Page 25 of A Celtic Secret
In this case, it was but a dog, but for years it had been his kingdom and people. His lifeblood. All that mattered to him. While some said he had no choice but to become a hardened warrior because he shared more of a border with Raghnall than most, deep down, he’d always known it was more.
Fighting freed him from not having Riona in his life.
It gave him an outlet for his anger because she wasn’t here. Helped him fight the terrible loneliness he suffered because of it.
Every sword thrust and punch felt like revenge. Like retribution on men who had dared to try and hurt her this eve. Dared to take her back when she hadn’t belonged here with Raghnall from the start. He didn’t care if she had been married to the enemy king in another life.
Her place was by Declán’s side.
Her heart inhissafekeeping.
So he fought with all he had, venting with his sword and dagger before he spied Luna racing toward the cave entrance. Before she got much further, he thrust his sword into the man closest to him, then sheathed it and flew after her, dodging several warriors along the way. She was quick, but he was quicker, and he snatched her up before flying back into the cave.
After that, it was just a matter of outrunning his pursuers and sealing the tunnel off behind him. Fortunately, his magic behaved, and a chant later, rocks crashed down in his wake, closing off this particular throughway. There were other ways through but well-hidden and narrower on his end, so if they followed, it would be one by one, and they would be met by his men, who were already doubling their patrol.
Meanwhile, he needed Cian’s help.
Specifically, as many warriors as he could spare because Raghnallwouldbe coming for Riona.
The moment he'd touched Riona, he was able to reconnect with Aodh and Cian. Aodh needed to tell Declán’s men he was coming. To prepare for a potential battle. There was no way to provide details, but he knew both brothers sensed the gist of it.
He wasn’t entirely sure why touching Riona cleared a channel betwixt them other than it likely had to do with her growing connection with all three of his brothers. Either because she had already come in contact with them or because of their connections with her sisters. He suspected it was the former, though.
That all three of his siblings were fond of her for their own reasons.
How could they not be given what he already sensed off her? The happy, upbeat, kind soul she usually was? Which made him wonder...would she like him once she got to know him? Because he suspected the moment they connected at King’s Heart that her personality might be more kindred to Liam's. Or so he thought until his men directed him toward the stables, and he found her and Aodh standing a wee bit too close.
He wasn’t sure why that bothered him more than her initial flirtation with Raghnall, but it did. Maybe because there was an obvious connection betwixt her and Aodh. From her ending up with him when she first traveled back in time to his horse being her familiar.
“Your dog, Riona,” Declán grunted when they seemed oblivious to him standing there.
“Luna!” She beamed and welcomed the pup into her arms when he set her down. “Thank goodness you’re safe.”
He might be frustrated but seeing her smile, the sheer joy in her teary eyes, made his chest tighten. Made it impossible to look anywhere else. He wanted to see her smile like that all the time. Happy like that always.
“Thank you, Declán.” She caught him by surprise when she embraced him next. “I can’t believe you went back for her.” Before he had a chance to wrap his arms around her and likely never let go, she crouched and welcomed Luna into her arms again. “Don’t youeverscare me like that again!”
It didn’t go over his head that Aodh eyed him warily and rested his hand on the hilt of the sheathed dagger at his waist.
“Is it true, brother?” Aodh finally asked. “Was this all a ruse on your part? A means to gain information from our enemy?”
“’Twas.” And to save Riona when she inevitably went where he knew she would. “I will tell you everything I know, but I must speak to Cian first.”
“’Tis lucky for you he’s en route considering your actions of late.” Aodh shook his head. “If I were him, I would not step foot on this land without speaking with you beforehand.” His eyes narrowed. “’Tis impossible to know if you are but a traitor in disguise.”
“Yet hereyouare on my land,” Declán pointed out.
“Ta.” Aodh’s eyes narrowed even further. “For no other reason than to come to Riona’s aid and slay you myself if need be.”
“Slayme?” Declán arched his brows. “In my own kingdom surrounded by an army nearly as large as Cian’s?”
“I will if—”
“Enough,” Riona said gently. She shook her head and looked between them. “Why don’t we wait until everyone’s had a chance to talk things out before tempers get too heated? I might not know much about the politics of medieval Irish kingdoms, but I do know you four brothers being divided is the best way to lose.”
“She’s right.” When he saw Riona shiver, Declán waved over one of his stable boys and introduced her to him, making it clear who she was.Whatshe was. “Bran will take good care of Caith after you come inside where ‘tis warmer. He’s the best I have and sees to my own horse.”
When Riona nodded hello and smiled at him, Bran blushed, then fell to a knee and lowered his head.
