“Logical?” Riona mouthed Liam’s way. She looked skyward and waved Shannon off. “Okay, then.” She cocked her head at Shannon. “Setting aside all space-time continuum sci-fi crap, let’s look at the cold, hard facts because we all know you appreciate those so much. How—”
“What your sister is getting at, Madison,” Liam interrupted. “Is the broader picture.” He shook his head. “Because it stands to reason if Cian failed and died, there’s no way we brothers would still be here because the prophecy says we will save Ireland. Allfourof us.”
“Doesit say that?” Madison wondered. Because Cian hadn’t mentioned that. She glanced Shannon’s way to find her equally dubious but thankfully keeping quiet for the moment. Because, as far as she knew, the unknown kings were meant to save Ireland’s history.
Nothing was mentioned about whether a few might die in the process.
In fact, wouldn’t that back up them not ending up with the women who helped them?
“If that isn’t enough,” Riona went on, in the same optimistic, happy bubble as Liam, “look at these.” She tapped on another folder. “I took them when you and I connected across time.”
Built much like Liam and Cian, there was clearly a man standing near Riona. It was hard to make out his features, but his pale blue eyes came through clearly.
“’Tis, without doubt, my brother, Declán.” Liam crossed his arms over his chest, nodded once, and smiled. “He still lives too.” He gestured at Shannon without looking her way. “Your sister arrived moments later, so ‘tis clear he was trying to reach out to her.”
Say what?
“Even though he came through to Riona first?” Shannon asked before Madison had a chance to. “Doesn’t it make more sense he was trying to reach out to her rather than me?”
“If we're going off that reasoning, then Cian was trying to reach out to me instead of Madison, because I sensed something beneath the oak before he even arrived.” Riona shrugged. “Now we know it was all about Madison.” She smiled at Liam in a way that spoke volumes. “No, I’m certain Liam’s right. Declán was totally reaching out to Shannon.”
Interesting how she glossed over Cian not actually appearing until Madison stood beneath the tree where Declán had made contact with Riona before Shannon even got out of her car. Before she was anywhere near the tree.
Madison glanced from Riona and Liam to Shannon, wondering what had happened here in the few short days she’d been gone. Because despite her misery and broken heart, she sensed sexual tension between Liam and Shannon. A tether so tight, she was surprised it didn’t give them both whiplash. They might not seem to like each other much, but there was definitely something there.
“What about your familiarity with Declán before I left with Cian?” she couldn’t help but ask Riona. “The question he was asking you? The secret he swore you knew? The secret I’m fairly certain youdoknow?”
“It was all in the excitement of the moment.” Riona shrugged and didn’t quite meet her eyes. “And I don’t know any secret. I was just being nice.”
“Right,” Madison said slowly. “Nice.”
When she looked Liam’s way, he merely shrugged and grinned. “Your sisterisvery nice. She’s also very—”
“I’m off to bed.” Shannon stood abruptly, clearly ready to get out of the room. Or, if Madison didn’t know better, away from Liam based on how tight her expression had grown. She rested her hand on Madison’s shoulder. “Why don’t we get you to bed too?”
“Yeah, okay.” Because honestly, while she appreciated Riona and Liam’s optimism, she wasn't entirely convinced that Cian still lived. And it seemed Shannon felt the same.
“Whether or not I buy into Riona and Liam's theory, there’s something to be said for hope,” Shannon said, making sure she got to bed okay. She even went so far as to sit on the edge of the bed and saw that Madison was settled. “I might be wary of everything, but I don’t think you should give up on Cian, sis.” She shook her head. “Not yet.”
She nodded and blinked back yet another round of tears. “Okay.”
Shannon had never been a particularly hopeful but logical sort by nature, so her vote of confidence meant something. But then there was every chance she was simply being merciful and didn't want to see someone in pain. Especially her sister.
After all, it fell into who she was as a person. The way she looked at the world. How could she not considering how many animals she had seen die? Probably even had to euthanize? Now, having met Tadhg, the horses in Cian’s stable, plus all the animals who had seen her to safety, she had a far better appreciation of Shannon’s reality.
“I’m so sorry,” Shannon whispered, tearing up as well. “More than you’ll ever know.”
Though a little thrown by her show of emotion and not entirely sure what she meant other than perhaps she related it to her own love lost, Madison was grateful for the support. And more curious about Shannon’s life than ever now because, in her own way, she fit the profile of a druidess more than the rest of them.
“Have you named your wolf?” she wondered.
“No.” Acting like the big sister rather than the other way around, Shannon kissed Madison's cheek and shut off the light. “Now, get some rest.” Yet she paused at the door and spoke softly. “Wild things don’t have names...until they do.”
Then she was gone.
While Madison wasn’t sure what to make of that either, she was happy Shannon had an animal she’d taken under her wing. Who watched over her. Which led her to wonder how her sister had gotten the wolf here. As soon she thought it, she knew. He had tracked her here every bit as much as Oran had Madison.
“Are you there, friend?”she said into his mind.
