Awkward silence reigned over our little group as they all stared at me. My chest was tight, heart giving an uncomfortable squeeze, but I knew that what I\u2019d said was true\u2014more true than any of them could ever know.<\/p>\n
Maybe that\u2019s why it still hurts, a thousand and more years after their bodies are dead so their souls could eventually be reborn as us.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, aren\u2019t you all looking damned cheerful right about now?\u201d<\/p>\n I jerked at the sound of Phelan\u2019s voice, twisting to look at him. He fell back a step as he met my gaze, blinking rapidly.<\/p>\n \u201cLeann\u00e1n<\/em>, what were you talking about just now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing, Phelan,\u201d Neve said. \u201cIt\u2019s all right.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo it\u2019s not,\u201d he said, his voice flat. \u201cDon\u2019t lie to me and say it is. I know that look in her eye. What were you talking about?\u201d<\/p>\n I closed my eyes, trying not to sigh. Carolyn answered this time.<\/p>\n \u201cNeve was telling us a story. A true story.\u201d<\/p>\n I could tell that Phelan\u2019s expression had clouded over without looking at him. It was in his voice, in the sudden darkening of his tone from light and airy to heavy, as if sudden foreknowledge weighed it down. \u201cWhat story? Neve?\u201d<\/p>\n She stayed silent for so long I thought she might not answer. Then, finally: \u201cThey wanted to know an old story. I was telling them about Ciar.\u201d<\/p>\n Phelan sucked in a rasping breath. I opened my eyes and found him staring at me. I met his gaze and he winced but didn\u2019t look away. His hands flexed, fingers curling into fists.<\/p>\n \u201cHow much have you told them?\u201d he asked in a whisper.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d gotten to the part where he was tricked by those damn druids,\u201d Neve said, her voice so cold it sent shivers skittering down my spine. I closed my eyes again.<\/p>\n They loved him, too. Don\u2019t forget that. They gave a damn, too.<\/em><\/p>\n Then as now, they love fiercely\u2014and so I do. Gods help me, so do I.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Awkward silence reigned over our little group as they all stared at me. My chest was tight, heart giving an uncomfortable squeeze, but I knew that what I\u2019d said was true\u2014more true than any of them could ever know. Maybe … Continue reading