Chapter Ten
DECLÁN SPENT THE betterpart of the night staring at his chamber ceiling before he finally gave up, poured himself some whiskey, and sat in front of the fire.
The remainder of the evening had gone peaceably enough, if not awkwardly. Riona had tried to make sense of him having dreamt of her for years. For having designed his castle around her dreams so that she might someday be comforted when she arrived. While he could tell she marveled at it, she also seemed caught off guard. Unsettled that he knew so much about her when she had no memories of him outside of flashes in dreams she had forgotten.
It sounded like they hadn't necessarily been good dreams, either.
Or, better put, her impression of him had not always been good.
Aodh had only gotten more in his cups as the night wore on, forever brooding over Siobhán being with yet another brother. Cian continued to remain distant, or so it felt. They conversed but not as they once had. It seemed forced. Without the comradery and laughter they once found in each other’s presence. And he couldn’t blame his brother. He would feel the same if their positions were reversed. Cherished friends had been sacrificed for the greater good, and as much as Cian understood it, Declán knew it would take time for him to forgive such.
Despite the distance, however, Cian agreed to lend Declán warriors and fight alongside him. As it were, if the Kingdom of Leinster fell into enemy hands, that would leave Aodh’s and Liam’s kingdoms more vulnerable than ever.
Despite her interest in how the food had been prepared, Riona had eaten very little as the night continued and retired early, exhausted. More than expected, given the day she’d had. From traveling back in time to what Raghnall had put her through to her climb down the side of a castle. Add to that her healing not just Aodh but Caith. Whether she realized it or not, using that kind of power had been taxing.
He hated that he couldn't comfort her now. Hold her in his arms. But to her, he was a virtual stranger. Someone she couldn’t fully trust. Not yet, anyway. While thankful he’d seen her to safety and saved Luna, she was hurt over Siobhán. With good reason, considering what he’d felt at the thought of her spending time with Liam and then growing closer to Aodh.
So hedidunderstand.
Yet, at the same time, he fumed. Fumed because he only wanted her to see the good in him. The noble deeds he had done for her at the expense of everything. Because it had all been for her. Something his brothers had asked him about tonight, but he had no answer to.
If he had dreamt of Riona for years, why not tell them?I do not know, he had answered. The only thing hedidknow and made clear was that he could not tell them that he would be defecting to Raghnall to save her. He couldn’t risk anything going wrong.
While they hadn’t liked it, they seemed to understand.
He started to pour another whiskey but stopped when he realized it was nearly dawn. The sun would be rising soon. Did that mean Riona would be too? Madison said little to him the night before but had made one thing clear. Riona religiously woke with the sun. She was an explorer at heart and too curious for her own good. Therefore shewouldgo to the archway at sunup. So he stood, excited for her to see the tree for the first time, then sank back down.
Would she want him there for such an occasion, or would she hate him for it? See it as an intrusion on a moment she didn’t want him part of? He mulled it over for a few more minutes before he came to a decision and stood.
He would be there without her knowing, but hewouldbe there.
So he dressed and traveled down hidden stairs that came out in a hallway off the backside of the courtyard. Would she come? Or was she too tired? He could barely breathe as he waited. Watched. Wondered. Wanted her to be here for such a special moment. Prayed to the gods that she came.
Time seemed to slow down as the sun crawled closer to the horizon, and he saw her. One moment she wasn’t there. The next, she drifted down the castle stairs with Luna prancing alongside her.
“Riona,” he whispered, marveling at the sight of her appearing in her blue dress at nearly the same moment as the tree. He had watched the young oak do this countless times, but something about the newborn sun cutting through the retreating storm clouds and lighting her up made her seem just as ethereal as the ghosts that had been seen around this tree for decades.
Only when she whispered, “it’s unbelievable,” did he realize he had closed the distance. Moved without realizing his feet carried him. Anything to be closer to her.
