Page 46 of A Celtic Vow
Chapter Fifteen
CONSTANCE COULD HARDLYbelieve she hadn’t seen it sooner when she looked at Zeke. “Oh my goodness.” She shook her head and looked from Aodh to her dog. “Do youseeit?”
“See what?” He shook his head as well. “I don’t see....”
“But you do,” she whispered when he trailed off. “You see the golden light that flickers in him every so often.”
“Like sunlight in darkness,” Aodh marveled, clearly seeing it now. He looked from Zeke to her in disbelief. “Is he...your guardian angel? That which saved your life?”
“It seems so.” Humbled, she dropped to her knees in front of Zeke and thanked him. He, in turn, looked at her as though startled by her actions. As if he had no idea what she was doing or talking about.
“I don’t think he’s the religious form of a guardian angel, sis.” Shannon crouched beside her and rested her hand on Constance’s shoulder. “Zeke’s more like a vessel of...love, I suppose. A spiritual creature who came back to watch over you.” She shook her head. “I don’t think he’ll ever respond telepathically like a familiar might. That’s not how guardian angels work when they return as animals.”
“So he’s my familiar then?” Constance wondered.
“I think so, but in a special sort of way.” Shannon smiled at Constance. “Then again, that was pretty obvious when he saved your life as a teenager...more so when you allowed him to.” She patted Zeke. “After that, he just kept getting through to you, didn’t he? Why else would you have named him Zeke, short for Ezekiel?” She arched a brow. “Also known as the Angel of Transformation.”
Constance bit her lower lip and fought back another wave of emotion before she frowned. “Are you telling me I ignored my guardian angel for days on end back in the twenty-first century? That he might have starved if your husband hadn't fed him? If Cian and Madison hadn't fed him after that?”
“I’m saying within Zeke exists a spirit that loves you.” Shannon squeezed her shoulder in reassurance. “That aside, let’s not forget you were protecting him from dragons, right?” She scrunched her nose and winked at Zeke. “Angel or not, I guarantee he thanks you for that because the dog in him has no desire to become a tasty dragon treat.”
As if responding, Zeke released a strangled little howl some might decipher as appreciation and started looking south again.
“Okay, boy.” She went to ruffle his head like she always did but paused when she realized how inappropriate that might be.
“Not inappropriate at all,” Shannon said, following her thoughts. She ruffled Zeke’s head instead and nodded at Constance in reassurance. “He’s still just a dog who loves attention and affection.” She grinned. “He’s just got a little something more to him than most.”
Shannon rubbed behind Zeke’s ear, where he liked it best, and went on. “When guardian angels choose to inhabit animals, they embrace what they become. Love what they are.” She shook her head. “Really, trulyarewhat they become, only something that loves their person more truly. Would defend them with their lives, whether their person is a dragon or not.” She turned her smile Constance’s way. “So love him like you always have. That’s what he’s here for.”
“I will.” Constance pressed her lips together, nodded, and patted Zeke like she usually did. “I love you, sweetie.” When he looked at her with just as much affection, it occurred to her what else had been said, and she glanced at Shannon. “You said someone made sure he got to me again. Should I assume a wizard in white robes?”
“You should.” Shannon stood and nodded. “And now I understand why outside of the obvious.”
Constance arched a brow and stood as well. “That being?”
“There’s movement in Siobhán’s kingdom.” Shannon’s knowing gaze flickered from the rumpled furs to Aodh to the sheathed Unnamed One dagger resting nearby. “But then, given how things have progressed, it makes sense.”
“What kind of movement?” Constance thanked Aodh when he handed her the dagger. “Is our castle....” She cleared her throat and rephrased that, shocked she’d said as much to begin with. “Is Aodh’s castle being threatened? Is Siobhán heading that way?”
“No, his castle is fine.” Shannon eyed the blade. “All our castles are.” As if drawn, she looked from Constance’s dagger to her. “May I hold it?” Her gaze narrowed on it. “Unsheathed.”
For a split second, she nearly said no, as if something fought her sisters touching it, but she pushed past it, unsheathed it, and handed it over. If she couldn’t trust her sisters, who could she trust?
“Bless the gods,” Shannon whispered the moment she wrapped her hand around the hilt. In response, the finely etched leaves Constance had seen when she first pulled the blade free from the tree shined peach before fading.
“This is...” Shannon shook her head and looked from Aodh to Constance. “Really different...remarkably powerful.”
Aodh nodded. “I tend to agree.” His dragon eyes flared in understanding. “Might it not be wise to have Riona and Madison touch it as well?”
“Absolutely, because I get the sense it needs that.” Shannon’s gaze turned sympathetic when she looked at him. “And I think it’s safe to say it’s time to make amends beyond your own kingdom.” Her gaze grew all-knowing when it went from Constance back to him. “With your Unnamed One by your side, naturally.”
