He had always encouraged her to speak freely, so he wasn’t taken aback. “All who?”
“Who do ye think?” She rolled her eyes and grinned. “Every lass ye’ve bedded here.”
Unsure how he felt about that, he frowned. “Why?”
Her response surprised him.
“Because she has a kind way about her,” Mór replied. “Seen clearly with how she greeted our people and in the way her wolf worships her.” She shrugged. “And because she does not hold ill will toward any of the lasses ye’ve taken to yer chambers. Not even me, despite what ye just did.”
“Who cares if shedidhold any ill will toward any of ye?” he exclaimed. “I do not belong to her.”
“Are ye sure?” Mór eyed him in that knowing way of hers. “Because it seems to us yer heart is already good and lost.”
“My heart has nothing to do with this,” he grumbled, relenting because he could with Mór. “Mayhap my loins, but that is nothing new.” He scowled in Shannon’s direction. “And ‘tis certainly not something she’s concerned with.”
“Or so she wants ye to believe,” Mór mused. “Say what ye like, but we all see her for the good soul she is.” She shook her head. “’Tis not the average lass, no matter what century she is from, that would be so accepting of yer ways.” She grinned. “Although I suspect she will make ye pay in some way for the kiss ye just gave me.” She chuckled again. “And I cannot blame her for that, m’lord.” She patted his chest. “As to yer heart, I wish ye the best trying to understand what it tries to tell ye.”
Before he could respond with a variety of comebacks, Mór held out the crook of her elbow. “Might we go join them to eat?”
“On one condition.” About the last thing he wanted to do was eat, but it was an opportunity to get closer to Shannon. “Ye sit by my side.”
“Ye’ve already got her riled enough, m’lord,” Mór warned as they headed that way. “Are ye sure ye want to push it that far?”
He had never wanted to push anything more.“Ta.”He made things clear. “And I want ye to act as ye always do with me, lassie. As ye just did in front of the fire when I kissed ye.”
“I will give ye affection enough, me king.” She grew rather serious. Mayhap even a wee bit remorseful. “But know this and know it well. That was the last kiss we will ever share.”
He went to respond but had no chance before Dúghlas pulled out the head chair by his side, raised his mug in the air, and boomed out a toast. “Here’s to the return of our good King Liam. May he lead us to victory in a war that will soon be on our door step!”
“Hear, hear,” his warriors roared as everyone in the great hall raised their mugs.
He had spent time amongst his men whilst Shannon bathed and found them in good form despite several being possessed during the siege on Declán’s castle. Their spirits were up at seeing him return with a druidess. Unfortunately, where he hadn’t cared minutes before, he became acutely aware of how kissing Mór might have looked when they were likely under the impression Shannon would become their queen. Defend their kingdom as her sisters had his brothers’.
A flash of guilt tried to surface, but he pushed it down. They knew who he was. Knew he did not commit. They also knew the prophecy said such was not necessary for Shannon to help them. That a relationship, if it were to happen, would likely end anyway before all of this was over.
So rather than suffer guilt, he raised his mug in return when he joined Dúghlas at the head table. “I cannot tell ye how happy I am to be home, only to find our kingdom well-defended.” He raised his mug higher. “Here’s to ye fine people and our Kingdom of Meath!”
The hall erupted in cheers as everyone toasted and drank.
When things quieted down as much as they likely would at this juncture, he roared over the crowd. “Now eat and drink and celebrate a battle well won at King Declán and Queen Riona’s castle.”
His warriors knew better than to overly imbibe until the war was won, but he would see them well fed. They deserved that, at the very least.
“Eat,” he encouraged those at his table as he sat with Dúghlas on one side and Mór, the other. He would have given Shannon such an esteemed spot, but she seemed more than fine sitting with Conall across from him.
His cooks had prepared a fine spread. Everything from crabs, shrimp, clams, and oysters to a variety of savory vegetable soups. Some were thick with onions, celery, parsnips, carrots, and peas. Others with kale. All served with freshly baked bread and ale. There were meats as well, but he noticed Shannon avoided them like she had in New Hampshire because she was something called a vegetarian.
He spent time chatting with those at his table, including Mór, with his arm resting on the back of her chair all the while, but finally grew too curious for his own good and directed his attention Shannon’s way. “So what think ye of my castle so far, druidess?” He nearly added, “And what think ye of my second-in-command ye seem so fond of?” but bit his tongue. “Is it to yer liking?”
“It’s very nice, King Liam,” she replied a wee bit too formally despite her expression being warm enough. Or was that thewhiskey she had imbibed? Because there was definitely a telling glow in her eyes now that he looked closer.
“Almost as nice as the company I’ve been keeping,” Shannon went on, offering Conall a small smile. “We’ve been discussing your Brehon laws, and I’ve got to say, I like quite a few of them.”
“Do ye then?” he replied.“Ye best reply carefully, lass,”he said into her mind.“My people don’t deserve yer sarcasm.”
Because he sensed such coming.
“I do like many of your laws because they’re forward-thinking and right,” she confirmed, not acknowledging she’d heard him within the mind. She nibbled on a piece of oatcake, took a sip of whiskey, and continued. “I learned that if a pregnant woman craves a morsel of food and her husband withholds it through stinginess or neglect, he must pay a fine.”
