When Kings Fall (The O’Sullivan’s Brides #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVENNiamh

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Niamh

MY ARM SLICES through the water, each stroke steady and strong. The cold is a constant companion, biting at the edges of my skin despite the ocean grease and the layers of thermal swimming leggings, neoprene socks, and swim cap. It’s the kind of cold that doesn’t just wrap around you—it seeps in, becoming part of your bones, testing your endurance every second you spend in it. But I’m used to it now. I know how to handle it.

This isn’t a heated swimming pool with clear, blue water and predictable lanes. This is the Irish Sea. Dark, deep, and unforgiving.

I push my arm forward, the burn in my shoulders and back a reminder of just how far I’ve come. My muscles ache, but they’re strong now, stronger than I thought they ever could be. Each stroke pulls me closer to my goal, the familiar rhythm of my breathing steady against the cold. Breathe in. Breathe out. My chest tightens, but I don’t let it distract me.

I’ve learned to tune out the discomfort. The cold. The exhaustion. All that matters is the next stroke, the next kick. One more inch forward. One more stroke closer to the yacht bobbing just ahead of me.

“Almost there, Niamh!” The voice of my coach crackles over the wind, barely audible above the churning water. “You’re so close!”

Almost there. His words hit me like a jolt of energy. I grit my teeth and focus on the pull of my arms, the kick of my legs. Every muscle in my body feels tight, like a coiled spring. But I’ve got this. I can see the yacht now, the faint outline of it rocking on the waves. Just a little more.

The water presses in from all sides, dark and heavy. I think back to the first time I tried this. The panic that nearly drowned me before the waves could. I’d thrashed through the water, every stroke feeling like I was fighting a losing battle against an ocean that could swallow me whole. Back then, the sea felt like it had no end. Now? It’s different.

Now, I feel like I belong here.

I’ve trained for this. Every cold morning. Every lap in the pool. Every open-water swim where the saltwater stung my eyes and the cold numbed my limbs. I’ve earned this moment.

The yacht looms larger now, the sleek white hull a stark contrast to the dark sea. My fingers brush the side of the boat, and I let out a shaky breath I didn’t realize I was holding. My legs feel like jelly, but I did it. I made it. My lungs scream for air, my body exhausted, but the satisfaction of reaching this point fills me with a rush of pride.

For a moment, I just float, staring up at the sky. The dull, gray clouds hang low, the wind biting at my wet skin. I listen to the sound of the waves lapping against the boat and the distant cries of seagulls circling overhead. I’ve spent most of my life surrounded by noise—chatter from people, music from ballet rehearsals, city traffic—but here, floating in the middle of the sea, there’s nothing but the water and the sky. A quiet I rarely find anywhere else.

“Grab my hand, Niamh!”

I turn toward the voice and see Ella, her face flushed with excitement, one hand reaching out to me. She’s grinning like she’s the one who just swam miles through freezing water. Before I can react, she’s practically bouncing on the deck, waving a towel in the air.

“Niamh, you did it! You’re amazing!”

I laugh despite myself, my chest heaving with every breath as I reach up. The boat sways beneath me as I pull myself out of the water, my arms shaking with the effort. The cold air bites harder now that I’m out, but Ella is there with the towel, wrapping it around me before I can protest.

“Careful!” I chuckle, leaning against the railing for support. “You’re going to knock me back into the sea if you keep this up.”

Ella just squeezes me tighter, practically bouncing with excitement. “I’m so proud of you! That was incredible!”

Her enthusiasm is infectious. I can’t help but grin, even though I’m still shivering. “I didn’t think you’d be this excited. You know it’s not even the full challenge yet, right?”

“I don’t care!” she exclaims, her eyes bright. “You’re one step closer. That’s all that matters.”

I glance at her, taking in the way her face lights up with genuine pride. She’s been by my side through all of this, ever since Diarmuid convinced our parents to give her time off from ballet. He had practically dragged her away from the endless rehearsals, insisting she needed a break. And now, after months of training and recovery, Ella’s here with me, cheering me on as my biggest fan.

It’s strange, the shift in our dynamic. For most of our lives, it was always me watching her—watching Ella from the audience, in awe of her grace and discipline on stage. Now, she’s watching me, and for the first time, I feel like I deserve her attention.

Our coach, a seasoned open-water swimmer himself, walks over with a grin. “Niamh, that was your best swim yet,” he says, clapping me on the back. “You’re getting faster and stronger. Keep this up, and you’ll be ready for the Channel swim in no time.”

I nod, still catching my breath. The idea of crossing the English Channel is daunting, but each swim like this brings me closer. I should be focused on the Oceans Seven—that’s what I’ve trained for. That’s the dream, right?

But when I look at Ella, her excitement bubbling over, I realize that’s not what’s driving me anymore.

The truth is, it’s not the challenge that motivates me. It’s the trip Diarmuid has planned for us— trekking across Europe. No swimming. No ballet. Just us. Free to be who we are, without the pressure of performing or achieving anything. I’m also free from the competition against Selene. It never really was a contest, I think she won from the first second he set eyes on her. But when he chose Selene as his consort, I had a sense of relief. Glad that the burden didn’t fall on my shoulders. I honestly thought that would be it, I’d be released from my duties and returned home. Diarmuid had other ideas, making sure I gotta do what I’ve always dreamed of,it pulls at me, a longing for something I haven’t felt in years. Freedom. Peace.

I glance out at the horizon, the vast expanse of the sea stretching endlessly in front of me. The waves are choppy, restless, but beyond them, the sky is softening, the clouds starting to break apart. There’s a calmness out there, something I’ve never been able to find anywhere else.

“I can’t believe how far you’ve come,” Ella says quietly, her voice softer now. “I know you’ve been dreaming about this for so long. It’s finally happening.”

I smile at her, feeling a warmth in my chest that has nothing to do with the towel she’s wrapped around me. “It is,” I say. “But you know what? I think what I’m looking forward to most is that break away with you.”

Ella raises an eyebrow, surprised. “Really? But you’ve wanted to do the Oceans Seven for years.”

“I know,” I reply, letting out a breath. “But this… the training, the swims… it’s just part of the journey. It’s not everything. I think I forgot that for a while.”

Ella is quiet for a moment, her expression thoughtful. Then she smiles, a small, knowing smile. “I get it. Sometimes, it’s not about the goal. It’s about what you discover along the way.”

Her words sink in, and I realize she’s right. This whole journey—the swims, the hours of training, the pain, and the triumph—it’s changed me. But the part I’m most grateful for isn’t the physical strength I’ve gained. It’s the connection I’ve found again with Ella.

I turn back to the sea, the wind biting at my damp skin, and for the first time in my life, I feel a strange sense of calm. Peace, even.

I’ve spent so much time chasing goals, running from one achievement to the next, always pushing for more. But right now, standing on this boat with Ella beside me, the horizon stretching out in front of us, I realize I don’t need to chase anything. Not right now.

Right now, I’m exactly where I need to be.