Riona fiddled with her coffee cup. “I said I would.”
“Look at me, sis.”
So Riona did.
“Make sure they get it,” Madison reiterated. Her heart was in her eyes. “This is important and not something you should be dealing with on your own.”
“Then I doubly promise.” Riona sniffled a little and fiddled more with her cup. “You’re just making it seem like...I dunno...like this is a little too final.”
Madison embraced Riona before she held her at arm’s length and looked at her with admirable strength. “Because I have to pretend like it might be. Surely you see that?”
He hated to put Madison through this, to see the fear in both of their eyes, but his lass was right. They were traveling back to a dangerous time in Irish history, made more dangerous still by the evil they faced.
So this could very well be a final goodbye.
“I know you have to go,” Riona managed in a wobbly voice, blinking back tears. “But be careful, all right?” She narrowed her eyes at Cian. “And you take damn good care of her.”
“You have me word, lassie.” If he had his sword, he would bow over it. “I will protect your sister with my life.”
“And that means something coming from him.” Madison wiped away Riona’s tears. “Just read the book, and you’ll see. He’s a true hero. Maybe even more than a hero?”
“How can someone be more than a hero?”
“Just read the book, so you’ll understand the caliber of men we're dealing with. The manI'llbe with. It should help some.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
“Do you want to come outside with us?” Madison asked gently. “See me off?”
“God, no.” Riona shook her head. “A bit too much even for me.”
“Understandable.”
Madison nodded and embraced her one more time before she joined Cian, and they headed outside. Moments later, Riona flew out the door with her camera in hand while he was sheathing his blades.
“I changed my mind.” Riona pressed her lips together, emotional, and shrugged at Madison. “It would be foolish not to catch this on camera.”
Madison offered a small smile despite how nervous he sensed she was. “It would.”
Rather than give her too much time to fret, he called on Aisling and reeled Madison close the moment they were under the tree. Unfortunately, having her in his arms told him how very doomed they actually were.
How this could only be the beginning of a soul-wrenching end.
