Page 30 of The Valiant Knight (The Ravensmire Chronicles #2)

The Castle

Before Dinner

W hen they finished freezing their asses off in the waterfall, they got back on Romeo, and returned to the castle. Oh, and both of them got quite the stares from Tony and Graham as they walked inside.

Then again, who could blame them? They were a mess with their wet hair, and laughter.

Honestly, neither cared either. They’d had a damn good time playing in the waterfall.

Yes, their noses were red, and they were chilly, but it had been worth it all. Beneath the waterfall, there were some amazing rock features that they’d used as a bed.

Once in the castle, they both took showers, together, and that ended up with them having some more water fun. Truly, they were both having a good time, and enjoying the moment.

This appeared to be their new pastime, and neither of them were going to complain about that.

Not.

At.

All.

When they came down, holding hands, Graham was at the counter, and he was working on dinner.

And it smelled good.

“What are you making, Graham?” Gabby asked. “It smells like heaven.”

Well, he was glad he could at least contribute to feeding them.

As for himself, he was struggling. He was trying not to be jealous, but he was. It appeared his friend had sealed the deal, and he, too, was on his way to his happily ever after.

The ache in Graham’s chest was so overwhelming that he really wanted to weep.

He was so empty.

Now, he was faced with having dinner with them, and that was making him want to fall apart. What wouldn’t he do for some love?

To be someone’s other half?

God.

Graham would give anything he had to not feel so alone in the world. Something had to give, and unfortunately for him, it was going to be Graham.

He had to get out of here.

“We’re having leg of lamb, tatties, and a salad. Do you want to eat in here or the dining room?” he asked, trying not to sound testy.

Honestly, Tony didn’t care. He’d been sitting there working and was good wherever everyone else wanted to go.

“I’m not picky.”

They felt the same.

So, they’d eat here.

Gabby was curious.

“Can we get a look at the book that Gryphen and Ian were putting back together?” she asked. “Before dinner?”

Truth be told, Graham didn’t mind.

“Sure. Is there any way you can put the journal you found with it? I haven’t gotten in there yet. I was tied up with dinner,” he admitted, grateful they were going to be in another room.

He needed a break.

Graham didn’t mind Tony sitting there because he was working and not talking, but the two lovebirds…

It was a hard pill to swallow.

Gabby was more than willing to help the man out. If that was what he needed, she could do that. After all, he was taking care of them.

“Absolutely. Call us when it’s time to eat,” she said, wanting to give the man some space.

Graham was filled with tension, and his voice was terse. Something was going on, and she didn’t think it was the ghosts.

“I’m going to finish working here,” Tony said. “Can you do this without me?”

They could.

“Sure,” Gabby said.

As they were walking away, she slipped her hand into Finn’s and glanced over.

“He looks rough,” she said. “Like he’s had a bad day. Are the ghosts getting to him?”

Oh, well, a certain ghost was. His past lover was haunting him daily.

Finn explained to the woman.

“He’s likely going out to get laid tonight. Being around happiness and joy bothers him. He’s trying to find someone to love him, and he’s struggling.”

She lifted a brow.

“How do you know that?” she asked.

He explained.

“Well, he’s told me some things, and the rest I hear while being a cop. Unfortunately, he’s been banging his way through some men in the village.”

Her heart broke for him.

“Graham had a bad breakup, and he’s struggling. The guy he loved was American and the dude left him behind. He’s never gotten over him.”

“Oh,” she said.

He needed to make sure she understood that if she did the same thing, he’d also fall apart.

“You’re not going to do that to me, right?” he asked again because he was worried.

She squeezed his hand and reassured him.

“Absolutely not. What will make you feel better?” she asked. “I can try to help you through this.”

He was honest.

“I’ll be okay, mo ghràdh. Just bear with me, We all have scars,” he said, kissing her knuckles. “I’ll work through it in my own time, and then, I won’t be worried ever again.”

She could give him that.

Heading into the library, they went to the shelf, and found the book. It was old, and the pages had yellowed with time.

Inside it, there were loose pages.

Carrying the book over to the couch, Gabby placed it down while Finn made a fire in the fireplace. It was getting nippy in there, and he didn’t want her to catch a chill.

“I’ll make us a fire.”

That worked for her.

“I’ll be right back. Tony and I found that page today in Duncan’s crypt, so I’ll get it from the storage room.”

He kissed her.

And wanted to make sure.

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked. “I can, if you’d like.”

Gabby liked how protective he was, but she should be good walking a few feet to the room.

She shook her head.

“No, I’ve got this. You get the fire going, and I’ll be back. We can cuddle and read,” she said.

Well, that worked for him.

“Those are two of my favorite pastimes,” he admitted. “I’ll be getting spoiled if you keep it up.”

Oh, she planned on doing just that. Being around Finn was amazing, and she was having a great time. She was looking forward to her future with the man.

“I’ll be right back,” she stated, leaving him to do his job, while she did hers.

Heading down the hall, as she was approaching the room, Gabby heard singing. It was a low lullaby, and it caught her off guard.

She paused.

Oh, shit.

The woman’s voice told her everything she needed to know. Ceit was back in the castle and haunting it. Now, she really believed that moving her bones back in and stirred her up all over again.

“Ceit?” she whispered.

Above her, the lights flickered.

Oh, boy.

Now, she needed to know.

“You’re not going to hurt me, are you?” she asked, and then saw something out of her peripheral.

When she turned her head, there was a woman standing there. She was blurry, but she could make her out in the shadows.

Immediately, Gabby stepped back.

They stared at each other, and Gabby was afraid to look away. She wasn’t sure if she was really seeing her or not.

“Ceit?”

The woman nodded, and then she began walking, and of course, Gabby followed. They were going down into the lower level of the castle. The only two things down there were the crypt, and the storage room.

Once there, Ceit walked through the wall, and into the storage room.

Yowza.

This was going to be interesting.

Clearly.

Well, here went everything.

As she opened the door, the dead woman was standing by her bones. Duncan had been put back in his crypt, but it was clear that Tony hadn’t finished scanning the remaining ones.

As soon as she saw her, the note in the plastic sealed bag slid off the table, and landed at Gabby’s feet.

It was clear she wanted her to read it again, and maybe discuss it.

She took a wild stab at it.

It was the letter where she was concerned with Ciarán being around her.

“Someone hurt you. Were you killed, Ceit?” she asked, holding the letter.

Gabby had never done this before, so she kept asking questions.

“You didn’t fall, you were pushed, right?”

Again, she nodded.

“Did he hit you in the face and shove you out the window?” she asked, meaning Ciarán. Honestly, she didn’t think she needed to give a name. There were only so many people involved in this whole mess.

Duncan, Ciarán, and Ceit.

It was a lover’s triangle, she’d bet on it.

“Did he steal your husband from you, and is that why you’re not at rest?”

She paused and didn’t answer.

So, Gabby tried again.

“Are you wandering around because you were murdered?”

She nodded.

“Do you hold Duncan responsible for your death?” she asked, not sure if she would answer.

There was weeping, and Gabby could hear it as clear as day.

When she nodded, she got it.

“Did he not protect you from being killed?”

This time, she didn’t answer, but instead, she waved her hand, and Gabby was able to see her death state.

It.

Was.

Bad.

As soon as she saw her, she gasped, and the woman went back to looking pretty again.

She was trying to come up with questions, as quickly as possible.

“Did us opening your grave bother you? Gryphen and Ian found you, and Graham said it got quiet again. When we moved you back in here, did it disturb you?”

She nodded.

Yeah, that was exactly what she thought. Well, that and the construction.

“I’m sorry. Do you want to go back out there? I can have you put back.”

She shook her head.

Now, she was curious.

“How many spirits are haunting the castle?” she asked, waiting patiently.

Ceit flickered.

It was clear she was using up all of her energy to appear to Gabby.

She held up her hand, and four fingers.

Only, before she could ask who, Ceit pointed at the rows and rows of paintings that were in storage and once hung in the castle.

“Is something here?” she asked.

She nodded.

“Okay. So back to Ciarán. We found his name, and now, we need to know who he is and if he was a soldier with your husband or…?”

She didn’t get to say more.

Why?

Ceit turned her head, and they both saw a dark shadow appear. Unfortunately for her, it was the same one they’d seen by Ceit’s grave.

And the same voice under the water.

As Ceit took a step back, the ghost followed, and it was clear that she was his target. That spirit lunged after Ceit, and she vanished in thin air.

What the hell?

When the figure moved, she saw that beneath his robes of black, he was wearing something colorful, and it wasn’t plaid.

As it moved toward her, Gabby knew what to do.

She.

Took.

Off.

Whatever that shadow was, she wasn’t dealing with it by herself. Ceit was afraid of it, and so was she. Instead of staying where it could get her, she raced from the room, and ran right into Finn.

Literally.