rordan might have been as well if he weren’t aware of Dorcha’s involvement with the Others.
“We could sneak out now,” Renault whispered.
Rordan glanced at his father. “I have a feeling we won’t be able to teleport out. Besides, I’m not going anywhere.”
“I was afraid you would say that. How bad is it going to get?”
Rordan met his father’s gaze. “Bad.”
“I was never much of a warrior. My father had other plans for me. The same ones I had for you. But I’ll do my part.”
Rordan wanted to take his da up on the offer, but he didn’t know the male standing before him. He never had. For all he knew, Renault could be in deep with the Others.
Renault’s lips twisted ruefully. “You don’t think you can trust me. I’ve not given you reason to think otherwise.”
“I don’t know you.”
“Aye. If it helps, this is my third meeting. A friend told me about Dorcha, and I go to meetings when I’m able. I hear it’s an honor to be asked to the final one.”
Rordan looked at Dorcha on the stage, talking up his plans with those in the room nodding in agreement. They were lambs being led to slaughter.
“You don’t have to tell me anything. Just let me help,” Renault urged.
Rordan blew out a breath and nodded. He kept his voice low. “There will come a time those here are divided into two groups.”
“Those who are chosen for the organization, and those who aren’t,” Renault confirmed with a nod. “I’m aware.”
Rordan finished his whisky and set the glass on a nearby table, his gaze locked on Dorcha. “Be prepared. One group is accepted, but the other, I believe, won’t be freed. I think they’re taken somewhere to be held or killed.”
“You can’t be serious.”
The surprise in his father’s voice caused Rordan to send him a glance. “Oh, I am. Regardless of what group you’re in, you need to get everyone away from the manor.”
“And what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to end this tonight.”
“Alone?” Renault asked in a tight voice. “That’s suicide. Have you seen the guards? And I heard that Dorcha’s sister is a phenomenal warrior.”
An image of Fianna smiling up at him before they kissed flashed in his mind. “She is.”
“Ah.”
He shot his father a dark look. “What does that mean?”
“It’s easy to see you’re enamored with her.”
Rordan didn’t say otherwise. He sized up the room, noting the sentries placed in visible locations, and those that were hidden. He shifted his shoulders, hating the tightness of the jacket.
Suddenly, a door opened, and three males walked in. The lead Light from the Others, and two more. In between the two Fae was an older version of Dorcha. When Dorcha’s eyes landed on the trio, his words halted. The confidence he’d exuded during his talk faded as dread filled his eyes. Wariness swept through the room.
“By the stars,” Renault said. “That’s Fearghal. I’ve not seen him in ages. At least not since he disappeared with his children. Bloody hell. Dorcha is his son.”
Rordan clenched his teeth together as he stared at the Others. “Did you know who Dorcha was?”
“No. He was only called Dorcha. No surname attached. And, sadly, I never paid attention to the names of Fearghal’s children. Rordan, that family is—”
“I’m aware. I’m also cognizant of the fact that not everyone is like their parents.”
Dorcha cleared his throat and issued a shaky smile to the room. “Ladies and gentlemen, as I was saying, the night is drawing to a close. Each of you has shown your dedication and exuberance to the future of the Fae. While I’d love to take every one of you with me, unfortunately, that just isn’t possible. You will be—”
“Why not?” Rordan interrupted. “Why can’t everyone who agrees with your vision of the future be included? Why do you pick and choose? Why do you make everyone attend meeting after meeting?”
A female near Rordan nodded in agreement. “He has a point. I’ve already given a lot of money, and I was assured I’d be included in the organization.”
“I was promised a spot, too,” someone else said.
One by one, those in the crowd spoke of Dorcha’s promise.
Dorcha raised his hands to quiet the room, but no one paid him any attention. His nervousness made the situation worse.
“This movement would gain much more ground if everyone who believed in it could join,” a female in the front stated.
Dorcha issued a tense laugh before shooting a venomous look at Rordan. “I can assure everyone that you will each be a part of the organization.”
Rordan’s amusement of the situation vanished when the Dark got up on stage next to Dorcha and said something. Dorcha visibly paled and jerked his chin in Rordan’s direction. The Others’ Light leader turned his head and looked at Rordan with an icy smile. In the next instant, the Others led Fearghal out. The Fae whispered something else to Dorcha before following his group out.
“Get ready,” Rordan told his father.
Dorcha swallowed and glanced at the exit. “We’re going to be split into two groups to make things easier. When I call your name, I need you to move to the left side of the room.”
But no one was listening to Dorcha anymore. They were talking amongst themselves, getting angrier by the moment. The guards looked around for any signs of Fianna, and the fact that she was nowhere to be found started to sink in.
Dorcha waved a guard to him. Rordan recognized him as Dorcha’s lover. The two spoke in hushed tones before Dorcha once again tried to get the room’s attention. Several people attempted to teleport out, only to discover that they couldn’t.
“What’s going on here?” someone demanded.
“Why can’t we leave?”
“He’s stopping us. Get him!”
While the guards protected him, Dorcha ran out the same door Fearghal and the Others had left through.
Rordan looked at his father. “Get those you can and make your way to an exit. Get out of the manor. Don’t trust anyone but me. When you can, teleport out.”
“When can I see you again?”
“We’ll talk later,” Rordan told him as he went after Dorcha and the Others.
He had to physically move some people out of his way. He pulled one male by the back of his jacket and shook him. “Dorcha’s gone. Get out, now.”
That was enough to get most in the room moving toward Renault, who waved people to him. Rordan then turned to the guards. It was their duty to protect Dorcha. Some of them he remembered from sparring. Some had even gone up against him and knew his skill. Rordan didn’t want to hurt any of them, but he would. He needed to find the Others so he could call the Reapers and end everything.