Celtic Shores by Delaney Rhodes Read Free Book Online Page A

his brathair Parkin is worse. At least that’s what I’ve been told,” she said tipping her head to the side, gauging Kyra’s response. “Ye know he has all manner of loose women after him, he does. And several bairns…born of different lasses …each of em, they say. He is not a mon for you either, my luv.”
    “Ye needn’t worry on my account. I’ve no intention of getting involved with another man,” replied Kyra before gripping her stomach and grimacing in pain.
    “Kyra, it’s most unfortunate that Aidan was killed; but you can’t let the death of yer betrothed keep ye from moving on in life dear,” said her mother, for what seemed like the hundredth time.
    Kyra hadn’t thought to ever marry after that fateful day. Aidan was out hunting and was dragging the fallen doe back to the clearing when what they presumed was a pack of hungry wolves attacked. Aidan did his best to fight them off from what they could tell, but there were obviously too many. He lay on the forest floor for possibly two days, bleeding from nearly twenty wounds and puncture marks. Vynae made his last days as comfortable as she could; but in the end, it was the fever that took him. He never regained consciousness; so they never knew for sure what had happened.
    It was why her father made it clear that no one would hunt alone again. The dictate riled Darina to no end. She loved her afternoons with her falcon, Riann, and relished her alone time hunting. But that was not to be anymore.
    Kyra had an idea what might be wrong with her, but she pushed the thought to the furthest corner of her mind. I haven’t the time to worry about that now . She and Aidan were handfasted during the prior Samhain celebration; and were to be formally married by the priest on this very day. Instead, it was Darina having a ceremony. Kyra wouldn’t let herself think about how unfair this was. She loved Aidan and the life they shared together. Why had the gods punished her so?
    She was quite sure she would never love another as she loved Aidan. Growing up in the same village, they spent most of their time together, as often as possible. He was one of only a handful of young men to come to the clan when the soldiers came to O’Malley territory. His father, Murchadh, was Ruarc’s right hand man, and was torn to bits at the news of his son’s demise.
    Kyra knew if what she thought was making her ill was the truth, that she would love the child. She would love the child with every breath she would take, because it was Aidan’s. Her parents would love the child and Murchadh and his wife would love the child. There would be no shame. They were handfasted after all. A pregnancy would not prove a disaster, just a momentary set-back. She wouldn’t be able to ride long as soon as her father learned, he would put a stop to that. No doubt, she would have to stop training with the others as well.
    It was the idea of raising a child without a father that gave her the most pain. She was extremely fortunate to find a worthy husband. Most of the women of the O’Malley clan would never be as fortunate. They were destined to spend out their days alone or together on the Isle of Women.
    Kyra knew that fate smiled on her once and the likelihood of it smiling on her again was small. She knew it. Her mother knew it, but wouldn’t say it, and her father gave himself away every time he looked at her. Pity was not what she wanted from her family; and she had had enough of that. She was eager to move on with her life, what was left of it. Aidan’s death was the very reason she asked to begin working as a messenger between clans. The traveling got her out of the territory and her mind on other things.
    An unexpected child would change her life forever; and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet. How would she break the news to her father or Murchadh? It would only open fresh wounds and heartache anew to her family.
    “Kyra, ye should go see Vynae. I’m worried. Ye know that