“My Puddles. I should have killed the idiot when I had the chance, because now it’ll just seem wrong after all we’ve been through together.”

“I’m sure I could get his Mì-runach brethren to beat him up for you.”

“Don’t bother. It won’t bring back Puddles.”

Izzy put her arm around Brannie’s shoulders. “Don’t worry. We’ll get you a new horse. It won’t be Puddles, but you’ll learn to love your next one, too.”

“I know you’re right.”

Izzy rested her head on Brannie’s shoulder and quietly admitted, “I’m so glad you’re not dead.”

“Me too.”

“And I’m glad you’re back.”

“Iz, you have no idea. Keita’s insane.”

“Oh, that I know.”

“There you are.” Éibhear dropped down next to Izzy and handed her a leather bag with dried meat. “Eat. Both of you.”

Brannie was just reaching for the bag when Aidan sat down next to her, Uther next to him, and Caswyn next to Uther.

“You all right?” Aidan asked.

“I’m fine.” That’s when she felt Izzy jab her in the ribs with her elbow.

Brannie snatched the bag of dried meat from her friend and barked, “Stop it.”

Izzy leaned forward and for a second of panic, Brannie was afraid her best friend was about to say something that would embarrass her in front of Aidan.

Thankfully she didn’t.

“Caswyn! You ate Puddles?”

“Awww,” Éibhear said, also leaning forward to look at his friend. “Not good ol’ Puddles!”

Caswyn balled his hands into fists and screamed out, “He was dying anywayyyyyyy!”

* * *

Annwyl heard a scream and turned around, looking up at the hills in the distance.

“So,” she asked Fearghus, continuing on with their conversation, “Brannie was gone, too?”

“Aye. We thought she’d been killed when the mountains went down.”

“Tough like her mother, that one.”

“Very true.” She heard him take a breath. “Annwyl . . . we have an issue.”

She faced her mate. “The Salebiri castle, right? I say we raze it to the bloody ground, salt the earth, and cover it with rocks. I don’t want anyone coming here to worship.”

“I’m not talking about the castle.”

“Oh, then what?”

Fearghus gestured to the left. “You can’t keep your demon army.”

“But they said I was their queen.”

“Annwyl—”

“Oh, come on! Why can’t I have a demon army? I killed their leader. Apparently that’s all it takes.”

“They belong in hell. They’ll be happier in hell. I’ll be happier with them in hell.”

Annwyl looked at Fearghus’s kin huddled by a tree, closely watching the demons.

“What do you lot think?”

“Send them back!” they all yelled at her.

“Well, no need to bark at me.” She again looked at Fearghus. “Fine. I’ll send them back.”

“Thank you. Now what about the cattle? The ones the demons call the corpse-eaters?”