“The council can’t—” She stopped. The council could, and we all knew it. “What of our prisoner?”

“The council will remove her shortly. You are to continue looking after her until then.”

“Fine,” she muttered, eyes flashing. “But as you cut me off, so I cut you. My sister’s offspring are no longer my kin. I revoke acknowledgement of them.”

“Fine by me, Aunt.” But it wasn’t fine. It was a long way from fine. Especially when it was said by someone who not only looked so much like Mom but had meant so much to her.

I blinked fiercely, then turned and stomped back to the car.

Lugh followed but didn’t say anything until we were beyond the boundaries of our aunt’s new prison. “Are you all right?”

“Yes. No.” I scrubbed my hands across my eyes. “What’s our next move?”

“You mean aside from trying to find a safe place to stash the sword, relocate the crown, and try to reach the ring before the Looisearch do?”

A wry smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah, beside all that.”

“We go home. There is sex to be had, remember?”

My eyebrows rose. “That’s certainly true in my case, but I thought you were taking it slow?”

“I have decided slow is not so ideal. After all, we’re up against some pretty fierce foes, and who knows when death will find us.”

“And is Darby aware of this sudden change of heart?”

“Yes, although she did take some convincing that I wasn’t ill or under some sort of mind control.”

I laughed. “Then I won’t expect to hear from you for a couple of days, at least.”

“From your mouth to the gods’ ears,” he murmured.

I laughed and, for the very first time, felt like our luck had turned and everything was possible.

Only time would tell if that was a truth or yet another lie.

Also by Keri Arthur

in series order

Crown of Shadows (Relic Hunters, 1)

Sword of Darkness (Relic Hunters 2)

Ring of Ruin (Relic Hunters 3)

Blood Kissed (Lizzie Grace Series, 1)

Hell’s Bell (Lizzie Grace Series, 2)

Hunter Hunted (Lizzie Grace, 3)

Demon’s Dance (Lizzie Grace, 4)

Wicked Wings (Lizzie Grace, 5)

Deadly Vows (Lizzie Grace, 6)

Magic Misled (Lizzie Grace, 7)

Broken Bonds (Lizzie Grace, 8)

Sorrow’s Song (Lizzie Grace 9)

Wraith’s Revenge (Lizzie Grace 10)

Blackbird Rising (The Witch King’s Crown, 1)

Blackbird Broken (The Witch King’s Crown, 2)

Blackbird Crowned (The Witch King’s Crown, 3)

Unlit (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 1)

Cursed (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 2)

Burn (Kingdoms of Earth & Air, 3)

City of Light (Outcast Series, 1)

Winter Halo (Outcast Series, 2)

The Black Tide (Outcast Series, 3)

Fireborn (Souls of Fire Series, 1)

Wicked Embers (Souls of Fire Series, 2)

Flameout (Souls of Fire Series, 3)

Ashes Reborn (Souls of Fire Series, 4)

Darkness Unbound (Dark Angels Series, 1)

Darkness Rising (Dark Angels Series, 2)

Darkness Devours (Dark Angels Series, 3)

Darkness Hunts (Dark Angels Series, 4)