40. Erin
Chapter 40
Erin
“ T hese are your husbands?” My mouth falls open as I stare at the man and the damn dragon waiting outside Atina’s cabin door. The man stands well over six feet and takes up the entire doorframe. He’s shirtless, every chiseled muscle on full display. If I had never seen Allarick and every hard muscle on my husband’s body, the man standing before me would overwhelm me with his hotness.
Hettie walks straight up to the man. Their size difference is almost laughable, but Hettie struts right up to the giant man and yanks his head down. She kisses him in a way that makes me blush and think I’m intruding on something I really shouldn’t be seeing. Loneliness settles within me, making me think of Allarick and how I want to kiss him as soon as I can.
And then yell at him for leaving me behind.
Rose is more subtle in greeting her husband—the dragon. She goes over to the massive black reptile and touches his snout. The dragon huffs and nuzzles into her touch, reminding me of a dog greeting their owner after a long day. You know, if dogs were giant and deadly.
“Yes, unfortunately these are our husbands,” Hettie says, still wrapped up in her man’s arms. He huffs, but she just laughs and breaks away from him. “This is Rip, and that large lizard over there is Malix.”
“They are…big,” I whisper, but hear a snort from the dragon—Malix.
“Trust me, I know.” Hettie smirks in a way that makes me think we aren’t talking about the same thing. “If the women back in Grym Hollow knew who waited over here in Mescos, The Guardian would have a line ten miles long.”
I laugh, nodding in agreement. The Guardian would certainly have his hands full.
Rip steps up, casting a shadow over me and Hettie. I’m unable to hide my nervousness around this intimidating man and step closer to Hettie. He seems to sense my discomfort and stops, dipping his head. “Queen Erin, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Your husband is a good man.”
“But a foolish one. Which seems to be a common trait amongst the males of the species here,” Hettie says. That comment earns her a disapproving glare, which she returns tenfold. Neither one of them holds their ire for long, soon smiling like teenagers in love.
It’s beautiful.
Also a little sickening.
My dumb heart flutters, thinking of Allarick.
“But Erin plans to join her husband.” Rose steps away from her dragon, but Malix doesn’t let her get too far, blocking her with his tail. “Don’t you, Erin? ”
“I do.” My voice doesn’t waver and thankfully doesn’t convey my fear. I’m scared. Scared at what I might—or might not—find. But fear isn’t going to stop me. Allarick needs me.
“What do you need from us?” Rip asks. “We know a threat to the sea will turn into a threat to our land. As long as the Nephilim roam, we must stay on alert.”
“Isn’t he hot when he gets all valiant?” Hettie giggles.
“Hettie,” he groans, no true malice in his voice.
“Our fight is with the Leviathan, but from my understanding, they are cousins to the Nephilim and are just as dangerous to the sea,” I say. Their pale expressions tell me just how uneasy they are with this situation. “I need to know my people are safe while I’m away.”
“Done,” Rip says immediately. “Wolves can patrol the area.”
“Dragons too,” Rose speaks for herself and her husband. “I would volunteer to stay myself but…” Malix’s tail squeezes around Rose, pulling her close to his body. She laughs and rolls her eyes.
“But my husband barely lets me leave the castle these days,” she finishes, placing her hand on her belly.
For just a moment, I picture my future with Allarick. We deserve a future filled with love and precious memories. I never thought about becoming a mother, but my heart does a weird flutter when I think of Allarick holding our half-kraken, half-human baby.
I want a chance at that future.
“What else do you need?” Hettie asks.
“I need someone to carry the harp onto the ship.”
“Go, Muscles, that’s all you.” Hettie pushes Rip toward the door. He disappears inside. A few seconds later, he comes out carrying the harp like it weighs nothing at all.
Even I swoon a little.
“We will take good care of your people, Erin. Worry about channeling your energy into your music. Everything else should work out the way it needs to,” Rose says confidently.
I want to ask her how she’s so sure about this, but something in the way Rose smiles at me lessens the knot forming in my stomach. She has faith in me. I need to have that same faith.
“You should get going,” Hettie says gently.
She’s right, but I’m not quite ready yet. I reach out for both of the women’s hands. Something passes between us, an understanding only three women from Grym Hollow could have. They remind me that I’m not alone, that just because I’m human doesn’t mean I don’t have power.
“Thank you. Both of you. I wish we had more time.” I think I could be friends with these women. Maybe even best friends.
“We will soon. Just go and save your husband’s ass first,” Hettie says.
We laugh, and I bring them in for a hug. “Thank you,” I murmur one last time before letting them go.
And then I walk toward the ship with Rip at my heels carrying the harp. Crew members busy themselves inside and outside Atina’s ship, working on whatever the hell goes into maintaining a ship and a crew.
We walk up the slipway, and Rip places the harp down as soon as we board. “Good luck, Erin. I hope to see you again soon.”
“Likewise. Thank you, Rip,” I say as the large man exits the boat.
“My queen, what are you doing here? Are you okay?” A voice draws my attention away from Rip to see Iris strolling toward me. Delmare is right behind her, assessing me.
I don’t blame Iris for being confused and concerned as to why I’m here. I haven’t exactly made myself available. “I need to see Atina.”
Iris shares a look with Delmare, who nods. “Of course, my queen. Right this way.” Delmare leads me across the deck and up a few stairs. Iris trails behind us.
Atina and three others lean over a map and speak in hushed whispers. Delmare clears his throat when we draw near, and four heads pop up. Atina meets my gaze immediately and straightens up. “Erin,” she says slowly. “What can I do for you?”
I push past Delmare and close the distance between us. “I need you to take me to Allarick. I need to help him.”
Atina doesn’t speak at first. She looks at me like she’s trying to detect a lie, but I don’t fold under her scrutiny. I expect Delmare to interject and say it’s not safe. Or Iris to demand I reconsider. But they don’t do either of those things. In fact, Delmare smiles at me like a proud father who was waiting for the moment I came to my senses.
Finally, just as nerves set in, Atina smirks. “I thought you’d never ask. Welcome aboard, my queen. Let’s go kick some Leviathan ass.”