Chap 34
"What?"
"This is your chance," Roku snapped. "Take her and leave before Kaida's guard reaches the cliffs."
Evander's face tightened immediately.
"It's supposed to be you."
Roku grabbed his shoulder hard enough to silence him.
"Go see the world for once instead of hiding inside that cursed palace."
His green eyes softened.
Just briefly.
"I will find you."
For a moment neither man moved.
Then their forearms slammed together beneath the moonlight.
A warrior's farewell.
Roku's gaze shifted to Penny.
"Sing, and I will hear you."
The words stole her breath.
Not because of what he said.
Because of how much he meant them.
Then the general stepped back.
The softness vanished.
"Now save our bride."
The order cracked through the night.
Evander nodded once.
Then the world disappeared.
One moment Penny stood on the cliffs.
The next she was in his arms.
Wind tore through her hair.
Trees blurred beneath them.
The sea rushed closer.
And suddenly they were at the harbor.
Fishing boats rocked gently beneath the moonlight.
Salt filled the air.
Before Penny could fully understand what was happening, Evander had carried her onto a narrow vessel and untied the moorings.
The boat drifted away from shore.
Only then did he finally stop moving.
He looked at her.
Then at the open sea.
And smiled.
"Tomorrow I can teach you knots."
The smile widened.
"Tonight, we start with the basics."
A rope slipped free.
Canvas unfurled overhead.
The sail snapped as the wind caught it.
The little boat lurched violently away from shore.
Penny lost her footing with a startled cry.
Evander caught her before she hit the deck.
"Yes," he said as his arms settled around her waist. "I am taking you up on your offer."
The boat rocked beneath them.
Dark water flashed silver beneath the moonlight.
"For tonight, I am captain."
His smile softened.
"You can be captain during the day."
Despite everything, Penny smiled.
Then the sounds reached her.
Shouting.
Steel.
The distant bark of hunting dogs.
Her head snapped toward the cliffs.
Somewhere up there, Roku was fighting alone.
Her chest tightened painfully.
Evander's hand rose to her cheek.
Gently turning her back toward him.
"Do you know where we're going?"
Penny shook her head.
"No."
For a moment he studied her.
As though deciding how much to tell her.
Then he pointed over the bow.
"Look."
Penny followed his gesture.
The sea stretched endlessly ahead.
Moonlight danced across the waves.
At first she saw nothing.
Then two dark shapes surfaced.
Swimming effortlessly beside the boat.
One spun beneath the water.
The other rolled onto his back.
Grinning.
Bright blue hair gleamed in the moonlight.
"Wade?"
The sea prince waved enthusiastically.
Then pointed at the second swimmer.
"Good news!" Wade shouted.
"The dragon followed us."
Penny laughed and looked beyond him.
Far out on the moonlit water, enormous waves rolled beside the boat.
A dark shape moved beneath them.
The sea dragon.
Alyrina surfaced beside Wade and waved.
"Don't forget me."
Penny waved back immediately.
"Never."
Then she turned and threw her arms around Evander.
"This is wonderful."
His arms settled around her waist.
The stars glittered above them while the boat cut through black water and silver moonlight.
Evander smiled softly.
"I couldn't ask for a more romantic night."
Penny looked up at him.
A teasing smile touched her lips.
"I thought you said sharing me with your father was wrong."
Evander glanced around the boat with exaggerated confusion.
"What a coincidence."
He looked left.
Then right.
"I don't see a king anywhere."
Penny laughed.
Her hands slid to his face.
Drawing him closer.
Moonlight danced across the water around them.
The boat rocked gently beneath their feet.
Then
A splash sounded beside the railing.
Both of them turned.
Wade and Alyrina were hanging onto the side of the boat.
Watching.
"Don't mind us," Wade said cheerfully.
"We are absolutely minding you," Evander replied.
Alyrina rested her chin on her hands.
"We were just getting to the good part."
Penny burst out laughing.
Evander groaned and looked toward the heavens as though begging the stars for patience.
The stars offered none.
With a sigh, he took Penny's hand.
"Come on."
He shot Wade a look.
"Before we acquire more spectators."
Wade grinned.
"No promises."
Evander ignored him.
Leading Penny toward the small cabin.
"Let me show you below deck."
She tilted her head.
"Below deck?"
"The berth and galley."
Penny looked even more confused.
"What is a berth?"
Evander glanced toward Wade.
"The bedroom."
Then he looked back at Penny.
"And the galley is where we eat."
Wade flicked his tail.
A sheet of seawater splashed across the deck.
Penny yelped and jumped back.
"Oh, my holy starfish and blood clots, you two are going to be the death of me."
Wade pointed triumphantly.
"See? She is learning."
Alyrina gasped.
"You taught her to swear before teaching me?"
"You were busy."
"I am always busy."
Evander chose that moment to steal Penny away.
He caught her hand and headed below deck while the siblings continued arguing behind them.
"It's actually Roku's boat," he explained as they descended into the belly of the vessel.
"The smallest in the family. He likes sailing alone."
Penny looked around curiously.
A narrow table sat between built-in benches.
An iron stove occupied one corner.
Barrels and crates filled nearly every spare space.
A water cask was strapped securely to the wall beside a small basin.
Everything felt compact.
Practical.
Lived in.
"That is the fresh water."
Evander pointed toward the barrel.
"The head is in the bow."
Then toward a door.
"And the berth is in the stern."
Penny stared at him.
"You know I have absolutely no idea what you are saying."
His smile widened.
"It does sound ridiculous at first, but I'll teach you."
She folded her arms.
"You could point at a rope and tell me it was called a flying sea potato and I would believe you."
Evander laughed.
The sound filled the small cabin.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The chaos of the palace felt very far away.
The hunting horns.
The well.
Kaida.
Even the kingdom itself.
All of it seemed distant beneath the creaking wood and gentle rocking of the boat.
Evander stepped closer.
Not enough to crowd her.
Just enough that she could feel his warmth.
"I will teach you."
His voice softened.
"All of it."
His fingers brushed hers.
"The language."
A small smile touched his mouth.
"The ropes."
Then his gaze settled on her.
"And anything else I never want standing between us again."
His kiss was as tender as the words they now shared.
Then he turned her toward the stern and opened the door.
Penny immediately forgot the kiss.
A large bed occupied nearly the entire cabin.
She laughed and climbed onto it.
It looked exactly like something owned by royalty.
Soft blankets.
Too many pillows.
The sort of bed a person could disappear into for a week.
"Under it is more storage," Evander continued dutifully, still trying to give his tour.
Penny flopped backward onto the mountain of pillows.
"You better never show Wade this bed."
Evander groaned immediately.
"Why?"
"Because he will claim it as his."
The prince covered his face.
"Don't remind me. The last time I let him sleep in my bed, I woke up with him wrapped around me."
Penny sat upright.
"What happened?"
"I tried to move."
Penny was already laughing.
"And?"
"He told me to stop moving because he was still sleeping."
Penny collapsed back into the pillows.
"Oh, I forgot I left you two cuddling."
Evander pointed accusingly at her.
"You knew? And left us like that?"
"You both looked adorable."
"I was being held hostage."
"You looked adorable while being held hostage."
Evander climbed onto the bed beside her.
"Just so you know, the second he realized I wasn't you, he abandoned me completely."
Penny laughed harder.
The prince settled beside her with a sigh.
"Apparently I was no longer interesting."
"Poor Evander."
"I know."
His shoulder bumped hers gently.
"Tragic really."
Penny smiled and let herself sink into the soft blankets.
Then his expression softened.
"If I had known."
The humor faded from his voice.
"If I had known my own worthless brother had taken you, I would have been awake too."
Penny reached up immediately.
Her fingers touched his lips.
"Please don't use Kaida's words when you talk about him."
His eyes searched hers.
"He did terrible things."
"I know."
The words hurt.
"But every terrible thing in him sounds like her."
For a moment neither of them spoke.
Then Evander captured her hand and pressed a kiss against her fingertips.
"Fine."
His mouth curved slightly.
"He is a daylight-deaf creature of absolutely no consequence."
Penny laughed.
"Oh, that one is good."
His grin widened.
"What else are you going to teach me?"
The answer arrived as a kiss.
Slow.
Patient.
Entirely too distracting.
Penny forgot the question.
Forgot there were more lessons to learn.
Forgot there was a kingdom somewhere behind them.
The creak of the ship blended with the sound of waves.
The stars wheeled overhead.
And for a few precious hours
The world belonged only to them.
The sky had begun turning lavender when Penny climbed back onto the deck.
Wade and Alyrina were stretched out across the boards like sunbathing seals waiting for daylight.
Both turned immediately.
Neither attempted to hide their smiles.
"That," Wade announced cheerfully, "was a very long tour."
Alyrina grinned approvingly.
Penny immediately hid her face.
Which only made Wade laugh harder.
Evander emerged from below deck a moment later.
He stepped behind Penny and slipped his arms around her waist.
Together they watched the horizon slowly brighten.
"Are you ready to handle the day?" he asked.
"The sun will be up soon."
Penny sighed dramatically.
"I just survived a vampire kingdom takeover, accidentally unleashed a prophecy, got magically married to five men in less than a week, and spent half a night at the bottom of a well."
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"I think I can probably manage a few ropes and a sail."
"I am here too," Wade offered.
"That," Evander replied dryly, "is what worries me."
Alyrina laughed.
Penny smiled and looked out across the endless sea.
"Where are we going?"
The question settled between them.
Evander rested his chin lightly on top of her head.
For a moment he simply watched the sunrise.
The first rays of gold were beginning to spill across the water.
Then he smiled.
"I thought it was time I met your mother."