Kara laughed. Sebastian was so adorably grumpy. As she turned, emerald green cloaks caught her eye. Several of them. Half-hidden, hanging back at the edge of the crowd. Her friends. Healers from Hale’s infirmary.
I can’t believe it–
They’d defied her father, crossed half the realm, to stand here for her. She let go of Sebastian’s hand without a thought, running across the grass into a dozen waiting arms that crushed her between them. Her bouquet bent awkwardly against someone’s shoulder, but she didn’t care, she buried her face against the familiar scent of herbs and clean linen as the reality of it overwhelmed her.
“You came,” she managed. “You all came.”
Her friend Mia moved to see her better. “Of course we did. We all wanted to. As soon as we saw your mother leave Hale we followed as quickly as we could.”
Tears of happiness fell down Kara’s cheeks. She’d feared being cast out, accepted it even, but now she saw, she still had family in Hale.
“Healers in Thorne,” Sebastian drawled as he joined them. “Didn’t think I’d live to see the day.”
The atmosphere shifted immediately – rippling through the group. Lucille, the youngest, took a step back, looking nervously to Sebastian, then to his empty hip, as though he might conjure a sword and start running people through.
Ridiculous.
“Lucy,” Kara said firmly. “You don’t need to be afraid of him.” She reached for Sebastian’s hand as she spoke, lacing her fingers with his. Golden magic danced around their joined hands. “He’s my husband.”
Sebastian softened at her words, and glanced back at Lucille. “Don’t worry,” he said wryly, “I didn’t even bring a sword today, you’re safe.”
A few of them laughed nervously, but Lucille flushed and stammered out, “S-sorry I didn’t mean–”
“It’s fine,” he said politely. And then he continued quietly, stripped of swagger, “Thank you. For standing with my wife.”
A few of them looked startled. Courtesy from the infamous Thorne Commander.
Not what you expected, is he?
But Mia nodded at him fiercely. “There’s nowhere else we’d rather be.”
Her friends let them go back into the crowd, and at once they were swept up again. Most guests were gracious and kind, even thanking them as theHeroes of Vallenna.But Kara noticed Lucille wasn’t the only one who kept her distance, whose eyes lingered on Sebastian with suspicion, or worse, fear. Refused to look him in the eye even as they bowed to her. It made her anger burn red-hot. But before she could speak, reassurance pulsed through the bond, his voice sounding in her mind:
It’s okay, Kara. I expected it.
But she hadn’t. He’d bled for this realm. Died for it, not that they knew that. She thought what he’d done at the battle with Draknor would have made them see. He deserved nothing but gratitude. She was about to say so when someone swept her up into a crushing hug that smelt of saltwater and sea air.
“Kara!” a familiar voice called down her ear.
“Jax!” she realised happily.
When he set her down, she scanned the crowd for more flashes of Navyrian blue and bronze, and found a cluster standing not too far away. Kara recognised one of the Admirals from the battle and caught his eye. He smiled warmly at her.
Jax followed her glance. “A lot of the Seventh Sail wanted to come.” He gestured to the older sailor beside him. “And so did we.”
“Lady Simone?” Kara asked.
Jax shook his head. “She couldn’t... not after what happened with the Water Shard,” he explained. “Too many families still mourning. She sends her regrets, and best wishes to you both. She asked us to represent Navyr in her stead.”
She glanced up at Sebastian. He nodded once at Jax, in grave understanding, and she felt his guilt flare.
Jax’s gaze shifted to him. “But you saved my life at the battle.”
The sailor at Jax’s side took a step towards them. “And my boy,” he added, voice thick. “The little one you jumped in after at Saltmoor. That was my son.”
At that, a blonde-haired boy peeked out from behind his father. Wide-eyed and curious. He didn’t look more than five years old.
Their bond jolted with Sebastian’s shock, but his face gave nothing away. He crouched down to the boy so he was eye-level with him.
