“Mom wanted him to choose, between her, me, and Talamh,” Breen added. “How could he? But he gave the farm to the O’Broins—Keegan’s family. Their father died in the battle to protect me. They were best friends. He was in Sorcery—the band? From the picture Tom Sweeney gave us in the pub in Doolin.”
“We were meant to go there.” Marco sipped more wine. “Pretty clear we were meant to meet Tom and hear how your parents met.”
“They loved each other. I think they always did. Because he loved, they went to Philadelphia, and he tried to be what she wanted, what his people needed.”
“All those out-of-town gigs weren’t gigs. He was coming here?”
“Yeah, and she knew, of course, and it just built up resentment. She divorced him, and I think she must have said to him what she said to me when I went back to tell her I knew all this. The aberration—that’s what she called my gifts, and really, that’s what she called me—wasn’t allowed in her home.”
Marco reached over to give her hand a squeeze.
“She believed she protected me, she convinced herself of that, but under it, she protected herself. The world as she needed to see it.”
“I’m sorry, Breen.” Marco kept her hand, gripped it hard.
“Me, too.”
“She’s wrong. She’s been wrong all along, so I’m sorry for her, too. ‘Aberration,’ well, fuck that. Sorry,” he said to Marg immediately.
“No need, as I agree.”
“You’re a wonder, that’s what you are. I always thought so, just didn’t figure, you know, witch goddess.” He looked back at Marg. “How did Eian die? If you destroyed this Odran’s fortress and blocked the portals, how come he’s still a threat to Breen?”
“Not just Breen, but she is the key. Odran killed my son. With time, his powers, and the aid of the black magick of a witch who turned to him, he waged his war on Talamh again. This, I think, was a ploy to draw Eian out, to murder him. To kill the son who refused to bend to his father’s will.”
“Now he wants Breen. Okay, with all the respect I’ve got, and I’m sorry you have to fight these wars with some crazy god, but it seems to me like the best place for Breen is back home. Where he can’t get to her. I’m not agreeing with your mom. You need to be who you are, do what you love, but, girl, you ain’t no warrior princess.”
“I’ve been training for it—not the princess part—all summer. With a sword.”
He gave her shoulder a push. “Get out.”
“I can defend myself. And nowhere’s safe, Marco. Not for me. Not for anyone.”
“He’ll come again,” Marg said. “Another battle. More blood, more death. We will stand against him to the last of us. But if he defeats us, if he conquers or destroys Talamh, your world is next. And all the others to follow as he kills and burns. His powers will grow, and so will his thirst for more.”
“You mean he’ll destroy the Earth, like, everything?”
“Our world, your world, all worlds. Each in turn gives him more. Do I understand Jennifer’s drive to lock Breen away? I do. But what she would never believe, never accept, is Breen is the key to the lock. She can’t be shut away. He’ll find her, in time, or if she has a child of her own? A god has all of time.”
“I want children one day. But, Marco, I could never risk that knowing this.”
“Jesus, Breen.”
“It has to stop with me. These are my people. I know how that sounds, but—”
“It sounds right.”
“They’ll fight. But they need me.”
He nodded, took a long breath. “I watched Wonder Woman, I know the drill.”
“Four times. You watched it four times.”
He held up five fingers. “It takes a god to kill a god, that’s how it works, right?”
“The daughter of the son is the bridge between worlds.” Breen felt the words, the thoughts, the truth simply flow into and out of her. “The bridge leads to the light or to the dark. Her path is threefold. Awaken, become, choose.”
Marco waited a beat. “What was that? Like a prophecy? You do that now, too?”
“Sometimes. I’m still me, Marco.”
“Who said you weren’t? Okay then, it gives me a better picture on what I’m gonna need. If you’re okay with that,” he said to Sedric.
“It’s my pleasure.”
“It’s a lot, since there’s no telling how long I’m going to be here. I won’t be leaving until we kick that asshole god back to hell.”