Page 13 of Shamrocks & Second Chances

Bella steps back, slightly breathless. Her cheeks are flushed, and her eyes are bright. For a moment, she forgets to maintain her guard, and I glimpse the woman I fell in love with.

“Final challenge,” says Fergus, his voice dropping dramatically. “The Tango of Truth.”

The stage lights dim to a deep crimson. The atmosphere changes instantly, becoming charged with intensity.

“This dance reveals what lies beneath the surface,” he says. “No hiding, no pretending. The Tango of Truth lays bare what you truly feel.”

Bella’s expression shifts back to wariness. “I’m not sure I want to do this one.”

“We need that clue,” I remind her gently. “Just one more dance.”

She takes a deep breath, then nods. “One more.”

The music begins, It’s slow, sensual, with an undercurrent of passion and longing. This time, the floor doesn’t glow with patterns or memories. Instead, a soft mist rises around our ankles, swirling with colors that reflect our emotions.

I step closer to Bella, placing my hand at the small of her back. She rests her palm against my chest, her touch light but electric. The mist around us shifts to a deep blue, tinged with gold.

“The dance begins with connection,” says Fergus softly. “Eye to eye, and heart to heart.”

I meet Bella’s gaze, and something passes between us. The mist darkens, swirling more intensely. We begin to move, our bodies remembering this dance from long ago. The tango requires closeness, intensity, and trust. Each step, each turn, and each pause is loaded with meaning.

“The truth reveals itself in layers. First, what you show the world.”

The mist around us forms images as my cousin speaks. I see the separate lives we’ve built. I guide her through a complex turn, and she follows flawlessly, her body responding to mine as if we’d never been apart.

“Then, what you hide from others.”

The mist shifts again, now showing shadows of loneliness—me sitting alone in my family’s grand hall, staring at a photograph. Bella closing her café late at night, her smile fading as soon as the last customer leaves.

Our movements become more intense and passionate. Bella’s grip tightens on my shoulder as I dip her low, arching her back gracefully. When I pull her up, she’s closer than before, our faces inches apart.

“Finally, what you hide even from yourselves.”

The mist turns a deep, burning red. Images form around us of our dreams, hopes, and desires. Bella in a wedding dress. Me returning to Evershift Haven for good. Our hands intertwined, gold bands glinting on our fingers.

Bella gasps softly as she sees these visions. Her eyes are wide with vulnerability. “Seamus,” she whispers.

“I never stopped loving you.” The words escape before I can stop them.

The music swells, and our dance becomes something transcendent. Every move is perfect, with every turn precise. We’re no longer dancing for the challenge but for each other, expressing through movement what we can’t say in words.

I spin Bella outward, then pull her back against my chest. She presses her back against me, tilting her head back to rest on my shoulder. My arms encircle her waist, and for a moment, we simply breathe together.

“I wanted to hate you,” she says quietly as we sway. “It would have been easier.”

“I know.” I turn her to face me again. “I deserved it.”

The final notes of the music approach. I dip Bella one last time, deeper than before, and completely supporting her weight. Her hair cascades toward the floor, exposing her throat in a graceful arch. When I pull her up, our lips are a breath apart.

For a heartbeat, the world stops as the music fades. The mist swirls around us, now a brilliant, shimmering gold. Then reality crashes back as the music ends. She steps away, her expression guarded once more, though her eyes remain soft.

“Magnificent.” Fergus wipes away what might be genuine tears this time. “The Tango of Truth has spoken. Your connection remains unbroken, despite all obstacles.”

From her spot at the edge of the stage, Hecate gives a small bark.

“I give it a solid eight out of ten,” she says in her tiny but clear voice. “Points deducted for unnecessary smoldering.”

Bella laughs, breaking the tension. “Hecate.”

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