She would learn she could trust Eirik just as deeply. His dragon demanded it and his raven insisted it should already be that way.
“Before my father and his cronies find it,” Mairi added, fear wafting off of her in a sour wave.
The laird turned on her. “Your father knows of the Faolchú Chridhe?”
Mairi jumped, but she settled and her fear dissipated in the air around them when Lais put his arm across her shoulder and tugged her into his side.
Her face pinked with embarrassment though and despite the obvious comfort it gave her, she tried to push Lais away. He didn’t budge.
She frowned up at him, confusion clear in her blue gaze. Lais merely smiled and Eirik found his own lips curving in amusement. It would not be an easy mating, but it would be a good one.
Mairi then gave a good imitation of someone unaware that a warrior twice her size stood so close. “Many of the Faol know old stories about the Faolchú Chridhe. Chrechte history is taught to the young in some packs with far more diligence than it sounds like it is among the Sinclairs.”
The pack alpha could have taken offense at what was clearly the accusation of a shortcoming, but he merely nodded. “You are right. My grandfather wanted our pack to integrate more fully into the clan and decreed the ancient stories were no more than myth and there was little benefit in sharing them.”
Ciara gasped in shock.
Talorc’s mouth twisted in an understanding grimace. “It is surprising considering how important he thought that the ancient Chrechte laws are to all of us.”
“Perhaps it is time to change things in our pack,” Abigail said.
The Sinclair gave his wife an approving look and nodded. “Perhaps it is.”
“But the MacLeod has more recent information than old stories, does he not?” Guaire asked Mairi, his tone musing.
“He does. My mother had the sight as well,” Mairi said, sounding apologetic, though Eirik could not understand why. “She dreamed of the stone when she was pregnant with me. I think because my father is distantly related to the family of the Faolchú Chridhe.”
“You said last night that Ciara was the keeper of the stone,” Eirik said.
“She is. Unlike my father, she is of direct descent from the original keepers of the stone. She is the princess of the Faol. If we lived in the days of our ancestors, she would be our queen.” Mairi looked at Ciara, her blue gaze shining with esteem and hope.
Ciara shook her head, a sound of protest coming from her, her distress clear. Shock was in the air around them, and worry.
Eirik ignored it all to drop to his haunches in front of the reluctant princess. He willed her to meet his gaze and she did so, her head coming up just enough that her emerald eyes locked with his.
“To be a keeper of the stone is a great responsibility, but it is also a blessing.”
She tried to shake her head, but his hold on her face stopped her. “I don’t want to be a princess.”
“Would you deny your children their rightful place among the Faol because yours was denied you?”
“No. Of course not. I’m not going to have any children!” she wailed.
His dragon rumbled in denial of that statement, but Eirik did his best to ignore it. “There is nothing to fear in this.”
“There is everything to fear.”
“I will help you.”
“You hate me.”
“I don’t.”
“But—”
“Trust me.”
“You are truly a prince…I am just a—”
“There is no just. The stone has called to you, claimed you. You can do naught but answer that call.” He had known this since he was a small boy. To be born into the royal family of a Chrechte people dictated much about a man’s life from birth.
He would help Ciara learn to deal with this truth.
“I am also a seer and I have dreamed of the power for good she wields with the stone.” Mairi’s voice rang with conviction.
“Ciara is a direct descendant of the original keepers of the stone, of Faol royalty?” the Sinclair asked as if still trying to take in the truth.
There was no doubt in Mairi’s set expression. “Yes.”
“I can’t be,” Ciara said, but her voice lacked any conviction. Her eyes beseeched Eirik. “Wouldn’t my parents have told me, my brother at the very least?”
Eirik foolishly wished in that moment he could lie. “As you said, he had plans to wield the power of the stone on his own behalf.”