For the briefest time, Dallan forgot how to breathe. All the memories of his time with Niamh flooded his mind.
Laughing with her over her ridiculous kitten.
Her golden hair falling into his face as she lay over him in the summer meadows.
Dancing with her around the Samhain bonfire, their hands locked, their eyes fixed on one another.
The look on her face when she turned away from him.
The pain that followed when she broke his heart.
Finally regaining control of himself, he pinned her with a look that told her precisely how he felt about seeing her again.
Furious.
She stood, either oblivious or impervious to his death glare, and took a step toward him.
“No,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “You need to leave. Now.”
“He’s right,” Máire agreed, still crouching beside Líadan. “They’re still burning cottages.”
Niamh stopped then, and Dallan prayed to the lord almighty she would just leave him be. He couldn’t let her near him again.
“Thank you,” she whispered, turning to help her mother stand.
Dallan moved around them, walking out the door first to ensure the way to the forest was clear of Aodh’s men. “Hurry,” he called, moving to circle the cottage as the women helped Líadan hobble out.
Niamh flew out of the burning cottage, rushing over to the wood pile. Dallan watched her in confusion as she picked up something, cradling it like a babe. She turned back to face him, tears in her eyes, leaning her ear to a ball of dark grey fluff.
Dallan closed his eyes with a sigh. Morrígan.
Swallowing his anger, he reached for the fluffball, pressing his hands along her sides to try to find signs of life. The fact that the beast wasn’t attacking him was cause for concern indeed.
“She tried to save me,” Niamh told him with a sniffle, tears now flooding her cheeks. “She charged right at him.”
“She’s as fierce as they come,” he replied quietly, himself beginning to worry.
The golden-haired beauty was falling apart, shaking more and more as she held Morrígan. For the first time since he arrived at her doorstep, Dallan captured her eyes and didn’t glare at her.
“She lives,” he told her, “I can feel her breath.”
His words only caused more tears to flow as Niamh snuggled the cat to her.
“You need to get your family out of here,” he reminded her, looking about again to ensure they were still safe. “Aodh’s army isn’t far, and he may return. Head south toward Caiseal.”
She nodded numbly, cradling the cat in one arm and offering the other to her mother, who had appeared beside them without Dallan’s realizing it.
They moved slowly, Líadan clearly in a good deal of pain with her injuries. Dallan stayed outside their cottage, monitoring their progress until they reached the cover of the trees.
Just before ducking into the forest, Niamh turned to look at him. She started waving, motioning, but he couldn’t understand what she tried to tell him.
He squinted.
She shouted.
Then the world went dark.
Chapter Seven
