“I’m a vault.”
“And keep it locked. So before all had come in and settled, one of the council came to me. He told me to stand tall, ignore the sickness in my stomach. To remember I chose and was chosen. And if any tried to intimidate me, well, bugger them. It was Shana’s father who said that to me, and stiffened my spine that day.”
She turned, laid a hand on his heart. “He knew you chose, and though it must hurt him more than anything I can imagine, he knows she chose. And I think, when she was here with you, she didn’t look up and see Talamh as you do.”
“I never brought her to this bed. Or anyone before you.” He sat up, scooping a hand through his hair and wondering if lack of sleep had loosened his tongue. Before he worked out what to say next, Bollocks walked to the side of the bed, sent out an imploring look.
“Oh, right! He hasn’t been out in hours. Sorry, sorry, what a good boy.” Breen crooned it as she started to roll out of bed. “Where’s my dress?”
“Somewhere.” Keegan looked around, gestured. “There.”
“Looks like I’m taking the walk of shame,” she said as she went to get it.
“You’re ashamed? Of this?”
“What? No, no. It’s an expression. When a woman—and it’s always a woman—comes home in the morning in the same thing she was wearing the night before, it’s called the walk of shame. Stupid, but since it’s my first time, sort of satisfying in a weird way.”
“I’ll take him. I’ve things to check on, and he can go with me.”
In the act of shaking the dress out, she turned. Keegan already wore trousers, a shirt, and was pulling on his second boot. “How did you get dressed so fast?”
“I’ve been dressing myself for some time now, so I’ve got the hang of it. Straight to your room when you’ve got the hang of your own, and don’t go out without Marco at the least. Not yet.”
He smiled at her as she stood holding the dress in front of her. “You look all rumpled, and it makes me want to toss you back in bed and rumple you more, but needs must.”
He gave Bollocks a pat on the head. “If you don’t see us when you come out, call for him.”
“All right, and thanks, but—”
He just strode over, gripped her shoulders, kissed her until the thoughts drained out of her head.
“Let’s go, lad,” he said, and Bollocks happily trotted out with him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
She didn’t really sneak down to her room, but she made a concerted effort to avoid any who hustled up stairs or down corridors. Still, she couldn’t go into her room until she’d let Marco know she was back.
He yanked open his door seconds after she knocked, and an instant later, he yanked her into his arms.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t—”
He just squeezed tighter. “I wasn’t so worried because Tarryn came and told me you were safe. You and Bollocks both tucked up in Keegan’s place in the tower, but, girl, it sure feels good to see for myself.”
He drew her back, then his smile flashed to a grin. “And tucked up’s what we can call it. You got that all-the-knots-untied look going.”
“They’re going to tie up again if I stand out here in last night’s dress much longer.”
Still holding on to her, he walked her to her door and in. “You can change your loose self in the bathroom or WC or whatever you call it. I’m not leaving. Hey, where’s Bollocks?”
“Keegan took him.” She grabbed clothes out of the wardrobe. “I want a shower, and I think I can conjure a rain of warm water while I’m in the tub.”
“I’m talking through the door,” he said as she closed it behind her. “Did that bitch really try to knife you in the back?”
“I stopped her.”
She did her best to fill him in while she got out of the dress, took the pins out of her hair, and finally managed to call a shower of water.
It felt like glory.
When she came out, Marco was still talking. “Brian came back a few hours ago, and had to take off again right before you came back. He says they’ll find her, that no one in Talamh will help her after this. But—”
“He’s worried she’ll hurt someone before they do find her.”
“It’ll be harder since you hurt her, and good. Wish I’d seen it. Let’s go dig up some breakfast, and find out what’s going on.”
It shouldn’t have surprised her Marco knew his way to the kitchen, or that those manning it called him by name.