Sensing Madison’s needs before she had a chance to voice them, Cian made things clear before Aisling went on.“Aisling and Oran, you must work together to help us. Stick close to each other.”He shook his head.“For we need you now and will likely need you even more in the days to come.”
“But—”both said at the same time, yet Madison cut them off.
“But nothing.”She looked from Oran to the general direction of where Aisling hid in the forest.“Cian’s right. We need your help more than ever, which means we need you to get along. Please.”
Silence fell for a moment before Oran finally replied.“Say no more.”He cocked his head at Madison in such a fashion that he appeared to nod yes.“It will be as you wish, mistress.”Before she could respond, he took flight, bidding them a good eve.“We will not go far. You have my word.”
Aisling never replied, but Cian felt her flicker into the forest after Oran.
Madison narrowed her eyes after them. “Do you think they’ll listen?”
“We can only hope.” He led her to a log set apart from the crowd but close enough to enjoy the bonfire and urged her to sit. “In the meantime, let us have a moment of peace together.” He gestured at those dancing around the fire and his bard singing a ballad of battles gone by. Of great Irish heroes. “Watch. Listen. Find some comfort.”
“I could use a moment.” Her gaze lingered on him before she turned her attention to all that went on, soaking it up differently than she had everything inside. Not in a fashion where her gift made her continually prepare for the next conversation but in a way that was more in tune with her inner druid. That allowed her to feel the power of the flames. The heart of their people. The energy in the crisp wind. The call of nature beyond the castle gates.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered. “So much more....”
“So much more,” he agreed, catching more off of her inner druidess than he thought he might.
“Why is that?” she murmured, her gaze a little lost as she followed his bard’s tale. “Why did you think you might not catch some of it if we’re so connected?”
“Because you tap into a power that’s not kindred to my own.” While tempted to brush his fingers along her cheek, arm, anywhere as long as he was touching her, he refrained. He didn’t want to take from such an important moment. Possibly even ruin it. “A higher, purer power,mo dhraoi.”
“You fear your darker side influencing it.” When her gaze drifted his way, her eyes were a little different. More brilliantly emerald. Almost as though she saw their surroundings through a different prism. “But it won’t, Cian.” Her gaze narrowed a little as she felt out whatever she was experiencing. “I know it too well. Understand it too well.”
What did that mean?
“I know the lightanddark magic inside you.” She wrapped her hands around his hand as if feeling everything he had ever touched. All the battles he had fought. Magic he had wielded. “How did I not see it before?” She tilted her head and looked deeper. “The greatness and sorrow in you. The love and fury.” Deeper still. “The lengths you went to for other people. The loss you’ve suffered.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “The extraordinary loneliness....”
“Might ye take a flower to ease yer sorrows, m’Lady?”
Madison’s lashes fluttered, and she blinked through tears at the little girl with golden curls holding out a flower.
“You’re okay,” she gasped, cupping the girl’s cheek. “I didn’t think....”
Rather than pull away, the girl smiled and leaned into her touch. “Ta.” She tucked her flower behind Madison’s ear. “And thankful I am, m’Lady, for yer visit. For yer healing touch when me ma and pa could not hear me anymore.”
More tears fell as Madison gazed at her before her parents called out, and the wee one went running.
“What was that?” Madison whispered. “How did I....” The strange light in her eyes faded, and she blinked at Cian in confusion. “What just happened?”
He couldn’t be entirely sure but had a theory.
One that shocked him every bit as much as it did her.
