Chapter 46 – Raelyn
Chapter Forty-Six
RAELYN
“What do you want to do about Dylan?” Kian asks me as we head to the library. “With your memory back, we can tell your side of the story.”
I grimace. “As much as I wouldn’t mind seeing him punished . . . I also don’t want to be dragged through a trial.”
Kian’s jaw clenches, and I reach for his hand, noting fresh bruises. Perhaps the vigilante has already meted out justice of his own.
“I hope that’s not disappointing to you. But we should keep an eye on him, and if he tries to hurt anyone else, all bets are off,” I say.
“Fine,” Kian says, blowing out a breath. “I just promised you he’d pay, and I don’t think he’s suffered enough.”
“Mm-hmm,” I reply, glancing back at his bruised hand.
I drag him through the library until we reach the section I’m looking for. Maps of all shapes and sizes line the shelves.
“You don’t think this is a wild goose chase?” Kian says, scratching the back of his head. “You really think you would recognize something from one of these?” He gestures at the endless books and scrolls full of maps.
“I have this feeling,” I admit. I’ve had more dreams of the island, and I just know in my soul I’d recognize it if I saw it.
Kian sighs. “Well, considering that all my other leads have completely run dry, I guess this is the best chance at finding the lost god . . . finding your father.”
I crinkle my nose. “It’s still weird thinking of him that way.”
“I can’t even imagine,” Kian says as he rummages through the maps. “What am I looking for exactly?”
“Maps of the southern isles,” I say as I pour through another stack. “The types of trees and the constellations that were visible narrowed it down that much at least.”
“I’m still not sure how you expect us to find one island out of the many,” Kian grumbles.
I laugh. “Oh, you of little faith.”
After picking out a handful of books and scrolls, I bring them over to one of the study areas.
Kian joins me, and we spend all afternoon looking at maps and trying to find references to other books that might have images of what I’m searching for.
It’s tedious work, and Kian looks like he is about to claw his eyes out, but the research gives me life.
I’m just grateful he’s willing to help, even though I’m sure he’d rather be sparring with Alex or literally doing anything else.
“Aha!” I shout excitedly.
Kian looks up, bleary-eyed, from where he was reading about different vegetation found on the isles. “Please tell me you found something good,” he says.
“I found something good.” Relief and excitement course through me, knowing we’re one step closer.
“Brilliant.” He grins. “I’d say that’s cause to celebrate.”
“Definitely,” I agree. “But don’t you want to know what it is first?”
There’s a ravenous look in his eyes as he picks me up and sets me on the edge of the table. “I’m rather hungry, love. I think I need a snack.”
I clench my thighs together, a wicked thrill going through me at the thought. The tension between us is thicker than ever, but we have yet to take that final step. I sigh and shake my head. “As much as I’d love to be your snack . . .”
Kian pouts.
“Anyone could walk by at any moment, and I need to show you what I’ve found!”
“Fine. But you owe me.”
I wink at him, my stomach flipping in anticipation. “I’ll make sure to pay up.”
I scoot off the table and grab the book. “This might sound completely crazy, but I recognize this place,” I say, pointing at the picture. “It looks exactly the same as in my dream.”
“Well, that’s definitely a start,” Kian says, adjusting his pants.
“But here’s the other reason I think I’m on to something.” I pull out a larger map of the continent and isles. “I know this map.”
“Well you have been staring at it all day,” Kian jokes.
“Seriously, though,” I insist. “My father—Cary—has a map just like this in his study, and I remember him having it open to this isle. I think there were markings on it too. There are vague memories of me asking him about it, but he’d always deflect or distract me with something else.”
Kian’s posture perks up, and he studies the map more seriously. “And you think that because he knew your real father, he might know where he is?”
“Exactly,” I say.
“Why don’t we just ask him?” Kian asks.
“I tried, but he was so close-lipped, constantly saying he was just trying to protect me. I don’t think he would willingly give up the location.” I bite my lip. “I can’t explain it really, but I just know in my gut that this is where we should look.”
“We?” Kian raises a brow.
“What, you think I wouldn’t be going?” I scoff. “I’m the one having the dreams.”
“It could be dangerous though.” Kian frowns. “I wouldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.”
“I’m a demi-god, remember?” I smile. “I don’t think I’m that easy to kill.”
“Easy enough to poison,” he grumbles.
Oof. “Yeah, I should have known better than to accept strange drinks from people I hardly know.”
Kian bristles. “I still have half a mind to throw him back into the dungeon.”
“And risk enraging your father?” I remind him.
Kian closes the book and stands. “I’ll talk to Alex and see about arranging a small party to travel south. We can tell Father we’re going away to make an heir or something.”
I giggle. “Or something. But what will he say about Alex joining us?”
“I don’t need to share all the details with him.”
Within a few days, we’ve gotten everything together for our journey.
Alex is joining us as planned, and I asked if Sera could come.
I finally came clean to her about the demi-god thing, and while she acted surprised, I wasn’t completely convinced it was a shock to her.
There is a mystery to Sera I want to unravel, but for now, I’m glad she’ll be with me. My gut tells me I can trust her.
“We’re taking horses?” Sera grimaces.
“What else would we take?” Alex laughs.
“A carriage?” Sera glares at him. She has What are you, an imbecile? written all over her face.
Alex raises his hands in mock surrender. “Apologies, my lady. I didn’t realize a horse was beneath you.”
“I’m no lady,” Sera retorts.
“You sure as hells act like one,” Alex throws back.
I sidle up next to Kian, who is fixing his horse’s bridle. “I’m starting to think we should leave them here.”
Kian chokes on a laugh. “It’s good for Alex. She’ll keep him on his toes.”
I roll my eyes. “And annoy the hells out of us.”
“We have built-in entertainment for the road.”
I shake my head. “You’re impossible.”
“I do my best.”
Kian’s gaze drops to my lips, and my skin flushes with heat.
Other than the brief moment in the library, he hasn’t tried kissing me since my memories returned, and tiny bothersome doubts have me wondering if he no longer wants to .
. . but then he looks at me like this . .
. as if he could devour me. I take a step closer to him, but before I can say anything, Phantom lets out a loud snort, and the moment is gone.
Kian helps me up, his hand catching on the dagger strapped to my thigh.
“What’s this, love?” His hand lingers, sending a fresh bolt of heat through me.
My cheeks flush as I draw the blade from its sheath and meet his molten gaze, remembering the night I held it to his throat with not a clue of who he was and how he managed to elicit reactions out of me even then. “I believe this belongs to you. You can have it back if you like.”
“Keep it,” Kian replies, placing his hand on mine and sliding it back in. “I love seeing my blade on you.” His voice is low and decadent, making me wish we were alone in our rooms. Hells. It’s going to be an interesting journey.
Kian mounts up behind me, and the mood is once again broken, but this time, it’s because of Alex and Sera.
“Well, are you coming?” Alex asks as he reaches a hand down to her.
Sera stands with her hands on her hips. “I did not agree to this.”
“Would you like your own horse then?” Alex quips.
“Have you gone mad? I don’t know how to ride.”
“So then you ride with me,” he says matter-of-factly.
Sera lets out a frustrated sound and allows Alex to pull her up into the saddle.
“Last chance to leave them behind,” I mutter.
Kian only laughs and leads us out of the gate. “We’ll be happy for their company before the week is out, I assure you.”
“If you say so.”
Travel is not as fun as I’d hoped. There is nothing glamorous about setting up tents and sleeping on the hard ground. We have one horse carrying our limited supplies, but comfort is at a bare minimum.
“Maybe we should have taken a carriage,” I moan as I stretch my sore muscles. Alex and Kian are setting up camp for the night in a small clearing off the main road.
Sera snorts. “I could have told you that.”
“You hanging in there?” I ask. The look of complete loathing that crosses her face makes me choke back a laugh. “That good, huh?”
“I swear, he rides on the bumpiest terrain on purpose,” Sera growls.
I can’t hold back my laugh, and she eventually cracks a smile.
“The only reason I haven’t murdered him in his sleep yet is that he’s not bad to look at,” she admits.
Alex rounds a tree with an armful of logs. “Oh, so you think I’m handsome.” He grins cheekily.
“I wasn’t talking about you,” Sera retorts.
“Suuuure.” He winks.
Sera looks like she’s about to murder him right here and now, so I grab her sleeve and pull her away. “Kian mentioned a lake nearby. Let’s bathe,” I say, swinging a satchel with supplies onto my shoulder.
“Fine,” she grumbles but continues to send death glares at Alex.
The birds chirp in the trees and broken branches crunch underfoot as we pick our way through the dense forest. “He’s really not so bad when you get to know him,” I say.
“Don’t even think about starting with me,” Sera says. “I’m only here because you need me. I’d much rather be cleaning chamber pots back at the palace.”
“You must be joking.”
“You’d think.”
I gasp as an enormous lake comes into view. It would take hours to swim from one side to the other, or at least I assume so; I don’t actually know how to swim. The waning sunlight bounces off the water, making it sparkle like diamonds.
“Wow,” Sera says. “It’s almost pretty enough to make me less angry at Alex.”
I laugh again as I strip out of my travel clothes. “Come, let’s clean up before the sun sets and it gets too cold.”
Sera shivers at the thought and quickly undresses. “What I wouldn’t give for an actual bath,” she complains.
I race into the lake, screeching as the cold water nips at my skin.
“Keep your voice down, Rae!” Sera yells. “Unless you want the men to come running, thinking someone is dying.”
“Good point.” I grin. Not that I would mind Kian coming out for a swim with me, but certainly not in the presence of anyone else. The thought of his naked body . . . This time, my shiver is not from cold.
Not the time, Rae.
Sera swears loudly when she finally gets into the water.
“I didn’t realize you had such a dirty mouth,” I tease her.
She blushes. “I’m sorry . . . I think leaving the palace behind has made me a little too comfortable. I’d lose my position in a heartbeat if other servants heard me talking so familiarly with the prince.”
“Oh, so Alex doesn’t count?”
Sera splashes me, which is answer enough.
“Don’t you worry. Your job is safe as long as I have anything to say about it.”
She grins, but her teeth chatter. “Let’s hurry this up before my tits freeze off.”
My toes have gone completely numb, but the water is refreshing. I welcome the final rays of sunlight, enjoying how they sink into my skin, making me feel almost warm despite the icy water. After a quick rinse of my hair and a brief scrub in the waist-deep water, I wade back toward shore.
Just as I reach the sandy bank, a piercing scream freezes my blood to ice. I spin around and witness Sera being dragged beneath the water, a look of pure terror on her face.