When I comprehended her words, I nearly tripped over my own feet. “Wynn and Rose? They’re at the castle?” I asked, blood pumping. “Who’s Perry?”
“Your daughters are safe. Perry is my baby, Logan. It’s a long story. Well, not really, since you know most of it, but I’ll fill you in… please, just tell me… are Mom and Dad okay?” She braced herself, a hint of fear in her beautiful features.
I nodded quickly. “They’re fine. West is with her constantly. She’s pregnant, so Troy is leaving her alone.”
“Mom? My mom is pregnant?”
“The prophecy, Eva. History. It’s all playing out. No matter how much we try to stop it, we’ve done all the same things, all over again. Your dad called it a paradox.”
“And you’re trying to rule the kingdom?” Cole asked, his southern accent thick and annoying as hell. I glared at him.
“No, I’m trying to get the fuck out of here and get home to my family.”
Eva narrowed her eyes, sadness stealing through her green gaze. “I tried… to save Violet, I…,”
“Hey. Red.” I tucked my hand under her chin, shaking my head slightly. “We can only do what we are capable of doing. The rest of the time, we’re just trying too hard, and that gets old after a while,” I pulled her against my chest again, squeezing my eyes closed. “Just let it be.”
“I’m sorry,” she broke down, crying, holding her stomach as Cole reached to pat her shoulder comfortingly. “Logan, she took my daughter, and Will is in chains, and Eric’s magic… she has an army or insurgents working for her. Against me. They hate me. They hate me because of the prophecy, the suns, all of it. They are poisoning the minds of the people who did love me, who did support my rule. Everyone is turning against me, and now Will, because of me.”
“We’ll just have to change their minds,” I assured her, turning to Cole. “Thanks for coming.”
He shrugged, nodding toward the castle, and then to Eva. “She was very convincing.”
They exchanged a glance, and I smiled proudly at her, kissing the top of her head.
“Okay, then, what’s the plan, your majesty?”
Eva tried for a small smirk. “Right. The plan. I need my dad’s help. Can you get him for me?”
I smiled gently, nodding. “You got it. Hey, listen,” I hooked her pinky finger in mine, raising my eyebrows. “Unless you’ve got Medieval Castle’s Greatest Hits on shuffle, don’t play your music here, okay?”
“I know,” she promised.
I turned back for the battlegrounds, looking for West.
Chapter Eighteen
Roam
The warm, supple sensation against my stomach coaxed me awake. Lazily, I opened my eyes, focusing on West’s sandy-blonde head as he moved his lips over my rounded belly.
“Good morning, baby,” he murmured, and I smiled, reaching for him.
“I almost forgot where we were.”
“I wish I could make you forget.” He moved next to me, tucking my head to his chest. “Troy is returning today.”
Rigidly, I sighed. “I know. How’s your magic? Any progress?”
He smiled, and I traced his cheeks with my finger. “Let me show you,” he lifted his hand, and his eyes warmed to amber as he drew a small circle around us. I inhaled sharply as the dark castle walls of West’s private chamber fell away, and we were in bed at home, in North Carolina, while the sun poured through the open window.
I recognized the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. “I can change the area around me, making you see whatever I want you to see. I can’t play music yet, like Eva, but,” he moved his fingers to my stomach again, and the baby inside of me kicked against his hand. “I went to 1863, and I managed to bring this with me,” he reached for the table next to the bed, gripping a pistol.
“That looks old. Civil War era?”
He nodded, proud. “It’s a BT011. I took it with me, and then tried to take something alive with me- a horse,” he looked down at my bare chest, and then moved his lips to my throat. “The animal didn’t come through.”
“West.” I inhaled the scent of the sea… and even of the candle in my bedroom from home that smelled like Yankee Candle fresh linen. “I worry about you traveling like this. What if you get trapped again, and can’t come back? All these years without magic… what if your mind just… forgets again?”
“I feel it, baby. I can’t unfeel it. I trust the magic. I am controlling it a little more every day.”
“We’re running out of time.”
“We’ve been running out of time since the moment I first touched you,” he murmured, and I moaned softly as his hand slid beneath the sheets, over my thighs. “I’ll be sure Troy has plenty to distract him tonight. I won’t let him touch you, Roam, I swear.”
“He won’t,” I assured him. “He’s got his harem of servant girls to entertain him. While I’m pregnant, he’ll leave me alone.”
He held me tighter. “I talked to Logan about Violet.”
“And?” I tucked my face into the crook of his arm.
“And he refuses to chance losing Wynn and Rose. He said Violet wouldn’t have wanted that.”
“He’s so much more mature.” I murmured, and West stiffened. I gripped his shoulder, meeting his eyes. “You have to forgive him. If you forgive me, you have to forgive him, too.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but then snapped it closed as our bedroom fell away. The cold room returned, and he sat up. “The herald. The ship is early.”
“I have to go,” I sat up too quickly, blood rushing to my head, and he steadied me.
“Slow down. I’ll get you back to your room, and then see you tonight, okay?”
“Okay.” I kissed him, long and deep, so comforted. Just being in his presence in the castle gave me the strength to deal with Troy every day.
Troy met me in our chamber within the hour. I watched him press his lips to the backsides of my fingers reverently, murmuring prayers. His hands smoothed over my stomach, through my gown, and he smiled.
“Our child will come before the snow falls again. You are well, Mina? The babe is well?”
“Yes,” I nodded quickly as West appeared in the doorway.
“Your majesty, urgent business awaits you.” He interrupted.
Exhaling slowly, Troy sighed, nodding. “As always. Come, Mina, join me in my affairs. I wish for your presence as I see to these urgent matters,” he mocked, holding his elbow out for me so that I could accept his escort.
“My lord,” I managed, and felt West close behind me as we made our way through the castle. Once seated in the throne room, Troy ordered the servants to see to my comfort. West took his place behind me and to my left, armed with a sword, ready to protect me at all costs.
The evening court droned on forever. I paid little attention to Troy’s affairs. Once, when I was queen of Icepond, I had cared about changing things, about making the people love and trust me. Now, I balanced on every breath, so worried that we’d somehow alter history and change something drastically.
Troy began talking with two men who kneeled before him, and I watched the young king’s eyes wander toward the back of the room.
“Wait,” he silenced the men, gesturing to Balin. His servant leaned close, and Troy whispered something to him, nodding to the back of the hall.
Logan joined the men, glancing once at me before bowing low. “Your majesties. Welcome home, Troy.”
“Brother,” Troy acknowledged. I knew he would never fully trust Logan again, and I took every opportunity to distract his thoughts. With a controlled effort, I lowered my hand to Troy’s, watching him turn his surprised eyes on me.
“My queen,” he murmured, his voice thick with longing. I let him hold my hand, and could almost feel West’s eyes burning into the back of my head.
“My lord,” I turned to Troy, taking a steadying breath. “May I retire to our chamber?”
“Why?” He snapped, obviously goaded by Logan’s presence.
>
“It is difficult to be this close to you, after so long. I have missed you a great deal.”
At my words, passion flickered in his seductive eyes, and he turned a slow smile upon me. “Of course. My love,” he kissed my hand again, and I bowed my head, struggling to climb to my feet. “West, see to her majesty’s escort-…,”
He broke off as Balin approached with a servant girl. Face lowered, eyes on the ground, her hair was bound with a dark bandana. Cut very low, her gown offered a plentiful view of her chest, much to Troy’s satisfaction. When she lifted her chin, I stumbled.
West caught me from falling.
Eva’s eyes flickered between mine and West’s, and she curtsied before the throne. “Your majesty.”
“Rise,” Troy’s mesmerized tone drew my attention, and I watched in disgust as the slow smile that I hated so much spread over his face. “’Tis treasonous to possess such striking, emerald eyes,” he teased, curling two fingers in her direction. She stood, crossing to him, and I felt my skin crawl as his hand grasped her chin.
I wanted to vomit.
I wanted to scream and find my sword, and fight, and pry his heart from between his ribs. In all of my lives, even when he was hurting me, even in my very darkest moments, I never found the will to hate as much as I did at that moment. His fingers on my daughter’s flesh sickened me.
“Do not touch her,” I growled, and Troy whipped to me, amused.
“Mina, do you permit such beauty in your court?”
I stared at Eva, trying so hard to compose my thoughts. Troy was there, in the same room with her, ogling her, salivating over her, and I was choking at the instant bile in the back of my throat.
No.
“You will not look at her, and you will not touch her,” I raged at Troy, my chest rising and falling as I struggled not to lose my composure. “You will not.”
My words stunned him at first; he took a step backward, looking at West, and then me.
“My queen disapproves of your beauty, fair maiden.” He said, still staring at me, not turning back at Eva. “Perhaps I must find a bed for you… outside my court.”
I held my breath, waiting.
“Or perhaps…,” he twisted, calculated, grinning at Logan. “Perhaps you will warm my brother’s bed.”
Oh, my God. I cringed, and Logan’s stoic face turned to Troy.
“Does her majesty approve?” Troy taunted me.
I felt West release me, and I steadied my feet. Troy is still bitter, still angry… he’s trying to punish me for sleeping with Logan.
“I… yes,” I nodded, copying Logan’s cool demeanor. He communicated with me silently, and I knew, deep in my heart, that he was protecting Eva.
“A gift, brother,” Troy gestured to Eva, and Logan bowed again, smiling appreciatively. “You will thank me. Show me that you enjoy my gift.”
Logan’s polite smile faltered. “My lord?”
Troy scoffed, checking to make sure I was still watching. He didn’t need to; there was nothing in the world that would tear my eyes away from my daughter’s face. “For God’s sake, brother, put your mouth on hers.”
I felt the ground begin to tremble with the force of West’s reaction, and I watched as Logan paled. The look of utter disgust on his face came too quickly and couldn’t be masked in time.
“His highness prefers fair haired maidens,” Troy laughed heartily, grinning over my head while trying to exchange a lecherous look with West. “Take down your hair, maid, and show my brother what you have to offer him.”
I could only imagine my husband’s face.
“I assure you, you’ll like what you see,” Eva’s voice cut through the anxious silence, and every eye in the court turned to her. “And why would I settle for a prince, when there is a king in my presence?”
Silence.
I held my breath, closing my eyes for a long, tortured moment.
Troy, Logan, and West all gaped, and West tensed, ready to attack anyone who laid a hand on her. She responded by flashing one of her signature, wicked grins, tugging at the bandana in her hair. “Well? Your majesty? Perhaps I should warm your bed.”
Troy watched as her scarlet curls tumbled over her shoulders. Her hands settled on her hips, and her eyebrow rose challengingly.
“I shall escort her out,” West started forward, but Troy held his hand up, halting him.
“Your name,” he ordered, his voice gruff. “I wish to know the name of the maid who dares insult my queen.”
She took a step forward. “My name is Eva. And I would love to set you on fire.”
“Eva,” Logan hissed, but Troy only held his silencing hand up again in Logan’s direction.
“West, escort her majesty to her chamber,” Troy said, still gazing at Eva. “This maid is in need of a lesson in obedience.”
“If I may, my lord,” West stepped ahead of me, turning to Troy. “I request the company of this maid tonight.”
Eva rolled her eyes at her father, crossing her arms over her chest. I knew when she dying for a fight, and I also knew that West was doing everything that he could to stop himself from dragging her out of Troy’s presence.
After a long moment, Troy waved his hand in dismissal. “Very well. I am quite sure this one will make fine use of your whip.”
West had his hand clamped on Eva’s upper arm and was dragging her from the throne room in seconds. She squirmed and slapped at his hand, and I sank into my chair, pressing my fingers over my rounded belly as my baby kicked restlessly.
The baby.
“Eva,” I burst to my feet, remembering she was supposed to be pregnant. Troy caught my hand, gripping tightly.
“She will entertain West this evening. I will see to my wife,” he said as his face softened. “Come, my love.”
I kept my eyes on the cold, stone floor, following Troy to our chamber.
Chapter Nineteen
West
“Damn it, Eva!”
“Dad, just listen,” she began, still clinging to me. I gripped her too hard, and her back cracked as she gave a tiny cry. “God, you’re like a giant… and your hair is kind of douchey,” she managed, and I loosened my grip.
“Are you okay? No one hurt you?” I held her by the shoulders, looking her up and down. “How much time has passed?”
“Nine months.” She covered her stomach, flushing. “I had my baby. And now Meredith and Eric are holding Will, Chris, Logan’s girls, and Perry, and she’s going to kill them if we don’t bring Troy back.”
“Perry?” I tried to process her words.
“My daughter.”
The raw emotion in her voice tugged at my chest, and I hugged her to me. “Babe. You need to stay away from Troy. We can’t alter this history in any way. We all just have to get out of here, and-…,”
“And you have magic, Chris told me… he does too, and Dad, together, the three of us can kick ass, okay? And Will and Logan, and Cole-…,”
“Cole? Mathison?”
“…and Mom.”
“Not here,” I silenced her, pointing toward the door to my small chamber. “These men are animals, Eva. They take what they want, from whatever woman they find.”
“No one takes from me.” Her chin jutted forward, and I suddenly pictured her at three years old, with her tiny foot stomping on the ground in another tantrum. Smiling, I pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“That’s my girl. Stay low, babe. Keep your hair covered, you’re too goddamn pretty to be parading around out there. Got it?”
“Wait, are you leaving me here?”
“I have to go to Mom, I can’t leave her alone with Troy-…,”
“Wait, is that his kid? Ew!”
“No, the baby is mine.”
She groaned, burying her face in her hands. “Dad! That is exactly what Asher said happened before! And Logan… oh, gross, no,” she peeked through her fingers at me, and I fought back my temper. “What!? Did they… fall in love…?”
“No.” I wante
d a cigarette. So. Fucking. Bad. Right. Now. “No, she thought I was dead. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“So Logan just swooped on in? Dick move.” She shook her head, her nostrils flaring. “He’s going to betray you! Asher said it was Logan who betrayed you and Mom to Troy! Everything is the same! He-…,”
“Logan won’t betray us. He wants to get home to Wynn and Rose and…,”
She lowered her eyes. “Violet’s gone. Forever gone.”
“I’m taking us back to her. Back to a time when she was alive.”
“Well? Tick tock. What the fuck are we waiting for?”
“Don’t swear at me, Eva.”
“I’m sorry.” She lifted her eyes to mine again, and this time they were cloudy with tears.
I was still trying to believe that she had a baby. She was my baby. “Perry?” I repeated. She sighed, sniffing.
“She’s strong and brave. Seemed fitting.”
“Do you know where I got the name Perry?” I asked. “You. In those woods. You told me my name was West Perry. It was Asher before Perry. You changed history that day, Eva. Just the smallest change can affect the entire universe. Because you went back in time and gave me that name, I used it all of my life. It’s insignificant, but only because we don’t know what would have happened if I had not changed my last name. Just you being here could be changing history right now.”
“Dad? No offense, but I’m starving, and I’m worried about Will and Perry, and I kind of zoned out of your history lesson. If I’m stuck here, will you please send me in some food? Or have Cole bring me something?”
“Eva,” I groaned impatiently, sighing. “I can’t believe you brought Cole here.”
“I needed backup. Or a human shield, I haven’t decided yet.”
“Wait… how did you bring him here?” I asked, urgent, and she raised her eyebrows, shrugging.
“Through the inclined plane. I just… as we were traveling, I pulled him to Icepond… in the past, I really don’t know how.”
“Were you touching him in some way?”
She thought for a moment, considering. “I just… yes, I held onto his arm… but I felt it here,” she stood on her tip-toes, touching the back of my neck, near my scalp. “I pulled him with me here. This is where I feel the magic.”
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