Page 45 of A Celtic Vow
“Because I love ye,” he said without hesitation, wondering why he hadn’t seen it the moment he laid eyes on her. How he hadn’t felt it. “With everything in me, lass. The man and dragon.”
Constance nodded, and her eyes welled with tears again. Her voice turned hoarse. “I know you do.” She swallowed hard and tore her gaze from his. Made herself focus on the fire. “And a part of me feels the same.” She shook her head. “But I refuse to voice it. Terrified to even feel it.”
“A part?” he wondered. “Why just a part? And why are you so terrified now when I know you weren’t when we were younger?”
“Because it’s not then anymore,” she said. “And believe it or not, the stakes are much higher.”
Even though she didn’t say it, he felt her thoughts brush his in a unique way. A special way that was all theirs. It spoke of her fear that Siobhán might be listening. That the darkness that had touched her may still be connected to her. More importantly, to his way of thinking, though, he felt her returned love. That which she didn’t want Siobhán tapping into any more than she might have already.
So he wrapped his fingers more firmly with hers in reassurance. Because whatever happened, he knew their love was real. It had existed not just in this life but undoubtedly in their last.
Clearly following his thoughts, she looked at him and nodded. “There’s more in the chamber with the red chair,” she said. “Something we didn’t see yesterday. I’m sure of it.”
“Then we’ll go back and try to find it,” he assured. “Go back and....”
He trailed off when he sensed something coming closer. Ready to defend her, he scooped up his blade and stood only for her dog Zeke to enter, sit on the other side of the fire and stare at her.Them, if he wasn’t mistaken.
“Hey, buddy, what are you doing here?” She made a come-hither motion. “Come here, boy.”
Zeke didn’t budge but looked south, then at her, as if trying to tell her something. His different color eyes stood out more than usual. One gold. The other, blue.
“Is he your familiar, then?” Aodh asked. “Is he speaking to you within the mind?”
“No.” Constance shook her head and went to her dog. “What is it, sweetie?” She crouched and patted him. “How’d you get here? Where’s the guy who’s supposed to be keeping an eye on you?”
“Here.” Ulrik ducked into the cave. “Sorry, but Zeke would not be held back.” He frowned at her dog. “’Tis rather amazing what the beast is capable of when he sets his mind to it.”
“No doubt.” Constance gave Zeke a piece of meat Aodh pulled off the fire and cooled with magic. “What do you think got into him?”
“I would say a drive to go south,” Shannon said, joining them. Her jaw dropped at the sight of the tree. “Tréan’s with Liam watching over your castle, so no worries. I was told I needed to come, so I came....” Her eyes shone peach as she drifted closer to the oak. “It’s born of King’s Heart.”
As if compelled, Shannon touched the trunk, closed her eyes, and inhaled sharply before her eyes shot to Constance. “What did you do?” She shook her head and blinked back tears. “What did youdo, sister?”
“I don’t know.” Constance bit back tears. “All I know is I wanted to protect Aodh. Protect Ireland.”
“Of course you did.” Shannon’s eyes grew brighter for a moment before they returned to normal. She pulled Constance into an embrace and held on to her as tightly as Aodh had held her at the base of the tree. “But at what cost are you willing to protect everyone?” The pain in her voice alarmed him. “To what end were you willing to go outside of giving your life because that's what I sense off this tree. Some sort of monumental sacrifice.”
“I have no idea what that is.” Constance inhaled a choppy breath. “But I can say, based on how much I love you, our sisters, and Aodh, there’s no limits to what I’d do.”
When she tensed, clearly frightened she had mistakenly voiced her love for him aloud, Shannon seemed to understand because she cupped her sister’s cheeks and met her eyes. “It’s okay to feel it and say it.” She nodded in reassurance. “Better, I’d say, because it’s your armor.” She looked from Aodh to Constance and nodded again as she wiped away her sister’s tears. “All of our armor, in the end, I suspect.”
“How can you be so certain?” Constance managed.
“Because things are happening.” Shannon glanced from Constance’s dog back to her. “So said Zeke first thing this morning. Or should I say, who made sure he found his way to you yet again?” Her eyes flashed with her inner druidess once more. “And if you but look close enough, you’ll see why.”
