“It’s trying to be ‘Black Velvet Band.’ It’s not quite there. I’m going to YouTube on this.”
“Instructions,” Breen told Keegan, “demonstrations online, on the computer.”
“You could, or you could bring it over with you. Aisling plays the harp, and she’d give you a lesson or two. What I’m hearing, you won’t need more than that.”
He rose. “Thanks for the meal, and the music. I’ve got to get back, as Harken will have me up before the sun breaks.”
“I live with one of those.” Marco wagged a thumb at Breen. “I’m glad you came by. We’ll see you tomorrow over there. I guess I’m already sort of used to it,” he said to Breen. “Or it’s the wine.”
“Drink some water, or you’ll be sorry tomorrow.” She got up. “I’ll walk out with you. Bollocks is already dancing by the door. He wants his nighttime swim.”
The minute she opened the door, he bolted toward the bay.
Keegan shrugged on his duster. “Good night to you, Marco.”
“Check you later.”
Breen stepped out in the cool as Bollocks splashed in the lake.
She didn’t waste time. “He’s determined to stay. You have to understand, he’s not built for this. For fighting, for dealing with what’s coming. I have to convince him to go back. You’re taoiseach.”
“And what, I could order him away? I have no sway there, and in any case, he’s a man grown, a man who values his friend. You should respect that.”
“I do respect that, damn it. But he’s powerless, and he’s—”
The hem of his duster snapped with his sharp movement—and so did his eyes. “You, of all, should know better than to deem him powerless. He stands for you, so stand for him. Quiet,” he ordered before she could object again. “Don’t lessen him.”
“I wouldn’t! I didn’t mean—”
“I’ll make you this promise. I’ll give my life to protect him as I would for you.”
“You’d do that for anyone. It’s the way you’re built. But, Keegan, if anything happens to him, I couldn’t bear it. I couldn’t.”
“I’ll see he’s protected, and you’ll do the same. Don’t make him less than he is. You of all people should know what it does to a mind, a heart, a spirit to be made less.”
“I don’t mean to do that.” She pressed her fingers to her eyes. “I am doing that.” She dropped her hands. “You’re right. Saying he’s powerless was stupid and insulting. But he’s human, Keegan. He’s fully human.”
“You have Marg’s protection.” Keegan tapped the stone she wore around her neck, the dragon’s heart stone she’d coupled with her father’s wedding ring. “Give him yours. Make him a charm. It’s not an impenetrable shield, but it’s from you.”
“I put rosemary and amethyst under his pillow so he’d sleep.”
“I think the wine will add to that. The man has a strong head for wine.”
He watched the dog jump from the lake, shake water from his dense curls. “I have something to say to you.”
“About training tomorrow.”
“Before that. I said it before, but it was rushed, and you were already upset. I’m sorry, truly, for going at you hard as I did when you had to go back, for not believing you, as I should have, that you’d return, even when you swore it.”
“It hurt me.”
“I know it did, as I meant it to.” When Bollocks raced back, Keegan bent to give him a strong rub, and dry him thoroughly. “I’m sorry for that, and it’s a fecking burden for me to be sorry over and over again, so I’m getting it done.”
“There’s more?”
“Before I left the Capital, my mother asked me to be diplomatic and patient with you, even knowing I have little diplomacy or patience. I’m sorry I didn’t do as my mother asked. I didn’t come at you to hurt you then, but I hurt you nonetheless.”
“You didn’t, so I’ll let you off there. I wasn’t hurt, I was terrified and twisted up with worry I’d never see Marco or Sally or Derrick again. That I’d never see my book published, or finish the one I’m writing. That I won’t be enough to stop what’s coming, and I’ll die when I’ve really just started to live.”
“Yet you came, your father’s daughter.”