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have the advantage because she’ll use any evil trick ever conceived to destroy Ashling?” Sean asked grimly.

“Oh aye, she’d do that and more if she could,” Eamon said. “It’s hard to believe that someone who was once an honored leader of the Sidhe, is now the darkest, vilest creature who ever drew breath.”

“I’m not above using a dirty trick or two if I must,” Ashling said. “How we’re planning to use Cassiday as a sacrifice, to distract Grainne, is not truly noble.”

There was silence in the room for several moments before Eamon finally said, “There’s truth in what you say, Ashling. I would only say that we’re fighting a war not of our own choosing. If Grainne would turn away from her desire to destroy us, we could all live in peace. It is her dark ambition that forced us into a war for our very survival.”

“Very true,” Sean said. “Then we must add to that the fact that Cassiday came to us with this plan. We may be agreeing to use her to our benefit, but it is also to her benefit. Even if there’s only a minute chance that she may be freed from her dark prison, she’s willing to live with those odds.”

“Well said, Sean,” Ashling said. “When I pushed through her mind tracks, I knew that she’d rather see her soul destroyed than suffer eternity in outer darkness. After spending a few minutes in that dark place, I’m not sure I blame her.”

“We’re in agreement then,” Eamon said firmly. “It is time to gather our people to council. We must prepare them for what is coming.”

“Hope for the best and prepare for the worst,” Ashling said.

“Exactly so,” Eamon said.

“Are you going to change first?” Sean asked, smiling. “Even preparing for the worst may not be enough if they have to see you in your pajamas and that frumpy robe.”

Ashling narrowed her eyes at Sean but couldn’t hold back her laughter. Soon, Eamon and Sean joined in. They all seemed to realize that if this might be their last chance to laugh about anything for some time to come.

* * *

Grainne didn’t usually sleep more than a few hours each night. Some nights she didn’t sleep at all. It had been that way ever since she’d turned her back on her family, friends, and community nearly a millennium ago. Most nights she didn’t mind not sleeping, but tonight she was feeling uneasy about the past. She’d much rather sleep than relive those dark days.

She’d joined forces with the followers of Danu and betrayed everyone who’d ever loved or cared about her. In the end, she’d even been forced to destroy her own family to prove her loyalty.

A man called Roderick had been the leader of Danu’s Tuatha clan at the time. He’d laughed and howled like a mad wolf, when she burned down the home she’d been born in.

Grainne had been in her dragon self at the time, and the dark dragon seemed to lust after blood and death with a vengeance. By the time she came to her senses, she’d burned down the entire community she’d been raised in. Her parents, brothers and sisters, extended family and close friends had all perished that night.

Roderick couldn’t resist the mayhem and joined her in his dragon form. He was the one who’d burned down everything in sight for miles around.

He’d welcomed her into the rebel community with open arms. She’d played the part of a loyal new member for two years. It took her that long to build up her own following among the Danu rebels.

When she was sure they could win, she’d ambushed Roderick and his soldiers on their way home from a raid on the Sidhe. They were tired and beat up from an unexpectedly difficult battle.

Grainne and her followers quietly surrounded them when Roderick had ordered his troops to stop and rest for the night. She waited until they were all asleep and then attacked from all sides.

The night sentries were killed silently before they attacked the sleeping soldiers. On quiet feet they crept into their unsuspecting camp and used their swords to slay them while they slept.

Grainne called out Roderick’s name when she was leaning over him, watching him sleep. He was obviously fatigued from the battle because it took him several moments to finally open his eyes.

“Grainne,” he said in a sleepy voice. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking my place as the rightful leader of Danu’s Tuatha rebels,” she said in a pleasant, soft voice. After a deep sigh, she added, “You’re tired, so I’ll let you rest now.”

Roderick realized what was happening when the sounds of dying soldier’s screams reached his ears. “How dare you!” was all he could shout before she plunged a long, black dagger into his throat. He grabbed the blade and tried to pull it out, but it only cut through his hands.

He realized she had somehow taken his dagger, which had once belonged to Danu. The sword, which was forged from the same dark magic steel, lay uselessly by his side in its scabbard.

She waited until the last spark of life left his now dull eyes before she pulled the dagger out. There were other ways to kill an immortal, but this had been the most satisfying.

Most of the time, Grainne could keep the visions of killing her family away from her mind. On rare nights like these, the cries and screams of her dying parents and siblings could still haunt her.

Suddenly she felt something else interrupt the night terrors she was experiencing. After a moment, she realized someone was trying to communicate mind-to-mind. It was extremely rare for anyone to come close to touching her mind tracks, but this one had unusual gifts for communicating mind-to-mind.

While keeping a strict guard up, she allowed a hint of the seeker’s mind to touch hers. Instantly she recognized who it was. It had been a long time, but she would never forget Cassiday. It was a testament