Bride of Ashes (Kingdom of Shadow and Ruin #1)

21. Reyla

21

REYLA

T he next morning, I remained in my cabin past breakfast, eating from the tray Lord Briscalar brought me. It was only when Merrick came knocking on my door, asking if I was alright, that I realized how silly I was behaving.

Move forward, right?

I joined him, and we went up onto the deck. We walked around the perimeter of the ship, making three loops before we stopped in, eerily, the same spot where Lore had stood at the railing last night.

Merrick leaned against the wooden support, tugging me over to stand with him.

“Tell more about training dragons,” he said. “It must be amazing.”

“My friend, Tempest—”

“Lydel’ s High Lady.”

“She’s the true dragon master, not me. She . . . bonded with one.”

“Truly?” He sounded skeptical.

“I know it sounds strange, but it was true. It was an ancient spell. I don’t think anyone knows it any longer. She said she found it in a book but when she went back to look again, it wasn’t there.”

“The book?”

“The spell. She found it in a book that tends to . . . hide things, I guess you’d say.”

“Magical, then.”

“Yes. I worked with dragons, but she had a skill unlike anyone I’ve met before. I could make them do what I asked, but they seemed to leap over themselves to please her before she gave a command.” I faced the sea, letting the salty spray wash over my face and the wind latch onto my hair, streaming it out behind me. “I miss it more than I thought I would. Dragons are huge. Fierce. They’re as eager to burn you as take you for the ride of your life, but they’re incredibly special.”

“I haven’t interacted with many myself. Too busy with court life.”

“I imagine there are plenty of things that keep you from visiting with dragons.”

“Always.” His warm gaze fell on my face, but I felt rather than saw it. “Tell me more about you. What’s your favorite creature?”

I lifted my eyebrows. “Creature?”

“You know. Is it dragons?”

“I’ve always loved dragonflies,” I said .

“Tell me why?”

“For many reasons. Their swift way of flying, how they zip close before darting away. Their shimmering wings sparkle like jewels of every color, and they’re incredibly graceful. Free.”

“Free?” Funny how he latched onto that one word.

“They soar wherever they please. I used to tell myself they were tiny dragons and that fairies would climb onto their backs. They’d go on a magical adventure.”

“Do you hope to embark on a magical adventure?”

The way his lips curved up on one side stunned me into silence. I’d already noted how gorgeous he was, but his beauty sunk beyond the surface. And when he spoke in this teasing tone?

It stunned me.

“Maybe one day,” I said softly.

“I hope you get that chance.”

Once I was crowned queen, I’d be too busy, too tied to rules and duties to go on adventures.

“And your favorite color?” he asked.

“Blood red. Is that nasty?” I released an awkward laugh. He was going to think I was brutal.

“Not one bit. It’s a deep, intense shade that speaks of life and danger. It's the color of passion, rich like ripe berries but with an undertone that hints at power. Yet it also shows vulnerability. It commands attention. It’s impossible to ignore.” His voice dropped to a bare whisper. “Like you, Reyla.”

“You see more in me than I do in myself.”

“I can understand not feeling confident, especially in your current situation. But only a brave, strong woman agrees to marry a man she’s never met and travel with him to a world that could offer beauty or cruelty.”

“Which will Evergorne give?”

“Both.” A touch of sadness came through in his words, and it tugged on my nerves, jarring them.

“What’s your favorite color?” I asked him.

His lips curled before smoothing. “Sunrise, like your hair.” He caught and teased a strand. “I also adore brown, like the earth and the wonder of one particular woman’s eyes.”

This man had mastered the art of seduction.

“Why did you insist I be willing?” I asked.

“Would you want an unwilling husband?”

“I guess not.” Though if he was unwilling, he’d leave me alone.

Yet . . . I didn’t want Merrick to leave me alone. Even simply standing beside him on the deck sent a thrill through me. The walls I’d erected after Kinart died wavered. The pull of my growing affection for Merrick was intense. Beautiful. But fear rode along with it. I wasn’t sure I could bear to feel that vulnerable, pure wasteland of despair again. Losing someone had gutted me. It left a wound on my soul. I’d seep the blood red I adored until my dying day.

I could almost taste the sweetness of possible love but a bitter taint rode along with it. Merrick might see me as brave and strong, but I wasn’t sure I had the strength to welcome what he seemed to be offering.

“What’s your favorite flower?” he asked.

The ones Kinart used to give me. The lavender one pressed between the pages of the book of poems in my room .

“I don’t have one,” I said.

“A pity.”

“Why?”

“Because then I’d know what I could give you.”

“You don’t have to give me anything.”

He ran his fingertip across the bracelet he’d sent me, the heat of his touch sinking into my skin. It swirled through me like smoke on the breeze, compelling and sweet. “I want to fill your room with flowers.”

“That would make walking through my room a challenge.”

“Imagine how gorgeous they’d smell. How they’d be jealous of your beauty.”

He really was good at this. Why would he bother to seduce me when he could have me with one crook of his hand? When I said I was willing, I meant it. Perhaps he wanted more from me than that, something I still wasn’t yet willing to give.

“What do you love to do most?” I asked him.

“Dream.” He turned his gaze to the water. “Of a future full of hope and promise.”

“That’s worthy.”

“And seemingly out of touch.”

“You’re the king. You must have more say in this than anyone else.”

“I wish I could hold that thought in my hands and never let go.”

I nodded, staring toward the horizon along with him.

We had lunch and dinner together on the deck with him creating a water umbrella over our heads again to shield me from the sun’s rays. We talked about almost everything, and in each careful expression of a thought, he showed me how deep he was, how kind and insightful.

And I began to dream of a future of hope and promise myself.

As the sun began to set, he walked me to my suite.

“We could stroll around on the deck,” I said, wanting to spend more time with him. I suspected once we reached Evergorne Court, duties and court life would take up much of our time. “The moonlight is gorgeous on the water.”

“I’d love to but papers are waiting for me to read in my room.” The longing in his voice soothed my sadness that I wouldn’t see him again until tomorrow.

Lore would be patrolling soon, though, and I should hide in my suite if I wanted to avoid him. Which I did. Always.

Merrick's gaze held mine, intense and unyielding. I should say goodnight and step inside. He had papers to attend to.

I needed to think. Again.

But my feet refused to move. His fingers found their way to my hair, gently stroking, as if he wanted to memorize the feel of each strand. My breath hitched as he glided his knuckles softly across my face, tracing a path down my neck, along the vein pulsing with need. When his fingertips skimmed the top of my dress’s bodice, dragging lightly across the swell of my breasts, a low moan escaped my lips. A need I couldn't understand came through in the sound.

He cupped my face, his thumbs caressing my cheeks as he looked down at me. Time stretched, each second a throbbing eternity as I drowned in his eyes. Anticipation coiled inside me, a relentless, aching knot that begged for release.

Slowly, he backed me against the wall, pressing his strong body against mine. His heartbeat thrummed a furious rhythm that matched my own. His mouth came close to mine. The world narrowed down to us, to this moment, to the space between our lips.

When he finally kissed me, it was a spark igniting a wildfire. His lips were soft yet demanding, coaxing mine to part. A shiver rippled across my skin as his tongue swept in, exploring and tasting. Heat coursed through my veins, a molten desire pooling low in my belly. I clung to him, gripping his shoulders, anchoring myself to him as I was swept away by the force of being close to this man.

His hands slid down to my waist, pulling me closer, molding my body to his. Every hard plane of his chest, every ripple of muscle pressed against me. I arched into him, yearning for more. His kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, taking everything I had to offer while demanding even more.

I tangled my fingers in his hair, tugging him close. His lips left mine, trailing along my jaw and down my neck to the tops of my breasts. He blazed a trail with the tip of his tongue, and the cool rush of air made everything inside me tingle.

His mouth found mine again, his kiss hungry, consuming. He was trying to claim me, to brand me as his own, and I wanted nothing more than to be his. To belong to him completely.

He lifted his head. “From the moment I saw you, Fawn, I wanted you. I hope one day you’ll feel the same.” The cool air whipping through the hall brought me to my senses. He must’ve seen me wake up, because he backed away. “Goodnight, Reyla. I can’t wait until morning, when I can be with you again.” He opened my door behind me and urged me inside. “Lock it and stay safe for me, would you?”

With one final stroke on my cheek, he turned and strode to his own door, stepping inside.

I shut and locked my door and drooped against it, running my fingertip across my mouth, over and over, as if that would erase the feel of his kiss.

Then I started pacing with Farris trotting behind me.

Night fell, and I continued moving, soon transitioning to my bedroom where I dressed in a tunic and pants and threw my knives at the back of the door. Over and over. Hitting the gouges I’d created in the center each time settled me.

When I felt I’d done enough damage and brought some perspective to my mind, though I wasn’t confident the feeling would hold, I went out into the sitting room and poured a glass of wine. I sat with Farris on the sofa and sipped it, staring at nothing. I tried not to think about Merrick’s kisses and how much I still craved him, even now.

What kind of woman willingly leaped into another man’s bed after losing the love of her life?

One like me.

At this rate, sleep would not claim me tonight. My thoughts had become a rat’s nest in my head, a trap trying to lure me close enough to snap .

Farris remained on the sofa, watching me while I grumbled and huffed.

I stroked his cute little head. “Let’s do some exploring.” A glance at the porthole showed the moon hung like a ripe melon in the sky. It must be past midnight. Did I have to worry about running into Lore?

I’d be careful.

Farris yipped and hopped off the sofa, rushing over to grab the leash and bring it to me. I secured it, and he trotted to the door, stopping to look back at me.

I tugged my hair off my face and secured it with a strip of stretchy fabric at my nape.

Stepping out into the hall, I tightened my grip on Farris’s leash. I was more than happy to let him roam free, but I worried one of the crew might take offense if he bothered them. Although, the captain said we’d reach Evergorne tomorrow. Once we’d made it to the castle, my new life would begin. I couldn’t imagine what I’d find there, but I was eager to see all it had to offer. As for the crowning and me becoming queen, I’d deal with whatever that entailed as it presented itself.

Farris trotted beside me down the hall and up the stairs to the top level. We stepped out into a night full of moonlit potential. Shutting the door, I moved to the side and leaned against the wall to take it all in, because the ocean was lovely at night. Unknown, yet familiar in a way I couldn’t describe.

A tapestry of stars gleamed in the inky-black sky that seemed to stretch forever in all directions, the darkness broken by a few floating lanterns. Powered by magic, they’d been posted at regular intervals along the rail of the ship. Salt- encrusted wind whipped the ends of my hair around, tangling it as I inhaled that unique, briny scent I now loved. I’d grown up in the mountains, and it was only recently that I’d come to Lydel and could walk on the shore, collect shells, and take in the wonder of living close to such a vast, glorious body of water.

As the ship skimmed across the waves, it shifted this way and that, and the wooden deck released subtle groans. Ropes creaked, adding another line to the ship’s melody.

Farris sat beside me, peering around, his snout twitching.

Regular puffs of air from the windrams kept the sails billowing, and they flapped, whispering secrets I swore I’d hear if I listened hard enough.

I led the nyxin around the cabin but paused on the other side.

The front of the ship stretched ahead of me; the smooth wooden surface broken only by boxes strapped down that could contain almost anything. Ropes coiled in neat piles.

And a solitary, cloaked man sitting at the top of the rail at the bow’s tip.

I should return to my suite. Lock the door. Lay in bed and contemplate how I was going to get through the future roaring toward me at such a furious pace it made my head spin.

Instead, I sucked in a breath and strode toward Lore.