Page 21 of An Unlikely Knight

“I made a vow.”

Closing the distance, John placed his hands on both sides of Liam’s face. “If we are to continue to be in a relationship, Liam, I want to be a priority.”

“Do not leave me,” Liam said, a tremble in his voice. “Please.”

John’s arms came around him and Liam collapsed against him, needing the comfort that only John could give.

“I am doing my best to be patient. But I want you to consider options. Speak to Padriag and the others. Allow yourself to be happy. I want to make you happy.”

Unable to form words, Liam took John’s mouth with his own, allowing the kiss to convey the depth of the feelings, a caring so deep he was unable to describe it in words.

They would move past it, Liam was sure, it wasn’t fair to expect John to stand by while he continued life in the alter-world. At the moment, however, there was no choice.

In truth, Liam wasn’t sure of his place if he remained in Scotland. There was nothing for him in England and even if there was, John’s life was in Edinburgh. According to Tristan, he’d made arrangements so that Liam was financially well-off, with enough money to live out his days.

But there had to be something to strive for and at the moment, Liam couldn’t figure out what it was. In all probability, he was driven by challenges.

Once Padriag was free, traversing a new way of life could be his next challenge. Yes. He would view it as another conquest.

John pushed away and turned back to the stove, where eggs sizzled in a pan. “And just like that, your mind is a hundred miles away.” After spooning the eggs over toasted bread, John walked out of the kitchen.

Liam squeezed his eyes shut. If he didn’t get himself together, he was going to lose the love of his life.

* * *

Right after she’d entered the library, Erin felt a wave of relief as John arrived at Dunimarle, though something about him seemed ... off. There was a weight in his posture, a quiet tension in his face that hadn’t been there before. Without so much as a greeting, he strode inside, dropped into a chair, and pulled a worn notebook from the crossbody satchel he always carried.

“So, where do we start today?” His voice was clipped, edged with frustration. “I need this whole thing to be over. I hate to admit it, but I’m growing tired of us chasing our tails. Lately, it feels like we’re getting nowhere.”

Gwen exchanged a glance with Erin before speaking. “I understand your frustration. Your situation is much more complicated than mine or my sisters’.” Her tone was gentle, but there was an underlying concern in her eyes. “I just hope the men can convince Liam to limit his time in the other realm.”

“He’s more useful here than there,” Tammie added. “But I get it—he doesn’t want Padraig to feel abandoned.”

John let out a slow, weary breath, his shoulders sagging as if the weight of everything he carried had finally pressed him down. He nodded in quiet agreement but said nothing, his fingers absently skimming over the edge of his notebook.

Something was gnawing at him. Erin could see it in the shadows beneath his eyes, in the exhaustion carved into the lines of his face. She wondered if he was beginning to lose hope.

Despite her desperate wish to save Padraig, Erin knew she had to agree with the group. Something held Liam tethered to the other realm, as though he wasn’t quite ready to return to Scotland. Whether it was unfinished business or sheer reluctance, they couldn’t force him.

“Let’s try our summoning again,” Gwen suggested, glancing at Erin. “This time, with Erin’s help. Hopefully, it will work better.” She motioned for everyone to hold hands, her expression determined.

Erin took a steadying breath, her fingers threading between the others’. She had memorized the incantation and, as they began to chant in unison, she closed her eyes, willing herself to focus solely on Padraig. The image of him surged to life in her mind—the wild tumble of red waves that cascaded over his broad shoulders, a fiery halo that had intrigued her from the first moment she saw him. She had resisted the urge to sink her fingers into the thick strands, but the temptation had never truly faded.

A deep, rumbling voice broke through the ritual, shattering her concentration.

“Thanks for the party invite. Where’s the cake?”

Erin’s eyes flew open, her breath catching as she jolted in place.

Padraig stood before them, solid and real, a smirk tugging at his lips.

“Padraig!” Tammie gasped, leaping from her seat. She practically launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You came!”

His hazel-green eyes flicked across the group, assessing each of them in turn, but when they landed on Erin, something in his gaze softened. The smirk deepened.

“Hi, Erin. Nice to see you again.”

Her stomach clenched, heat creeping up her neck as an unwelcome shiver ran down her spine. The effect he had on her was nothing short of infuriating. It wasn’t just that he was devastatingly handsome—it was the way he unraveled her, stripping away her carefully maintained composure with a single look. She hated feeling so unsteady, so unlike herself, but there was no denying it.