Page 11 of A Celtic Secret
His heart felt like it stopped beating for a moment when her eyes connected with his, then thrummed in jealousy when that same lovely gaze locked on Raghnall.
“Gods, she’s something, is she not?” Raghnall praised under his breath. “A rare prize.” His gaze narrowed on Aodh, then Madison and Cian still standing beside the tree. “One we cannot let get away.”
“I do not think ‘twill be an issue.” Declán didn’t let on that he felt her intentions but noted her body language. The way she looked at them. “She means to come to us.”
“She does, doesn’t she?” Raghnall murmured, enthralled. “Yet it seems your brothers are not in agreement.”
He imagined they were not, and he didn’t blame them. Not with what awaited them on this side of the border. What Aodh had somehow, miraculously avoided for the better part of a week.
Now here he was, not attacking Raghnall but attempting to save Riona.
“I want the dragon as well,” Raghnall growled as they approached on horseback. “Whatever it takes.”
Declán nodded and chanted, hoping his magic behaved, only for Riona to step in front of Aodh and speak loud enough for everyone to hear. Her steady gaze went back and forth between Declán and Raghnall.
“I’ll go with you peacefully, but only if you let Aodh go.” She narrowed her eyes on Cian and Madison. “Let me go, or I’ll get caught in the crosshairs of this.” She gave everyone a determined look. “Because I promise you, I’ll make a point of it.”
Declán didn't miss the way Cian’s gaze homed in on him. He felt his brother's curiosity about where he really stood. Was he an enemy or a foe? Had he truly betrayed his kin, or was there a method to his madness? While tempted to tell him because no brother was closer, he couldn’t.Wouldn’t.
Not when Riona’s life was at stake.
Thus far, he had kept her safe, but only by playing a very dangerous game. One even he only partially understood. What hedidknow was that until Riona revealed her secret, he must remain by Raghnall’s side. A place as vile as he suspected it would be. The King of Munster was ruthless. Quick to murder his own people if they stepped out of line. Brutal to a fault.
Nonetheless, Declán knew he had to join ranks with him, so he had set a plan in motion that put everyone at risk. Yet it was the only way, so as far as his brothers knew, he had defected. Allied himself with a monster who he knew would welcome him if only for so long.
And he did it for Riona because he knew she would end up here.
Knew that the three of them were connected somehow.
Declán didn’t need to tell Raghnall what he sensed in Riona’s mind. Alarmingly enough, the rival king knew when Declán did. Knew before Siobhán shared a thing in her sneering, nasty way. But then it seemed she hadn’t sensed the dynamics of this strange love triangle any more than Declán and Raghnall.
Because itwasa love triangle whether Raghnall realized it or not.
Declán felt it in parts of his heart that had long laid waiting for Riona to return. Waited to be reconnected. He had made contact with her via the old oak in New Hampshire and King’s Heart recently but knew they went back much further than that.
Something Raghnall agreed with because he claimed to have sensed her as well. Felt drawn to her. And interestingly, or mayhap even strategically, he still welcomed Declán to his side of their years-long war. Not surprising, considering he came with a sizable army and beneficial access to Liam's kingdom now that Cian's borders were impregnable. Sealed off completely with druid magic.
Declán hadn't told Raghnall that he’d made contact with Riona via King's Heart but that he was able to hear her communications with Madison through it. How drawn she was to this land. To the rival kings. How she would do anything to get here. When Raghnall wondered how Declán could hear anything through King's Heart, given his betrayal, Declán could only speculate it must have to do with his blood ties to Cian. Otherwise, the tree itself repelled him every bit as much as it did Raghnall now that Declán had turned traitor.
Suffice it to say, Raghnall had seemed open to the idea of sharing Riona so that they might harness her powers, but now based on the way the enemy king looked at her, Declán knew he would do no such thing.
Either way, turning traitor had given Declán the means to walk behind enemy lines and get a better take on Raghnall and how he thought. In doing so, he discovered that his sorceress played a far larger role in his life than Declán would have expected. He gave her more sway than anticipated, including, as seen recently, control of his army when she attacked Cian's castle.
While he might not understand how Siobhán gained such traction with the enemy king, Declán looked at it as an opportunity to understand her better as well. What she had accomplished by tearing his brothers apart told him she was a worthy opponent, at least on some fronts. So when he learned that nothing romantic lay betwixt Raghnall and Siobhán, he pretended to set his sights on her. Win her favor. Something Raghnall thought nothing of despite their mutual draw to Riona.
If anything, it would free her up for him.
While pursuing Siobhán might have given him insight into the woman, he could admit he did it just as much for Riona's sake. Because truly he could think of no other way to protect her if Siobhán decided to target her behind Raghnall’s back. No other way to sway her from ending Riona other than to do it for him. It was a lot to hope for, but what choice did he have when he knew Riona would be walking into a wasp's nest?
Now his goal was to bide his time and get her out of here safely.
He had hoped she wouldn't end up on this land, or if she did, she would flee, but as foretold and as he had sensed, she was as drawn to Raghnall as she was to him.
Now all he could do was follow the whims of fate until Riona revealed her secret. Something that could,should, set things straight and give him an idea what his next move should be.
“Let us skip the drama for now until we understand more.” Raghnall cued dozens of warriors to pour out of the wood line behind them and gave Declán a look. “Go after the dragon, and I will get our lass. ‘Twill be simple enough after that.”
Whilst he would much rather have Riona in his arms first, he knew better than to argue, so he spurred his horse and raced toward Aodh. His brother predictably roared and raced toward him as well, only to slam into a wall of Madison and Cian’s magic warring with Raghnall and Declán’s.
