Page 56 of A Celtic Secret
“Safe to say he’s giving it his best shot but listen to me.” Madison cupped her shoulders and looked into her eyes, meaning big sister business. “Raghnall can’t ruin you two unless you let him. And you’re sure as hell not going to let that happen, right? Because without you, that bastard’s got nothing, Riona.”
“Of course I’m not going to let that happen.” Not intentionally, anyway. “I really thought I'd gotten him out of my head. Didn’t you say as much? That he wasn’t tracking me anymore?” Riona shook her head. “That if he were in my mind, he would be in yours too?” She frowned at Madison. “So what gives? Why is he still connected to me somehow? Because he is in some undefinable way.”
“An undefinable way that’s only so strong,” Madison made clear. “Because he isnotin my head. So I think, as I speculated before, that it’s connected to your time in the fire together. A connection that’s only so strong if he can’t get to me too.”
“How am I supposed to stop him, though?” Riona pressed her fingers to her temple. “How do I stop him from getting inside my mind like this?” She frowned. “How am I supposed to convince Declán of—”
“You’re not supposed to convince Declán of anything right this minute but focus on the bigger picture.” Madison gave her a pointed look. “That being Raghnall not getting a hold of you.” She touched the area above Riona’s heart, then her forehead. “Not here or here. Do you understand?”
“I guess, but how am I supposed to do that when he sneaks into my sketches? When he finds a way to come between my husband and me when he’s not even here?”
“By going after him every bit as much as he’s going after you.” Madison pulled her to the window and gestured at the land below. At what they could see of Riona’s influence. From the groves of trees within the walls to the impressive walls themselves. “I know you hate confrontation, sis, but it’s time you get used to it because you’re a warrior now. One that ranks above kings. So start thinking like one again because it’s clear you already were at various points in your life.” She shrugged. “At least in dreams, anyway.”
Madison pointed at the small slit-shaped exits along the wall and went on. “Those spots are definitely strategic.” She looked at her. “I’ll bet they cater more to those of us stuck on the inside being able to throw magic at the outside without having to go to the top of the wall.”
Riona nodded slowly. “That’s exactly what they’re for.”
“You didn’t have much time to really study everything yesterday,” her sister said. “I suggest you do so now. Something tells me once you do, you’ll start thinking like your younger self. Start thinking like the warrior you are.”
“A warrior that doesn’t even know how to fight yet.”
“Any more than I did.” Madison rested her hand on the hilt of her druidess dagger. “It came to me right away when I got this, so I suspect it’ll happen to you any second now. You just need to reconnect with this place and keep working on disconnecting with Raghnall.”
She nodded and blushed when she spied her ripped dress on the floor.
Madison eyed it with amusement as well. “Brazen of you two to rip it but kinda hot too.” She flicked her wrist, and the dress was once again on Riona in one piece. “Even if I didn’t do that, I suspect your dress would’ve found its way back onto you when you needed it.” She handed Riona her dagger. “Which I get the feeling would be best right now while you’re reconnecting with your castle.”
“I wonder why mine’s blue and designed differently than yours,” she said. “If there’s some story behind it like there is with yours, considering I wore a blue dress as a child when Declán and I first met.”
“I imagine there is.” Madison eyed the oak tree tapestry with curiosity, sensing what Riona already knew. “It’s King’s Heart when it was young.” Her sister closed the distance, touched it gently, and inhaled. “Shannon was here.” She swallowed back emotion. “And so sad.”
Yet they sensed at the same time she wasn't alone.
Then, interestingly, they sensed even more.
Chapter Eighteen
