“Because I knew you wouldn’t agree,” I replied. “And I made a vow.”
Macgrath was silent for a long moment, his eyes searching my face. “Maybe not, but I had just as much right to vengeance as you did. You were not the only one Rhiannon hurt and it wasn’t your decision to make alone.”
“I could not tell the Goddess no when she pleaded with me, Macgrath,” I stated evenly.
“Why not?” he demanded. “She allowed this to happen to us.”
I shook my head. “She protected us,” I retorted. “She gave me the power I needed to save you two thousand years ago. She gave usboththe power to withstand Rhiannon’s curse.”
“And what about our daughter?” he asked, his voice little more than a growl as he loomed over me.
I nearly flinched, but managed to control the urge. “What happened to her was not Rhiannon’s doing. The Goddess shared the truth with me and our daughter—”
Macgrath snarled and turned away from me, stomping across the porch. “I can’t listen to you say these things right now.” He faced me once again, the distance yawning between us. “You betrayed me.”
The statement was sharp and flew with incredible accuracy. It pierced my heart, shattering it.
Without another word, he traced away, putting even more space between us.
“He’ll come back,” Savannah whispered, stepping up to my side. She wrapped her arms around me. “He’s your mate. There is no way that he won’t return for you.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t as certain. If anyone could break the mating bond, it would be Macgrath. He was old enough, and with his powers as an Echo, he could sever our connection if he truly desired to.
And after the way he just looked at me, I wasn’t as sure as Savannah.
“We’ll see.”
Kerry and Finn stepped in front of me, their eyes full of concern.
“The Goddess asked a great deal from you,” Kerry said.
I blew out a breath, a soft laugh following. “That’s an understatement.” Then my eyes met Finn’s. “Did you already know?” I asked.
He tilted his head and I closed my eyes. That movement. It was an echo of mine. Of Rhiannon’s. Of the Goddess herself. It was something we all did. A shared trait.
“Know what?”
I opened my eyes and looked up at him. “That you are my descendent.”
He nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I did.”
“That means you are my only blood relative. I expect you to visit me regularly.”
His smile widened into a grin. “I can do that.”
“Good,” I said as a wave of exhaustion washed over me.
Now that it was over, fatigue dragged at my limbs. Channeling the enormous amount of magic required to trap Rhiannon had leached away my energy.
I swayed on my feet and hands caught me when I would have stumbled. I lifted my eyelids, surprised when I realized I had closed them. Above me I saw two concerned faces but I had no idea who they were.
As if he read my mind, the one with dark hair and a wealth of suffering in his eyes spoke. “I am Marcus and this is Callum. We are Macgrath’s offspring. We came to help.” He leaned down and lifted me into his arms as my knees collapsed beneath me. “Though it turns out we weren’t needed after all.”
Callum stared at Marcus with his mouth agape, as though he couldn’t believe he was speaking. I wanted to laugh at the expression on his face but my eyelids were growing heavier.
“I’m glad you came,” I whispered as exhaustion dragged me down toward the darkness. I fought it, but it was a losing battle. All the power I had channeled through my body left me feeling empty and wasted. All I wanted to do was sleep.
“I am as well,” he murmured, his gruff voice more soothing than I would have imagined. It was rough and deep, but his accent was melodic. “Rest, witch. You will be safe.”
I wanted to tell him that my safety didn’t mean shit to me without Macgrath, but something between my brain and my mouth short-circuited and I merely sighed. I prayed to the Goddess that this would be the last time I passed out for the next few decades.
I couldn’t have my mate and his offspring thinking that I was the swooning type.
I rested my head against his shoulder and let the darkness take me.
