Chapter 33

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

“ I ’m tired,” Magnus said. “What is this about then?”

“We’ve got somethin’ important tae talk about,” Thora said.

“What?”

Late that evening, after the castle was sleeping, Magnus had made his way to Thora’s chambers. Kai and Enya were already there, seated in chairs, leaving him to sit on the edge of his sister’s bed as she paced around her bedchamber, seeming to be agitated.

“What is it, Thora?” Magnus pressed.

“Enya and I have been readin’ some of maither’s old diaries, lookin’ fer an answer about why Ciara is immune tae yer gifts and nae Enya’s,” Thora said.

“All right. And?”

“We think we’ve found an answer,” Enya said.

Her words hung heavy in the air for a moment as he waited for them to continue. His sisters exchanged a glance with each other, letting the silence in the room linger.

“Well? What is it then?”

Thora passed Magnus one of the old leather-bound books their mother kept. He took it and started to flip through the pages, recognizing their mother’s neat, elegant script, but having no idea what he was supposed to be looking for.

“Maither believed that some people can resist mental abilities like yers and Kai’s,” she said. “But physical contact might be a way around that shield.”

Magnus shook his head. “But I’ve touched her plenty of times and I still?—”

“Nae physical contact like touchin’ her arm,” Enya explained. “More like a kiss.”

The color drained from Magnus’ face as he stared at his sisters. “Ye’re kiddin’.”

“We’re nae,” Thora said. “But we dinnae ken if it’s true or nae. So it looks like… ye’re goin’ tae have tae kiss the lass,” Enya said with the hint of a smile on her lips.

Magnus gaped at them, an expression of shock stretching his features. “Are ye mad?”

“Come on, braither. ‘Tis nae like we’ve nae seen ye moonin’ over her,” Thora said. “We thought ye’d be lookin’ forward tae the opportunity.”

“’Tis nae proper. She’s nae me lady and I’ve got nay reason tae dae it.”

“We’ need tae ken what’s in her head,” Thora pressed.

“I thought we’d all agreed she’s nae workin’ fer Fairfax,” he countered.

“We have. Of course,” Enya said. “But we need tae be certain.”

“And tae be certain, we need tae ken what’s in her head,” Thora finished.

“Well, we’re goin’ tae have tae find another way because I’m nae goin’ tae force a kiss on her,” Magnus said firmly.

Thora and Enya giggled, making Magnus scowl.

“What?” he demanded.

“We’ve seen the way she looks at ye,” Thora said.

“Aye. With big ol’ heart-shaped doe eyes,” Enya agreed with a giggle. “We dinnae think ye’d be forcin’ anything on the lass.”

Magnus swallowed hard. He had long wanted to kiss Ciara, he wasn’t going to deny that. But he wasn’t going to tell them that since they would only use that as fodder to tease him… more than they already did anyway.

“’Tis nae proper,” he repeated. “If ye want tae ken what’s in her head, ye need tae find another way about it.”

“There is nay another way that we’ve found,” Thora said.

“Then look harder.”

Kai got to his feet with a rakish grin on his face. “All right, all right. I will volunteer tae dae what our braither will nae dae fer the good of our family and our clan,” he said. “I will make the sacrifice tae kiss the bonny lass.”

Magnus’ eyes narrowed as he turned to his younger brother. “Ye go anywhere near her and I’ll break yer bleedin’ arms and legs. Ye stay away from her. Ye hear me?”

Other than Kai’s chuckle of amusement, the room was silent for a moment as his three siblings exchanged looks with each other. A moment later, they all burst into laughter and Magnus realized, belatedly, that he’d walked into their little trap. If his affection for her hadn’t been plain before, it was now. And now they had all the fodder they needed to tease him mercilessly. Magnus sighed and rolled his eyes.

“Bleedin’ hell,” he muttered to himself.

“All we’re sayin’ is the attraction between the two of ye is obvious,” Thora said. “Ye should act on somethin’ ye both seem tae want.”

“And help yer family and clan along the way,” Enya added.

Kai grinned mischievously. “But if ye dinnae want tae dae that, like I said, I’ll step up?—”

“Shut it, Kai,’ Magnus growled. “Open yer mouth again and I’ll knock yer bleedin’ teeth down yer throat.”

“Touchy, touchy,” he said.

“Can ye two give us a minute?” Thora asked gently.

Enya and Kai got to their feet and though frowning, walked out of Thora’s chambers, quietly closing the door behind them. Magnus watched his sister pacing the floor, arms folded over her chest, a pensive look on her face.

“What is it?” he asked.

She stopped pacing and sat down in the chair Enya had been sitting in a moment before. Magnus could tell she’d seen something. His sister’s gift was second sight and prophetic dreaming. She saw things well before they happened. It was often harmless and was usually helpful. But the look on her face made him concerned about what she might have seen.

“Thora?” he asked. “Did ye see somethin’?”

“I did. Sort of.”

“Explain yerself.”

“Ye ken that in addition to me other gifts, I can sometimes see the connections between people. I can see how they’re linked—or if they’re linked,” she said. “I often ken how a relationship will turn out. Or at least, how it should turn out.”

He cocked his head. “I dinnae understand.”

She looked at him, frustrated as she seemed to be trying to find the right words. Thora sat back in the chair and blew out a long breath.

“What I’m sayin’ is that ye and Ciara… yer relationship is filled with warmth. And love.”

Magnus’ heart skipped a beat, and he looked away as his sister’s words sunk into his mind. The truth was, he didn’t quite know what to say. Part of him was happy to hear what Thora was saying but another part of him feared it. Magnus had never let himself feel much for anybody outside of his family. He’d never had time for it. Nor the desire. But Ciara had awakened something in him… something he never knew existed before. And Magnus did not like what he did not know.

He looked at his sister. “How dae ye ken? I mean… how dae ye ken what ye’re seein’ is true and right? Nae all yer visions are right.”

“They’re nae. But when it comes tae relationships between people, I’ve never been wrong. ‘Tis a thread I see that runs between people. Connects them. Binds them together,” she said.

“And ye’ve seen that thread between us… between Ciara and me?”

“Aye,” she replied. “But if ye keep spendin’ yer time pushin’ her away, that thread will snap. Ye’ll lose each other.”

“Snap?”

“Aye. Snap,” she replied with a nod. “This ain’t just about kissin’ her tae get a look inside her head, Magnus. This is about ye bein’ happy too. We all want tae see ye happy.”

Magnus said nothing for a moment as Thora’s words echoed around in his mind. Happiness wasn’t something he’d ever stopped to think about. He’d just assumed that happiness was for other people. The mere thought of happiness was so foreign to him that it scared him. The truth was, Magnus had no idea what his life would look like if he was happy. Had been so caught up in his duty that he never thought it would be something he’d have in his life.

His life had been marked by so much sadness and tragedy, most of Magnus believed that happiness would forever elude him.