“I thought you brought libations for the souls of the dead warriors.” My husband held my gaze.
“No,” I answered him hesitantly. As usual I found it difficult to talk to ClanFintan about Clint. “I brought them for Clint’s soul. It’s time I faced this. His sacrifice deserves to be acknowledged.”
“As you wish, Rhea.”
“What if he can somehow tell?” My voice cracked. “I haven’t been back. I didn’t even get to thank him.” My eyes pleaded with ClanFintan to understand.
“I thank him every day,” the centaur said quietly.
I nodded tightly, afraid if I said anything else I would start crying. I had given ClanFintan an edited version of what had happened while I had been in Oklahoma. I had left out some parts to save him pain, and other parts to save me pain. But he understood that Clint had given his life to send me back to my husband and the world to which I belonged.
And without ever acknowledging it aloud, I was sure he also understood Clint had loved me. And I him.
Recently I had felt the growing need to return to the ancient grove. It was a pilgrimage I needed to make. After two months I hoped I had healed enough to face my memories and my losses; and, ultimately, to give myself closure.
Maybe I could even forgive myself.
“We have reached the clearing,” Victoria’s strong voice called back over her shoulder. Dougal followed her, then came Epi and me with ClanFintan by our side.
I pulled Epi to a halt and called to Victoria. She and Dougal paused and looked curiously back at me.
“I need to go first,” I said simply. Before their arguments could be spoken I held up my hand to silence them. “The Goddess has assured me I am safe.” And she had. Epona had even encouraged me to make this trip. As ClanFintan opened his mouth to protest, I pulled out my trump card. “Would I do anything to harm our daughter?”
“I will be beside you.” His tone said it wasn’t a question.
I nodded agreement.
“Victoria and Dougal, stay close.” The two centaurs nodded and waited in tense silence for us to lead them into the clearing.
I closed my eyes and we passed through the tree line. Very slowly I tilted my head up and opened my eyes. The verdant leaves of the twin giants filled the sky. Even now, after I knew what to expect, it was a shock to see them fully clothed in green after traveling through a forest of naked limbs. There was a light breeze and the graceful foliage swayed rhythmically. As we approached, I let my eyes travel down their massive length to the moss-covered trunks.
And a color rippled at the edge of my vision. For an instant I felt dread squeeze my throat, but quickly I realized it wasn’t a dark, oily shape that I was seeing. My gaze fell to the forest floor and I gasped in surprise.
“What is it, Rhea?” ClanFintan snapped, worry thick in his voice.
“Oh,” I breathed happily. “It’s nothing bad. It’s wonderful. Look!” I pointed to the ground. The entire clearing was carpeted with small blue wildflowers. They were everywhere, and as we rode through them they gave off a sweet, heady perfume.
It was like the entire grove had been sprinkled with sapphires.
“I do not remember these being here before.” ClanFintan sounded disgruntled.
“They weren’t. They’re new.” I felt a rush of emotion. The grove hadn’t forgotten him. This was the forest’s tribute to him.
We drew near the trees. ClanFintan lifted me gently from Epi’s back. I unlatched the saddlebag that rested over her withers and took out a skin filled with honeyed red wine. Then I turned to face the trees.
I swallowed my fear. There was nothing here that could harm me.
The pin oaks were more beautiful than I had remembered, so tall and regal and strong. I knew which tree I needed to touch. The blue flowers swished softly against my boots as I approached it. Near the base of the tree I suddenly stumbled over a protruding root, and ClanFintan’s sure arms caught me before I could fall.
Oh, Goddess. This is exactly where Rhiannon had stumbled and fallen.
“Are you well, Rhea?”
I realized I had stopped breathing, and made myself draw a deep, steadying breath. Then I squeezed his arm reassuringly.
“Just visiting old ghosts,” I said softly before I stepped carefully around the root.
The ancient tree was enormous. Five men couldn’t link hands around it, and its twin that grew on the other side of the small stream that separated them was just as imposing.
Uncapping the wineskin, I began pouring it against the base of the tree. I continued pouring as I made my way slowly around its enormous circumference.
The words came to me quite suddenly and with a trembling voice I spoke them, falling easily into the rhythmic chant.
“I remember you as the wind that breathes upon the forest,
The murmur of leaves rustling,
The rays of the sun.
I remember you as the power of trees growing
And the bud breaking into blossom.
You are in my thoughts whenever I praise
All that is noble and true.”
I had completed a circle of my own. Tentatively I rested my palm against the tree’s aged surface. I didn’t have to see my husband to feel the tension radiating from him.
Welcome, Chosen One. The aged voice was familiar.
“Hello,” I whispered. Then I spoke hesitantly, “I come…I come to…”
You come in remembrance, Beloved of the Shaman.
My body jerked in surprise at the title. ClanFintan stirred restlessly at my side.
“Yes, I come in remembrance.”
I feel that you are in pain.
I closed my eyes on sudden tears. And I’d thought this wound had healed. What a fool I’d been.
“Yes,” I said simply.
The Shaman wishes you to hear a message, Chosen One.
My heart beat wildly. Clint was going to talk to me?
Prepare yourself. The thought rumbled within my mind.
I tensed in expectation of Clint’s message and what came nearly caused me to yelp in surprise. Through my open palms flooded peace. No words, no message that was spoken or even thought within my mind. Just an overflowing of peace. The tingling within my hands reminded me of another night little more than two months before, when healing had flowed from a Goddess, through my hands, and into his body.
I finally understood that his sacrifice hadn’t changed that healing. It had intensified it.
“Thank you,” I sobbed. “Oh, thank you, Clint.”
My eyes had dried when I turned from the tree.
“Are you well, Shannon?” ClanFintan asked. My mate rarely used my real name.
I realized that the eyes that searched mine were asking volumes more than a simple question.
I moved to his side and he wrapped a protective arm around my shoulder. I pressed myself firmly against him.
“Yes, ClanFintan. I am truly well.” I returned his gaze steadily and welcomed the flash of joy that crossed his handsome face as we understood that for the first time since I had returned to Partholon I could speak those words without feeling the taint of pain or guilt.
“Then let us go home, Shannon my girl.”
At the sound of the familiar endearment my eyes widened, but he was already bending to cover my lips with his own and he neatly stifled the question my mind was forming.
Some things are better not questioned, Beloved. The Goddess’s musical voice drifted softly through my mind.
She was probably right, as usual.
So instead of questioning him I returned my husband’s kiss with the enthusiasm of a long-absent lover.
Our arms entwined, we walked back to where Epi and our centaur friends waited. The sweet smell of sapphire-colored flowers hovered around us like a blessing, and Epi’s full-throated welcoming neigh mixed with the rustling of the oaks’ rich foliage until the glade echoed with the magic of life reborn.
* * * * *
Two Realm
s. One Choice. No Second Chance.
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I’ve been told history is written by survivors. But I know that isn’t always true. My name is Tenley Lockwood, and very soon, I’ll be dead.
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There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, eternal and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten—but they’ll also kill her to keep the other realm from signing her. Caught in a dangerous tug-of-war, Ten doesn’t know who to trust. Now she must stay alive long enough to make a decision.
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LIFEBLOOD (Book 2)
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Discover the jaw-dropping, zombie-infested bestselling series, THE WHITE RABBIT CHRONICLES, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter!
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To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies.
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A MAD ZOMBIE PARTY (Book 4)
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WINTER’S PASSAGE (Novella)
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SUMMER’S CROSSING (Novella)
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IRON’S PROPHECY (Novella)
THE LOST PRINCE (Book 5)
THE IRON TRAITOR (Book 6)
THE IRON WARRIOR (Book 7)
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Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
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THE GODDESS INHERITANCE (Book 3)
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ISBN: 9781488027536
Divine by Choice
Copyright © 2006 by P.C. Cast
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.
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P. C. Cast, Divine by Choice
(Series: Partholon # 2)
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