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Twenty-Four
Leon
My mother had her arm looped around Acaden as we walked. She looked over at me with a tired smile.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Stop worrying,” she said with an annoyed huff. “Your mother isn’t quite dead yet.”
“You’re far from dead,” Acaden stated.
Acaden spoke with my mother. The two of them had always had a special kinship and sometimes I would find them drinking tea and talking. I think he found stories of the Underground exciting.
Azalea walked beside Lark, the two whispering to each other, his arm firmly around her waist. It was well known that Azalea and her two guards had an unusual relationship with one another, which is why I was surprised when I had found Lark with Havana. The stubborn fae rarely left Azalea’s side unless she ordered him to.
Havana slept in my arms. I cherished the time that we had, knowing when the sun came up, she would be gone. I didn’t stay for the guards to come. While we fought, I saw them standing back. They continued to shoot arrows and attack any darkthings that were free like my crew had been doing, but nobody got close to our circle. It was as if the docks had stilled and waited and watched for us to destroy this enemy, and we had.
As I walked to Lily’s, I thought about what would happen tomorrow. I would not be able to convince the king to let her stay, and I couldn’t go with her. A pirate didn’t belong in the castle, and I had no royal claim of my own. I was the last thing any father would want around their daughter. But simply walking away from Havana? I didn’t know how to do that. I didn’t even know if I would be able to say goodbye.
When we reached Lily’s, she ran out and straight to my mother, yelling at her for running off and making her worry. My mother, of course, ignored her and told her to be calm and that everything was fine.
Lily looked at me and then at Havana, soot covering her face and blood splattered across her clothes. “You all must be hungry and tired.”
Lark slid his arm over Azalea’. “Don’t forget thirsty.”
Azalea leaned into him, smiling, and he kissed the top of her head.
“You guys go inside. There’s wounded in there, so find a spot and I’ll have food and drink brought to you,” Lily said.
“I’m taking Havana to my room,” I told her.
Lily glanced over at the cuts, the dried blood and the rips all over Havana’s tarnished dress and skin. “I’ll have food brought up for both of you and something for her to change into that won’t irritate those wounds.”
“Thank you,” I said, turning to my mother.
She shook her head. “Don’t even ask. Go, Leon. I’m fine and in good company.” She patted Acaden’s hand that rested on her arm.
“I’ll make sure she gets to her room safely,” he reassured me, knowing my mother tended to ignore all medical advice.
My crew followed behind us, Havoc saying very little which was odd. I looked at him waiting for something. Harris and Broxton walked inside already making themselves comfortable.
“I’m going to head back to the ship and check on everything,” Havoc said. “Stay safe, Captain.”
My first mate left, and I knew we would speak later.
When I got to my room, I placed Havana on the bed then went to the washroom. I turned the knob on the porcelain tub, filling it with warm water and oils I used any time I fought, or my muscles were sore and tired. While the bath readied, I used the basin by the sink to wash all the dirt off myself. I changed into black cotton pants. Feeling more comfortable and not covered in filth, I went to Havana. I didn’t want to wake her, but I knew she would appreciate a bath.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I brushed the hair off her face. “Havana,” I said, gently urging her to wake.
She groaned.
“I’ve made you a bath.”
Her eyes fluttered open. She gazed up at me. “A bath with real warm water?”
“Yes. Can you get out of these clothes by yourself?”
Yawning, she stretched and winced. “I’ll be fine.”
