Liam had no chance to go on when that very brother roared in fury, and his great dragon rose into the sky. Unfortunately, things happened fast after that.
Too fast.
And not in his favor.
He leapt to his feet and threw magic at Siobhán, but he was too late. She hit him first with a bolt of power so strong he knew he’d never survive it. Knew as he landed on his back and stared up at the churning clouds that he would never see Shannon or his son again. His only consolation was he had hit Siobhán, too. It wouldn't end her, but it would slow her down for a time.
He struggled to drag in air when the world exploded around him.
Struggled to remain conscious.
He heard roars as warriors battled on his ships. As fighting broke out nearby. All around him. He tried to tell his men to flee, leave him, save themselves, but he couldn’t speak. Still couldn’t draw in air as fire filled the sky. What was Siobhán doing? Was she battling Aodh despite being crippled by Liam's magic? Taking him down before he had a chance to get away?
The world darkened around the edges. Hot wind gusted over him. When screams of pain rent the air, he tried to move, grab his sword and defend his men but could not. It sounded like they were being slaughtered. Annihilated by searing magic.
“Nay,” he tried to roar, desperate to save them, help them, but he was losing himself. Drifting as the sky grew closer andcloser. Darker and darker. He kept trying to drag air into his lungs, but it was impossible. Siobhán’s magic was strangling him. Made it impossible.
The sky raced at him.
Blackness took over, then utter nothingness.
Brutal silence.
“Nay,”he roared again, only to realize it wasn’t his voice. Wasn’t his roar. Yet it kept going. Calling to him. Ordering him to follow it. Fly after it.
“Stay with me, brother,” it urged. “Follow me back.”
To where? Who? What brother?
“Follow me,” it kept urging until horrible pain slammed into him, and he gasped. Drew in air that seemed to burn his lungs from the inside out.
“’Tis all right,” came the voice as the pain burned brighter. As he seemed to burn alive. “Ye must feel it,embraceit, then keep following me.”
The last thing he wanted to do was embrace it, but what choice did he have? Whoever spoke to him kept yanking him forward. Forcing him to follow whether he wanted to or not.
“Follow him, brother,” a familiar feminine voice urged. “Follow the pain until....”
Her words drifted away as he opened himself up to the pain for no other reason than he sensed there was something on the other side he needed to get to.Someone.More than one person. He roared in agony as the flames tore him apart. Ripped him from limb to limb before fire filled his vision.
Fire that poured out of him and took the pain with it.
He gasped again, dragged in cool painless air, and opened his eyes to familiar faces. Torches that dulled in comparison to what he had just experienced. He blinked, trying to understand what had happened, only for cool hands to touch his forehead. His cheeks.
“Shannon?” he tried to say, realizing his head was cradled in her lap, but his throat was too dry. She was here? They were together? How? Had she died too?
“’Tis all right, da.” His son held a skin to his mouth, and cold water trickled down his throat. “Ye’ve lived through great magic. Then were saved by equally great magic. Just swallow and ease yer way back. All will be well.”
“Son?” he tried to say but could only focus on the water. Fight to swallow. Relieved when he was finally able to. When swallow by swallow, he made his way back to reality, and breathing became easier. Faces became clearer.
“Riona,” he finally managed aloud when he made out her teary face staring down at him.
“Hey.” She squeezed his hand. “Welcome back. We thought...” She cleared her throat and wiped away a tear. “We thought we lost you there for a minute...or twenty.”
He looked from Riona to Tréan, who blinked back tears and nodded, relief apparent in his eyes. “Welcome back, da.”
When his gaze drifted to Shannon, he saw clearly now her cheeks were damp with tears. “Mo leath eile.”
He brought his hand to her cheek to comfort her, only to realize his skin was red and steaming. Before he could pull it away, fearful he would burn her, she put her cool hand over his and held it against her cheek. Closed her eyes and leaned into his touch for a moment before she opened her eyes to his again.
