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“It’s in the past. We have to go.”
“No,” I said.
Havana jerked away from me. “Don’t treat me like my father. I can help. I know that I’m not as experienced as you, but I was born for this. The All Father blessed me with this specific power. If I can’t protect the people at the Oasis, how can I protect my home?”
I lifted my hand to her cheek, rubbing it with my thumb. “This isn’t politics and thieves. These are darkthings. You can’t talk your way out of it. They’re fast and deadly. They can infect you with their sickness. You were lucky not to be infected. You’ve got scratches all over you.”
“I know,” she said, her voice low. She leaned over to me, gripping my neck with her hands. “But you listen to me, Leon. I am not just a princess. I am a woman, and I will fight for those I love. Not you or my father have the power to stop me.”
I took this moment to tell Havana everything I had wished to say. “I want you to know something.”
“No,” she interrupted. “I want to speak first. There’s something I need to say to you.”
I nodded, grabbing her hands. “Okay, you go first.”
Not releasing me from her intense grip, she eyed me. “I am truly sorry for putting you and your crew in danger. It was reckless. Every time I thought of telling you, I was terrified. I was afraid you would send me home, but I was most afraid that what I was experiencing, what I was feeling, would disappear and then you would hate me.”
“I could never hate you.” I pressed my forehead to hers, drawing her in. “You are a breath of fresh air in my life.”
“You live on the sea,” she laughed.
“No. You don’t understand. It’s hope, light, happiness, everything I need to survive, and it’s all wrapped up in you. I know what you did was reckless, but I also know you are kind and courageous.”
Her fingers dug into my neck as she pulled me closer, but we were already as close as we could be out here. “I want you to know that I forgive you, Havana. You and I are good.”
I wanted to say more, to tell her how the mere thought of her invoked such an intense emotion I struggled to define it with words, but I paused because regardless of how deep those emotions ran, she was still a princess, and she was still going back home.
“This has been the greatest adventure of my life,” she whispered. “I wanted to experience life, and you showed me so much more. I wish we had more time.” Her voice cracked.
I wrapped my arm around her waist and slipped my other hand around her neck. “We will have our moment,” I said and then kissed her before we had to return to the darkness.
