Page 56 of Fang & Fury

“Thank you for coming to our aid.” She spoke up then, wishing her voice didn’t sound so dry and scratchy.

Isleen cocked her head, her attention lingering upon Darach. “It’s not something we usually do,” she murmured. “Lucky for you, this is our hunting ground. We’ve been tracking you for a while.”

Ailsa tensed at this, sharing a quick look with Darach. His instincts earlier had been right. Someone had been watching him—and it hadn’t been those warriors.

“When the Circines attacked, we watched from the trees … and would have left the fight to play out so we could feed on fresh blood afterward,” Isleen went on. “But then I recognized Kayla … and you.” She finally looked Ailsa’s way then, and the impact of their gazes meeting made her freeze. “I never gave you a name,” she murmured. “What is it?”

“Ailsa.”

“Ailsa,” Isleen repeated the name slowly, drawing it out.

“We are indeed grateful for your help.” Fern’s voice intruded then. The huntress was clutching the arm she’d injured when they fled Craeg Aonaranach. Blood oozed between her fingers. “But we should move on now.”

Isleen’s gaze remained firmly upon Ailsa. “You should.” She paused. “But you have questions, don’t you?”

Of course, she did.

All the same, she hesitated to answer. A heartbeat passed, and then another, before she slowly nodded.

Her mother’s lips curved once more. “Then come with me … ask what you must.”

Ailsa looked around her, taking in the bodies—Circines corpses—strewn around them. Some of the bavaan now knelt beside them, sucking from their throats.

It wasn’t wise to linger here. Niall’s army would move any day now. They had to get to Duncrag.

The Five strike her down, she’d wanted to help those enslaved warriors, and yet, she’d taken joy from killing them. She felt pulled in two directions. Nonetheless, as the moments slid by, realization settled into her bones.

She’d never have any peace unless she confronted the bavaan side of her.

Her mother could help her understand what she was.

Taking a deep breath, she took a step toward her.

“Ailsa!” Darach caught her arm. “No.”

Isleen stiffened at the action, her hands, tipped in long curving nails, flexing at her sides.

Ailsa tore her gaze from her mother and looked his way. He was scowling. Likewise, both Fern and Kayla stood rigidly; they looked poised to grab her too.

Ailsa forced a smile. “It’s all right … I haven’t lost my mind.”

Darach’s expression didn’t soften. “Then why would you—”

“Don’t do this, Ailsa.” Kayla cut him off, stepping up to her. “Some things are best left be.”

Heat sparked under Ailsa’s ribs. “Not this. I need to know, Kayla.”

Something in her voice must have reached her companions, for her mentor’s lips compressed, and Darach slowly released his grip on her arm.

“Gods-damn-it, woman,” he growled. “You’re not going alone.”

Fern cut him a sharp look. “Darach!”

He shook his head, his jaw tightening.

“We can’t waste time here.” Kayla’s voice rose, brittle with rising panic. “Every moment we wait is—”

“I’m not wasting time,” Ailsa cut her off. “But one night’s delay won’t make much of a difference.” She gestured to the corpses around them. “No one’s hunting us now, are they?”