Danu, The Return by Sally Painter

Author:Sally Painter [Painter, Sally]
Format: epub, pdf
Published: 2010-08-12T14:48:33.565000+00:00

Ragna stroked her hair and hummed a Celtic lullaby as they lay entwined in each

other’s arms.

18

Danu, The Return

Danu drifted off to sleep. He thought of the final battle he’d fought by her side and

the first time he’d seen the castle she’d created, telling him the name was Rock Rose

Castle.

“I shall be your rock and ye shall be my rose, my beloved Danu. We shall serve the

world well from this fine home.”

19

Sally Painter

Chapter Two

“Awaken, my love.” Sleep faded and Ragna’s voice called to her from the mist.

Groggy and disoriented, Danu opened her eyes to find him standing with his back

to her.

“See there?” He pointed to a silver light shimmering in the darkness. “What has

come to visit us?”

Danu’s heartbeat quickened. “Mila,” she whispered and picked up her robe, pulling

it on as the light drew closer.

Ragna stood with legs braced apart and hands balled into hard fists resting on his

hips. He was stark naked yet unabashed in the presence of an elemental being.

“What do ye want, Mila?” he challenged the guide before she could materialize

from the luminescent form.

“Ragna, calm down.” Danu stepped in front of him, noticing the angry tic in the

muscles of his clenched jaw.

“The time has passed, Danu.” Mila remained a shimmer as though reluctant to fully

materialize. Danu didn’t blame Mila for choosing to remain partly in spirit form in case

she needed to hastily escape Ragna’s wrath. “You’ve ignored the Elders’ summons. I’m

here to fetch you home.”

“Like hell!” Ragna took a step toward Mila who floated backward.

“Ragna, please. I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you.” Danu closed her fingers

around his arm, wanting him to understand, hating herself for betraying him. “Please

understand.”

“Go back, Mila. Ye aren’t welcome here.” Ragna moved to stand between Danu and

the undulating light.

20

Danu, The Return

“You have no say in this matter, Ragna. You aren’t a Hussy. You’re a…”

“I know damn well what I am. I’m Danu’s husband. Ye rewarded her with eternity

in paradise. Ye made a vow, Mila.”

“And that vow was for five hundred years.”

“What?” He paused, glancing back at Danu. The anger in his expression drained

and was replaced by disbelief. “Danu? What does she mean?”

Danu licked her lips.

“Danu?”

When she didn’t answer he grabbed her by the shoulders his fingers digging into

her flesh.

“Tell me ye dinna strike such a bargain with this she-devil?”

“Ragna.” Danu gasped. “I-I…never thought the world would reclaim me.” Sobs

choked her.

“Ye…ye lied to me?” The look in his eyes pierced her heart as surely as if it had

been a blade. He released her. “All this time together… ’Twas a lie?”

“Nay!” Danu reached for him, but he jerked from her touch. “I didn’t lie, my love.”

“Ye dinna tell me paradise came with so high a price.”

“I was going to. I was. I just…”

“Ye had five hundred years to tell me, Danu.”

“She didn’t tell you, Ragna, because it was the only way the Elders would agree to

let you enter the Netherworld. You only belong in one world, that of the earth. Danu

belongs to both worlds.”

“Ye sacrificed eternity for me?” He turned to Danu.

“What good would eternity be without you, my love?” She swiped at the tears in

her eyes.

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