Chapter 21
I’m still bristling when I reach the dock. But the sight of Lachlan in the moonlight, his back towards me as he stares out at the sea, has my anger evaporating.
“Took ye long enough,” he says without turning my way.
I reach his side, leaning my head against his shoulder. “How did you know it was me?”
He kisses the top of my head before wrapping a solid arm around my waist. “Ye dinna think I ha’ every part of ye memorized by now?”
His words have my blood heating for an entirely different reason. Lachlan takes the pack from me and nods to the boat tied to the nearest cleat.
“We’re taking that one. I’m just waiting for the dockhand to grab longer oars.”
I nod, following him to the side of the dock.
“Is everything alright?” He asks, studying my face in the moonlight.
I shrug, averting my eyes and looking out at the sea.
He tugs on one of my braids hanging by my face. “Nae of that. What happened?”
Footsteps reverberate down the wooden planks of the dock, and I shake my head.
“I’ll tell you later.”
Lachlan’s eyes narrow. Clearly unhappy with my answer, but doesn’t push me on it.
A lanky teen with a kind face holds the oars out to Lachlan and flashes me a smile.
“Thanks,” Lachlan replies, grabbing the oars from the kid.
“Are you—you’re Queen Lena!”
“I am.” I chuckle. “And you are?”
“Titus!” He bows lowly before shooting straight up. “You killed the asphidra in the throne room, battled the demons in the capital, and restored magic across the realm, and—and you weren’t even born here! How?” His words come out in a rush as he bounces on his toes.
“Skilled teachers,” I answer. Smiling up at Lachlan. My dad’s face surfaces in the back of my mind and my heart squeezes painfully. “Very skilled teachers.”
“Do you think you’ll be able to stop the war?” Titus asks, looking between me and Lachlan.
I bite my lip, looking up at Lachlan for the most appropriate answer.
“That’s our plan, kid,” Lachlan replies. “Now get back to the boathouse before you get scolded by the skipper.” Lach ruffles the kid’s hair. But Titus throws pleading eyes at me.
“It was nice to meet you, Titus. But we better be off.”
“Alright,” he grumbles. “Safe travels!” He throws over his shoulder as he runs back down the dock.
“It seems word of your legendary skills has traveled across the realm,” Lachlan teases as he drops into the longboat and holds up a hand to assist me on board.
“Could be worse.” I take his hand, but he wraps an arm around me and pulls me to him instead.
“How so?” His brow furrows, and I have the sudden urge to trace it with my fingertip.
“Well, it could be scorned ex-lovers showing up to my room.”
Lachlan freezes before scoffing. “You fib.”
“I do not!” I splutter. “Neva showed up in a sheer dress, asking for you.”
Lachlan deadpans before bursting out into deep, rumbling laughter.
The sound of it rolls over me, dousing any irritation that had been lingering. Before long, I’m laughing too and he pulls flush against him. His scent seeps into me as I inhale deeply, reveling in the safety of his arms.
“Ach, I thought ye were taking the piss.” He holds me at arm’s length. “It’s no one but ye, Key. I’m yours.”
I stand on my tiptoes, careful not to rock the boat too much, and kiss his chin.
“You’re mine.”
The boat ride from Ishtar to Olundy is uneventful, but out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see dark shadows in the water trailing after us. The thought makes me smile and I wrap my arms tighter around myself.
One more island to go, and that’s it—magic restored.
The wind slides my hair across my face and behind me, as I stand at the bow of the ship. The salty sea air fills my lungs with each calming breath.
I am happy.
Tired, but happy.
I miss Gran. I miss my parents, but I know they would be proud of me.
The northern lights dance lazily above us, lighting our path to Olundy.
It’s like I’m going home again. I hadn’t realized how homesick I was feeling.
Thumbing the pouch of raven stone dust on my hip, I stare out at the whitecaps on the horizon.
My skin tingles with the familiar feeling of being watched.
Slowly I turn, spying a dark figure leaning against the mast. Lachlan.
He pushes off the mast, stalking my way. Each step is calculated and sure. The boat rocks, but he never wavers. When he reaches me, he tucks a wayward strand of golden hair behind my ear.
“Your hair has lightened,” he whispers and brushes his thumb across my cheeks. “And your freckles across your cheeks are back.”
I nod, staring up at him. “All that time in the desert or on the ship.”
His eyes beseech mine, looking for what I’m not sure.
“Tell me what else happened in that palace without me.”
I shiver at the deepness of his voice. Arousal unspools within me.
“Nothing,” I breathe. Worried that if I told him my fears would be confirmed again.
What if we’re not mates?
He cups my face, stroking his thumb on my bottom lip. “Tell me,” he whispers. His eyes glitter in the greenish light waving above us.
Closing my eyes a sigh slips through my lips. “Neva told Ashur I said you were mine. He said I couldn’t be with you because you are my captain and insinuated that we can’t have a volatile lovesick woman on the throne.”
I do my best impersonation of Ashur, causing a smirk to tug his lips up.
“Aye, and what did ye say?”
“I said that my love life isn’t anyone’s business, and then something about being Odin’s chosen heir. But my skin started shimmering, so he had little else to say.”
Lachlan’s thumb stops its tender strokes and his eyes narrow. “Your skin started shimmering in their dining hall?”
I shift on my feet. “Yes.”
“Were ye threatened? Did ye see something?” His hand moves from my cheek down to my hand as he takes a step closer.
“No, I didn’t feel threatened,” I snap. “Just annoyed. Why?”
Lachlan squeezes my hand, but shakes his head. “I’m sure it’s nothing. With magic regenerating, your power is just probably stronger than you’re used to.”
Nodding, I lean against him so that he can envelop me in his arms again.
“Ye declared I was yours to a councilor?” He asks, his chin resting on top of my head.
“I did. They said I couldn’t be with you.”
He kisses the top of my head, inhaling deeply and holding me tightly.
“I would like to see anyone try to take ye from me,” he declares.
The seriousness of his voice has me looking into his eyes.
They meet mine and blaze in the starlight.
“I love ye, Key,” he whispers.
The words I’ve longed to hear from him eviscerate me in the best way possible. Tears pool in my eyes, slipping over the edge and down my cheeks.
“I love you too.”
At dawn’s light, we reach the cliffs of Olundy. Dragut’s ship is much too large to fit through the channel, so we sound the horn and set off in the birlinn.
As we drift through the channel, I can’t help but think about the first time I sailed through this pass.
Recently recovered from an injury that almost took my life and trying to prove myself as the rightful queen.
Now I’m back, having saved three islands, solidified my rule as queen, and am on my way to restoring magic to the last island.
But the ghosts of the past and the fear of our future catch up to me.
One last island and then I can bring Gran here.
If Julius hasn’t already beaten me to the human realm.
I shiver and Lachlan rubs a hand down my arm. “What is it?”
“I’m worried we’re out of time.” I turn my head to stare out at Olundy’s bay that appears ahead. “And that I’ll lose even more.”
This is war.
There will be more casualties.
But who will be next?
“I ken the feeling,” Lachlan whispers, his eyes boring into me.
Steady lapping against the side of the boat has me dipping my fingers in the water. The refreshing feel of the cold sea lightens a part of my soul, sending tingles up my arms. I pull my finger out, a single drop still clinging to the pad of my fingertip, and trace the contour of my nose with it.
It’s something my dad always did as soon as we reached the ocean. The memory makes me smile. Closing my eyes, I tip my head back to the sky and take slow, deep breaths.
Something is coming. I just hope I’m ready.
As we float further into the bay and towards the dock, a crowd assembles. I’m giddy with anticipation as I see Agatha standing next to Mina, bright smiles beaming on both of their faces.
Artemisia and Marcus are beside them. I’m surprised to see they stayed on this island. Mina waves excitedly while bouncing on her toes and I wave back, just as excited. I have missed them both.
As our boat docks, footsteps thud down the dock.
“You’re here! You’re here!” Mina squeals.
I barely make it out of the boat before she tackles me. Air whooshes from my lungs and even though she’s a full head shorter than me, she overpowers me. Our bodies slam into the dock and peals of laughter ring out.
Lachlan snorts, taking Agatha’s hand as he steps onto the dock. “Very queenly,” he teases.
Agatha merely chuckles. “Let them have their fun. There will be plenty of time for her to be serious.”
Lachlan nods and throws an arm around her. “Hi, Auntie. How’d the crystal hunting go?”
Mina hops up after one last squeeze and pulls me to my feet. “It was abysmal,” she answers.
“How so?”
“Well, for starters, we could nae remember Odessa gifting anything to our island,” Agatha grumbles. “I could nae even remember the last time she was here.”
I frown. “Really?”
“Aye. It took awhile, then I remembered it had to ha’ been when she sent back your mother’s throne after she had her new monstrosity created.”
“Wait, my mother’s throne wasn’t destroyed?”
Agatha crosses her arms over her chest. “That asphidra wasn’t stupid. Bryn was very beloved before she left and there woulda been an uprising if such a thing had occurred.”
Lachlan looks from Mina to Agatha. “Okay, then. Where did ye find the crystal?”
Mina looks at Agatha before murmuring, “She hid it in your mom’s throne.”
“What?” I say flatly.