Page 47 (1/2)

That settled it Marcus’s ride with Matthew, Jack, Hubbard, and Lobero, no matter how hellish, couldn’t possibly compare to this

"It’s beautiful" Diana held her hair away fro over The Minch Gallowglass filled his lungs with the faht he had often drea here, on the land of his ancestors

"Aye" He turned and hts on and ready to depart

"I’ll be there in a minute" Diana scanned the horizon Autu the green The wind carried the witch’s red hair out in a streak that glowed like elass wondered what had captured her attention There was nothing to see but a s too insubstantial to hold up the rest of his body

"Come, Auntie You’ll freeze to death out here" Ever since he’d parted with his leather jacket, Gallowglass had worn nothing more than his habitual uniforer felt the cold, but he re air in this part of the world could cut to the bone

The heron stared at Diana for a s and crying out The bird took flight, soaring away toward the sea

"Diana?"

She turned blue-gold eyes in Gallowglass’s direction His hackles rose There was soaze that randfather cast runes and uttered prophecies

Even after the plane took to the skies, Diana relass stared out theand prayed for a strong tailwind

"Will we ever stop running, do you think?" Her voice startled hilass didn’t know the answer and couldn’t bear to lie to her He remained silent

Diana buried her face in her hands

"There, there" He rocked her against his chest "You mustn’t think the worst, Auntie It’s not like you"

"I’ood reason Between past and present, you’ve had a hell of a year" Gallowglass tucked her head under his chin She ht be Matthew’s lion, but even lions had to close their eyes and rest occasionally

"Is that Corra?" Diana’s fingers traced the outlines of the firedrake on his forearo?"

She lifted his sleeve before he could stop her Her eyes widened

"You weren’t ed the soft fabric back into place

"Show me"

"Auntie, I think it’s best--"

"Show rasped the hem of his shirt and pulled it over his head His tattoos told a complicated tale, but only a few chapters would be of interest to Mattheife Diana’s hand went to her lass"

A siren sat on a rock above his heart, her arm extended so that her hand reached over to his left bicep She held a clutch of cords The cords snaked down his ar to become Corra’s sinuous tail, which swirled around his elbow until it met with the firedrake’s body

The siren had Diana’s face

"You’re a hard wolass pulled his shirt back over his head

"How long?" Diana’s eyes were blue with regret and sympathy

"Four months" He didn’t tell her that it was the latest in a series of sies that had been inked over his heart

"That’s not what I lass stared between his knees at the carpeted floor "Four hundred years More or less"

"I’ you couldn’t prevent," Gallowglass said, silencing her with a slash of his hand "I knew you could never be mine It didn’t matter"

"Before I was Matthew’s, I was yours," Diana said sirow into Mattheife," he said roughly "Granddad always did have an unholy ability to give us jobs we could neither refuse nor perforlass took a deep, breath

"Until I saw the newspaper story about Lady Pembroke’s laboratory book," he continued, "a sht have another surprise up her sleeve I wondered if you ht co hi a word

"So I went to Sept-Tours to wait for you, like I pro on about the changes your tiht Miniatures and telescopes are one thing But there was only ever one man for you, Diana And God knows there was only ever one woe to hear you sayas I call you Auntie, I never forget who really owns your heart," Gallowglass said gruffly

"Philippe shouldn’t have expected you to watch over me It was cruel," she said

"No crueler than what Philippe expected frolass replied "And far less so than what Granddad delass continued

"Philippe always put his own needs last," Gallowglass said "Vampires are creatures ruled by their desire, with instincts for self-preservation that are er than any warmblood’s But Philippe was never like the rest of us It broke his heart every tiot restless and went away Then I didn’t understand why Ysabeau felt it necessary to leave Now that I’ve heard her tale, I think Philippe’s love frightened her It was so deep and selfless that Granny sih Part of her was always braced for Philippe to turn on her, to deive"