Page 87 of A Celtic Memory
When had he fallen?
Was that truly her?
“You shouldn’t be here,”he tried to say aloud but couldn't form the words.“’Tis only a matter of time before the enemy finds me. Go! Save yourself!”
She must have heard his internal plea because she responded.
“I’m not leaving you,” she sobbed. “And you’re not leaving me either.” More tears. “You deserve better than this.”
He tried to respond telepathically, but he was drifting away. Hardly felt her tears hit his face. Barely heard her cries for him to stay. Not to give up. Didn’t she realize he would if he could? That he would give anything to stay with her?
But it was too late.
He was growing cold.
So cold.
“You arenotgoing to die, husband,” she said firmly. “Do you hear me?Understandme?”
He did, barely, but knew she was wrong.
“You have to believe me,” she insisted. “That’s the only way this will work. The only way I can bring you back.”
Bring him back?
“Believe me, Cian,” she murmured. “Believe my words and come back to me. Be with me always.”
“Always,” he tried to whisper, so hopeful it hurt.
She said other things. Wondrous words he couldn’t quite catch before her voice broke through again.
“Listen to my words,”whispered through his mind.“Believe that you will live. That we will have a life together. That...”
When she trailed off, he called out but only felt her sense of wonder. Understood it somehow. Believed it.
Believedher.
The moment he did, warmth filled him. White light. A gentle touch on his mid-section and forehead. Madison’s touch. More warmth flooded him. Sounds slowly emerged. The feel of the wind off the sea.
The mighty call of King’s Roar.
Images started flashing in his mind.
Then moments rolled him back in time.
The pain of seeing Tadhg race away with her during the battle. Knowing he would never see her again. Then further back to the rage he had felt when he and Madison flew toward his castle as it was being attacked.
Then back to marrying beneath King’s Heart.
Making love in the tent.
Then back further still until he jolted awake at the exact moment green light pulsed out from them in the pond at the waterfall.
He opened his eyes and stilled, caught somewhere between utter shock and the exquisite pleasure of having just peaked with her.
King’s Roar was gone.
The excruciating pain of his wounds had vanished.
