Her skin still tingled, her gut warning her against trusting them yet again. It had been a mistake the first time. She had no reason to give them a second chance to deceive her. “Thank you,”she managed, though she knew it didn’t sound as sincere as it ought.
“What areyoudoing all the way out here?” Conan walked toward her, the other men falling in behind him.
“I was on my way to the next village over to inquire after my brothers,” she explained.
Conan added his sticks to the armful Dallan already carried. “I’ll go with you.”
“Absolutely not.”
There was no way she was going to be trapped on an afternoon’s walk with him. The other men hurried past, politely heading back down the path toward Ath Luain. Conan didn’t move toward her, but he didn’t follow the men, either.
“Alannah, please. Can we talk?”
“I have nothing else to say to you.” She turned, finished with him. Her heart couldn’t take any more abuse today.
His footsteps followed her.
“Alannah, we’ll be leaving soon.”
She stopped almost as soon as she’d reached the path again. “Good.”
“Can you just give me a chance to—”
“A chance?” She headed toward him, her patience gone. “I already gave you a chance. I gave you one every time I asked if you were really bards. I’ve given you plenty of chances. I’m through being lied to.”
“You’re right. And I’m sorry.” His features squeezed into a pained expression. “What can I do to make it up to you?”
In spite of it all, his plea tugged at her heart, threatening her resolve. Would she never learn? As a whole, the men who were interested in her could not be trusted. She needed to end this conversation before she made yet another foolish decision.
“You can leave me the hell alone.”
“No,” he hurried to stand on the path in front of her, “I can’t. I wish it were as simple as that, but—”
“But what? You can’t stop bedding me, but you can’t be bothered to be honest with me?”
“I deserve that.”
“And I deserve to be left alone. It’s the least you could do.”
“Alannah.” His throat worked, his eyes pleading as he took a step closer. “I spent all my life training to fight for Brian. He as good as raised me. He fostered me. I’ve been oathsworn to him since I was a child, and I now serve him as a Fianna.”
“The Fianna?” Alannah had heard of them. Everyone had. The call put out for men to come join the band of warriors had sent several local lads into Mumhain. “That’s who you all are?”
Conan nodded. “I owe Brian my life. In every way. Otherwise I’d not have deceived you.”
She felt her walls cracking, though they were newly built. “I’m still angry with you.”
“You should be. What I did was wrong.” He took her hands. “I know that I’m not family, but I would love another chance with you.”
Alannah wanted to believe him so badly. “No more lies.”
“No more lies,” he agreed.
“Very well,” she allowed, praying she wasn’t making a mistake. “One more chance, but I’m going to town alone.” She needed a little more time and space to think through all that had happened.
Conan pulled her in for a kiss, his lips gentle yet insistent against hers. Then he left her to finish her journey.
The trip into Curraghmore went about as expected but not as she’d hoped. She managed to visit everyone before dinner time, watching the sun slowly fall toward the western horizon as she walked back to Ath Luain. No one knew of her brothers. Alannah approached The Hart’s Rest from the south, circling around theproperty to reach the front door. On her way around the back of the inn, she glanced at the wood pile, recalling the men’s efforts to restock it.
