Page 58 of A Celtic Longing
“I felt the same about you.” She squeezed his hand. “The way you pushed past your anger and jealousy at Aodh was admirable.” She lifted her head and looked at him. For the first time since she’d met him, he wore a simple metal crown, and it suited him. More than she might have imagined. “It really was.” She couldn’t help but run the back of her fingers along his stubbled jaw. “You seem determined to call memo leath eile.”
“How could I not?” He searched her eyes. “When ‘tis clear ye’re very much my other half?”
She had never been a big believer in that sort of thing, but something about it felt right. Everything abouthimfelt right. So much so she knew what he was about to ask and responded before he ever had the chance to speak.
“Yes,” she said softly, never so certain of anything, no matter what came of things after the prophecy was fulfilled. “I’ll stay.” She kept her eyes with his. “Wherever you end up, I’ll stay.”
“’Tis truly good to hear.” There was no missing his relief when he pulled her onto his lap, cupped her cheek, and looked at her with a tenderness that took her breath away. “Because I don't think I would have been able to let ye go.” He brushed his lips over hers, then searched her eyes again. Said words she knew transcended time. Words he had longed to say in their last life. “Become my queen. Stand beside me in all things.”
She tried to respond but couldn’t when she was overcome by emotion. Sudden certainty that he hadn’t just longed to ask her in another life buthadasked her.
No sooner did she realize it than a ghostly memory of them manifested nearby. It seemed they had stood on this very shore in their last life.
“You’re distressed,” Liam murmured, watching the scene before them unfold. “Terrified yet at the same time wondrous.”
“I was,” she said hoarsely, choking up when she felt those same emotions now.
Their younger selves spoke so softly they could barely make out what they said. But then words weren’t necessary when tears rolled down younger Shannon’s cheeks, and she rested her hand on her womb.
“Oh myGod.” She couldn't believe her eyes. Yet she felt her other self. Knew for certain they had created a child together. “I waspregnant.”
She bit back tears when a young Liam fell to his knees and touched her womb with wonder. As he gazed up at her with the same tenderness Liam had just looked at her with here and now. Even said the exact same thing. “Become my queen. Stand beside me in all things.”
His words faded and caught on the wind along with the memory.
“This is unbelievable,” Shannon finally managed, trying to hold on to her former thoughts. What she had felt. What might have come next. “And far too uncanny given....”
There was no need for her to go on. He understood. Too uncanny because she couldn’t get pregnant in this life.
“Why?” he asked softly. She knew he was still caught up in his former joy and adoration when he rested his hand on her womb. “Why can’t you get pregnant?”
“I was in a car accident when I was younger.” Again, she thought she’d come to terms with this years ago, but evidently not because it was difficult to talk about. “Things were damaged. Had to be removed.” She still recalled the blow of learning as much when she awoke in the hospital. The crushing sensation. “Nothing, not even magic, can help me bear children now.”
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Riona said, suddenly there, finally seeing what Shannon had been able to keep from her for years. She shook her head, tears in her eyes, as she sat beside them and took Shannon’s hand. “Better yet, how have you been able to keep this from Madison and me, especially now the three of us are so connected?” She kept shaking her head. “I’m so very sorry, Shannon.”
“I don’t know how I’ve kept it from you since you came into your magic, but before that, I just didn't see any reason to tell you.” Shannon shrugged. “You and Madison were so busy with your lives, and I didn’t want to burden you.” She released a shaky sigh. “And I didn’t want you stressing over how I would feel if you guys ever became pregnant.” She worked at a reassuring smile but feared it fell flat. “Besides, I had my work. Animals that felt like children in their own way.”
“I’m so glad you at least had that.” Riona wiped a tear from Shannon’s cheek she hadn't realized had fallen. She didn’t seem offended when she figured out what Shannon wasn’t saying. “And you had Constance, too, right? Because you told her?”
“I did,” she admitted. “She and I were living together at the time and....”
“It’s okay. I’m just glad you had someone to talk to.” Riona squeezed her hand. “We sort of paired off over the years, didn’t we? Me and Madison. You and Constance.”
“I guess we did.” Seeing Riona in a different light now, less frivolous and irresponsible, she squeezed her sister’s hand back. “But no more. Now we’re all together.” She worried over Constance. Felt bad she’d been so lost in her own depression that she hadn’t been there for her. “Or we will be soon, I hope.”
“We will.” Riona nodded and wiped away one of her own tears before resting her hand on Liam’s shoulder in support. “Just like you will be with your brothers.”
Though he hid it quickly enough from both his face and thoughts, Shannon caught his sadness for her. Then caught what she knew he wouldn’t want her knowing. How much he would have liked to have a child with her. Someone made of them both.
“I’m sorry, Liam,” she managed, speaking before she could stop herself. Speaking because she didn’t want this between them. Didn’t want him regretting being with her if they all made it through the prophecy. “You deserve to have children if you want. You deserve—”
Liam put a finger to her lips and shook his head. “Never be sorry,mo leath eile.‘Tis not your fault.” He cupped her cheek. “We have each other. ‘Tis all we need.” He grew more serious. Wasn’t about to let his question go unanswered. “Will ye marry me, lass? Will ye stay here as long as the gods allow and—”
“I will,” she said without hesitation, finally able to respond the way she’d wanted to in another life. Finally able to be with him the way she had long wanted to. “Of course, I will.”
He gave her no chance to go on before his lips were on hers, and he kissed her deeply. So thoroughly, the world faded away, and all she felt was him. All that mattered was him. She had no idea how long they kissed, only that Riona was off talking with others alongside Declán when they became unaware of anyone but each other.
“We will marry straight away.” Liam sounded as desperate as she felt. As though it might somehow be taken away from them if they didn’t hurry. “First thing in the morn. Before we set sail.” He shook his head. “Had this not been a day of mourning, I would marry ye at this very moment.”
