Page 33 of A Celtic Vow
Where he thought theirs would prove an awkward, if not exasperating, conversation, he was pleasantly surprised by how much he enjoyed it. Although it was always a pleasure talking about his gods, somehow Constance made it all that much better. Not by blindingly agreeing with things he said but by sometimes questioning him. By making an effort to truly understand where he came from and the deities that inspired him.
In turn, he did the same and tried to understand her god in a way he hadn’t allowed himself to before. Seeing him as less of a villain and more the savior it seemed he was to so many, including her. Truth told, when all was said and done, any god that came to her aid and protected her was not one to be loathed. Not like he had up to this point.
They got so wrapped up in theology and accepting each other’s beliefs that the hours flew by. So much so, he barely noticed they were running out of time before the next storm moved in.
“’Tis time to head back or seek shelter here, lass,” he said. “Time to—”
“Will they be safe?” she asked before he finished speaking. “Will your men and Zeke be safe out there if we stay?”
“Ta,” he assured. “There are plenty of caves around here to take shelter. ‘Tis done often enough.”
“Then we need to stay.” Her gaze grew a little odd as it drifted to the waterfall. “And we need to stay there or else.”
Chapter Eleven
CONSTANCE WASN’T SUREwhy it was so necessary they stay as close to the waterfall as possible, only that it was. That it held some great secret she needed to understand. “Is there a way we can safely sleep close to it?”
Because dragon or not, the water was cold. Frigid. And the storm rolling in was, no doubt, just as cold.
“There is.” Aodh shouldered their satchels and led her along the shore. “Although an unusual spot, ‘tis one of my favorites.”
“You mean your very favorite,” she said softly, seeing inside him more clearly by the moment.
He offered her a small smile as they started up a trail that ran alongside the waterfall. “’Tis, actually.”
She had enjoyed talking with him over the past few hours. Was amazed she hadn’t found his words blasphemous. But she hadn’t. Not at all. Instead, she discovered a sense of respect for his gods through him. A renewed sense of respect for him that he was so devout. Because he truly was. Every bit as much as she was to God.
“’Twill get a bit wet ahead,” Aodh warned. “But nothing a wee bit o’ magic can’t fix.”
That was another thing she was still trying to wrap her mind around. That she could believe in such things as magic when she’d always considered it witchcraft. Moreover, that she and Aodh could be dragons when she had compared them to the devil. It didn’t make her question her belief in God, though. If anything, it only expanded what she thought she knew about Him.
Aodh wasn’t kidding about getting wet. The higher he led her, the more prevalent the icy mist was off the waterfall. Mist she found amazingly refreshing because, despite their conversation, she had remained incredibly aware of him. Felt more and more drawn to him as she got to know him better. Understood the way his mind worked. How willing to listen to her he had been.
Then there was that kiss in the tunnel.
Somehow, and shame on her considering their conversation, her thoughts never strayed far from that moment. The way he had looked at her. Touched her so gently despite his size. How his lips had felt when they brushed hers for the first time. The raging fire that roared up inside her when he thought to keep it simple and pulled away.
