Chapter 20
My back is on fire. Even after our dip in the water. The fatigued muscles send razor-sharp spasms down my back and around my midsection. The tips of my feathers graze the sand and my stomach bottoms out. Lachlan looks at me with sympathy.
“Just vanish them away for now. We can practice again when we get to Olundy.”
I focus on the part of my wings that connect to my back and imagine them disappearing. I feel a small pop. They’re gone. Along with the weight and searing pain.
Relief floods me, easing the nausea that had churned. I sigh, relieved that the magic allowing for the wings to vanish is stronger here without the quartz. I don’t think I had enough strength without magic to put them away on my own.
“Let’s set sail for Olundy immediately. I’m ready for this to be over.”
Lachlan lifts me back onto my horse, trailing his hand down the thin fabric covering my leg before squeezing my calf. “Aye my queen. Let’s go.”
The journey back to Eridu takes half the time that the journey out here took. But the stars are winking into existence overhead by the time we reach the palace. Cardamom and jasmine float in with the breeze cooling my sun-kissed skin.
“I’ll arrange a pilot boat to take us to Dragut’s ship. Can ye pack our things and meet me at the dock?”
I stifle a yawn behind my hand and nod.
Meandering back to our room I drag a fingertip along the stucco walls. My eyes feel heavy with each step, and my skin feels tight from a whole day in the sun.
A young woman with thick black hair and white robes races towards me. “Your Majesty!”
I pause and look behind me before realizing she’s speaking to me. “Yes?”
“These came for you!” She shoves a handful of letters out to me before dropping into a low curtsy.
“Thank you,” I breathe, taking the envelopes from her.
Back in our room, I plop onto the bed and begin opening up the letters. The first one is from Mathilda about Tane. He’s doing better and has gotten out of bed. The second one is longer, as it details her reluctance to have the talk.
The third one makes me laugh.
He tried sneaking into the training grounds today.
I heave a sigh of relief and clutch her letters to my chest. I whisper thanks to the gods. The next few are from Mina:
We’ve been searching for the crystal, so I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to write to you! Agatha is pissed at the idea that they’ve been housing an object of evil.
I miss you so much!
We’ve found the crystal. I will wait for your instructions. When will you be here?
XoXo, Mina
Great, one less problem to solve.
The last letter is from Luna.
Mathilda made me write. Everything is fine. The redhead is stalking me.
I chuckle, flopping back on the bed to gaze at the star-painted ceiling. Everything suddenly feels as it should be. Everyone is okay.
Time to get a move on and restore the last island. Reinvigorated in our mission, I slide off the bed and change back into my leathers before I pack.
A knock on the door interrupts me. I tilt my head back to the ceiling and exhale sharply through my nose. The person on the other side of the door knocks harder and I grumble to myself before throwing my pack on the bed and flinging the door open to see—Neva.
She’s startled by my abrupt appearance, but recovers and peers around me.
“I’m s-sorry. I was looking for Captain Freysson.”
I guess I hadn’t made myself clear enough about my relationship with Lach.
My eyes narrow onto her beautiful face before taking in the rest of her. She’s wearing a sheer gold nightgown with a matching robe left undone. I try not to snort. Oh, she thought she was coming in here for him.
Still, I try to remain pleasant. “He’s not here at the moment.” I place a hand on the doorframe as she leans towards me.
Her eyes settle on my hand, blocking her entry. “Leaving so soon?”
“We still have one last island to restore magic to.” I cock my head to the side.
Surely she will not try to push through me?
She stands on her tiptoes to look around me and into the room at the disheveled sheets and unused bedroll. “Are you and the captain…?”
“Together?” I smile. “Yes.” But she knew that already. Lachlan had told her he was unavailable.
Her bravado fades, and she jerks her head from side to side. “But he is your captain!” Her voice raises. “It is forbidden.”
My face must reflect all the fury that writhes beneath my skin. “Says who?”
She turns to flee down the hallway. But she doesn’t make it more than a handful of steps before my mouth opens.
“Hey Neva—” I shout. She stops in her tracks and looks over her shoulder. I purposefully rake my eyes over her. “Beautiful dress.”
I slam the door shut. Stalking back to the bed, I grab my pack and throw the rest of my belongings in it before grabbing Lachlan’s and doing the same. I heft mine on my back and hold Lachlan’s to my chest before stumbling out of our room and into the hall.
Fury has me trembling.
How dare she. How dare anyone tell me who I can and cannot be with?
I change my mind. I hate it here. And I want to go home—now.
Hopefully, I run into someone on the way who can tell Ashur that we’ve left. My stomach growls. Shit. We haven’t eaten dinner. Maybe I could pack a snack from the dining hall?
There’s bound to be someone in there, right?
The sounds of a celebration carry down the hallway when I get closer to the dining hall. Fuck. I don’t want to be rude, but I do not want to stay here any longer. But the smell of the food outweighs my frustration.
The packed dining hall quiets as I enter.
“And there she is! Our Queen. Our savior!” Ashur’s voice booms across the dining hall.
The room bursts into applause. I plaster a smile on my face and walk to the high table at the other end. Neva has already beaten me there, though, and whispers into his ear. His face contorts from shock to annoyance before waving her off.
“Your Majesty, are you leaving us?” He asks when I’m within reach of his table, surveying the leathers I have donned again. I heft the pack up higher on my shoulders and adjust my grip on the one clutched to my chest.
“Unfortunately—yes. There’s another island that is still without magic.” I reply, following a fleeing Neva with my eyes. She walks around everywhere dressed like that?
“A queen’s job is never done,” he says, eyes narrowing. “Like a captain’s.”
I almost miss the last of his words as he says them under his breath. But the sneer on his face was not hard to miss. I drop Lach’s pack to the floor.
“Would you care to speak up?” I tilt my head and stare intently at him.
“It’s been brought to my attention that your captain is a bit more to you than his position dictates.”
What is this? The Dark Ages? I thought the Valkyries weren’t super stuffy with their love lives. Or at least that’s what I had been told.
“I cannot see how my personal life is your business.” My words aren’t rude but my tone is nothing short of icy.
“It is my business since you are our queen, an unmated queen.” Ashur sets his wine glass down and leans over the table.
The dining hall holds its breath, people straining to hear our conversation. The men and women next to Ashur volley their heads back and forth through our exchange.
“There haven’t been mates since magic faded.”
“Ah, but there will be now.” He waggles his finger up in the air like he’s making a grand point. “And we can’t have a ruler on the throne that is swayed by the whims of desire because she yearns for a lover that’s mated to another.”
His words have me flinching.
My worst fears lay bare for the world to see.
But it’s the underlying threat in his tone that has me squaring up to the table. “Am I not the blessed heir to the throne? The rightful ruler set forth by Odin himself in a covenant that ties my very life to it?” Fury surges through me, peeling my lips back in a snarl.
My skin tingles like a small electric current races over me. A wind rips through the dining hall, and the chandelier above us sways.
Ashur’s eyes widen and a golden light radiates from me, illuminating his face. With all the grief I have suffered through already in my life, I’ll be damned if they try to keep him from me.
“Am I not?” I hiss.
He leans back and away from me, lowering his head in submission, and I take that for my answer.
“I am leaving this island and heading for Olundy. Where, again, I will be freeing an island from the clutches of evil. If you have any further concerns, feel free to address them during our next council meeting—where it is appropriate,” I snap, stooping to pick up Lachlan’s pack.
I make my way through the quiet dining hall and people flee from my path. But as I’m walking through the door, I see a stunned Neva hiding in the shadows.