“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 froman 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.
