He clasped his brother’s shoulder back and nodded, then embraced Riona next.
“Take care of them, sister,” he whispered in her ear, fighting back emotion. “Keep my family safe.”
“I will,” she whispered back, hugging him tighter. “I promise.”
Liam nodded and kissed her cheek before turning his attention to his son. He admired and found pride in him as only a father could. “Tréan.” He clasped his boy’s shoulders andworked harder still to keep emotion at bay. The idea of never seeing him and his mother again broke his heart. “Son.”
“I know, da.” Tréan embraced him tightly. “Ye need not worry. I will see ma safely there and back. Wewillsucceed, and Iwillwatch over her always.”
“Ta, lad.” He held onto him for a long moment before he met his eyes. “I know ye will.”
Lastly, he squared off with Shannon because that’s precisely what it felt like. Her face had returned to the expression she’d often worn in New Hampshire. Frigid. Cold. And he understood why. Where she needed to put herself mentally.
“Fight well, wife.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and felt her tension. “Save my dragon brethren, Unnamed One, for no one is better suited.”
“I will, husband.” Although her voice broke ever-so-slightly, the determination in her eyes was admirable. Preferable to the heartache he felt simmering beneath the surface.
“Don’t embrace me,”she pleaded in his mind.“If you do, I don’t think I’ll be able to let go. Won’t be able to do this.”
“Ye can do anything, my druidess,”he replied.“Of that, I have no doubt, mo leath eile.”
But he understood and turned away, only for her to grab his wrist, stand on her tiptoes and embrace him the best she could, considering their height difference. Rather than offer her more assurances that may or may not be true, he wrapped his arms around her and held her just as tightly. Held her as if imprinting her body into his so they might find each other in yet another life.
They didn’t say anything else as they pulled away but met each other’s eyes and understood. Found strength in one another’s gazes. Knew no matter what happened, theywouldfind each other again. Something he could only pray happened when he and his men set sail a short time later.
A mission that was, as expected, a lost hope.
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE MOMENT SHANNON figured out what Liam meant to do, she realized there was more to why she had cried for days back in New Hampshire. It wasn’t just because she’d longed for Liam and her son but because some part of her saw what was happening now. Had feared losing Liam all over again.
“Please,”she prayed internally as she swung onto her horse, fell in beside Riona, and headed south. She wasn’t sure who she prayed to, only hoped they listened.“Keep him safe. Bring him back to me.”
“It’ll be okay, sis.” Riona gave her a look of reassurance. “If it’s the last thing we do, it’ll be all right.”
She felt Riona’s worry as much as Tréan’s and Declán’s, but they had no choice but to press on. To cover a distance far quicker than they might have, thanks to her and Riona’s magic. What should have been a day’s ride became hours before they arrived at King’s Heart on Cian and Madison’s border with a sizable army at their back.
“Holy...” Shannon whispered as they approached the great tree. She had never seen anything like it. Towering, its great trunk twisted and turned. It’s leaves seemed made of pure magic. She knew they needed to keep moving but couldn’t help but swing down and go to it. Rest her hand against it. The moment she did, it felt like the world expanded. As though she saw the whole of Ireland in an instant.
“I see him,” she said when Riona joined her and did the same. “I see Aodh.”
