He went on to explain how it sat beneath a tree that appeared at daybreak. One that faded as the day progressed.
“It has been that way every day for as long as I can remember,” Declán said. “’Tis one of the reasons I had this castle built like it is on the outside. To protect the tree and those who come to spend time around it.”
“Like your people?” Riona asked.
“Ta, but more.” His gaze never left her. As though he couldn’t stand to look away. “Creative sorts, you might call them. From all over. Artists. Bards. Actors.”
“’Tis true,” Cian said, clearly still troubled. “That tree has attracted many interesting people over the years.”
“How ironic.” Madison gave Riona a knowing look. “Consideringyou.”
“It’s attracted other things as well,” Aodh grumbled. “Things that make many think it cursed.”
“What do you mean?” Riona said.
“He means it attracts things even we wizards cannot always see.” Cian seemed to be putting the pieces together as readily as Madison when he looked at Riona. “Like you, my friend, it attracts anomalies, as you call them. Not just orbs but sometimes ghosts all can see. Undead spirits.”
“Actually, theyaredead,” Riona corrected. “But yes, calling them spirits or residual energy left by their very dead body would be correct.” Eager for dawn, she looked at the door. “What I wouldn’t do for my camera...not that I’d have any way to view the pictures.”
“Maybe you don’t need your camera,” Madison said softly, considering her. “Maybe now that you’re here and your inner druidess is blossoming, you’ll be able to see what only your camera could before.”
“You think?”
“Could be.” Madison cocked her head. “What would you do if you did see them?”
“Be as grateful as I was when they showed themselves to me on camera,” she replied without hesitation. “Especially if it puts someone at ease around me.” She looked at Declán. “So, as far as you know, the archway’s always been here? The tree over it? The stump beneath it?”
He frowned. “What stump?”
“You know,thestump.” A strange chill went through her. “You can’t miss it.”
“There is no stump.” Aodh eyed her. “At least not for us.”
“It’s there.” She strode for the door. “I swear it’s there.”
“’Tis not, lass.” Declán caught up with her and nodded at his men to open the door, yet stopped her before she headed out into the driving rain. “You can see as much from here without getting soaked again.”
She could, too, when lightning flashed, and the stump she had seen earlier was gone. “But it was there.” She looked from him back to the archway. “I saw it clear as day.”
“I don’t doubt you did.” His gaze lingered on her face. “I believe you, Riona, because ‘tis where I found that sketch buried beneath a small rock.”
“So you think we knew each other when we were younger like Madison and Cian did?” she assumed, more aware of him at this proximity than she’d like to admit. “That what? I left it there for you when I was a child?”
“I cannot say how old you were, considering the image is of you and Raghnall as adults.” He looked at her in a way that made it hard to breathe. Hard to think. “All I know is it made me willing to risk everything, doanything, to make sure you did not suffer the fate of being his queen.”
Her skin heated at the way he looked at her. The fear he had felt for her mixed with obvious desire. Passion. Even love, if she wasn’t mistaken. Love he shouldn’t feel this fast. Then again, if this castle had anything to do with her, then nothing about this simmering warmth blossoming between them was new.
“Why not warn me about Raghnall when we connected beneath King’s Heart?” she asked. “Why focus so much on my secret instead of telling me to avoid Raghnall at all costs?”
“Because somehow I knew you sharing your secret would bring us back here.” His pupils flared with emotion. With the conviction he clearly felt. “I thought I would lose all access to King’s Heart after what I had done, so when I realized I was still privileged enough to access it, fortunate enough to connect with you, I was convinced....” He shook his head. “Once I had you back here safely, I could protect you from Raghnall.” His voice grew softer. “Protect you here. In this castle. A place I built over the years for such a purpose.”
She had no idea what to say to that. What to feel. “So even before you found my sketch, you knew I was coming.”
“I did.”
He proceeded to tell her, much to her shock, why.
