Chapter Thirteen
Mairead froze at the fighter who had used the distraction to move into place with his spear. Fergus ó Phelan held his sword on the other side of Balor’s neck, and the sight of it shattered her. Even if Balor fought back, he was outnumbered.
Her father’s men would never reach him in time. Bile rose up in her throat, and she’d never been so furious—or helpless—in all her life. In that moment, she grew aware of every person within Laochre, every enemy and every ally.
‘You’ve been a problem since the moment you were born,’ Fergus said to Balor. ‘Now I’m going to end your life—and she can watch.’
Not again. She had already lost one man she’d cared for, even if it hadn’t truly been love. Her heart completely belonged to Balor ó Phelan, and if she lost him, it would shatter her. Of every man here, he’d had the courage to stand up for her father. And he didn’t deserve to die for it.
She refused to stand back and do nothing. Mairead unsheathed her own blade, even as three men stepped closer to keep her away from the fight. ‘Let me go!’
Balor was staring at her as if he held no regrets. There was resignation in his posture, and yet, his face held peace. ‘Mairead, if your face is the last one I see in this world, it’s enough for me.’
‘It’s not enough for me,’ she shot back.
She tried to lunge towards him, but someone else caught her from behind. ‘Don’t move, Mairead.’ She struggled, only to realize it was her brother, Liam, who was now holding her back. The people murmured among themselves, while her father’s relief was palpable.
Soldiers poured into the inner bailey, led by her uncle Bevan, fully armed and prepared to kill anyone who threatened their family.
And among them was Kenneth ó Phelan. Fergus appeared stunned by the sight, and he hesitated with his blade.
Mairead fought to break free, but her brother’s grip only tightened. His gaze locked on the men, and he pressed her behind him. Although she realized he was keeping the ó Phelans distracted, giving the MacEgan men time to move into place, her heart was breaking.
‘Liam, I beg you, help Balor.’ This wasn’t supposed to be their ending. She was supposed to marry Balor, waking beside him each morn, and building a life at his side. Perhaps having children of their own.
The tears slid down her cheeks as she stared back at him. Balor believed he was about to die. And she simply couldn’t accept it.
Kenneth stepped forward and called out to his father, ‘Let my brother go.’
Fergus dug his blade into the side of Balor’s neck and blood welled against his skin. ‘No.’
Mairead’s scream of anguish caught in the back of her throat as she pressed her fist to her own mouth, horrified at the thought of watching him die.
Then suddenly, Fergus froze, the sword falling from his hands.
His face paled, and he dropped to his knees, blood spilling over him.
The other soldier spun with his spear, only to see Orla standing behind the body of her husband, gripping a blade.
She paled, her husband’s blood covering her shaking hands.
Balor took advantage of the distraction and disarmed the soldier, forcing him back. The man raised his hands in surrender as he retreated.
Balor turned to his mother, and Orla gripped her waist, as if she couldn’t believe what she’d done. For a moment, she looked as if she wanted to embrace her son but didn’t dare move.
‘Are you…all right?’ Orla asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Balor gave a nod.
At that, Mairead broke free of Liam’s hold and ran across the space, not even caring about the other soldiers as she threw herself into Balor’s arms. He gripped her tightly, breathing in the scent of her hair as she embraced him.
‘I love you,’ he murmured against her cheek. ‘I should have said it sooner.’
She wept in his arms, and he kissed her, even as they were surrounded by the MacEgans. ‘I love you, too. Don’t ever let me go.’
‘I won’t,’ he promised, resting his forehead against hers. ‘I’ll steal you away if I have to, and I won’t give you back. No one will come between us again.’
She couldn’t seem to get close enough to him, needing to feel his body against hers. ‘I’m never leaving you again. Wherever you go, I go.’ She didn’t care if she had to live in poverty for the rest of her life. If Balor was with her, she would be the richest woman in the world.
He embraced her tightly, and she was dimly aware of the ó Phelan men pulling back, surrendering to the MacEgan fighters.
Her father stepped forward and straightened. The moment King Patrick faced the ó Phelans, they dropped to their knees. ‘After your rebellion, you don’t deserve to live.’ His voice was filled with fury. ‘But you will each receive a fair trial, and the brehons will judge your guilt or innocence.’
Patrick turned his attention to Balor. Mairead clung to the man she loved, prepared to fight for him.
But before the king could speak, Liam interrupted, saying, ‘I owe my life to Balor ó Phelan. And he deserves to be rewarded for his bravery today.’ With a faint smile, he suggested, ‘Perhaps the hand of my sister in marriage?’
Mairead couldn’t stop her radiant smile. Her father’s gaze softened upon them, and he nodded his permission. ‘After the Demon of éireann fought for us, he has proven his loyalty.’
Joy broke through her at his words, and she smiled through her tears. ‘Thank you,’ she breathed. She held Balor fiercely, feeling as if the broken pieces of her heart had mended together at last.
‘I will provide a place for them here, at Laochre,’ Patrick offered.
‘They likely won’t need it,’ Liam interrupted. Mairead didn’t understand what her brother meant, but he continued, ‘Balor is the bastard son of the Earl of Beaumont, after all.’
She pulled back to stare at Balor. His expression turned slightly uncomfortable, but he murmured, ‘It’s true. I only just learned of it.’ He brushed a hand over her hair and added, ‘But if you would rather live in éireann instead of England…’
‘I don’t care where we live,’ she answered, tracing her fingers along his jaw. ‘As long as we’re together.’
He kissed her again, and there were cheers and applause all around them. When the noise died down, Orla stepped forward. She was gripping her hands together, but she spoke up loud enough for everyone to hear. ‘Balor is not a bastard.’
She cast an apologetic look towards her son, and Mairead tightened her embrace around Balor.
‘What are you trying to say?’ Patrick asked. The question seemed to hang within the space, the weight of their future lying in the balance.
‘I mean that Balor is the legitimate son of Lord William Fleming de Beaumont. My husband.’
Within her arms, Mairead could feel the change in Balor’s posture. There was tension there, laced with shock.
‘Tell me everything.’ Balor’s voice held iron as he stared at his mother.
* * *
Orla walked forward, her steps heavy. She faced him, and in her eyes, Balor read the heartbreak.
‘I…met William when he travelled here twenty years ago.’ A flush suffused her face, and she admitted, ‘I loved him from the moment I met him. We married in secret at Fearna, and he gave me a silver ring.’
Balor’s hand moved into Mairead’s hair, and he stroked it gently, even as he listened to his mother’s story. It felt as if he were standing outside himself, as if none of it were real. If he was the earl’s legitimate son—then it meant that her marriage to Fergus had been invalid.
And she’d known that. She’d always known. Why had Orla stayed with him for so long?
His anger started to rise, but then Mairead rested her cheek against his heart, lacing his hands with hers.
She calmed him, and he realized that none of it mattered anymore.
Anger wouldn’t change the past, but if he was the heir to an earldom, then he could now give Mairead the life he’d always wanted her to have.
Orla straightened, clenching her hands together. ‘For weeks, we were so happy together until the ó Phelans attacked William and his men.’
Pain laced her words, but she continued, ‘I stayed away from the fighting, and the only way I could save William’s life was with a lie.’ Her tone grew heavy, filled with sadness. ‘I told Fergus I had been violated by one of the Normans and begged him to keep me safe.’
Her voice grew thick with more tears. ‘He believed me, and he was so distracted that they escaped by boat.’
Orla openly wept and added, ‘I was terrified that, even if I did find a way to reach Beaumont, no one would believe me. Why would an earl wed a poor Irish maiden?’ She straightened slightly and added, ‘I—I told myself that William was lost to me now. All I had left of him was his child. And so, I pretended to marry Fergus. I needed his protection since my own family lived so far away. I tried to make the best of the life I had, even though it wasn’t with the man I wanted. ’
In her words, Balor could hear the wrenching heartache. Although he’d hated her for treating him differently from Kenneth, he was starting to understand that she, too, had suffered.
Mairead reached up to touch his cheek, and he covered her hand, bringing it to his lips.
And he understood her silent reassurance.
Unlike his mother, they had fought for a life together.
Even if he’d had nothing at all, he would never stop fighting for the woman he loved. He was hers, just as she was his.
He traced his hand over Mairead’s face. It seemed impossible that he had won the heart of a king’s daughter, that she had defied her family to be with him. But he would spend each day of the rest of his life making her happy.
Tears streamed down Orla’s face as she turned towards Balor. ‘I am so sorry for the way Fergus treated you. And for my cowardice.’
Some of Balor’s frustration eased, knowing that Orla’s decision to remain silent was borne out of fear. So many years had been lost.
‘Why didn’t you send me to England sooner?’ he asked.