Page 38 of A Celtic Secret
“Yet ‘tis the direction of Liam’s kingdom.”
“No.” She kept shaking her head. “Liam’s no threat. Certainly not evil.”
“Nay,” he agreed. “Just because you felt darkness coming from the north doesn't mean it ruled in the north. All this means is our greatest threat will come from that direction. That could just as easily imply they started elsewhere and looped around back onto our land.”
“You mean your land.”
“Nay.” He looked at her with everything he felt, hoping she understood. Emotion thickened his voice. “I meanourland, as ye’ve built this place every bit as much as me over the years whether ye were here or not.”
He had always wanted her here with him but could say with certainty now that he’d kissed her and finally felt his cock swell for a lass, he couldn’t imagine her being anywhere but by his side. In his arms. His bed. He wanted to sink into her and stay there. Feel her tight heat. Hear her groans. Love her until the very end.
“Calling this land and these people mine seems like an awful lot of responsibility,” she said. “And commitment.”
His heart leapt into his throat. It had never occurred to him that she might not want to stay. That she would find this too much responsibility and commitment when she’d seemed so committed in his dreams. So responsible, given she had helped construct a castle meant to keep their people safe. Yet she couldn’t be faulted for her response because she remembered none of it.
“As I said before, you are not beholden to me,” he replied. “Nor are you beholden to this castle or its people.”
“Yet somehow I am.” Her druidess magic shone in her eyes. “And I knew that when I came to you in dreams I still don’t remember, but I trust.” She squeezed his hand. “Because I trust you.”
He could only be grateful. “As I did when I heeded your advice over the years.”
She nodded and eyed their surroundings again. “I want to meet them.” Her gaze returned to him. “Your people.”
“Our people.”
She said nothing to that, but he sensed she wasn’t totally opposed to the idea, given all went well when she met them.
“Let us go break our fast, and I will introduce you to those already here.” He urged her to follow him. “Then you can explore whilst I see to our warriors beyond the gates. Peasants and their families from surrounding villages are being welcomed under the castle’s protection until we’ve dealt with Raghnall, so you will be able to meet many whilst I'm gone.”
“If it’s just the same, I’d like to join you when you see to your,our, men,” she said as they headed back downstairs. “If I am who you want me to be, then I should be there showing support, right? What made Unnamed Ones so unique is that they,we, are warrior druidesses, right? So shouldn’t I be there as well when it comes to asking your men to put their lives on the line for us? For me?”
While he didn’t much like it, she was right, and he was proud of her for it. He wanted to make one thing clear before they went any further, though, so he stopped her when they reached the hallway leading to the main stairs.
“You do understandwhatI want you to be,ta?” He tilted her chin until their eyes were aligned. “Whilst you might have been part of fortifying this castle, I have long wanted you for more. Wanted to meet the girl beyond the dream. The woman she became.” He caressed her cheek. “And now that I have met you here in the flesh, I can say with certainty that I never want you to leave.” He shook his head. “Never want you anywhere but by my side as my queen...my closest friend...my love.”
Her lower lip wobbled, and she blinked back tears. “He’s here again, Declán. Raghnall’s here in this moment that should be ours and ours alone.”
He frowned, not sensing anything in her mind. “Are you sure?”
“His face just flashed in my mind again.”
“But does that mean he’s actually here?” he wondered. “Or could it be some sort of reflexive thing your thoughts are doing because he was part of the fire that took your previous life?”
“I don’t know.” She bit her lower lip. “But I don’t like it. Not only does it keep tugging me back to him, but what if he’s tracking me somehow? Seeing everything I see?” She sighed. “So maybe I shouldn’t go with you to visit your warriors because that would just show him where everyone is. Give him insight we don’t want him having.”
“I don’t think he’s tracking you, sis,” Madison said, joining them out of what seemed like nowhere. “Sorry to interrupt, but I was heading downstairs and caught your conversation.”
“How?” Riona frowned. “We were talking softly.”
“You were, but I still heard you.” Madison looked between them before her gaze settled on Riona. “Not to mention, I felt you in a whole new way.” She cocked her head. “And I imagine you’ll feel the same from me soon if you haven’t already.”
“Feel what?” Riona asked.
“A whole new kind of sisterly bond,” Madison said. “Something specific to our inner Unnamed One. Something we should feel with Shannon and Constance, too, once they come into theirs.”
“Okay,” Riona said slowly, narrowing her eyes. “So how does this connection between you and I make you so certain Raghnall isn’t tracking me?”
“Because you’re part of me now.” The awe in Madison’s voice was unmistakable. “And I don’t mean in a sisterly loving way, but in a sisterly druidess way now that you’ve been reunited with your dagger. If anyone or anything were tracking you or inside your mind, they would be in mine, too, and they’re not.He’snot.”
