“Are ye okay?” Before she knew it, she was in Liam’s arms again. He tilted her chin and met her eyes. “Are ye hurt?” He frowned and shook his head. Anger warred with concern in his eyes. “Yet again, Itoldye not to follow me.”
“I’m fine,” she tried to say, but nothing came out because she wasn’t fine. Not at all. And she had no idea why...until she did. The animals had worried about how remembering would make her feel.
They had known that killing another in this life would trigger a memory.
“I couldn’t have...” she managed, biting back tears. “Why would I do such a thing? How could I?”
His brows swept up in surprise when he realized. “You killed your wolf in our last life.”
“What kind of monsterwasI?” Outside of learning she had sacrificed Riona, she had never felt so awful when she pulled away from Liam and crouched in front of Tréan. “I’msoincredibly sorry. Why would I do such a thing to any animal, let alone my familiar?”
“I cannot divulge such,”he replied.“But know this, m’lady. There was no other way, no other choice, and ‘twas mercifully done.”
“I don’t understand.” She frowned. “I know our familiars die with us, destined to be reborn when we are, but I was under the impression it happened all at once.” She cocked her head. “Did I do it before they could kill me because I knew they wouldn’t be merciful?”
“’Tis something ye must discover on yer own, m’lady.”
“Call me Shannon.”
“’Twill come to ye when the time is right, Shannon,”he replied.“No sooner.”
She knew how stubborn he was going to be about it, so she let it rest. Her angst over what she’d done to him as Liam’s warriors gathered weapons from the fallen stayed with her, though. Haunted her.
“He’s right about your being merciful,” Riona said softly as the animals dispersed and they made their way back toward the castle. “The fire you pushed me in was painless until Raghnall got involved.”
“That doesn’t change the fact I did it to you, to begin with.” An incoming storm churned over the sea. Thunder rumbled in the distance. “Not only am I certain I cared about you in that life, but I was guilty of the same offense.”
“Don’t forget, at the end of the day, I knew I had sinned and volunteered to sacrifice myself to help Ireland.” Riona squeezed her hand. “You might have finished me off, but the ball was already in motion. Everyone in our druid coven knew what I had done. Knew I was guilty. So I can only be grateful it was you who did it because who knows how much I would’ve suffered at another’s hands. Perhaps the fire would have been even more excruciating than when Raghnall got involved and added hisdark magic to it.” She shook her head. “Either way, I don’t doubt you were as merciful with Tréan. Not at all.”
“I agree.” Liam fell in on Shannon’s other side and held out a rag when she started over the drawbridge. “For your blade, druidess.”
She hadn’t realized she was gripping her sword-turned-dagger so tightly or that it was covered in blood until now. Before she had a chance to be horrified, he went on.
“’Tis seen as strength, not weakness, lass,” he assured. “Especially considering who you are.”
She gave no response to that but cleaned the blade and sheathed it.
“We should address our people,” he went on. “They will be expecting it.”
That was an understatement. Seen clearly in the cheers they received when the gates were opened, and they entered the courtyard. She didn’t realize until she saw the pride in his people’s eyes just how nervous she had been about what everyone would make of what happened.
“How could you question it?” Liam looked at her with just as much pride. “Despite not listening to me and staying away, ‘twas most impressive.”
“I couldn’t listen,” she murmured, remembering how much she had feared for his life. “And I suspect you know why.”
It was safe to say she and Liam had come far since that morning. Crossed a divide she hadn’t expected them to cross so quickly, if at all. In fact, it had opened her up to the possibility of loving again. Or to rediscovering what they already found but had forgotten.
Which made her wonder.
Was it all because of the life they lived before, or had they made contact earlier in this one? They had to have, considering how familiar his castle seemed.
When they reached the top of the stairs to the front door, Liam turned back, and they addressed the crowd when it quieted. He spoke first, reassuring everyone all intruders had been cut down thanks to the aid of their druidesses’ animals.
Where she thought she’d be nervous addressing so many when it was her turn, it came more easily than expected. And she realized it had everything to do with Liam standing by her side. The strength he gave her. Strength she hadn’t realized she needed up until now.
Strength she had likely needed for a very long time.
It was an odd sensation because she’d always stood on her own two feet. Been independent if not a tad distant from others. And certainly of the mind to never date again. Absolutely swore never to care for anyone too much. But, the sort of strength Liam offered wasn’t of a codependent nature. Rather, more of a wall of support in case she needed it. An emotional backboard, so to speak.
