“I’m not, no, and I felt that today clear. Her parents aren’t to blame. Sure they’d spoiled her, but in the way of loving. She was never my true friend, never a loving one. I was only of use to her.”
Turning to him, she took both his hands in hers. “I say this to you, Keegan, to warn you to be careful, vigilant. She’ll hurt you if she can. You above all others she would hurt. She’ll do all she can to cause you harm, to cause harm to Breen, your family. Whatever you love, she’ll strike at it. I saw that in her far too late, but I saw it clear.”
“As I did, far too late. I’ll say the same to you, Kiara—be careful, be vigilant.”
“So I will. Will my mother come home soon?”
“Only a few days more and she’ll be home, I promise you.”
“We miss her, my father and I. Well now, I’ve kept you long enough. Will you give Breen my good wishes when you see her?”
“I will, of course. I know the valley isn’t your home, but you’re welcome in mine anytime.”
He kissed her, made her smile.
“Now go dance, as your pretty red dress was made for it.”
“So it was. And it nears midnight, so I’ll find Aiden. Happy New Year to you, Taoiseach.”
“And to you.”
Rather than go back inside to the music and the dancing, Keegan walked to the balefire. Over its bright crackle, he heard the voices raised in song and celebration. As they should be, he thought.
He’d join them, as he should. But he’d take a moment or two in the last breaths of the dying year for himself.
Overhead the stars shined winter cold, and the moons hung in the black sky like beacons, gifting their light to all of Talamh.
The sea surged and ebbed, surged and ebbed, a song of its own.
Within the gold flames, the core of the fire glowed red as a dragon’s heart.
And there, though he hadn’t realized he’d looked, he saw her.
She wore a dress the color of emeralds, one that left most of her legs bare and sparkled like faerie dust. Her shoes, glittering gold, had heels like thin spikes.
He’d never seen her wear something so… provocative.
She sang with Marco, and, ah, Harken as well. Though he couldn’t hear, he knew it was a happy tune from the light on her face. She’d left that glorious hair down so those marvelous curls fell as they wished.
He saw his sister dancing with Mahon, and his mother keeping time and laughing.
He imagined that the music in the farmhouse, the stomping of feet, and the voices raised sang loud enough to have long-lost spirits joining in.
It warmed him, as the fire warmed him. And still, it ached in him, the longing for home, for family, for the woman in the sparkling green dress. But he watched, and smiled as he did, sharing for a moment their joy.
Then the song ended as the year ended, and he imagined the cheers in the valley echoed those around him in the Capital, a welcome to the birth of the new.
In that moment she looked, and she saw him. Through the smokeand flame, their eyes met and held. When her lips curved, they curved for him. She touched two fingers to them, then held them toward him. And he, who’d never thought himself a sentimental sort, did the same.
Overhead, the sky exploded as faeries shot and showered bold jewels of light. In the castle, in the village below, and across the land, bells rang.
But he saw only her.
Then Marco lifted her off her feet, swung her, kissed her.
The vision vanished into smoke.
He stayed a moment longer, then turned to walk back to duty. Another toast or two, another dance or two, he promised himself, before he slipped away to the peace and quiet of his rooms.