Blackbird Broken (The Witch King's Crown #2) - Keri Arthur Page 0,79
too.”
He hung up. I sucked in a deep breath, then put my phone down. “He didn’t deny claiming the sword. He heard me almost say it, and he didn’t deny it.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Fuck.” I scraped a hand through my hair. “I really had been hoping that we were wrong, that it wasn’t true, that I wouldn’t have to—”
Confront him. Maybe even kill him.
But the truth was out now, and there really was no going back from it.
Mo took my hands and held them tightly. Tears prickled my eyes again, and this time, I didn’t fight them. I simply grieved for the brother I’d already lost in both heart and soul, even if not yet physically.
Mo didn’t say anything. She simply waited, silently offering me comfort and strength. Eventually, I sucked in a deep, shuddering breath and said, “Well, at least I got that out of the way.”
“Never be afraid to cry, Gwen. I have, plenty of times over the centuries. It might not free the soul of anguish, but it certainly prepares you for what is to come.”
“I don’t know if I can—”
“In the end, your job isn’t to kill your brother but to restrain Darkside. Remember that.” She squeezed my hands, then released me and stood up. “I think a good cup of tea and a huge slab of banoffee pie is in order.”
Whiskey would have been better, but I’d unwisely forgotten to pick that up. “What happens if your presumption that I’m the true heir rather than Max isn’t actually correct?”
She flicked the kettle on and then stooped to pull the pie out of the small fridge. “I’m never wrong, darling girl. Misdirected sometimes, but never wrong.”
I laughed—it was a wan sound, but it was better than resorting to tears again. “Do you want me to ring Ginny and let her know we won’t be back tonight?”
She shook her head. “I have to ring Barney for an update on their progress, so I’ll tell him then.”
I accepted the slab of pie with a nod of thanks. “The other thing he confirmed was them going after the artifacts during the destruction of the Blackbirds headquarters.”
She nodded. “I suggest you ring Luc and find out if they succeeded. If they didn’t, we’ll need to secure that ring.”
“With Vivienne, I take it.”
“Yes, although in truth, even then it won’t be totally safe.”
“I doubt even Darkside would be stupid enough to attack an old goddess.”
“They won’t need to. If you are the heir—and if they do work that out—then they can simply force you to get it for them.”
I opened my mouth to deny the possibility, then snapped it closed again. In reality, all they’d have to do was to capture and threaten Mo, and I’d be putty in their hands—and Max was well aware of that.
Of course, the key to that particular scenario was to actually capture her.
“Then let’s make damn sure they don’t work it out.” I munched on my pie for a bit; the thick layers of caramel, banana, and cream might not do much for my waistline, but it certainly made me feel happier. “Although it’s not as if Vivienne will answer my call.”
“She will if you’re the heir.”
I glanced at her sharply. “Has she answered the summoning of Witch Kings before?”
“Once or twice.” She shrugged. “It depends on what mood she’s in.”
“Then here’s hoping she’s in a good mood tomorrow.”
“As I said, she does love her mornings. I’ll call her, though. It’s better to leave the possibility of you being the true heir mired in uncertainty until we get all our ducks in a row.”
“Our ducks being the real sword and the coronation ring, I’m gathering?”
“Yes.”
“And are we going to tell Luc of your suspicions?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
She raised an eyebrow. “I adore the man, and I’ll love him like my own son when you two marry—”
I snorted. “I like this fantasy world you’re living in.”
She gave me the look. The one that said don’t be daft. “But can you honestly see him—or indeed any of them—accepting the fact that the Witch King’s heir might well be a woman?”
“No.”
“So why say anything until it happens?”
“To warn them.”
“Why waste time and energy? There’re too many other things we need to be doing right now. What’s the time?”
I glanced at my phone. “Just after seven.”
“I’d better ring Barney, otherwise he’ll get worried.” She held out her hand. “I’ll need your phone. Mine’s still in the car, along with my purse.”
“Hopefully the cops will return it once they fish it out of