Chapter Twenty-Two
Ireland
1060
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CIAN STAGGERED INTOthe tunnel in gut-wrenching pain. Not just of the flesh but of the spirit. Everything was lost. His kingdom. His people. He had fought until the bitter end but refused to be dragged back to Raghnall so that the enemy king might strike the final blow.
If there was even a final blow to be struck.
He was close to death. His minutes numbered. So he had used what little magic he could muster to put Raghnall’s soldiers off his scent and headed somewhere he had been with Madison.
They hadn’t been there long, but it was something.
A piece of her. Time spent together.
He wiped blood from his eyes, held his stomach, and stumbled along, praying he would make it that far. He had suffered a lethal sword thrust to the gut that made walking excruciating.
Not here, he kept praying.Don’t let me go down here.
Fortunately, he kept afoot until he fell to his knees at King’s Roar. The ocean blurred. The sound of waves was muffled. Yet he heard the mournful sound of a man calling out. Or was that him? It was impossible to know.
“I love ye,mo dhraoi,” he whispered.“I’ll miss ye.”
He had been so certain he and Madison would make it. Have a life together. Be forgiven by the gods. But now he knew better. Not just her ancestors but his gods had forsaken them.Him. Perhaps because he fought amongst the Norse. Or mayhap because he loved Madison when he shouldn’t have.
Or perhaps, most of all, because he had failed Ireland.
Failed his brothers.
Even if Declán hadn’t turned on them, Raghnall would have the Kingdom of Connacht now, giving him access to every border. It was a bad position in which to leave his brothers. One that might very well make it impossible for them to defeat the enemy in the end.
Cian had never felt so ashamed or lonely as he sat back and struggled to stay upright. He wasn't ready to leave yet. To say goodbye. He wiped more blood from his face and looked to the sea, wishing he could see her one last time. That he could say goodbye.
“Madison,” he said hoarsely. “I’m so sorry I let ye down.”
Because he had failed her most of all. The future they might have had. The children they may have raised. The endless memories they would have created.
“Cian?” he swore she called back on the wind but knew it was just his failing mind. His eager heart.
“Madison?” he replied, but nothing came out. Just the mournful wail turned thunderous roar of wind on rock beneath him.
“I’m here,” she cried.
Confused, he tried to talk but couldn’t when her face blurred above him.
