Chapter 40
Chapter forty
Killian
“Oh, I did not need to know that, but it makes sense he is all goat down there. Ahh Celeste, I will never get that image out of my mind,” I hear James say.
I am not sure what he and Celeste are talking about after Matthew went to go follow Pax around, and Barry went with Dexter to play with Trix.
Based on the “all goat down there” description, I can make an educated guess.
Suddenly it dawns on me, my sister and the man I am besotted with share an ex.
That’s not something I ever thought I would say.
Knock knock knock.
“Darling, Celeste, can I come in?” The giggling stifles immediately before James calls out:
“Of course, handsome, we are in your quarters after all.” The sight of him sitting cross-legged on my—no, our—bed in another one of his colorful outfits makes my heart swell and ache.
He’s wearing navy trousers and a soft gray tunic.
He is mine. This happy, soft, fierce brat loves me.
My heart aches because even for the few hours apart from each other, I missed him, and chances are very high I am going to miss him a lot more very soon.
However, we will make the most of our time together.
So I just make my way over to them, give James a peck before hugging Celeste.
“Matthew is with Pax, Pax is giving him some tips about technology. Barry is with Dexter; they are playing with Trix.” I know he wants to know where his brothers are all the time now, and honestly, I get him.
They’ve been through too much It earns me that soft smile, head slightly tilted to the left, face relaxed, the smile he always gives me when I anticipate his needs before he voices them.
“Thank you, handsome. Did the three of you have fun?”
“Yes, your brothers are great company, but I needed to talk to the both of you. One more hour and we will reach the portal, which means two-and-a-half hours before we are at the royal palace of Veridian Vale. Back with my parents,” I tell James and Celeste like I am confessing to something.
But I’m not confessing. The truth is I just want to stay here on the Obsidian Oath with James, his brothers, and of course Celeste with me until the end of time.
“Killy, I thought about it, I want to rule back home. I mean, I would not even be surprised if Mother and Father replaced us with a new heir. But I am done with love. I tried it and look where it got me. I am glad you and James found something real…” Celeste stares at us both before she carries on, “I am ready to be what I was always meant to be; I am ready for a political marriage as long as my husband respects me. Who knows, maybe love will grow like it does for a lot of fae.”
“Celeste, are you sure you don’t need to do this for us?
” James says, grabbing her hands. I would have asked too had I not known her the way I do.
He doesn’t recognize the frown on her forehead yet, how her eyes narrow and her lips thin.
She has come to a decision, and she is going to stick to it come hell or high water.
“I am, James, seeing how Peter treats his subjects—the people he claims to love. I understand why my parents droned on about duty so much. I rejected that life only to be bound to a castle showing me exactly what happens when royals don’t perform such duties.
” James nods. One firm, determined nod. He, too, has seen what happens, and of course, he must feel the same as Celeste does about the importance of good leaders.
“James, this is scary we are underneath the water,” Barry mutters into James’ chest. An hour later it’s a little cramped in the wheelhouse.
James wanted to be with me as I maneuvered the Obsidian Oath through the portal between the realms. Peter uses the air portals, so Barry and Matthew, who wanted to be with their brother, have not experienced this either.
“I know, Barry, but it is magic, like Trix controlling the winds. Besides, Killian is the best captain in all of the nine realms; he will keep us safe,” James promises his little brother, full of genuine trust in me. The portals are safe though, there is no big threat anymore, just a personal one.
“I have done this before, Barry. I promise you I will keep you and your brothers, and of course, my sister and crew safe. Okay?”
Barry’s entire body relaxes, his face turning to the portholes now to watch the tunnel of swirling, glimmering ocean water.
Sounds get muted, there is more pressure in my head, and it feels like I have a clogged nose.
“ Squeeze your nose and blow out of your ears when you keep your mouth closed,” I tell the others before showing them exactly how to plop their ears.
One by one they follow my lead, and when James finally does so, after helping his brother I utter the cursed words: “Welcome to Veridian Vale. We will reach the royal castle within the hour, and I am sure by then my parents will know of our arrival.”
“How come? The other fae cannot see the ship either, right?” To no one’s surprise, Matthew is the first to ask questions.
“The ones that have never seen her or have been aboard, no. The problem with that concept is that for about an eon, the fae all were my allies, so I could fill the mess with fae that are not aboard now who have seen her or been aboard her.”
The answer is simple, the results complicated. It would have been easier if my parents did not have too much time to prepare for our arrival. Alas, that was never a possibility, and there is nothing we can do about it.
“I am here for you.” James whispers, and the way he squeezes my hand reassures me more than he can begin to comprehend.
An hour has flown by; the five of us have stayed in the wheelhouse. The company, not just of the man I love but also our families is like a balm to my soul. Now cold seaweed slithers down my neck, my stomach tightens, and I can even feel the phantom sweat making my hook as damp as my hand is.
My fingers seem to be made of withered sticks as they intertwine with James’ warm, calloused fingers. At least this means we are walking in together.
“Inform the King and Queen that their eldest born, Killian Tregear, and the second and youngest born, Celeste Tregear, have returned from Silvermist victorious.” My voice is loud; it still echoes through the halls with authority, but it’s a different authority.
One out of need for peace, one full of the belief in the rightness, the justness of my actions of the past decade.
Not out of the arrogance that came with my birthright.
Even the guard notices the change in me, and of course his eyes fly to my left hand, or more so the lack thereof.
He does not comment on it, never forgetting the instilled appropriateness.
He merely tells us: “The King and Queen are aware of your return.” His voice is flat and emotionless.
Still holding James' hand like a lifeline, I walk, Celeste on my left side, Samuel and Matthew behind us, and Seviin holding Barry’s hand behind them.
“Father, Mother, I apologize for going against your wishes, but I do not regret it. For I managed to rescue your daughter, my sister, and find the love of my life. A notion I know you do not believe in but has always mattered to me.” I stand straight, pretending it is not tension but certainty that keeps my posture so statue-like now.
“I see you also managed to lose your hand while doing so, replacing it with the most inappropriate prosthesis known to fae,” my father voices his disdain.
I squeeze James’ hand so hard I am probably leaving bruises because the way he stiffened seems ominous. I might have fallen in love with his fire, with his bratty attitude, but my parents will not.
“It is late. While I am happy my children are back safe and somewhat sound, it is too late to discuss matters of this magnitude. We will retire for the night. Your guests will be treated with the utmost respect, but you will not be sharing a room with the human you claim to love. He will share a room with what I presume are his brothers,” father says.
The disdain still dripping from every single word he utters is further amplified by how his nose curls up, the corners of his lips curving downward.
To my surprise, James doesn’t speak up, not vocally; if looks could kill, my parents’ immortality would cease to exist.
Hours later, I am done with twisting and turning in my bed.
The lack of motion makes it hard to fall asleep, the bedroom without the cold sea air around us feels far too hot, and most of all, I need James in my arms. I cannot break that rule, but Father and Mother spared me not so much as a minute of privacy, not even a chance to say goodnight to James and his brothers.
So if I can at least do that, it would at least be som—I roll my eyes right before I round the corner and see not one but two guards standing outside the room my parents put James and his brothers in.
Great, now there is no way to talk to James before facing my parents in the morning.
The next morning I feel like I fell from the crow's nest, belly flopping into the sea.
I hardly slept a wink, and with all the twisting and turning and all the tension, my body is sore.
Of course Mother and Father want to discuss everything this morning at breakfast, preventing even the simple joy of a peaceful first meal of the day.
Belichime, ever the sweetheart, promised she would take care of Matthew and Barry during breakfast. Children have no place at the table with my parents.
James is already seated. I very much doubt my parents’ willingness to have him present, but my darling is not one to be shushed or to be sent away from a discussion he wants to be part of.
“Father, Mother,” I say as a fae prince should, emotionless, proper. "Sister, it is amazing to see you home again," I tell Celeste, ignoring most of my role, and then I walk up to James.
“Morning, darling, I missed you.” And then I peck his cheek, throwing all restraint and all rules overboard before I sit down next to him.
“Killian, you went against my decision, and I am once again elated to see Celeste back. Nevertheless, you abandoned us, the rest of your family, and your people to save Celeste from the consequences of her own doing.” Father’s scathing words have barely left his mouth when James pipes up.
“Sorry, you probably think I am rude, but what Peter did to me, and your daughter is considered criminal in my realm.
Even we humans understand that altering the state of someone's mind, whether it be drugs, potions, alcohol, or magic, is criminal because it takes away the free will of the victim. What happened to us is in no way her doing.”
Even my mother flinches at James’ frostbitten tone, she softens for a bit as she looks at Celeste.
“Be that as it may, as a crown prince, Killian had other obligations, ones you will never face.”
The message between the lines is abundantly clear: James will never be accepted as my king consort. Which is no surprise. I just wish I knew where I stand.
Before I can get a word in edgewise, Celeste speaks on my behalf.
“Mother, Father, about that, I believe you to be right about obligation and duty, but it should be done out of a desire to uphold those values, not an obligation to be honorable, because that is a juxtaposition. You cannot be forced to do what is morally correct.” The dinner hall falls quiet, leaving me with a chance to speak.
“Father, Mother, I do not want to rule, to an outsider it might look like Father is in charge, but that’s not the truth, is it, Mother?
Are all not equal among fae, so I denounce the crown.
I do this not lightly but because it will not make me happy, and because Celeste, who is willing to make the sacrifices the next sovereign of Veridian Vale is required to make.
” I said it, I did it, I actually denounced the crown.
The crown I never wanted, the crown that would stop me from being happy with James. This does not grant me a magical happy ending, James could still decide to leave me, to choose his family over me, and Mother is quick to point it out.
“If you are unwilling to fulfill your duty, this will no longer be your home. You will always be welcome here, but you will not be a permanent resident of Veridian Vale. Is that what you want to do, give up your birthright for a life of lonely piracy?”
“He will not be lonely; he will have me with him and likely most of the crew.” The world around me disappears, my heart rattling against its bone cage with enough force that everyone around me must see its rhythm.
I need someone to pinch me, tell me this is true, that James Barington truly just proclaimed he would never leave me in front of my parents.
I need him to repeat it, I need to hear it again, but all I can whisper is: “Darling.”
“We’ll talk later, handsome, when we are back in our quarters.”
Our quarters. When he says that, nothing matters anymore: my father’s rage, my mother’s 24-hour notice to let the crew decide if they will stay with us or move back to Veridian Vale. Nothing matters. Only that he said our quarters.