Page 89 of A Celtic Memory
“Well, I’m glad for it.” Madison eyed him affectionately. “Thank you.” She pouted a little at Cian, thinking about it. “So our men won’t remember our wedding beneath King’s Heart?”
“Nay, I’m afraid not.” He shook his head. “Worry naught, though.” They needed to keep moving, but he couldn’t help but take a moment to pull her close and kiss her. To tell her of his plans. “We’ll always have King’s Heart, but might we not have a second ceremony at our castle amongst our people once we've dealt with Siobhán?”
“I’d like nothing more.” Clearly connected to it every bit as much as their son, she glanced back at the pond. “I’m going to miss this place.”
“Why?” He brushed his lips across hers again and smiled. “When I intend to bring you back often?”
She met his smile. “You better.”
While tempted to stay on a few more minutes, it was best they return straight away, so they headed back to the encampment to rally their men. While they walked, she continued catching him up on everything happening in the twenty-first century.
“So Liam truly is behaving?”
“He is.” Madison nodded. “He was really there for me when I first got back.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t want to ever experience that kind of pain again.”
He more than agreed. Recalled the torture in her gaze during the battle when he sent her to King’s Heart. Remembered the pain he had felt when he thought he would never see her again.
“Nor I.” He glanced her way, curious to see what she was capable of now. “Can you send word to Liam that all’s well?”
“I can,” she said with confidence. “But I’d prefer to do it once we know our people are safe. I trust the tree, but why take any chances someone might catch wind of what we’re up to?”
He agreed.
Saving their people must come first, then they would go from there. Like before, he ordered his guardsmen to stay at King’s Heart and rallied his warriors to prepare for fast travel and possible battle.
As expected, all were mounted and ready to go in little time.
“Hi there,” Madison said affectionately, patting Tadhg’s nose. “I might have been mad at you at the time, but thank you for saving me, so all of this was possible.” She narrowed her eyes, teasing. “But no more whipping me at trees.”
Tadhg made an affectionate huffing sound that translated clearly enough. He would do it again if he had to.
She smiled and shook her head, ready to let Cian help her on, when she stilled and looked into the forest.
“She’s coming,” she whispered.
“Who?”
His question was answered moments later when the last thing he anticipated appeared.
