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As we raced toward the ship to drop off Owen and Jorah, the day an absolute success on more than one front, all I could think of was Esta’s hand. The hand of a queen. The same hand which could take this form, her trained talons able to rip her enemies to shreds. But I had seen the hand of a woman, elegant yet strong. And dammit if I didn’t have a thing for hands and palms, Wylan Enchanted that I was.
I felt the adrenaline in my veins edging out my exhaustion as I replayed everything over in my mind.
How did it happen? And how could I get it to happen again?
* * *
Esta droppedall of us on the deck of the ship, saying that she would fly to the shore to check on a few things before picking Amory and me back up.
Malachi and Whit were going to fly with the ship for an hour or more making sure that no shifters approached, Kian and Savanna protecting from the water. I was grateful for all of them.
Owen and I were discussing the telepathy being key when Jorah promptly threw herself into my arms and put up a sound barrier around the two of us plus Owen.
She squeezed me tight. “We will be back. Soon. As soon as you’d like us or think it is safe.” She pulled back to look me in the eyes. “But I don’t think you needmymagic.”
“What?”
“You did it all on your own,” she continued. “Owen and I weren’t doing a thing to The Drak’s lake when it turned. If you need the lake to glow with magic when they speak telepathically to unlock the magic of the lakes, you can use the others to help. John, Emric, or Dex.”
I considered what she was saying. I wasn’t as convinced as she was, but the telepathy definitely played a huge role in this. It was a pattern I should have caught onto after the first time up on my balcony.
She continued, “You don’t need my magic. You needyours.Your magic, that stubborn will of yours, andtheirmagic.”
She did have a point.
“And please do not go back there tonight to turn the queen back. You need to be smart about this and recoup your magic.”
“I hate how right you always are,” I offered. “It’s rather annoying.”
“Facts,” Owen added. He walked over and joined us, hugging me also. “We miss you. Stay safe. I have a feeling after today things are about to get a lot more interesting for you.”
“Write more often now that you can,” Jorah added.
I gave her a nod. “It’s likely going to be awhile before I return.”
Owen let out a laugh. “I don’t think they’ll be letting you out of the country any time soon.”
“But,” Jorah said with a smile, “we had the ship drop off your wave riding board at the docks. Apparently one of your land dragon friends knew of a place to store it, so you’ll have to ask them where to find it.”
That had me grinning. “Things are finally looking up.”
Jorah gave me a smile. “They’ve been looking up for a while now, it just took you an extra little bit to notice.”
I noticed Esta coming back around and gave a shrug. “I just didn’t remember who I was without all the masks. Without having to outthink my jackass of a father.”
Jorah patted my shoulders. “You’re the man who will always flirt with burnout to help others. You are far more noble than you’d ever credit yourself for. You helped Krew form the disloyal. You helped the people of Nerede that night of the fires. The first time I ever saw burnout was from you. You always do the right thing for others, donning whatever mask you need to make sure their plans work.” She paused. “Eventually though, Keir, you are going to have to learn that it’s okay to do the right thing for yourself too.”
I swallowed hard. I didn’t even remember the last thing I truly did for myself. Likely keeping her in my Assemblage, but even then, I did it because I suspected she was a disloyal. Even when I chose to train those men at the Nerede base, I did so because I thought it was best for the country after I abdicated to disappear for a while. Wave riding. That had been the only thing I had done for myself in years, it felt like. Esta started to lower down as I smirked. “If you are going to strip me down like this, you could have at least bought me dinner first.” I paused. “With dessert, of course. I know you.”
She laughed and gave me one last hug. I could count on one hand the number of hugs I had from her in the past three months, and today I had three already.
Owen leaned in and actually kissed me on the temple before whispering, “Don’t let it all go to your head. Just remember that I’ll always be prettier.”
Jorah playfully punched him. “Do you have to ruin every perfect moment with your mouth?”
“On the contrary, we need to consider all the perfect moments my mouth has provided,” Owen offered.
I snorted a laugh.
