Page 70 of A Celtic Vow
“Protect King’s Heart at all cost,” Cian roared, already crossing blades with multiple warriors.
His brothers and Constance’s sisters surrounded the tree, along with too many animals to count. Nonetheless, men got through, and they fought hand to fist.
“Take care,”he counseled Constance telepathically as he ducked beneath a sword, then spun and took down three warriors with his blade. Tried not to fear for her life.“This is yer first battle and....”
He trailed off when he saw how well she handled herself. How immensely beautiful she looked fighting in her red druidess gown. How graceful she was as she took down warrior after warrior. She didn’t kill them but harmed them enough that they couldn’t flee. A slice of her blade here. A nick there.
“Don’t kill any more,”Madison warned when he was ready to drive his sword into an opponent's neck.“Look what’s happening. Stop killing! Only wound those you’re fighting.”
It seemed Cian had caught on as well because he roared it to his men moments later. Then, Declán and Liam did the same.
Were they serious? Merely wound when they could kill? Did Madison know what she asked of him, considering what these men had done to his dragon? How they endlessly taunted and mocked it? Would have issued it a brutal death had Siobhán let them?
“A death that never happened.”Constance soothed him even as she wounded men with remarkable precision.“So, might you show mercy now for the greater good? For men who deserve a second chance?”
Didthey, though?
“Men who were once faithful to King Raghnall,”he reminded.“Who slayed many innocents over the years.”
“Even so,”she replied.“They wouldn’t be rising if they weren’t seeking redemption, mo thine. If they didn’t want to make amends.”
Rising? Almost as if a veil lifted from his eyes, he finally saw what Madison had seen. What his brothers saw. Most of the wounded had become encased in soft, healing light before they rose on bended knee, put their hands over their hearts, and lowered their heads to Constance. Swore their allegiance.
And the phenomenon was spreading like wildfire amongst the wounded.
“Wound, don’t kill,” he roared to their men. He could hardly believe his eyes as he kept fighting without really fighting. Even Zeke and Luna were there tearing warriors down, only for them to rise and swear fealty.
“They flee,” Ulrik called out. “They are retreating!”
“They better,” Aodh muttered under his breath, thirsty for blood despite himself. Uncharacteristically eager to shift and shred as many as he could.
“Dragon shifters don’t have a taste for human flesh.” Constance narrowed her eyes at him. “But then, I’m not so sure that’s where your craving’s coming from.”
He had no chance to ask her what she meant as the battle ended, and the warriors who hadn’t risen were cut down. Souls who chose not to seek redemption.
While he felt how much it hurt Constance that some didn't make the right choice, that they couldn't see they fought for darkness, she showed admirable strength when she urged their new warriors to rise. Told them they were welcome. That defeating Siobhán had become not just a mission to end evil but to save their families. Those she knew they fought to defend in the first place.
“But with the new alliance, I offer you,” her gaze swept over the warriors, then her sisters and his brothers, “comes a sworn allegiance not just to me but my kin.” Her gaze shone first with her inner druidess, then turned to her beautiful dragon eyes when she homed in on him. “But most of all to my husband and dragon mate, King Aodh.”
In no mood for their false pity, he flashed his dragon eyes only for every ‘forgiven’ enemy warrior to surprise him. They held their weapons in a show of fealty, bowed their heads, and pledged their loyalty to the Great Dragon King of the North, may he forgive them as readily as his queen had.
He, or better yet, his dragon, was about to snap back when he felt more than he could see. Felt that they didn’t just say it blindly but truly meant it. Were sorry for their actions in the Kingdom of Munster. For hating his dragon for no other reason than it was different than them. Because they were afraid to understand it better.
And in that, he could find some forgiveness of his own. Understand that they were being led by evil. Not just that, but it was natural to be frightened of what he was. Natural to be terrified for their families.
Because even enemies had families.
There was life and love on every side of war.
So he accepted their fealty and made sure they were seen to and given shelter. While he fully expected unease from his warriors, it seemed the day was rife for miracles because their men showed more grace than expected.
“Can ye blame them, brother?”Cian nodded at him with approval and smiled as he cleaned his blade.“They saw what ye saw. Felt what ye felt. Then witnessed their acceptance of yer inner beast. ‘Twas all they really needed. To see the enemy would fight for all facets of their king. Love all facets of their monarch.”
“As it turns out,”Constance said, well aware their siblings followed the conversation,“that was the key all along.”She wiped her blade free of blood as well and looked at them.“I think it’s time we sat down and talked.”Her gaze carried a whole new kind of power when it drifted to King’s Heart.“Beside the tree.”Her eyes returned to Aodh and shone with both her inner dragon and druidess.“Because I remember everything now, and the tree is the best way to show all of you.”
While alarmed he couldn’t quite catch her thoughts, he understood it was a momentary block. A means to make sure they witnessed everything at once.
So as the sun cracked the horizon and a new day broke, they sat beneath King’s Heart, and Constance told them what actually took place in the nightmare that had plagued her for years.
