Page 125 of A Courage of the Chosen

In our room, Callahan tugs me into his chest and wraps his arms around me in a crushing embrace.

“Do I smell?” It comes out muffled against his chest, and his chuckle rumbles into me.

“I don’t give a fuck. I’m just glad that’s what’s occupying your mind right now. It means you’ve come back to me.”

He drops a kiss to the top of my head and I burrow my face further into him. “I’m here as long as you’ll have me,” I mutter with absolute certainty, because while he chooses me, I’ll stay by his side.

“Always.”

I want to believe him, but my heart knows that, when he learns the reason why I’m Chosen, he won’t look back.

“Do you want a bath?”

With a sigh that’s half a groan, I reply, “Does a bear shit in the woods?”

“Why does that sound like something Brodie would say?” he sighs, letting me go with an exasperated shake of his head.

When I’m clean, and there’s a hot meal of stew brought to our rooms, Callahan sits facing me on the bed with his legs crossed.

I preempt him. “You’re going to ask me what The Chosen means, aren’t you?”

“Aye. And you’re going to tell me.”

“I wish I knew.” That’s mostly true. I know it has something to do with the fact I can wield both like Tavish, and that I seem to be more powerful than most. But beyond that, I have no idea what it means.

“Have you heard it anywhere else?”

I hesitate before telling him what’s about to come out of my mouth. Thanks to our connection, and the way we can speak into each other’s minds, he’s the only one that might understand this and not think I’ve lost it.

“I hear this . . . voice . . . sometimes. A woman in my head, like you and I can talk to each other.”

He processes my words with a perfectly schooled face. “What does this voice say?”

I fiddle with my fingers in my lap. “Much the same as the Druids, really.”

“Does she speak to you a lot?”

I scan his face carefully, observing him to see if he thinks I’m crazy. Only cautious curiosity greets me.

“Sometimes. She helped lead me out of the dungeon. Finneus and I saw a will-o-the-wisp, and we followed it right to the entrance where we made our escape. I’ve seen them a few times now, and I always hear her voice when I do.”

“Did you hear it in Ruival?” he asks, since one of the blue balls was attempting to guide us into the cave.

“No. But I could feel her, if that makes any sense. She does that sometimes, too. Just sits there with me.”

She did that a lot when I was captive and barely holding onto my sanity, filling me with something other than the clawing emptiness that also kept me sane.

Callahan rubs a large hand over the stubble on his face. “Do you know what that means, mo sholas?”

“No?”

“It’s Dhia. Dhia is the one speaking with you.”

Shock washes over me.

“Surely not?” Her presence fills me as I deny it.

“I’ve seen more will-o-the-wisps around you than I’ve witnessed in my entire life. That’s Her magic, and it’s exceptionally rare. You’re telling me you hear a voice when you see them?”