“Meaning you.”
“Ta.” He nodded once. “Yes.”
He took a sip of the warm, bitter brew Riona had given him and shared all he knew. From Madison and her sisters being destined to travel back in time to help save Ireland to his brothers, kings all.
“Brothers?” Riona said a little breathlessly, more taken with his brothers, it seemed, than with the idea of time traveling. “You mean there aremoreof you?”
When Madison shot her a look, Riona shrugged, grinned, and gestured his way. “Hey, I’m only human, and hell, if I’ve got to travel back to medieval Ireland, hanging out with guys that look like him wouldn’t be a hardship.”
He imagined his brothers would feel the same about Riona. Especially Liam, who bedded any lass who would have him, which tended to be all of them.
“So, how many brothers do you have, Cian?” Riona asked before Madison could respond.
“Three excluding Adlin.”
“Three?” Riona’s eyebrows shot up. “That’s pretty coincidental, considering Madison has three sisters.”
“Is it so coincidental?” Madison asked softly, her level gaze still on his face. “When all three of you felt the presence of a man in your dreams over the years? Sensed someone you couldn’t see?” She shook her head. “And not the same someone either.”
That surprised him because he had only become aware of Madison’s presence more recently. “So you’ve dreamt of me for years?”
“For as long as I can remember.” She gestured in Riona’s direction. “Just like my sister has dreamt of another man. Someone who’s always there but just out of sight.” Her steady gaze never left him. “Like you were in my dream last night, only this time, it was different. You were closer.” She cleared her throat. “Far closer.”
While he had meant to wait to share this, he realized transparency was truly best from the get-go. So he told her about his brief visit home after helping those in Scandinavia. How he and his brothers had come together to battle their enemy, King Raghnall of Munster, only for one brother to turn traitor and the other lost over enemy lines.
“You helped us, Madison,” he revealed. “By warning me of encroaching danger, you helped us keep Ireland safe for a while longer.”
“How did I know, though?” She shook her head. “And how did I follow you deeper into the dream this time?”
He had a theory but wasn’t sure she was ready for it.
“Tell me,” she urged, clearly sensing it.Him.And more by the moment. “What’s changed, Cian?”
How to tell her? Tell both of them? He supposed in the only way possible.
Directly.
