22. Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
TAVRIC
Lyri and I were walking down to the shore, her hand wound tightly around my arm so that I could ensure her balance. She said that she felt fine, but it was difficult to forget how fragile she’d looked just a day before. I was still reeling from the events of yesterday.
Harlan, my most trusted friend other than my brothers, had betrayed me in the bitterest way, and I was finding it impossible to reconcile the Harlan I thought I’d known with the reality of who he’d become.
Lyri was endlessly optimistic, but I knew that the things she’d suffered were lurking in all the moments when she would go still and silent.
It had surprised me when she suggested we come down to the cove. I would have assumed she’d want to avoid the ocean, but she’d insisted, and I had a strong suspicion that she was doing it for my sake. She was helping me escape the castle, which was buzzing with the news of my father’s recovery.
Granted, very few people knew just how much he had recovered.
After we’d returned last evening, Lyrielle and I had been pulled into the chaos of my family, who had been frantic when I’d disappeared.
We’d had a long time to talk as we rowed back to shore and had decided to confide in them.
They were astonished at the story we had to tell, and when she insisted on treating him again to be certain that all vestiges of his illness were gone, Lyri became the immediate favorite of my entire family. Papa was alive because of her.
My family knew the truth, but we all agreed that no one else would.
Everyone else would be told that Caelmir had returned with a medicine, that it had been given to the king with no improvement, and that we had all thought it had failed until he’d made a sudden recovery.
Still, my mother planned to keep him in their room for several days, both to give his body a chance to truly regain his strength, as well as to give the impression that he was recovering more slowly than he was.
Everyone was elated. My father was beloved by nearly all his subjects, and news of his recovery had caused a joyous uproar throughout the entire castle.
That is, everyone was elated except for Princess Saria.
She had not appreciated the way I’d left her behind after the formal meeting, and she’d liked it even less when I disappeared all afternoon.
When Lyri and I had shown up, drenched and holding hands, it had been the final straw.
The princess had given me one frigid glare and then gone to pack her things.
She was sailing out this morning, and it was all very awkward, stilted, and diplomatic.
Thus Lyri had convinced me to bring a picnic down to the shore. For having met only a short time ago, she certainly knew me well.
I set down the basket of food and spread a blanket a little ways from the dock. “Admit it,” I teased. “You like eating on the sand better than in my fancy dining hall.”
I took her hand and she lowered herself with an effortless grace onto the blanket. “I like eating anywhere. Your cooks make magnificent food.”
“I’ll be certain to pass along your compliments.”
“Oh, I’ve already told them a number of times. Amilee even convinced one of them to teach me how to make those little cakes that I love so much.”
I was momentarily stunned, but quickly shook it off. “And yet, you don’t see yourself as friendly.”
She gave me a smirk. “I’m certainly not a favorite among the staff, but I’m determined to win over some of them.” She opened the basket to dig through its contents, and I had the pleasure of watching my future bride find enjoyment in simple things.
We ate, reclining there on the beach, and I let myself enjoy it all. My father was well, Lyri was here with me, the crown would not fall to me for many more years, and the ocean looked serene and inviting.
“Tavric?” she asked after we’d had our fill and were lying in the sun.
“Yes, my love?”
“Will you take me sailing?”
I sat up, surprised by the request, and turned fully toward her. “Are you certain?”
“There are few things I’ve enjoyed more than sailing with you,” she said as her eyes dipped to my lips. “And I don’t want what happened yesterday to ruin that.”
I looked away, anger bubbling up. “Is it terrible that I’m glad he died?”
“If it is, we’re both terrible.”
I turned back to look at her, blinking to keep my furious tears at bay. “You must let me teach you to swim,” I insisted.
“Agreed.”
“In fact, I can’t believe how remiss I’ve been in teaching you. You nearly died the moment we met because you could not swim. It was stupid of me not to teach you right away when we live so close to the water, and maybe if you’d had that skill, then…then…”
She looked at me with such tender understanding and patience as I babbled, and when I ran out of words, she simply leaned in and said, “Tavric?”
My disquiet seeped out of me at the sound of her sweet voice speaking my name. “Yes, Lyri?”
“Will you take me sailing?” she asked again, and I almost chuckled.
“Of course,” I said, as if there were ever a question. I’d do anything for her.
“Thank you.” She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek, then jumped up and ran toward the dock, laughing.
I chased after her, catching up when she was halfway down the length of wooden planks.
I caught her around her waist from behind, picking her up and spinning her around.
She laughed more, her hands clinging to my arm.
Part of me thought maybe this was a fever dream.
I couldn’t possibly be allowed to be this happy, could I?
But when I set her down and she turned in my arms, she felt all too real.
She tipped her head back and smiled up at me, and I tightened my grip on her waist, loving the way her body molded to mine.
She invigorated and soothed me all at once.
I bent down, brushing my lips against hers, and was gratified when she sighed into me like she’d been waiting for me to kiss her for too long.
I pressed my lips to hers more firmly, moving my hand to cradle her jaw so I could kiss her exactly how I wanted to.
If I had my way, I’d spend the rest of my days doing exactly this.
When I pulled back, she blinked her eyes open in a haze and lifted her lips in the sweetest smile before nestling her head under my chin. “I didn’t know life could be like this,” she quietly confessed.
“I’m not sure I did either.” Had I ever imagined that one person could fill me up so completely? No. I’d hoped for love and companionship, but the way Lyri and I fit together was so much more profound than that, and I truly hoped that I could always make her feel safe and cherished.
I squeezed her again and pulled back to press one more gentle kiss to her mouth.
“Now, it’s time to sail.” We crossed to the boat, and I stepped in before helping her to board as well.
After she sat down, I noticed her shiver.
“I’ll grab the blanket for you,” I said and jumped from the boat once more.
I jogged back to our blanket, closed up the basket of food with a grin, and then walked back toward Lyrielle, who sat in the boat, leaning on one hand and gazing at me with such adoration that I nearly stumbled over my own feet.
I hurried down the dock, anxious to go sailing with my favorite person.