Page 77 of A Celtic Longing
Where he’d seemed almost lethargic moments before, Aodh’s fury roared up and broke Siobhán’s mental bonds. Glorious in his rage, he stood and roared fire at the sky. Shannon tried to move away but couldn’t seem to find her legs. Rather, she had grown strangely exhausted.
“I’ve got ye, ma.”Tréan, who had shifted back to human form, scooped her up as Aodh thrashed his head, broke his chains, and rose into the sky.“’Tis time to go.”
She tried to speak, tell him they needed to stay and protect Aodh the best they could, but Tréan didn’t listen as Aodh rose higher and higher. As his wings seemed to block out the entire sky. After that, everything became a blur of swirling torchlight and battle cries.
Of full-out war.
Yet again, she tried to speak, help, fight any way she could but felt lifeless. Limbless. Without energy. She knew Tréan carried her, raced through the maelstrom, even crossed swords with her in his arms, but she was aware of little else. Not until she regained her senses on the ground leaning against King’s Heart with what seemed like an entire army, including Riona, Declán, Dúghlas, and Tréan, protecting her with swords drawn.
“What is it?” she asked hoarsely, her mouth bone dry. “What happened? Where’s Aodh?”
“We do not know, my Queen,” a warrior said. He crouched and held a skin to her mouth. “’Tis best ye drink. Regain yer strength.”
She drank, thankful for the cool water. The much-needed hydration.
“I feel like I’ve run a marathon,” she managed.
“Because one way or another, you have, sis.” Like the others, Riona’s eyes remained firmly on the sky. “You brought a dragon back to himself with magic, and that’s no small feat.”
“Have you heard from Liam?” She looked to the sky before nausea overwhelmed her at what Aodh might have done. What he might still be capable of when it came to her husband. She bit back tears. “Please tell me he hasn’t....”
Her words were drowned out when a monstrous roar ripped across the sky and shook the ground.
More so, when her worst nightmare manifested before her very eyes.
Chapter Twenty-Six
LIAM KNEW THE moment he sailed close enough to Siobhán’s docks with his white flags raised that it was over before it had a chance to begin. Enemy ships were already setting sail to intercept them, blocking their way to the shore.
“Well, ‘twas bound to go this way, m’lord,” Conall said, not daunted in the least as he looked at Liam and nodded once. “We knew that.”
“We did.” He clasped his man’s shoulder. “And though I wish ye were safely elsewhere, I am thankful ye stood by me until the end.” He narrowed his eyes at the shore, sensing Siobhán before he saw her. “Her wrath will be swift when it comes.”
Yet it seemed, as he had hoped, her curiosity won out because his ship was allowed through where the others were kept back. He was allowed to disembark when they docked, but his warriors were ordered to remain on the ship.
“She wishes to speak with ye,” one of Siobhán’s warriors grunted, nudging him along at sword point. Well aware of what Liam was capable of, others fell in around him as he made his way to Siobhán, sank to a knee, and lowered his head. “My Queen.”
“AmI yer queen, though, I wonder,” she said softly. Her voice was as sultry as ever, only now he could hear the venom in it. Sense the evil in her soul. “Where is yer druidess, King Liam? Why does she not stand by yer side?”
“Need ye ask?” He raised his head and met her eyes. Prayed his words rang true. “When ye know I enjoy variety?” He arched his brows, playing the part based on her manipulation. “When no one will do but ye?” He embraced the disgust he had felt at her going to Aodh. Turning him away, however false it may have been. “And now here ye are with my brother yet again. Here ye are—”
