“They will be.” Niamh didn’t try to hide her lack of enthusiasm for the project. “Have you happened to see Alva about yet this morn?”
Brona pursed her lips thoughtfully. “I might have seen her near the infirmary.”
Niamh thanked her and hurried toward the infirmary. Alva had probably been there to ask after the infusion. Grumbling at the delay, and the possibility she’d already missed her, Niamh threw open the door to the small outbuilding where she spent most of her days.
To find Dallan waiting for her.
Mumbling an exasperated oath, she contemplated simply turning back around to find Alva. Niamh didn’t want her to go any longer than necessary without her treatments, and it had already been far too long. But Dallan spotted her the moment she stepped inside, his face creasing in concern at her poor greeting.
“Let me guess,” he declared, his tone playful. “You’ve missed me so much since we parted yesterday afternoon that you knew, the moment you saw me, you wouldn’t be able to resist my incredible charm. Is that about right?”
Niamh smiled, shaking her head. “Itisincredibly difficult, but somehow I’ll manage.” It was impossible to be upset when Dallan was with her. If he turned on his charms, it felt as though the sun were shining directly on her, warm and welcoming and pushing her to shine right alongside it.
He sat atop her work table, patting the smooth surface next to him.
Niamh complied, feeling pulled in a hundred directions.
Just as she did every time she saw him.
She wanted to be his again. She missed him.
She loved him.
And she knew she had to tell him soon. She had already waited too long. What if he got tired of waiting on her? But even if he accepted her now, there was no guarantee of forever, no promise of future happiness to be had.
Dallan helped her up onto the table beside him, turning her insides into an explosion of butterflies. Just as he always had.
“Are you still angry with me?” he asked, the concern on his face heartbreaking.
“What?” Niamh answered a little too loudly. “No, I was never angry with you. It’s Brona and the ridiculous decorations. And I’ve been trying to find Alva but instead I keep finding everyone else. Or, rather, everyone else keeps finding me.”
“Decorations?”
“Yes, decorations,” Niamh huffed. “As if I need yet another thing to worry over. And everyone knows she’s just making a pathetic attempt to distract everyone from all the danger we’re actually in. It’s like she refuses to face the reality of her situation. And, on top of all of it, how in the world am I supposed to hang anything in the hall? I can’t even reach the rafters!”
Dallan fought the smile threatening his lips, clearly amused by her outburst. “I could help.”
“That’s very kind, but I’ll manage. Perhaps I can find a ladder.”
“That won’t help in the middle of the hall,” he pointed out, hopping off the table and reaching to his full height—tall enough to nearly touch the beams of the infirmary. “See,” he grinned wickedly. “You need me.”
“Absolutely not.” She crossed her arms. “Why are you here, anyway? Did you need something?” They hadn’t made any sort of arrangement to meet again after returning from Caiseal. In fact, they’d hardly talked at all the entire ride back to Thurles.
He’d asked if she was still angry with him. Was that why he’d been so quiet? What would she even be angry about?
Dallan stood an arm’s length from where she still sat upon the table. He ran his tongue over his teeth—in a manner Niamh found truly distracting—before finally answering her question.
“I wanted to see if you were able to get Alva sorted after all the trouble you went to over the cinnamon.” He looked down at his feet halfway through his explanation.
“You’re a terrible liar,” Niamh teased. “You always look at your feet.”
“And you always catch me.” This time he looked her directly in the eyes. “I feel that we left things unsaid after the journey. I don’t want to keep it that way.”
Niamh swallowed. She meant to tell him, but not like this. She needed time to choose her words more carefully, to prepare herself.
“What things?” she asked.
“I’m sorry that I upset you,” he replied quietly. “I hope I didn’t hurt you too badly when I pulled you off the road. I should’ve been paying more attention.”
