Chapter 14
Ijerk awake. Panting as I peer around the wood-paneled room.
We’re back on the ship. The hammock I’m in sways back and forth, giving me glimpses out of the small porthole to my left.
The sea glitters silver in the dimming light as if evening is upon us.
The scent of pine washes through me as I inhale deeply and close my eyes.
Flashes of Lachlan’s naked skin against mine have me smiling broadly to myself. I can’t believe we did that. And it was even more incredible than I thought it would be. A pleasant soreness twinges between my legs as I stretch. But the present comes crashing back down.
How long was I out?
And why am I alone?
I don’t remember going back to the cave and I definitely don’t remember dragging the crystal into said cave. The last thing I remember is the rich timber of Lachlan’s laugh and floating. Soft voices sound over the creaking hammock, and I strain my ears to listen.
“She killed how many?” The slight accent marks the voice as Dragut’s.
“At least a dozen.” Lachlan’s voice is unmistakable. The cadence of his Scottish accent is as familiar to me as my own. The ship leans to the left and the empty hammocks around the room swing.
“On her own?” Dragut sounds surprised.
“She cut through them like water through stone. It was the most astonishing thing I ha’ ever seen. She dinna waiver once. Just floated from one demon to the next, leaving a trail of carcasses in her wake.”
“That’s a mighty fine woman you have there, Cap,” Dragut laughs.
“You ha’ no idea. Sometimes I think she might…”
I strain so hard to hear Lachlan’s next words. I tumble out of the hammock. A curse slips from my lips while finding my footing and I lose the ability to eavesdrop.
Boots thud against the timber floor and Lachlan’s face appears. Tired, but relieved. A smile stretches wide across his face, crinkling the corners of his eyes in the way I love so much. He looks at me the way no one ever has before. Like he sees me, all of me. A breath stutters out of me.
I love him.
“I was wondering when our sleeping beauty would awake,” he teases. He continues smiling at me as his eyes rove over my body. A blush reddens the tips of his ears. No doubt, as flashes of my naked body swirl through his mind.
Patting down the wild hair that has slipped from my braid, I glare at him.
“How long was I out?” The words come out raspy from sleep. I cough to clear my throat and grimace at the tenderness of my back.
“Most of the day. We’ll be docking in Ishtar soon, Your Majesty,” Dragut answers. He aims a soft smile at me and bows.
“Thank you, Dragut,” I respond. I tuck a wayward strand into the plait of my braid before giving up on taming the wildness. I need a bath and a hot meal.
“Do we have—”
“Foods on the deck. We saved ye a plate,” Lachlan answers before I can finish asking. I smother the smirk that builds by pursing my lips. Of course, he knows exactly what I was thinking.
He stands to the side and spreads his arm out, allowing me space to pass.
“After ye.” His gaze roves over my body again and this time my cheeks heat under his attention.
He presses a vial discreetly into my hand as I pass and I look down at it before he coughs pointedly and realization dons. The contraceptive tonic.
The ship lurches before rocking, setting the hammocks swinging fiercely. Both men grab onto the doorframe for support, but I breeze through and up the steps onto the deck.
“Need help with your sea legs, boys?” I ask, throwing them a look over my shoulder.
Lachlan is still holding on to the door as the boat rightens itself, but Dragut looks up at me in awe.
A hush falls over the crew when I step onto the deck. Several impressed stares and hushed whispers reach my ears, but I can’t make out their words. Nor do I try to. I spy some meat, cheese, and fruit spread out on a wooden crate next to the mast and help myself.
I uncork the tonic and throw it back before plopping onto the crate. It tastes of ginger and something softer, hibiscus maybe. But light reflects off of something and right into my face. Shielding my eyes from its glow, I peer under my hand.
Scales.
I rush to the port side of the boat to get a closer look as a large head breaches the water. Excitement blooms, and I sigh seeing the sea dragons once more.
“They’ve been following us since Cap carried you on board,” Dragut explains, coming up beside me, his eyes still wary as he takes in the massive creature, keeping pace with the boat.
I tilt my head, not understanding, but my attention never leaves the sea dragon in front of me. I don’t want to miss a thing. They’re so magnificent, I stand in awe. My chest lightens and happiness fills the vacancy the anxiety leaves behind.
“I tried to tell them you were okay, just tired. But I don’t think they planned on leaving until they set eyes on you themselves.”
“They?” I look behind the silver and green dragon closest to us.
Several enormous heads breach the surface. Blue, violet, and even yellow iridescent scales. My mouth drops open at the assembly of sea dragons staring at me.
A deep chuckle has me peeling my eyes away from them to glance sidelong at Lachlan as he rests his forearms against the side of the boat. “I told ye you had a way with beasts.”
My smile stretches wide across my face, and Lachlan mirrors it.
One by one, they return to the depths and I push away from the side of the ship and head back to the picnic on the crate. With each bite, I feel the strength return to my limbs.
“Did we restore magic?” I ask, picking up a chunk of cheese.
“Aye, just like last time. As soon as the crystal was sealed in the cave, magic exploded. I’m lucky your wings dinna reappear or carrying ye would ha’ been difficult.”
I roll my eyes and begin looking around the ship. The crew is steady at work, checking rigging, and wiping the salt water off the railings. But no land in sight, and with the sun setting in the west. We must be headed north and are somewhere between Scota and Ishtar.
With a mouthful of cheese, I ask, “So, how close are we to shore?”
“We’re a couple miles off the coast of Ishtar,” Dragut answers, perching on the crate next to me. His knee-high leather boots squeak as he crosses his legs and presses the soles against the mast.
Lachlan crosses his arms over his chest and leans onto the side of the beam. “Since we’re getting in late, we’re going to stay with Ashur before hunting down the last crystal Boudicca mentioned.”
“You’ve been here, right?” I ask, plucking a grape from the bunch and popping it into my mouth. The sun has dipped below the horizon. A golden shelf holding up an otherwise amethyst-colored sky.
Lachlan nods his head. “A few times. But I think you’ll like it.”
I raise a brow in question, feeling like there’s more he’s not saying.
“I hate sand,” he grumbles.
“There’s sand?” My voice rises, my gaze flashing between Dragut and Lachlan for confirmation.
“Loads of it.” Lachlan heaves a sigh, clearly annoyed already about our future excursion, but my heart races. I have always wanted to see sand dunes.
“How soon will we be there?” I ask, hopping up and looking around.
Dragut chuckles. “An hour, tops. Look there’s land.” He points to the bow where land does indeed begin breaching the horizon.
A few small lights blink into existence. My eyes widen when a dozen more begin blinking to life. Before long, the entire horizon is blazing with dazzling lights that sparkle in the distance.
“What is that?” I whisper, not taking my eyes off the dazzling display.
“That’s Eridu, the major city in Ishtar,” Dragut replies, his eyes also sparkling from the distant city lights. As the land grows, a small sigh escapes him.
“Do you not like it here?” I ask quietly.
Dragut shakes his head. “If there was ever land for me, this would be it.”
“Ashur lives in Eridu and will take offense if he does nae host the queen,” Lachlan explains.
“That’s fine,” I murmur, still mesmerized by the lights. “What’s the city like?”
“They have unique buildings here, made of clay and stone. The streets are full of vendors selling their wares and it often smells of spices and delicious foods. But it’s also hotter here than in the capital, with very little rainfall. The whole west side of the island is all sand dunes.”
“It sounds magical,” I breathe.
Lachlan snorts. “Yeah, if ye like to be pelted with sand that sticks to ye because you’re all sweaty from the blistering heat.”
“We’ll be docking soon. I’ll get your packs and supplies ready to disembark,” Dragut calls over his shoulder as he saunters away.
“Is he not even getting off with us?”
“Nae, he’ll dock here while we unload, and then head back out to sea to wait for us to call him back. Then he’ll take us to Olundy.”
“How long will we be here?”
“As long as it takes.” Lachlan’s eyes darken, as if the events of the last several days have spun through his mind.
I reach out a hand and rest it gently on his forearm. “Are you okay?”
He places his other hand over mine, stroking the top of my hand with his thumb. “Just ready for this excursion to be over so I can get ye back home.”
“Home?”
“Aye. Where I’m not worried about demons creeping down from trees or having to share ye with councilors.”
I snort. “We’ll be going to war soon. You realize that, right?”
Lachlan nods, but doesn’t let go of my hand.
“Are you going to hover over me the entire time we’re in battle?” I joke.
A fierce gleam enters his eyes. “I’m never leaving your side.”
The crew races around the deck. Boots stomping and calls being yelled as our boat enters the marina. Ashur stands under a flood of light in the middle of the dock. His burgundy robes appear almost black as he lifts a hand in greeting, but he’s too far away yet to call out a greeting to.
“Do you think Ashur feels betrayed?”
“I’m not sure,” Lachlan murmurs. “He gained quite a lot under the imposter’s rule.”