Chapter 48 Staring Down the Barrel
Chapter forty-eight
Staring Down the Barrel
Twelve days after leaving Aurora, aboard the Halcyon
Lark sat cross-legged in her favorite spot on the forward deck, sun on her skin, wind in her face, smiling delightedly at the dolphins riding the bow.
Skye had removed her stitches. Though pain stabbed when she moved wrong, Lark felt stronger—thanks mostly to Azaleen’s tender attention.
The woman found fresh ways to surprise her every day.
Who’d guess a queen knew the best way to prepare salmon or could hide a winning poker hand behind an expressionless facade?
Lark dared not engage Azaleen in chess; she left that daunting duty to Luke while she watched, hoping to learn the nuances of the game.
As time progressed, she’d noticed Azaleen smile more, brood less, and blossom into a fully realized woman.
Oh, she could spin her manner on a dime, the calculating ice queen bursting forth to issue orders or make declarations on a topic in which she was knowledgeable.
Still, when the lights went out, Lark lay in her warm, caring embrace, sweet kisses trailing along her neck, gentle fingers sending shivers through her.
She spent her days conversing with Azaleen—alone or in a group—all the while anticipating the comfort and arousal each night would bring.
Azaleen had hinted at what she wished to do to Lark in the privacy of her bedroom.
Lark had ideas of what she longed to do to Azaleen too.
Watching the dolphins dance, diving and surfacing in the bow wave, escorting their vessel like kindly guardians sent by Poseidon to lead them home in safety, Lark felt as if she had been whisked into a fairy-book land.
Of all the surreal twists, a stunning, powerful queen had chosen her.
And it turns out that under the icy shell lies a kind heart.
“They’re here!” Azaleen padded up in sensible deck shoes and settled beside her, gazing with wonder at the graceful marine mammals. There were five—two on each side, and one directly in front.
“Special, huh?” Lark glanced over to catch Azaleen’s gaze, entranced by her all over again. “Caelen would say this was jacked.”
Azaleen laughed, a bittersweet cloud encompassing her features. “I miss my boys so much. But any day now we’ll be home, and I can hug them, know that they’re safe. God, I didn’t know I’d ache like this. I’ve never been away from them for so long before.”
Lark extended a hand, took Azaleen’s with an understanding squeeze.
“I know Eldrin is sixteen and fancies himself a man, but he isn’t. And Caelen … they grow up too fast.”
“This is the longest I’ve been away from my family too,” Lark admitted. “Leif and Gramma can take care of themselves, but Bryn will think I’ve forgotten her.”
Azaleen’s brow wrinkled. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“Well, she’s adopted, but, yeah, she’s my little sister.” She’d never actually called the foundling that out loud, but it felt right. In every way that mattered, Bryn was her little sister.
“New Charleston is close to Saltmarsh Reach,” Azaleen stated, looking over the rail at the playful dolphins. “When we make port, you should take a few days to go see them before reporting to Nelanta. If this war actually happens, it could be a long time before you get home again.”
“I’d like that.” A jolt of joy leaped in Lark, then flatlined.
“But I need to be by your side, keeping you safe. We don’t know if the Iron Army has arrived yet.
” That was the thing about traveling. The pigeons couldn’t just come find you wherever—they needed a familiar base to home to.
So, while on the journey, the team could send messages but not receive them.
“I love having my personal protector in arms’ reach, at my beck and call,” Azaleen answered with a flirting wink.
“But I don’t want to take advantage. You need to visit your family.
I’ll make do without you for a few days.
I’ve still got Skye, Luke, Diego, Wes, Harlan, and the entire Nelanta National Guard. ”
Lark twisted her lips, her brows scrunched with consternation, her emotions torn.
On the one hand, it was quite generous—sweet even—of the queen to grant her leave with war pounding at the door.
Then again, she didn’t like the idea that Azaleen could so easily make do without her.
Picturing Skye taking over the role of the queen’s personal shield opened a jar of jealousy.
It was silly. Skye was interested in the young AlgonCree dancer, and Azaleen wasn’t the type to carouse about with whomever was convenient. Still, Lark wanted to be the one to safeguard the queen, twenty-four-seven if necessary.
“I suppose,” she muttered. “If you insist. A war could last months or even years, and who knows what will happen? I should be grateful.” She caught Azaleen’s gaze, holding it for an emotional beat. “I am; I also long to remain with you.”
Azaleen smiled, brushed a kiss to Lark’s cheek. “I’m glad you want to be with me. So few people do.”
“I don’t believe that,” Lark answered dismissively. “You’re extremely popular with the people. Even my friends back home practically worship you.”
“Admiration from a distance isn’t the same as seeing someone up close, where flaws are laid bare and harsh realities come to light. Your forgiveness and desire came as an unexpected gift to me, and I don’t take them for granted.”
Lark felt a tug at her heart. She wanted to drown Azaleen with kisses, send her into blissful abandonment, give her the escape she so greatly needed.
It wouldn’t be here and now, nor upon arriving in New Charleston.
Maybe. Depending on the time and circumstances, how many days remained before the invasion force arrived?
A delirious feeling washed over Lark as she gazed into Azaleen’s eyes, a tingle racing from head to toe. She squeezed her hand.
“You couldn’t have been as surprised as I was—thrillingly so.
And what are these flaws you mention? If they exist, they only prove to humanize you and render you more desirable.
Anyway, when we get back, the pressure will be on.
You’ll be compelled to work night and day, neglect food, rest, and other needs.
I hope you’ll make time to … find release and repose.
I might be called to the front. It would be good for you if we could carve out a private moment before everything goes to hell. ”
“I agree.” Azaleen’s fingers stroked Lark’s hand in tactile motion, as if she wished to memorize each line, bump, and curve. Lark sucked in a breath, imagining when that exploration expanded to encompass all of her.
“Lark, don’t feel slighted when meetings and battles demand my attention.
You seem to understand that managing the nation through a war will require all my energy.
Whenever possible, I want to hold you, to let go with you, to experience every stimulating thrill and luscious pleasure.
But we just don’t know what will meet us when we land.
Only remember that I treasure every moment spent with you, no matter how few. ”
“Me too.” Lark raised their joined hands, kissed Azaleen’s knuckles. “Quality over quantity. But even when I’m not standing or lying next to you, please realize that I’m still with you in spirit, lifting you up, believing in you.”
“I can’t tell you how wonderful it feels to hear you say that.” The glimmer in Azaleen’s eyes displayed her honesty. “It’s been so long since anyone’s—”
The boat rocked slightly as footsteps slapped the forward deck behind them.
“What’s so fascinating up here?” Diego asked as he planted his boots.
Lark released Azaleen’s hand and twisted over her shoulder to scowl at him for interrupting them, glad he was completely oblivious at the same time.
“Oh, I see!” he exclaimed, pointing at the pod. “Sweet!”
“This is only the second day they’ve ridden the bow since we started our voyage,” said Lark.
“I wanted to see them this time,” Azaleen added, as if her presence was purely incidental.
Diego gripped the rail and gave a slight bow, removing his hat. “Good day, Madam Queen. Is there anything I can do for you?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“Look at that one.” He pointed to the lead dolphin jumping at the bow. “It looks like they’re surfing.”
“In a way, they are,” Azaleen replied. “The bow wave carries them effortlessly through the water, like a surfer on a board. It’s not only fun for them, but like catching a ride, conserving energy. Fascinating creatures, so intelligent and social.”
“You know so many surprising things,” Diego commented, tugging his hat back over his head.
Canvas straining, the cutter whipped through the waves, the keel bobbing up and down, the wind stiff in Lark’s face.
While Diego and Azaleen discussed marine life, an ominous tingle climbed her spine, dread jabbing her gut with icy needles.
There was no reason for it. Only clear skies overhead.
The dolphins didn’t seem disturbed. Laughter roared from those gathered in the cockpit.
A squadron of pelicans winged above them as if all was well. Still, Lark couldn’t shake the feeling.
She rose and shimmied out onto the pulpit, staring into the horizon, a nonchalant dolphin riding the bow.
“What’s wrong?” Azaleen’s voice brimmed with concern.
Lark glanced back at her. “Nothing … I don’t think. Just keeping watch. We must be nearing New Charleston. This stretch of shoreline seems familiar.” No reason to worry Azaleen over nothing.
She looked back—and the dolphins were gone. Alarm knifed through her, sudden and searing. Where’d they go? Why’d they leave? She scanned the surface, searching for them, only to find it barren, eerily empty.
Lark swept across the deck, past Azaleen and Diego, ducking under the jib sail, and hopped on top of the cabin. Gripping the mast like she’d seen Flynn do, she shimmied up to the spreader.