Alannah’s breath caught, her heart racing. How had she ever doubted him? She’d never have thought to question the prince himself on her brothers’ whereabouts, yet here was Conan, championing her fearlessly.
“Is that so?” Teague tipped his head to better see her. “I take it they did not?”
Alannah shook her head slowly. “No, lord.”
“I’m terribly sorry to hear that.” Teague sounded more genuine than she’d expected for a man who faced lost soldiers nearly every day. “I am grateful to them for their service. I wish there were something I could do, but unfortunately if they didn’t return—”
“Actually, there is something you can do.”
Alannah’s mouth fell open. Had Conan really justinterruptedthe prince and then asked him for a favor? She shifted in her seat, unable to find a comfortable position.
“Oh?” Teague didn’t reprimand him. He didn’t even blink in surprise.
“You see,” Conan leaned toward the prince, “we learned from someone who’d joined alongside them that they were transferred into a different unit.”
“They were likely sent north to deal with Aodh, were they not?” Illadan asked.
All the men joined in now. Whatever tension had existed dissolved, leaving behind a rapid debate on her brothers. The men spoke so quickly that Alannah couldn’t get a word in.
“They weren’t sent into Mumhain, if that’s what you’re asking,” Teague answered with a lilt to his deep voice. “But we have men all along our borders.”
Conan snorted out a laugh, the most relaxed Alannah had seen him since sitting down. “You cannot have me believe you’ve put men between you and Midhe.”
Teague chuckled again, matching Conan’s tone. “No, no, you’re right about that. Malachy wouldn’t look kindly on being stalked as though he were anything but our ally.”
Dallan pointed a finger at the prince. “We’re circling back to that.”
“To the fact that we don’t prepare for a battle against our ally?” Teague balked. “That seems an unnecessary waste of breath.”
“Stop distracting him,” Conan ordered, tossing a frown at his companions. “I know most of your men patrol your northern border. Aodh may not be actively after Connachta, but he’s no ally.”
“Says the men from Mumhain.” Teague folded his arms. “Brianisactively after Connachta and raiding across our borders.”
“There haven’t been any raids in months,” Dallan argued.
Conan smacked the table to silence them all. “God’s bones, could we just focus?” He turned to Teague once more. “Send runners to each of the units. Her brothers must be among one of them. It’s not as though they just disappeared.”
Hope swelled in Alannah, a wave rising so high it threatened to knock her over. Emer had been right. Conan really was a good man.
Teague nodded, laying a hand on Conan’s shoulder. His eyes pierced Conan like arrows, filled with purpose and resolve. “I’ll find out where they are, brother. It’s the least I can do.”
Every man stilled. Teague sucked in a breath, his eyes widening in shock even though he’d been the one to speak.
Brother,he’d called Conan. She couldn’t have heard that right, yet the blood drained from her face all the same. “What did you just say?”
“He said he’s going to find your brothers.” Conan’s voice broke over the words.
She looked at each of the men. Their gazes slid from her to Conan or the table. “Why did he call you ‘brother’?”
Conan eyed the other diners in the room then looked to Illadan, who shook his head so slightly that Alannah would’ve missed it had she not been watching the entire exchange.
Her stomach flipped, the wave of hope crashing against her gut like the sea churning against the shore. “Conan.”
It wasn’t a question. She watched the debate in his eyes, in the way his throat bobbed and his fists clenched. She knew he was considering lying to her.
With a sigh that shook the rafters, Conan ran a hand through his dark, wild waves.
“Because I am.”
