I caught my breath, then whispered a brief spell and felt the magic swirl through the snowy air until it settled upon me. The hunter’s poison rushed through my veins and I didn’t know how long the antidote would take, but I couldn’t wait. My vision blurred, my footsteps unsteady, I forced myself back to my feet, not caring that my only garment was a cloak. I grabbed Greagoir’s sword, then picked up his beating heart, and tucked it inside the cloak’s pocket.

I leaned on the sword, trying to regain my strength.

Had the hunter recognized me? Or was it dark sorcery that made it seem as if I had heard his voice before? I tried to remember what had happened only moments earlier during my battle with Greagoir, but my thoughts were muddled. I could only focus on one thing—

Two legions were prowling this wood, the Leanan Sidhe and my Guardians. Either one of them could kill my sons. My children could be struck down by accident, just like I had. Or they could be killed by design, because they had royal Tuatha de Danann blood in their veins.

Greagoir, my nemesis, still walked this forest.

I had to find my leanaí.

The hunter’s footprints led the way, through the trees, across a shallow river, and down a gully. I ran, following his trail, gulping cold mountain air as my bare feet sank into deep snow. The path twisted and turned, up a rocky hill, then across an old bridge, and back up to a razor-sharp crest.

And there they were—

Down in a narrow ravine.

My two white wolf cubs were trapped with no way of escape, three of Faelan’s servants surrounding them. I stood at the hunter’s side as he drew his bow and let the first arrow fly. I cried out, for the arrow sailed too close to my youngest boy, Ambros. Through the frozen air it flew, hissing, until it struck one of the Leanan Sidhe in the neck.

Blood sprayed out.

Red on white snow.

The other two monsters growled, but they didn’t pause. Rather, they became more fierce. One of them charged at my older son, Benen, with open jaws.

“Run!” I screamed. Then I began to sing.

Snow and frost and ice, obey my voice—

I conjured what I could, since my banshee voice wouldn’t work against these creatures. Not if they all had wax in their ears, like Greagoir. As my song echoed throughout the canyon, a fresh, thick layer of ice appeared everywhere, glistening on the rocks, and my two wolf cubs slid across it without falling. But the balance of the Leanan Sidhe demons was made precarious, their footing unstable; they stumbled and tripped as they chased my boys.

The hunter shot one more arrow.

I focused my attention on that flying missile, transforming it until it became as sharp and swift as a bolt of lightning. Thunder rocked throughout the small canyon when the arrow struck the second villain, square in the chest, straight through his heart.

The impact shook the ground and nearly knocked me off my feet.

The hunter glanced at me, obviously surprised at how my magic had affected the impact of his arrow. Then he gave me a quick nod as if to say, do it again, lass.

I grinned.

He let the third arrow fly.

The last Leanan Sidhe turned to run, his scream ringing out.

The arrow glowed as if it had turned into fire. As soon at it struck the villain, he burst into flames. Light filled the ravine, so bright it challenged the sun. Both the hunter and I shielded our eyes with our forearms, for the glare was blinding. By the time the beast struck the ground, there was nothing left of him but charred ash and bone.

The entire ravine had been blackened by the fire.

But none of it had touched my boys. Not a hair of their white fur was darkened by ash.

They both scampered up the ravine toward me, yelping and howling. I knelt to draw them into my arms and once the three of us were reunited, I buried my face in their thick fur.

“The fire!” one of them cried.

“It almost killed us!” the other whimpered.

“You shall never be harmed by my magic,” I reminded them. “Nor by an arrow shot by a friend.”

I glanced up at the hunter, who watched the three of us, a broad grin on his face. This was the true hero. This was the Duine who had rescued Ambros and Benen. I swallowed, my throat and chest thick with emotion.

“Thank you for what you did today. A blessing upon you and your house, stranger,” I said.

“Kellen,” he said, telling me his name.

This time when he spoke, standing so close to me, my memory of him returned. He was Cara Maith! Despite the poison that had clouded my thoughts, all the times he had visited me in the cave came back. He’d been tending to my lads and me for years.

“Cara Maith,” I said.

He gave me a smile, slow and gentle at first, but it broadened until the very sight of it brought heat. Both Benen and Ambros yipped and pranced around him, and he bent to embrace both of them, scuffing their fur and kissing them.

Only then did other human hunters run out of the forest, all with swords, bows, and arrows, all wearing a crest of roses on their garments. These were my last few Guardians and my heart cheered at the sight of them. They stopped at the edge of the chasm, staring down at the blackened rocks and charred grass. Before they could lift their gaze toward us, Kellen stepped to my side, blocking me from their view. Even though I wore his cloak, it was still hard to cover my nakedness. He removed his tunic and handed it to me, all while hiding me. I was dressed in a moment.

“‘Tis your long-lost queen, men,” Kellen then announced, bending to one knee, his bow on the ground. “Eire has returned to us.”

A rousing cheer rang out, a band of eleven or twelve men rejoicing at Kellen’s words. They joined us from the shadowed wood and from across the gulley, all first bending the knee and laying down their bows, arrows, and swords. Then, once I had acknowledged them, they each rose and approached.

It was a time for rejoicing and I delighted in it. My boys yipped and barked, running circles around us. I imagined them wearing their rightful golden crowns, sitting upon thrones and sharing their kingdom. They would make gentle, benevolent rulers. I could see it in their good-natured, frolicking attitude.

But I feared ruling was not in our future.

While we all laughed and planned a great feast, I fell to my knees in the snow one last time. I blinked and everything around me wavered. The sun vanished from my sight as everything grew dark; my skin turned cold and all voices faded to a whisper.

I collapsed on the ground, my face in the snow.

All I could hear was dark laughter.

And Faelan’s voice saying, I will find you and I will kill you. Prepare to ride the Faery Cavalcade forever.