Dallan nodded in agreement, squeezing her into a small sideways hug. Aye, she’d more than proven it. After Morda and Sitric, their cousin, lost to Brian, Eva had volunteered as the hostage in the peace negotiations in order to spare the rest of the family from such a fate. She’d literally given up her future to secure everyone else’s.
“But,” she continued slowly, “now that I have Finn, I would always choose him.”
Eva made a good point, but her situation was wildly different from Dallan’s own. He knew that he would choose Niamh again, given the chance. The question was: would she choose him?
There was only one way to find out.
Though the next song had only just begun, Dallan wound his way through the hall until he reached his golden-haired beauty. “I’m afraid I can’t bear to remain a bystander,” he told Brian, though he captured Niamh’s eyes, “and let you have all the fun.”
“You’re just in time, lad,” Brian told him. “I was worried my wife would come looking for me. I thank you for the dances, dear.”
“The pleasure was mine,” she replied sweetly, taking Dallan’s hand as Brian walked away.
“Do you remember the first time we danced?” Dallan ventured as they fell into step.
Niamh let slip a giggle before she suppressed her laughter. Lord, it felt good to see her smile. “How could I forget? It was your own fault for bringing the cat.”
“If I recall correctly—and I always do—you refused to leave the wee beastie at the table. Theonlyway I could convince you to dance was to bring her.”
“She really did not like the bouncing,” Niamh said, succumbing to laughter at the ridiculous memory.
Dallan’s heart melted as he watched her. He felt as though he’d lived ten lives in the year they’d spent together. Every day had been an adventure.
“You didn’t sneak her here without me knowing, did you?” he teased.
“You know better than anyone she’s impossible to keep hidden.”
Though much of the lively dance was spent moving around one another, the few times they came together he savored the feel of his hands on her. It was impossible not to think about what he knew lay beneath her soft green gown, and how sorely he missed being the man she let in, the one she trusted.
As the song came to a close, he left his hand on her waist, waiting for her to push him away again, to put up another wall. Instead, she let her head fall onto his shoulder, walking tucked into his side back to the table for a drink.
“Niamh,” he whispered into her golden hair, “I miss you.”
She looked up at him, her pink lips drawing his immediate attention. “I miss you, too.” Her smokey grey eyes told him she understood his meaning, that he wanted her back, wanted another chance. “But I need more time.”
Dallan nodded, smiling softly and kissing the top of her head. If only he had time.
The sweet and spicy scent of lavender filled his lungs, and for the few moments it took to reach the table where Eva waited beaming at them, Dallan could almost imagine they’d never parted ways. He could almost convince himself that she hadn’t really left him, that she loved him as deeply as he loved her.
Almost.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Her first mornback in Thurles, Niamh left her quarters just after the sun broke across the horizon, finally able to deliver an infusion of cinnamon bark to Alva after staying up late into the night to brew it. She’d also been able to restock the primrose oil and the tincture of raspberry leaves and milk thistle. She only lacked the bitter orange peel, but there was little she could do but wait a few months until they were in season. Hopefully it would be enough, for she didn’t know how she’d carry on if she failed Alva.
She might not have been able to fix her own body, but she’d be damned if she didn’t fix Alva’s. Surely, they couldn’t both be doomed to a life where they always felt lacking.
Before she’d even reached the courtyard, Brona approached her, looking even more determined than usual.
“Niamh!” she called, forcing Niamh to halt her own quest. “I was hoping to catch you.”
Brona hurried over to her. “I’m just finishing up the planning for our grand Samhain Eve celebration. We’ve only two days left, and I’m assigning tasks to everyone in the keep.”
Oh, lord. “What a lovely idea,” Niamh replied cautiously. “I would help, but I’m afraid I’m still quite busy with the—”
“Nonsense.” Brona’s tone left no room for further disagreement. “I want everyone to feel that they are a part of the celebration. I’m placing you in charge of hanging boughs in the feasting hall. They’ll need to be up by midday on Samhain Eve.”
Irritation flared, but Niamh kept it to herself. She had more than enough to do, and the last thing she needed was one more task. Especially for a celebration that no one really wanted right now. Sensing defeat and swallowing her objections, Niamh shifted her focus back to the most important task: checking on Alva.
