I looked from Hugo’s pained eyes to Hester and Otis. The brownies were ten feet away, perched on top of one of the fallenboulders. Hester’s hands were curled into fists and her face was full of rage; Otis had wrapped his arms around her waist and was trying to hold her back because she seemed determined to engage Athair in battle all on her own.
Athair would destroy her in a second with complete indifference. He’d destroy all of us.
‘I apologise,’ I said, dragging the words out of my mouth. ‘I will do better in the future.’
Athair’s hand squeezed harder.
I licked my lips. ‘I apologise,’ I repeated. And then, because it was the only card I had left, I said, ‘I am sorry, Father.’
And with that, Athair released Hugo. I started to rush forward but Athair snapped his fingers and an arc of lightning flashed towards my feet. ‘Stay where you are,’ he commanded.
I did as he said. I had no choice.
‘I have tried the carrot and that method has failed,’ he said. ‘There is no recourse now but to use the stick. Cross me again in any way, daughter, and the lives of everyone you hold dear shall be forfeit. It is time for you to fulfil your true destiny. I created you for one purpose alone – you only exist so that you can join me. It is time for you to do so. Come with me and I will spare your friends and family.’
His red eyes shone with terrifying fervour. ‘Together you and I will rule the world. Nobody else matters.’
‘I can’t,’ I whispered. ‘I won’t.’
Athair’s mouth twisted. ‘Wrong answer.’ Magic flared up again and he flicked his fingers towards Hester and Otis, conjuring up a bolt of fire. This time I managed to react and countered it with a blast of water that extinguished it before it reached them.
I jumped into the breach, the words falling out of my mouth and tumbling over each other in my haste. ‘Not yet,’ I said. ‘I can’t do this yet. I need time to decide.’
Athair smirked. ‘Time to decide whether their lives are worth your sacrifice?’ he asked. ‘I like it, daughter. You are not yet a lost cause.’
I shook my head. ‘This isn’t about them, it’s about me. Give me time. Either I will join you or you can kill me, but leave them alone. This has nothing to do with them.’
‘Fuck you, Daisy! This has everything to do with us!’ Hester yelled.
From his crumpled position at Athair’s feet, Hugo wheezed in agreement. Even Otis assented. ‘Hester’s right! We’re all in this together!’ Goddammit. This would be so much easier without their interference.
Athair looked as if he were enjoying himself. ‘Three days. You have three days to decide. If you try to run, I will kill everyone you’ve ever cared about and a whole lot of other people, too. If you refuse my offer, I will do the same. Only if you agree to join me will I let them live. You will present yourself in front of the Royal Elvish Institute by midnight on Friday and give me your answer.’
I opened my mouth to speak.
‘And,’ Athair added, ‘I will not negotiate further.’
Without another word, he tossed out a burst of powerful magic and rocketed up through the hole in the cavern roof.
He was gone, the Fachan was dead and we were all screwed.
Chapter
Nineteen
Iclosed the Fachan’s eyelid and stroked his forehead. Hester kissed his right cheek then dropped her head in silent acknowledgment of his death. Otis sniffed loudly and wiped away several tears.
‘He died a warrior,’ Hugo murmured. ‘In battle.’
I bit my lip and nodded. I couldn’t profess to have known the Fachan well – this was only the third time we had met – but I was certain this was the death he’d have chosen. If only that same thought would help ease the pain and guilt stabbing at my heart. This was on me: the Fachan’s death was a direct result of my own actions.
‘I’d do just about anything right now for some drugs,’ I admitted quietly.
‘Spider’s silk won’t help.’ Hugo’s voice was soft, without censure. ‘You need to allow yourself to feel the pain. Numbing yourself won’t alter the fact of his death. He deserves better than that.’
He wrapped his arms around me and, for several moments, I buried myself against his chest. It would be nice to hide away from the world in Hugo’s arms while I grieved for the Fachan but there wasn’t time. We only had three days.
‘We can’t linger here, Hugo,’ I told him. ‘We have to leave.’
