Killian, I noticed Imogen at the other end of the room, piling a plate high with more food than even I could eat in one sitting and decided not to ruin her appetite by revealing that someone had died.
Remembering how she’d attacked her dessert the night before, I smiled. For a wisp of a girl, she sure could eat. Of course, she’d probably had nothing but mush for the last year, a thought that immediately sobered me.
I hadn’t been able to resist magically eavesdropping on her conversation with Ronan earlier. She’d told him she forgave him—so, did that mean she forgave me and Killian as well?
I hoped to the gods she did. But, at the same time, I didn’t feel anywhere near worthy of her forgiveness. The three of us had fucked up so royally—no pun intended—it was difficult to believe we could ever make up for our misguided actions.
Keeping her here and safe wasn’t enough. We needed to do better. If only I knew where to start.
Ronan joined me and asked, What did the weasel have to say?
Not much. Just enough bullshit to let me know his head is bigger than Culann’s. Which was saying something.
Ronan snorted. He’s going to get himself killed, if he’s not careful.
He deserves whatever is coming to him in the tournament. He should know better than to try to make a grab for the crown when he’s never shown any interest in the wellbeing of Tuatha before.
With Anlon’s connection to the family, he could easily obtain a position as a royal advisor or even head a committee. But he’d always turned his nose up at any work that didn’t have to do with working his way into a woman’s undergarments. He was spoiled and entitled and completely lacking in ethics.
Anlon would become king over my dead body.
We stopped next to Killian, who was once again paying more attention to his book than anything—or anyone—else in the room. I had no idea what possessed him to read at a time like this, but I kept that thought to myself. He’d been a bear when he’d woken up this morning, and I had no desire to reactivate that particular mood.
Are you feeling up to training? Ronan asked.
Thank the gods for telepathy. Otherwise, we’d barely be able to communicate with all these people around.
Killian glanced up at us. Why don’t you two start?
Ronan opened his mouth, clearly to argue, but I cut him off. Sure. Do you need anything?
“Don’t worry, I’ve got him,” Imogen said quietly as she appeared with not one but two plates of food. She handed one to Killian and said sternly, “Eat.”
All three of us looked at her in surprise, and not just because she was damn sexy when she got bossy. “How did you hear that?” Ronan asked.
She shrugged and bit into a pastry with a cute little moan. Thankfully, I could detect her real voice instead of the manly one the rest of the room would hear. I would have hated to miss that noise. “Guess you were projecting to me as well without meaning to.”
Huh. Apparently, Ronan and Imogen really had made progress last night. My mind wandered to what they might have done in her bed, and I couldn’t quite pinpoint my feelings on the issue. Jealousy was there, but not because I couldn’t stand the thought of my brothers touching her. I wanted to be the one to share her bed. I’d wanted that for longer than I cared to admit.
Ronan stared at her with a strange expression on his face but didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to me. “Get your sword.”
Before following him, I sent a surreptitious wink Imogen’s way. “Duty calls.”
The next hour passed quickly as we dueled, hovering approximately two feet above the ground. Much like the exercise above the loch, it was a test of both concentration and skill. Most of the other competitors couldn’t levitate, so the session had the benefit of intimidating them without giving away any of our more impressive tricks.
When Ronan tapped the hilt of his sword, his signal to pause the fight, I slowly lowered to the ground. What is it?
He looked directly into my eyes, likely to ensure he telepathically spoke to only me. Do you hear that? The song Killian is humming.
I magically stretched my hearing to pick it up. The melody had a somberness to it that made a shiver run up my spine. But I didn’t recognize it. Yes. What about it?