Page 44 of Blindsided
He doesn’t look convinced but doesn’t argue as we pull into the parking area near the visitor center and park beside their car.
“Ready for this?” Kane asks, turning off the engine.
I take a careful, measured breath, testing my lungs. They feel okay for now. “Yup.”
As we walk toward the entrance, I spot Declan pacing near the visitor center, with Wren, Kat, and Rory standing nearby. When Declan sees us, his expression darkens momentarily before he schools it into something more neutral.
“Here we go,” Kane mutters under his breath. “Family reunion, take two.”
I resist the urge to reach for his hand. Instead, I straighten my shoulders and put on what I think of as my professional face—the one I used in boardroom meetings when dealing with demanding clients. Whatever happens next, I’m determined to be the calm in Kane’s storm.
Chapter 17
Kori
“You’re late,” Declan says, his voice tight as we approach.
“Traffic was a nightmare,” Kane replies dryly. “All those sheep crossing the road.”
Declan’s jaw clenches, but before he can respond, Wren steps forward.
“Good to see you again, Kori,” she says warmly, though there’s a question in her eyes. “Didn’t expect you’d be joining us.”
“That makes two of us,” I admit with a small smile. “But Kane can be persuasive.”
“Don’t I know it,” she agrees, linking her arm through mine as if we’re old friends. “Come on, I’ll fill you in while the boys have their testosterone showdown.”
She leads me a few steps away, leaving Kane to face Declan and Rory. Kat follows us, her auburn hair gleaming in the sunlight.
“So,” Wren says once we’re out of earshot, “Kane stayed at your cottage last night.”
It’s not a question, but I answer anyway. “On the sofa. Nothing happened.”
“I didn’t think it did,” she says. “Kane may be many things, but he’s not the type to make a move on someone who just found out their husband’s cheating.”
“He told you about that?” I feel a flash of betrayal.
“No,” Kat jumps in. “You did. In the car yesterday, remember?”
I relax slightly. “Right. Sorry, I’m a bit on edge.”
“Understandable,” Wren nods. “This whole situation is... complicated.”
I glance back at Kane, who’s standing with his arms crossed while Declan gestures vigorously about something. Rory watches them like a tennis match, occasionally throwing in a comment that irritates both parties equally.
“What exactly are we looking for here?” I ask, turning my attention back to the women.
Kat pulls a folded paper from her pocket—a copy of the riddle. “‘Where the stones kiss the sky and dragons once flew,’” she recites. “Tara fits the first part. It’s one of the highest points in the area, and there are ancient stone monuments all over.”
“And the ‘ancient throne’?” I ask.
“The Stone of Destiny,” Wren explains. “It’s said that the true High Kings of Ireland were revealed when they sat on it. The stone would cry out beneath them.”
“That’s... poetic,” I say, trying to hide my skepticism.
Kat laughs. “It’s probably just acoustics or something, but the mythology is pretty powerful. The point is, we think that’s our starting point for the ‘seven steps east, three to the north’ part of the riddle.”
I nod, processing this information. It all sounds like something from a fantasy novel, but the intensity in their expressions tells me they’re taking it very seriously.
