Where some might be put off by his presumption, she wasn’t. Rather, something about it felt right. Just like he felt right. Perfect, actually. As though he were always meant to be by her side, looking at her the way he did as he slid her blade into a sheath at her waist so all could see it before they headed down to the hall.
Then down the stairs to precisely what she had feared.
Chapter Ten
CIAN HAD EXPECTED wordto travel fast and for his people to do precisely what they did as he led Madison down the stairs. Drop to a knee and bow their heads, one and all. In turn, Madison’s cheeks turned rosy, and she trembled ever-so-slightly.
“’Tis all right,”he said into her mind.“I will handle this.”
“I wish you would because I have no idea what to say or do.”
He warmed at the sound of her in his mind. Relished the intimacy. Not just now, either, but earlier. Kissing her had been profound. Unforgettable. And he longed for more. To kiss her again and again. Touch her. Hold her.
The somber backdrop of lyres and pipes stopped, and silence fell over the hall.
“Madison thanks ye and looks forward to getting to know ye all, my good people,” he called out. “Now rise so that we might dine and ready ourselves for what comes next now that we have an Unnamed One by our side. Fighting alongside us.”
Everyone roared in approval before he went on, telling them what Madison had discovered about Declán.
“So even though we lost good men today, they were not taken from us in vain, for this is welcome news. Needed news we will act upon once we mourn our brothers this eve.” He raised the mug of ale he had just been handed. “Might they dine with the gods this eve!”
Everyone roared again before he walked her into the crowd so she could formally meet everyone. She did better than she thought she would, but he never had a doubt. Her inner druidess was bound to lead the way. Show her how to act. Help ease her discomfort.
Not surprisingly, her dress was well-liked. The women seemed taken by its rich material and vibrant color, and the men, predictably, couldn’t keep their eyes off of her. Something he suspected would have happened even if she wore rags.
“I thought this would be harder,”she said at one point, still speaking telepathically even though he never left her side.“But everyone’s so nice...if not overly hopeful.”Concern lit her eyes when she glanced at him.“They understand I’m brand new at this, right?”
“They do.”After she greeted her fair share, he urged her to sit beside him at the head table to eat.“Everyone knows what happened in the armory. They understand you’re only just coming into your gifts.”
He nodded thanks when their mugs were refilled, and food was brought out. Freshly baked bread with onion and garlic butter. Oatcakes. Fish along with cabbage and parsnips with wild herbs.
“Where’s Liam?” Madison eyed the hall. “I thought for sure he would be here.”
More like her magic sensed there was a reason he was not.
“Liam has gone to watch over your sisters.”
