“Yeah, yeah.” Madison chuckled and combed away, seemingly drying her hair with magic because it soon fluffed into loose wavy curls. “I know you’re more into function, and it makes sense considering what you do for a living, but tonight you’re the belle of the ball. People need to see you looking a certain way.”
“I thought that was in my druidess gown?” She managed a sip of whiskey while Madison combed her hair. “Which, if you haven’t noticed, doesn’t want to stick just yet.” She shrugged. “So why not be comfortable until then?”
“Because your ‘sort of comfortable’ isn’t what Liam’s people need to see.” Madison shook her head. “Besides, I tried to wear pants, and my druidess dress found a way to replace them, so you might as well get used to dresses now.”
She frowned over her shoulder. “Seriously?”
“Afraid so.” Madison shrugged. “Might work after we save Ireland, but until then, good luck with much else.” She set the comb aside and urged Shannon to stand. “Let me see how you look, sweetie.”
Shannon stood, feeling ridiculously feminine. She frowned at her cleavage. “You could make the neckline a little less revealing.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Madison eyed her over and put a hand to her heart. “Aww, you do clean up well, sis.”
“You make it sound like I’m always filthy.”
“Not filthy necessarily,” Madison teased. “But you do tend to smell like your work on occasion, which is...kind of a mixed bag.”
For a flicker of an irritating second, she wondered how she had smelled around Liam before she’d vanished into a tent for a few days. Worse yet, what she might have smelled like when she emerged.
“He’s a medieval warrior,” Madison said, following her thoughts. She chuckled again. “So I’m sure he’s more than familiar with stink.”
Starting to feel the effects of the whiskey, Shannon bit back a smile. She had a good point. Still. She hadn’t detected a bad scent when she was around him. If anything, he smelled a little too good. Like pine and spice and...man.
“Hey, you.” Madison crouched in front of Tréan and smiled. “While I like the bloody ferocious look on you, let’s clean you up a little too.” She winked and flicked her wrist. “For the children, of course.”
Tréan licked his chops as though trying to steal one last taste of their enemy’s blood before it vanished from his muzzle.
“There we go.” Madison stood and nodded once at Shannon and Tréan. “A job well done.”
Shannon and Tréan looked at each other, unconvinced, but what could they do? Madison seemed determined as she linked arms with Shannon, and they headed for the door. “I’ll bring you downstairs, then I’ll head out. After that, Riona should be here in no time.”
“Are you sure?” She shook her head. “Why not spend the night and—”
“Because if you feel the need to apologize to Riona, I suspect there’s something to that.” The corner of her mouth inched up. “Just beware, some things about our sister haven’t changed. Her thirst for adventure is just as strong as ever.”
“I don’t doubt it.” But she was ready to deal with Riona’s wild, forward ways if it meant easing her sister’s distress.
It turned out, however, that Riona’s wild, forward ways were the last thing she should be worried about. Not when she soon came across someone who tested her patience even more.
Chapter Eight
