Page 12 of Iron Crown

Were it not for Aoibheann… were it not for what my father did to her…

Were it not for my pledge to do right by her from now on…

“I’ll consider it, Aoibheann.” I looked at Kira. She was staring at Jericho, mistrust coloring her warm, brown eyes. Neither of us were convinced. “Thank you, for your kind offer.”

“That’s all I ask, Eoghan.” Aoibheann smiled sweetly. “We’re family, no? If not by your father, by Rose and Dairo. We have many bridges to build. I’m willing if you are.”

Christ, it was better than I deserved. Her, Shiny… I had failed the people who should have been in my care.

“I’m willing.” I lowered my head in shame. “We’ll come. But I must set this house in order first.”

I couldn’t just cut and run. My Army trained here. Mypeoplewere here. Abandoning them wasn’t an option. If there was a snake in our nest, then I had to cut off its head with my own iron blade.

The comms in my ear crackled before Shiny’s voice came through. “We need you, boss.”

I could also hear her voice in the hallway, and her jaunty, sharp footsteps alerted me to her approach. She was still in my earpiece when she popped through the door. She flicked her thumb out the door, telling me she needed a private word. “We’re still figuring out what happened, but I think you need to be there.”

I nodded, moving to leave the room when my Muse’s voice halted me in my tracks.

“Wait!” Kira put our son on the ground. He lifted his hands, closing and opening his fists, wanting to be held again. “Sweety, can you stay here with your Aunt—uh—Grandma Aoibheann?”

Kira looked at Aoibheann, wondering how she preferred to be addressed. I was curious about the answer myself.

Aoibheann smiled, and shrugged. “I think Aunt might be best. I’m not quite ready to be a grandma.”

She was my age, so aunt felt better too. Though, shehad beenmarried to my Dad, and wastechnicallyDairo’s mother-in-law, if only through adoption and marriage.What an incestuous lot we were becoming…

We needed new blood before our family tree started looking more like a wreath.

“Stay with Aunty Aoibheann for just for a second? Mommy has to do something,” Kira instructed.

Cillian looked… angry. He pouted, his arms crossed, and he stomped his right foot.

It was the cutest thing I had ever seen. I felt like the Grinch, my heart growing three sizes, ready to burst from my chest.

Kira turned to me. “I need to know how we’re securing my son. I need to know–”

“You don’t need to justify yourself to me, wife.” I reached out a hand to her. “Come, if you like. You don’t need my permission.”

I swear, Aoibheann placed her hands over her chest as though I’d just made a romantic gesture. Jericho rolled his eyes.

I did not care. Kira and I had so much to say to one another, so much to discuss. She understood me so little, and I yearned for her toknowme.

My arms were empty without her in them. Couldn’t she see that?

Every time I thought that we could finally talk, something always got in the way.Like an explosion, or a high-speed pursuit…

Christ, what I would do for a moment of peace.

“Come,” I beckoned her with the curl of the fingers of my outstretched hand.

To my relief, she placed her palm in mine, holding on tight.

Together, we walked down the hall, Shiny striding ahead of us.

“Every second end table in this hall has a gun,” I said quietly to Kira, tapping one of the end tables as we passed it. “Open the drawer, the bottom comes out.”

She looked appalled.

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