Chapter 27

She was storming forward, shouting to be heard. The look of shock on the Gilroys faces was mirrored in Edwards expression, too — he hadnt realized she was in the crowd, it seemed. Well, good. The element of surprise would be useful here. The anger that was burning in her felt like it was going to consume her — she felt like if she looked in a mirror, shed see nothing but a pillar of flame.

Enough! she heard herself shouting. Enough of this! Enough of your pathetic excuses, enough of your lies, enough of your blaming absolutely anything you can imagine for your own failure to care for this child!

Mind your tongue— Mary started, wheeling on Ivy, but she strode right past her, her eyes fixed on her destination — on Colin, who even now was wriggling and wailing in his mothers arms.

I have been patient, she growled, wheeling on the crowd. But I am tired of dealing with superstition as an excuse for child neglect. Colin Gilroy is a human child who is every bit as deserving of care, love and a safe home as any other child — and if youre unwilling or unable to give him that, then Ill take him myself.

There was a ringing silence in the wake of her words… but she meant them. She meant them more than shed ever meant anything. Colins wailing was the only thing that broke the thunderous silence, and Anna gasped as the boy wiggled free of her grasp — Ivy stepped in automatically to catch him, and his mother recoiled from her as if in fear, leaving Ivy holding Colin in her arms. She shifted her grip automatically to apply less pressure to his body, letting him lay in her arms rather than holding him there… and then she looked up at the gathered crowd, her eyes narrowed.

Youre all fools if you looked at this infant and saw anything other than a human child, she said, dropping her voice a little to avoid aggravating Colin any further. She searched the crowd and quickly found what she was looking for — the tall figure of the Laird, his tanist at his side and his expression foreboding. Laird Donal, Im sorry to defy your orders like this, but it cant be helped.

And hoping like hell that the bet she was making was going to pay off, Ivy reached into her pocket for the iron horseshoe shed taken from the stables the very night that theyd returned from Old Maggies house. She held it high, allowing the crowd to get a good look at it too, and a murmur of recognition went up — the Sept of Clan Grant, as well as Clan Gilroy, knew exactly the significance of iron. True to form, Colin barely glanced at the horseshoe as she brought it closer and closer to his skin.

No, Mary whispered, her eyes full of fury. Dont you dare?—

But it was too late. Gently, Ivy laid the horseshoe against the babys head. Shed given it a thorough scrubbing after shed taken it from the stables, and the metal was cool and clean where it touched him. For one frozen moment, she prayed with everything in her that she wasnt making a terrible mistake… the thought of Darters twisted, shriveled arm had been haunting her ever since Laird Donal had pointed out the slim chance that Colin really was a Fae creature.

But nothing happened. The baby continued to fuss, but he barely seemed to register that the iron was touching him. Anna and Brian looked at each other, and Ivy saw a mixture of relief and joy in their expressions.

You see? Ivy demanded, hoping her voice would carry through the whole crowd. Hes no more allergic to iron than I am… and the Laird himself witnessed the child being anointed with holy water — which he reacted to like any child would to cold water being suddenly splashed in his face. What more proof could you possibly need?

The iron horseshoe clattered to the ground as Anna rushed forward, her eyes filling with tears as she took Colin into her arms once again. Brian was right there beside her, wrapping one arm around his shoulder and gazing down at the fussing baby.

Im so sorry, Colin, Anna whispered, holding the baby close as her tears soaked into his blankets. I love you, my son, my son, Im so sorry I let myself believe you werent?—

Ivy felt tears spring to her own eyes as she watched the parents hold their son. Was the matter settled, now? Had she finally proven Colins humanity to them all? She could feel the Lairds gaze burning into her back and knew she was going to be scolded later… but she couldnt bring herself to care. Let him yell at her all night if he wanted to. Let him cast her out of the Keep altogether if that was what he needed to do… shed do it all again in a heartbeat if it meant getting through to Colins parents.

Ivy— Edwards voice, strained and frightened — she half-turned in response, but before she could find him, she felt something strike her hard enough to knock her stumbling. Mary Gilroy was tearing across the courtyard, her hair flying loose and her skirts billowing around her legs. She had a surprising turn of speed for a seemingly delicate older lady — and maybe that was what gave her the element of surprise. Before Anna or Brian could even react, she was upon them… and Ivy screamed in helpless protest as she saw the woman yank the baby out of Annas arms and bolt through the stunned crowd with him, heading for the gate. Why wasnt anybody stopping her, Ivy wondered? Was it shock? Or?—

Its clear to me that youre all under some kind of Fae spell, Mary bellowed from the gate, spinning to address the crowd again — and Ivy realized why nobody had tried to stop her. There, clutched in one of her hands, was a long, thin dagger… perilously close to the baby, who was now screaming at full volume, his whole body stiff as he tried fruitlessly to get out of his grandmothers vice-like grip. But if Im the only one here who sees clearly what this creature is, then fine. Ill do what must be done.

Mother, please! Brian hastened toward her — but stopped dead in his tracks as she motioned with the dagger. A flicker of emotion crossed the womans face, a twisted mixture of pity, love, and resentment.

Youll stay away, if you know whats good for you, Mary Gilroy said, her voice somehow impossibly sad despite the clear menace of her words. And with that, she turned on her heel and fled the castle grounds.