Page 46 of A Celtic Longing
Seeing mayhem unleashing on the shore to the south of Liam’s castle made her come to her senses. Made her feel his fury as he spurred his horse, and they flew that way.
“They came by ship,”she said into his mind, stating the obvious.“But how without someone seeing them coming?”
“Because Siobhán used one of her damn portals,”Riona said, joining the conversation.“Something only Madison knows how to close.”
“And why didn’t we ask her to teach us how to as well?”Shannon wondered.
“Because it wasn’t at the top of our priorities at the....”
Riona's voice trailed off as it became clear they wouldn’t have to worry about the particular ship that had come ashore. The men who had been bracing to attack were already being bombarded from both land and sea.
And not by Liam's warriors, who were rushing that way as well.
“Hell,”Liam exclaimed. The five of them raced toward what swiftly became a retreat and, very likely, a slaughter from too many animals to count. “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
Liam stopped his horse, swung down, and looked at Shannon with a mixture of warning and concern. “Remain on Kane. Go no further.” He shook his head. “Not until you know how to fight.”
Before she had a chance to respond, he withdrew his sword and raced after the retreating enemy, flanked by animals. So many animals. All coming to the aid of the Kingdom of Meath.
Coming to the aid of not just Shannon but Liam.
Nonetheless, once again terrified for his life, she swung down and raced after him, but a warrior cut her off first. She meant to drive her blade into him, but a fox tripped him before she could. Then birds fluttered at her before she could get any closer.
“They don’t want you to harm anyone, sis,”Riona said into her mind.“You might be a Druid warrioress, but they’re protecting you from that.”
“I don’t understand.”She swung her dagger-turned-sword at another warrior, knowing precisely how to use it. Ready to fight. But animals attacked him before she got a chance.“Why can’t I do what you and Madison did? What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing’s wrong with you.”Riona cut down a man easily enough.“I think they’re trying to protect you from something that has to do with death....”She heard the hesitation in Riona's voice. “Or letting go, maybe.”
Letting go of what?
It didn’t matter if the animals were trying to protect her from something when a red deer charged an enemy warrior, and he brought it to the ground. More specifically, when he was about to kill it. Rage hazed Shannon’s vision, and she flew their way. Before the warrior knew what hit him, she kicked him back and drove her blade straight into his windpipe before he had a chance to fall back.
The deer leapt to its feet, bowed her head to Shannon, and raced into the mayhem, clearly willing to forfeit its life again and again for her.
“No,” she roared, racing after it, determined to save all the animals willing to sacrifice themselves for her. “Fall back!”
She barely had the words out when a monstrous whale slammed into the side of the one ship Siobhán had gotten through the portal.
“Fall back,” she roared again, cutting down anyone who dared go after the animals swarming around her. Roaring so even the sea creatures heard her. “I won't see you harmed!”
No matter how much she ranted and raved, there was no stopping what had begun. No stopping several whales as they pummeled the ship, and it teetered. No stopping the ship from rolling on its side and the cries of men who fell victim to the sea.
She raced into the water with blade in hand, determined to fight anyone who meant harm to those who had come to her aid. What if some of the enemy warriors had Siobhán’s magic at their disposal? Were just biding their time before they used it?
“No,” she roared when something caught her dress and dragged her backward. “Leave me alone! Let me save them!” She glanced back to discover it was Tréan. “What are you doing? What are you....”
Those were the last words she got out before cries of terror resounded, and sharks started swarming the water looking for easy prey.
“They won’t hurt me.” She scrambled back onto the shore regardless when Tréan released her. “They’re not here for me.”
She suspected her wolf knew that too, but good God, she couldn’t help but be grateful for his actions when the sea turned red. When any enemy warrior thought he might find safety on these shores. Any sort of forgiveness.
Redemption.
She blinked at that thought. That word. Mostly because she wondered if she were owed such a thing herself. If she deserved all these animals coming to her defense. What sort of person was she that animals would put themselves in harm’s way like this? She wouldn’t call it good. Not at all.
Not if they were mindlessly willing to die for her.
