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My gaze meets his. I never noticed how much the whites of his eyes show when he looks sideways. It’s a little creepy. His pupils are the size of a pinhead.

I steal a glance over my shoulder at Sion. His shoulders slump as he limps behind us, rubbing his eyes. My exhaustion echoes his with the force of a full body slam. He looks up as if I called his name, and we exchange half-smiles.

The campsite is nearly deserted. Students hike down the hill to Rowan Bend for another Robert Corrigan authentic Irish breakfast complete with Irish traditional music. Farmer McKean throws sleeping bags and boxes of décor into the back of his truck. When the good farmer catches sight of us, he waves his arms and hollers for Olk.

Jeremy pushes his glasses up his nose. “Excuse me, will you?” When I nod, he squeezes my shoulder. “To be continued.”

As the good professor walks away, Colleen sidles next to me. “To be continued. Sounds like he’s still an option, the better option.”

“Excuse me! You just asked if I think Sion may be the find me on my ring.”

“Or is it Professor Olk?”

I shoot her a drop it look. “Or neither. Stop over-analyzing.”

She shrugs. “Beware the fling that ruins the dream.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Sion giving Jeremy a wide berth as he takes a few limping steps down the hill, pausing to look back at me.

The limp.

So many questions. Last night at Leap Castle, he was as spry as a prancing Colleen.

Charlie hands over my travel backpack. “Is she going with us, Flutter?”

I thread my arms through the straps while he holds it. “Where else would I be going? Dublin or bust.”

Colleen throws her arms around Charlie and plants a juicy kiss on his lips before turning back to me. I wonder how cozy their night got.

“Charlie, my knight in shining armor, has volunteered to brave a stick shift and the left side of the road to drive to my grandmother’s house in Wexford.”

I settle my pack as we leave the circle of powerless megaliths without any Faerie mishaps. “I can’t ditch my tour responsibilities in Dublin.” That would clinch a thumbs down from Olk.

Charlie whips the itinerary onto his cell screen. He’s as organized as Colleen. “Museums in the morning and then free choice afternoon/evening.”

Free choice nap in a nice Dublin hotel sounds perfect, especially if I’m going to spend my night chasing down a legendary English noble with Sion.

“You remember my grandma, Shanna, from the time she came for Christmas when we were in junior high?” says Colleen.

“I do. She’s a kick.”

“So, you’ll come?” She holds her hands to me, imploring. “My grandmother won’t approve of me driving around Ireland alone with a guy I just met. She’s old school—safety in numbers.”

Charlie gives her an open-mouthed stab at acting affronted that ends in an equally open-mouthed kiss. When their PDA times out, Colleen turns to me. “Well?”

My gaze drifts to Sion. Sunlight bypasses the outer layer of his chestnut hair to fire up hidden cantaloupe curls. It’s beautiful. He catches me watching him and smiles, bobbing his head in invitation to join him.

I shrug at Colleen, nodding at Sion. “Sorry. I’m booked. I’ll catch up with you at breakfast.”

Her narrowed gaze makes it clear this discussion is not over.

I give her an everything is dandy smile and take a step toward Sion. Suddenly, the hillside seems to jolt into a steeper angle. My stomach lurches as insanely harsh heartbeats steal my breath. Clouds and grass slowly smear together into a greenish gray blur. Arms, legs, spine seem to melt as I go down.

The last thing I remember are raindrops tickling my face before Sion catches me in his arms.

Chapter 13

The Chat