Page 79 of A Celtic Secret
What Raghnall did not realize, or refused to believe, was that such a claim would mean imminent death for her by her fellow druids. She would be shunned by nature and the gods, therefore, useless to them. So Declán had gone to them first and did his best to put the blame on himself.
As his eyes held hers, she knew what he was thinking. Knew this would be their final moments together and wanted her to remember what he had said about his brother. What she needed to remember if he was no longer here to stand between her and Raghnall. “You do not belong to him or any man, mo chroí. Only to yourself. Love who you will, but your soul will only ever be your own. Your flesh, your own.”
Ironic considering what Raghnall had ultimately done to her in that life.
The druids looked back and forth between them before they became judge and jury, saying nothing more than ‘defiler’ before they slid the knife across his throat. Riona’s other self wailed in anguish and fell to her knees as Declán’s previous incarnate fell to his death.
“And defiled,” they said in unison, surrounding Riona.
Declán tried to stay with the memory, but it faded away as he again raced after her through the forest toward King’s Echo. Followed her until he came upon the only entrance left that a horse could fit through, yet it was dangerous.
He swung down. “I’m afraid I will be able to travel faster without ye at this point, old friend.”
He knew this tunnel well, so rather than light his way with a torch or magic and draw attention to himself, he headed into the darkness. Moved swiftly. Covered ground fast until he sensed Riona ahead and called out, certain she would hear him. Certain she would stop.
But she did not.
Instead, he sensed her angst because he had followed.
She started to run. Flee him. Get to Raghnall quicker. When that happened, he grew wary yet again. What if the enemy king had somehow found a way to take advantage of the tether he still shared with Riona? What if she’d intended to give herself up to him but fell victim to their connection along the way?
“Run,” Raghnall called out to Riona. His kingly echo touched every corner of the cave. Lured her closer. “Come to me before ‘tis too late!”
That was the last thing she should do because this could very well be a trap.
No doubtwasa trap.
So he raced after Riona and pulled her back against him into the safety of darkness moments before she stepped into the light of the cave exit. “Don’t go. Do not go outside. Don't listen to him.”
She went perfectly still before she ground out, “Let me go, King Declán.”
Not husband but King Declán? Surely she was cast under a spell. He ignored the tightening in his chest at the thought it might be otherwise. That she may truly be going back to Raghnall. That despite her dislike of him in their previous life, the bond they shared in the fire was somehow eternal.
Something, heartbreakingly enough, proven true moments later.
Chapter Twenty-Five
