Page 34 of Steel Rain

“You killed our father,” she said, her eyes narrowed. I flinched. Suddenly afraid for her life. I was ready to step in, just in case that famous Green temper got the better of him.

Eoghan stepped away from her, his hands on his hips, his head nodding, his eyes averted. He was chastised. Truly, ashamed.

“I didn’t kill him …”

“You gave him to the man who executed him as a wedding gift!” Her foot stomped hard on the ground.

Even as her lower lip trembled, she was a force to be reckoned with. She was a woman that wouldmakeEoghan pay for slights, no matter what they might be.

“What, exactly, did you think would happen?” Her little fists clenched.

“I didn’t think, Sibby,” he finally looked up at her. “I … my mind was elsewhere.”

“Obviously.” The girl’s lips tipped down in a frown. “Can I go now? Where’s my sister? They said she was looking for me?”

“Aye, she’s here, and you’ll see her soon, I promise.” Eoghan stared down at his toes. “You’ll stay here for now. Malinda has a room prepared for you, until we can restore your house.”

Malinda was Eoghan’s housekeeper. She was young. Somewhere in her late twenties with wild red hair. She had taken over the job from her mother, who probably got it from her mother before that.

“You’re giving us back our house?” The first flare of hope appeared in her eyes. “I can go home?”

“Aye, I’m sorry,” Eoghan wiped a hand down his face. “Yes. Real soon, you can go home with Shiny.”

A tear went down her cheek. She wiped it away as soon as it fell. The girl was trying to be strong. To be stoic. Maybe she was trying to emulate that sister that she obviously loved so much.

“Do I have to go home with her? Can I just go home on my own?” She crossed her arms. “I mean, what does it matter if she’s looking for me? She’s just going to leave again.”

Or maybe I was wrong. Maybe she didn’t like her sister after all. But even through the hurt, I could see that she did want her sister there for her. She just didn’t want to be the first to budge.

The girl was trembling. She looked around at me, at Eoghan, as if she just didn’t want to be around people. I had seen that look in Sin’s eyes when she was surrounded by her Irish brethren.

“It’s uncanny.” I couldn’t help but marvel, leaning back into my seat. “You two look so alike.”

I hadn’t realized I had said it out loud until those sharp eyes turned to me. Her eyes narrowed.

“Who is he?” she didn’t take her eyes off me, but the question was directed at Eoghan.

“He’s a friend. He trains my soldiers,” Eoghan said, his hand gesturing to me. “Get up and introduce yourself to the young lady.”

I did as I was told. I came to my feet, transferring my glass into my left hand and reaching out with my right for a handshake.

She stared at my outstretched palm but didn’t take it. Not for several silent, still seconds where the grandfather clock marked the time. She shook it, then pulled her hand away as fast as she could.

“Will we have our house back by St. Patrick’s Day?” the girl asked, turning away from me without ever accepting my hand.

“Aye,” Eoghan said. “I’ll make sure it’s decorated for you.”

“Don’t.” Her chin rose, and she narrowed her eyes. “I’ll do it myself.”

“Alright, lass,” Eoghan said. “If that’s what you want.”

The girl turned around and left the room, leaving the door open just a crack in her wake.

“I’m surprised you let her talk that way to you,” I said, finally giving voice to my thoughts.

“The Flanagan girls are a force to be reckoned with,” Eoghan said, moving back to his seat. “And she has a right to be pissed at me.” He downed his drink in one gulp, then refilled it. “She’s actually a very, very sweet girl. What you’ve seen isn’t normal for her.”

“You said that the woman in the octagon wasn’t the same girl you knew before,” I mused, downing my own drink.

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