Page 64 of A Celtic Vow
As she clearly saw future possibilities.
“She wants to rule the Unnamed Ones,” Constance murmured. “And somehow, she sees a way to do that through us.”
“Rise, fathers,” the head druidess said, not giving either their proper title. “Rise so that I can look ye in the eye when I tell ye how things will be. What the gods wish.”
The men rose with wary expressions. How much would this cost them? What would they lose? Because it was only ever about their own gain.
“To ye,” the druidess said to Constance’s father as she took her incarnation’s hand and proved a much kinder sort than Aodh expected, “I let ye keep all yer daughter has given ye to this point despite ye not having earned it yerself.” Her hard gaze went to Aodh’s former father. “As to ye, I suggest ye take yer offspring and return to the north. That ye count yer blessings yer son did not soil such a precious druidess for ‘twould earn ye and yer people wrath from the gods that would end ye.”
“Yet a wrath the laddie has not earned,” Siobhán said softly, respectfully, to her head druidess. “If anything, he has shown his true and kind heart with the villagers, has he not? His courage in facing everything that might have come at him on those dark nights?” Their unexpected savior, she glanced from young Constance to young Aodh. “More so, he respected our new druidess when ‘tis well-known clever lads can find a way to be with a lass whether chaperoned or not.”
It said much about her standing when the head druidess arched her brow at Siobhán and acknowledged that she made good points. “So what would ye have us do?”
“See his good character rewarded,” Siobhán said easily enough. “Have him trained in the Druid’s Guard. Make him into a warrior who will only ever defend and protect our kind.”
Aodh nearly staggered back when he remembered what that entailed.
“That’s no different than the Knights Templar in a way, is it?” Constance exclaimed. “They’re an order of warriors who claim a vow of chastity only it’s to defend the old gods. Defend the Unnamed Ones they protect despite these druids being warriors themselves.”
“’Tis exactly what it was.” He looked at her grimly as the hell he’d been thrust into came back to him. “There’s a slight difference, though. Pagans, especially Unnamed Ones, took chastity far more seriously considering ‘twas women being protected.”
“Women who could never have sex,” she whispered, covering her mouth when she realized what that meant for young Aodh. She blinked back tears. “Tell me you didn’t...they didn’t....”
But they both knew they had when young Aodh swore his allegiance then and there. When he looked at young Constance with his whole heart, then at who would soon become her headmistress, and swore he would do anything to protect them. Anything as long as they stayed safe. Constance stayed safe when she became an Unnamed One.
Anything at all.
“I’msosorry.” Constance wrapped her arms around him as the memory faded. Pressed her cheek to his chest. Breathed in his scent. “I’m so sorry you ever met me. That...that...”
“That what?” He tilted her chin until their eyes met and made things very clear. “That I gave up the ability to lay with lasses in our last life so I could protect ye always?” He shook his head, never so certain. “Though ‘twas hard in its own way, ‘twould be for any man, ‘twas something I gladly did to stay as close to ye as I could, lass.”
He cupped her cheek and searched her eyes before continuing. “Ye have no idea how special ye are. How many lives I know ye’ve changed, just like ye did mine both then and now.” He pressed her hand to his heart. “That said, I’m proud of what I sacrificed in our last life to keep ye safe and would do the same in this one in a heartbeat. For I’m but one life when ye’re capable of helping and saving so many more.”
“I love you, Aodh.” She cupped his cheeks. “More than you can possibly imagine.” A tear slid down her cheek. “Thank you for everything you did for me then because I have a feeling it was much more than what we just witnessed.”
Before he could respond, she stood on her tip-toes and pulled his lips down to hers. Kissed him in such a heartfelt way he couldn’t help but gather her up in his arms. Couldn’t help but kiss her with everything in him. Every ounce of love he had felt in that life at such a tender age.
Every ounce he still felt now.
“Sis?” came Madison’s soft voice. “Aodh?”
They pulled away, startled to realize they were no longer in the past but standing beside King’s Heart. Night had fallen, and only a few sat by the low fires still burning.
“Is everything okay?” Constance exclaimed, keeping her voice at a whisper because it seemed most in the encampment were asleep.
“Everything’s fine,” Madison assured. It was clear, based on her frazzled hair and disarrayed clothing, she’d sensed them and come out. “All’s quiet over the border.” Even though she yawned, fighting drowsiness, she cupped Constance’s shoulder in concern and looked between them. “Is everything okay with you two? Should I wake everyone and—”
“Nay.” Aodh shook his head. “’Tis nothing that cannot wait until morn.” He looked at Constance.“Ta?”
“Ta.”She embraced her sister. “Go back to bed, sis. Get a good night’s sleep. We’ll chat in the morning.”
Madison nodded slowly as if she were already catching bits and pieces of what they had learned. “All right.” She squeezed Aodh’s arm and offered him what almost seemed a grateful smile if he didn’t know better. Not just that, but he swore for a moment her eyes glistened with tears. “Keep taking good care of her.” She gestured at a sizable tent nearby. “That’s for you guys. Sleep well. See you in the morning.”
“Why do I get the feeling she saw everything?” Constance murmured. “That catching up in the morning isn’t really necessary?”
“Because you’ve reconnected as the Unnamed Ones you were in your last life.” He was never so certain as he swept her up into his arms and carried her to their tent. “To that end, I suspect your sisters and, through them, my brothers will follow everything we learn going forward. Everything....”
He trailed off as he ducked into the tent with her.
