Cathal gave a crooked smile. “That’s exactly what I would expect you to say, Clodagh. Your heart is so brimming with warmth and love that you see good even in a black-hearted tyrant like Mac Dara.” He paused, looking down at our interlinked hands. “Clodagh, I have to tell you this before we walk on. I know how much your family means to you. You are dearer to me than anything in the world. But I can’t stay at Sevenwaters. I can’t live in the kind of household where you have grown up. It’s not just that I am ill at ease in such company and unable to play by the rules. If I settled here with you I might bring down my father’s anger on everyone in the place. I would certainly put you in danger. He knows you are the tool by which he can most easily control me. I only stayed out of his reach, those last few years in our world, because I was on Inis Eala where I’m screened from him. Clodagh . . .”

“I know this already, Cathal,” I said, kneeling up and turning so I could meet his gaze. Gods, he looked thin and drained. “I had assumed that when we were married we would live on Inis Eala. Yes, I’ll miss Sevenwaters, but I do have family on the island. I have skills that should come in useful there—I know there’s no room for idle folk in such a community.”

Cathal got to his knees and gathered me close. “Are you sure?” he said against my hair. “Are you quite sure you want to marry me, knowing whose son I am? He won’t forget that promise you extricated yourself from, you know. If we have children—sons—they’ll be at risk all their lives. We’ll be more or less trapped on the island. He won’t give up his efforts to recapture me, and you’ll be a target because he can use you to force my obedience. It may not be much of a life for you, Clodagh.”

“It’s the life I want. I want to be with you, Cathal. Nothing else matters.”

His arms tightened around me. “Why would you give up so much, just for me?” he asked, his tone full of wonder.

“You almost gave up everything for me,” I told him. “The reason is exactly the same. I love you. It’s as simple as that.” I touched the necklace he wore, with its white stone. “I have to ask you something,” I said. “Clearly you’ve developed great skill in magic, even if you do call yourself a beginner. Perhaps you could have left before, using those powers and your alliances. Maybe you were strong enough to defeat him all along.”