“’Tis telling.” He held out a sheath for the blade. “But this might make things more telling still.”
“Why?”
“’Tis said the Unnamed Ones wielded blades of discretion so as to not frighten the animals around them,” he enlightened. “For at root, they were priests and priestesses of the woodland. To that end, this sheath should make the blade far less obvious.”
She frowned. “How do you make a sword less obvious?”
“’Twould take magic unique to the blade and its druidess.”
“Hmm.” She took the sheath. “I guess we’ll see then.”
And so they did when she slid the sword into its sheath, only for it to shrink down to the size of a steak knife.
“Oh myGod,” she exclaimed, shocked she had just done that. But what wasthat? Had she created magic? Because that’s what it felt like. Or at least how she imagined it would.
Meanwhile, Cian sank to a knee and bowed his head.
She looked at him in confusion. “What are you doing?”
“Paying you the respect due you.” He met her eyes and issued a slow heart-stopping smile. “For as things go, the Unnamed Ones rank above kings themselves.”
Things she could never have imagined when she woke up that morning.
“What about unknown kings destined to save Ireland and likely the world as we know it?” She couldn’t help but cup his stubbled cheek. “Are you so sure you rank beneath me?”
Cian tensed, seemingly startled by her touch, before he closed his eyes and leaned into her hand for a moment. “I refuse to think myself higher than an Unnamed One.” He opened his eyes again. “But it does make me wonder about the prophecy. Where it might take us after all.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you, by your very nature, are more favored by the gods.” He stood and took her hand. “Which gives me hope that mayhap they will be lenient in the end.” His voice deepened with emotion. “That mayhap if I must vanish after we fulfill the prophecy ‘twill be someplace with you. That mayhap...”
There was no need for him to finish his sentence. She knew what he felt. What he hoped. He thought they might have a future beyond friendship now. That they could give into the feelings that had so swiftly blossomed between them.
He was about to say more when a cheerful voice interrupted them.
“There ye are me’Lord!” Smiling from ear to ear, an older woman with a crop of bright red hair, cherub cheeks, and a rather tiny stature stuck her head around the corner. “I heard ye came in here with yer destined lassie and could not believe it, yet there ye stand.” She strode over, took Madison’s hand, and smiled up at her. “’Tis so very nice to meet ye.” Her knowing gaze went from Cian to Madison. “To finally meet the lassie destined to steal me’Lord’s heart.”
“Nice to meet you too.” She couldn’t help but smile in return. “Though I’m not sure about the stealing of your lord’s heart part.” Or was she? Had it already happened? So fast? “You must be Deirdre.”
“I am.” Deirdre beamed between them and put a hand to her heart. “Oh,ta, perfect!” She held Madison at arm’s length and nodded. “Ye really arestunning, are ye not? A good fit for me’Lord.” She peered a little closer into Madison’s eyes. “Both on the inside and out, I would say because....”
Her voice trailed off when she saw what Madison held.
“God’s above, ‘tis true!” Her eyes widened before she lowered to a knee as swiftly as Cian had and bowed her head. “Apologies for being so forward, me’Lady. ‘Twas wrong o’ me and—”
“It was just fine.” She urged Deirdre to stand. “I’m brand new into this Unnamed One thing, so if you could treat me like any other, I’d feel a lot more comfortable.”
This was definitely going to take some getting used to.
Deirdre appeared uncertain for a moment before—undoubtedly seeing the desperation in Madison’s eyes—she nodded and issued another wide smile. “If ye insist, me’Lady.”
“I do.”
“Then consider it done.”
“Thank you, cousin.” Cian offered a small smile. “Might you see to Madison’s chamber for me? Make sure she has everything she needs? Then I will leave her with you so that you might get to know each other better.”
“Of course!” Deirdre kept beaming at Madison without moving. “’Twill be seen to straight away.”
