A Celtic Vow

Story Overview Constance loathes the monstrous king she’s destined to help and likes the queen she’s supposed to defeat. To that end, she’s determined to travel back in time, finish off the man who should have been her ally and find a way to rally peace with his enemy. Or so she thinks until she arrives in medieval Ireland and learns things might not be what they seem. Finally free of his nemesis, Aodh, the great Dragon King of the North, wants nothing to do with Constance, the lass who’s supposed to help him save his country. Why would he when she’s aligned with the queen who imprisoned him? Or so he thinks until Constance ends up in his arms on the brink of death, and everything changes. Thrust on a path neither could have foreseen, Aodh and Constance have no choice but to confront a forgotten past full of joy and sorrow. Blasphemous secrets. Deep love. An unthinkable outcome. Will they be able to rediscover what they once shared? Moreover, will their love withstand everything trying to stop it now? Darkness so relentless, Ireland faces certain ruin. Find out in the epic conclusion of The MacLomain Series: Irish Roots. A Celtic Vow The MacLomain Series: Irish Roots –––––––– Book Four Sky Purington COPYRIGHT © 2023 A Celtic Vow Sky Purington This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. Edited by Andrea Snider Cathy McElhaney Cover Art by Tara West Published in the United States of America Contents Story Overview Series Overview Medieval Ireland Introduction Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Just Curious? Coming Soon Exclusive Invitation Pronunciations & Meanings Previous Releases-Best Reading Order Family Trees About the Author Series Overview Torn apart through the years, four unknown kings must save Ireland’s people and history by teaming up with women across time. Lassies who possess a gift that will make all the difference in what is to come. The only problem? It will bode ill to get too close to them. Worse yet, fall in love. Is such a thing truly avoidable, though, considering what they must face together? How close they will ultimately become? Only time will tell. Medieval Ireland Prior to the Norman Invasion of 1169 A.D., Gaelic Ireland was divided into five prime overkingdoms. Ulaid, or Ulster, in the north. Connachta, or Connacht in the west. Mide, or Meath (also known as southern Uí Néill), in the center. Laighim, or Leinster, in the southeast, and Mumhan, or Munster, in the south. A Special Thanks to one of my longtime readers for penning this special poem for Adlin MacLomain. Adlin has played such a pivotal role in the lives of so many throughout numerous series, be they in Scotland, Ireland or Scandinavia. Here’s to many more adventures! –––––––– ~Roger Quaintance Introduction So far, three couples have come together to fulfill their part of a prophecy that foretells how to save Ireland from ruin. King Aodh of Ulster, now free from his destructive inner dragon and Siobhán’s bonds, is making his way back to his kingdom, hoping for forgiveness. Meanwhile, Constance has locked herself in her room again in the future and continues to act strangely from behind closed doors. And so the story goes.... Prologue “RUN,” A BOOMING voice roared. “And never look back!” She listened and raced through the torch-lit tunnel. Navigated blackened roots easily despite her flowing red dress. The air smelled of fire and brimstone. Death and decay. “Go,” the voice roared again, shaking the ground. “Get away before ‘tis too late!” Too late for what? Who pursued her? What lay ahead? Yet she knew. A monster behind her. Sanctity somewhere beyond. “Run,” the voice behind her echoed, his voice not ferocious now but desperate. “Run before I catch up with ye, lass.” Like always, she ran, terrified, praying she made it. Hoped God listened. That the devil didn’t catch up with her, and she made it out safely. Because she always did. Every single time into the arms of someone else. Someone she trusted. Until now. “No.” She skidded to a halt and shook her head. “Not this time.” She wasn’t sure why, either. Just that she needed to face this. Him. Whatever he was. She took in the small stone chamber with nothing but an ornate red chair and a sizable window leading to a golden woodland path. Usually, she crawled out that window. Felt the cool air on her face. Relished the chance at survival. “Go,” the booming voice roared, growing closer. Too close. Terrifyingly close. For the first time since she’d started having this nightmare years ago, she really took in the chair by her side. Its plush crimson velvet padding. Trailed her fingers over its cool, intricately designed wood. It felt familiar somehow. Like she had touched it before. Like it gave her strength. “I won’t run,” she ground out. “Not anymore.” Determined to face Satan head-on this time, she closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Fought terror. Faced her worst nightmare when she turned around and opened her eyes. “I won’t go,” she vowed at what chased her through the darkness. What had always chased her even as he told her to flee. He wasn’t here yet, but he was coming. Close. So very close. Fire sizzled like pinpricks in the