“I’m a king, not a host,” he grunted. Yet it seemed he saw an opportunity in that because he pulled her after him. “But if ‘tis a host ye require, then so be it.” He swung a cloak around her shoulders and led her outside. “We will start with the grounds, then I will show ye the rest of the castle.”
People celebrated outside as well, both in the courtyard and beyond, where a bonfire had been lit in the field. It was less crowded than inside, and she was grateful for it. Relished the cool, salty air. A storm brewed over the sea, and the breeze was gusty.
“You didn’t need to leave the main gathering,” she said. “I’m sure someone would have shown me around eventually.”
“’Tis fine.” He swung a cloak around his own shoulders. “’Tis best they see us spend time together.”
“Weren’t we just doing that?”
“We were.” He surprised her with his bluntness. His assumption, not to mention arrogance. “But ‘twould have soon led to me taking you to my bed chamber, and ‘tis best they see us spending more time together before that. That my men understand who you belong to.”
“Wow, not sure where to start,” she cut back as he led her into an armory with endless blades. “First, I belong to no man. Second, if I did, it wouldn’t be you. Third, every other woman might throw themselves at you, but—”
Before she could utter another word, he yanked her against him, dug his hand into her hair a little roughly, and closed his mouth over hers. Rebelling against his aggression, his pure nerve, she went to shove him away but couldn’t seem to do it at the feel of his lips. At how easy it was to melt against him and welcome his tongue into her mouth.
She felt how startled he was by the sensation.
How he felt the same.
Craved more.
There was a strange sense of anger and relief at the hungry, near-brutal kiss. The way their tongues battled. In how he squeezed her ass when he lifted her just enough, she could feel his arousal. How much he wanted her.
How he was moments away from taking her.
“Ah,thereyou are,” Riona exclaimed in a sing-song voice, breaking into wherever Shannon had just allowed herself to go. “And already on your way to saving Ireland, I see.”
“Doubtful.” Irritated by how fast she had given into him, Shannon untangled herself from Liam and stepped away. “This was just....” She frowned at the desire in his eyes. At the desire, she felt. “This was nothing.”
Before he could respond, because he already shook his head in denial, she embraced Riona. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She gave her a good squeeze before looking at her with regret. “We need to talk.”
She’d had no idea how tense she had been about this moment until she actually said it.
“Yeah, Madison said as much,” Riona said softly.
“I will give you two a moment alone.” Liam made to walk by Riona, but she grabbed his arm and shook her head. “I think you need to be part of this talk.” She eyed the armory. “And it shouldn’t be here surrounded by weapons. Let’s go outside where everyone can get some fresh air.” She perked her brows in question at him. “Somewhere that’ll afford us some privacy?”
He nodded and led them back out into the courtyard and alongside the castle until they came to a torch-lit terrace of sorts overlooking the ships below. It was protected enough by the castle that they could enjoy the incoming storm but not bear the brunt of the wind coming off the water.
Before Shannon could say a word, Riona spoke first. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you what happened sooner, but you needed to be here, sis.” Her eyes flashed blue when they flickered from Liam to Shannon. “You needed to be here in medieval Ireland with him.”
“I don’t care where I needed to be.” She embraced Riona again and bit back tears that came out of nowhere. “I’m just so sorry. I don’t know how I was capable of such a thing. Ofmurderingyou.” She shook her head. “How was I capable of such cruelty when I had to have been guilty of the same?”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” As forgiving as Shannon knew she would be, Riona hugged her right back. “Not in this life, anyway, and that’s all that matters now.” She smiled a little and wiped away tears Shannon hadn’t realized had fallen. “And the only way it will matter is how it pertains to you and Liam.” Her brows swept up. “Because if I know nothing else, I wasn’t angry at you in our last life for sacrificing me, Shannon. If anything, I was grateful it was you who did it.”
Grateful? How was that possible?
“I just don’t get it.” The more she thought about it, the more pain she felt. Wishing Liam wasn’t here when she felt so vulnerable, she braced her hands on the railing overlooking the sea and blinked back more tears. “How could I have done that to you? How when...”
“You likely hadn’t broken the rules yourself at that point,” Riona speculated when she trailed off. “And if you had, what difference would it have made? I was willing to die. Grateful to die if I could save Ireland’s future. Grateful to go if it meant finding Declán in another life.” She shook her head. “I didn’t want to be there without him, so you did me a favor.” She rested her hand over Shannon’s and looked at her with her heart in her eyes. “You really, truly did.”
Before Shannon could respond, Riona looked at Liam, who leaned back against the railing on Shannon’s other side and crossed his arms over his chest.
“You need to understand as much, too, Liam,” Riona went on, eyeing him curiously. “I’m not sure why but it’s crucial you understand that Shannon did what she had to.” She shook her head again. “She had no choice.”
She hadn’t realized until now just how upset he’d grown and had no idea what to make of it because it was aimed at her. A sense of disappointment she realized he had been grappling with all night.
“Why?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “Why were you so upset over this when it’s technically none of your business?” Then it occurred to her, and her heart pounded into her throat. More had come out of his and Riona’s flirtation in New Hampshire, hadn’t it? He desired her. “So it doesn’t matter that Riona’s married to your brother? Seriously?”
