“’Tis not whiskey but water,” he muttered, following her thoughts far too easily as well. She could only hope it was a byproduct of her sisters falling in love with his brothers and connecting them somehow. She could also hope no one discovered the real reason she had been crying. Only Constance knew about that, and she intended to keep it that way.
As for not wanting to touch Liam to discover the other elusive longing she’d been suffering, it was nothing personal. Or so she kept telling herself. She just had no use for Irishmen in general. Not since one had broken her heart years ago. After that, she threw herself into her work and avoided men.
“Zeke.” Shannon crouched and smiled when Constance’s red husky greeted her at the door. “How are you, boy?”
“Confused.” Liam crouched beside her and welcomed Zeke when he joined him. “And feeling abandoned by both you and your sister, I imagine.”
She ignored how Zeke taking to him made her feel. How fond of the dog he seemed in such a short time. It showed a tender side of him she didn't want to acknowledge.
“What are you talking about?” She played dumb, so he didn’t know how connected they might actually be. “Where’s Constance?”
The truth was, she had felt guilty in the midst of all her sadness that she hadn’t checked in on her sister sooner. That she hadn’t been able to pull herself out of the horrible funk she’d been in.
“She’s upstairs in her room.” Liam narrowed his eyes at her. “But I think you already knew that.”
Damn. So hedidsense their growing connection. Rather than reply, she headed upstairs to Constance’s room.
“Sis, are you awake?” Noting the tray of food Liam had left for her as well, she knocked on the door. “We need to talk.”
No response.
She turned the knob only to find it locked.
“Constance,” she said. “I really need you to open this door, so we can talk.” She wasn’t messing around. Not when it came to her little sister. “If you don’t, Iwillfind a way in, and you know it.”
Nothing held her back if she wanted to get somewhere. Save something. Whether it be a baby bird abandoned in a tree or a wild animal trapped in some hard-to-reach location.
So her sister knew she would do anything to get to her.
“Constance.” Shannon sensed she was awake. “Open the door.” She shook her head. “I won’t ask again.”
“Neither will I.” Riona startled her when she appeared at the top of the stairs and joined her. “Things are happening, and we need you, Shannon.”
She nodded and bit back tears, surprised yet again by how emotional she was when Riona pulled her in for a big hug. Not normally one to show physical affection, she couldn’t help but embrace her back. She had followed enough of Riona and Declán's battle against King Raghnall in medieval Ireland to know they were lucky to be alive.
“You’re okay,” she managed before holding yet another little sister at arm’s length and looking her over, beautiful blue dress and all. “You’re really okay?”
“I am.” Looking more radiant than ever and somehow wiser, Riona smiled and nodded. “But I think you knew that.”
She did, but she wasn't ready to admit it.
“Why wouldn't you want to admit it?” Following her thoughts as easily as Liam, Riona cocked her head. “Magic and telepathy are great. And now, as I’m sure you’ve gathered, chances are you’re up next.”
“Why?” She frowned and gestured at Constance’s door. “It could be either of us?”
“Itcould.” Riona gave her a pointed look. “But we both know it’s not.”
“Do we?” Shannon wondered, unconvinced.
“We do.” Riona tossed her a soft, knowing smile before she knocked on Constance’s door and called out. “We need to talk to you, sis. Please open the door. We need to....”
“What is it?” Shannon frowned when Riona trailed off. Her sister appeared to be sketching something on Constance’s door with her fingers. “What are you doing?”
“Seeing something.”
“Here,” Liam said, so soft on his feet she hadn’t heard him come up the stairs. “Use this, Riona.” Clearly troubled, he gave her a notepad and pencil, then carefully steered her back downstairs as she scribbled away. “Because something is happening,ta?”
“Ta,” Riona whispered. “Yes.”
