“Looks that way.” Riona smiled at a bird who landed on Shannon's shoulder. “As to what I think about being Liam’s sister in another life, it explains a lot, wouldn’t you say?” Her smile only grew. “I’m glad we were so—”
“I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t be glad about anything,” Shannon snapped, speaking impulsively. “Setting aside what Siobhán said, you said yourself that I need forgiveness from Liam for something I did.” She shook her head. “So why are you so glad?”
“I’m glad because I love Liam and like the idea that he was my brother in another life,” Riona said gently. Carefully. Her brows furrowed. “What did Siobhán say? Better yet, when did she say it?”
“On the dock last night...I think.” She shook her head, frowned, and stood. “It’s all a little hazy before I jumped into the water, then hazier still after that.”
“So she’s definitely getting to you somehow.” Riona stood as well. “Does Liam know?”
“He knows enough. Knows we need to talk about his time with her.”
“Sooner rather than later too.” Her sister considered her, seeing what she had hoped she wouldn’t. “Especially now you two have finally taken things to the next level, and he’s all you can think about.”
“He is not,” she muttered, heading out into the sea of animals if only to get away from the conversation. “What should I do about them?” They didn’t scatter or run like animals should but stayed close to her. Trusted her. “I have no idea where to direct them. It certainly shouldn’t be north until we know what’s going on with Aodh’s kingdom. Where they stand.”
“You’ve come into your blade, which means me, Madison, and likely soon enough, Constance can read your mind and heart better than anyone else.” Riona didn't let her evade theconversation as she joined her. “So save your breath when it comes to how much Liam’s on your radar now. Especially after last night.”
Before she could respond, her sister went on.
“And in case you haven’t figured it out, you’re squarely on his radar too.” Riona chuckled. “More so than you already were.” She gestured at the forest. “As to your animals, even though I know they’ll come to your aid no matter where you go, I suggest you encourage them to settle here in the woodland of your kingdom.”
“Liam’s kingdom,” she corrected.
“And yours.”
“What happens when I go to Aodh’s rescue?” Shannon frowned. “I can’t have them following me.”
“Right. About that.” Riona narrowed her eyes at Shannon. “How exactly do you intend to accomplish such a thing, sis? How do you intend to get onto land heavily fortified by an evil bitch that very likely suspects your intentions if she’s already getting inside your head? Because you have to assume she is and does.”
“Whether she is or not, I have to try.” She was never so certain of anything. “I just need to figure out how.”
“I see.” While she could feel Riona's worry for her, it seemed she was all about taking things one step at a time. “But first, you need to deal with these,your, animals.”
“And how do you suggest I....”
She trailed off as she kept walking. As they entered the woodland and the animals followed. Once that happened, things became clearer.
“This is all they needed,” she whispered, sensing it. Feeling it. Saying it aloud, so they understood what they already felt too. “They just need to stay in the forest around the castle for now. Take shelter until....”
“They need you,” Riona murmured as the animals dispersed. “Or you need them.”
“While that sounds nice enough.” She shook her head. “I don’t want them in danger, so I hope they stay away. Stay safe.”
“Good luck with that.” Riona shrugged. “I’m afraid they’re part of the Unnamed One package. Especially with you, considering your last life. How many seemed to follow you everywhere.”
“Even when I,” she swallowed hard, “killed you?”
“Even then.” Riona thought about it. “Especially then if I didn’t know better. Almost as if they were there to give you moral support.” She sighed. “Sounds like you needed it all the way around.”
“Because I did,” she murmured, not sure why she said it as she absently headed in the direction of King’s End. “They brought me peace I didn’t deserve. They brought me....”
“What?” Riona prompted when she trailed off again.
“A sense of protection,” she swore her vision hazed peach, “from him...at first.”
The moment she said it, she turned to find Liam striding after her, only for a ghostly man to storm right through him. Around the same age and just about as handsome, he strode by Shannon and Riona toward King’s End with fury on his face.
“What the,” Shannon whispered, seeing who he was clearly enough. It was Liam...but not Liam. “It can’t be....”
