As soon as Shay left his side to go up on the dais with Willa, Nick slipped back into the crowd. The time for him to leave had come. Willa and Shay were both safe, both set for the future.
His job of protecting Willa was complete.
As soon as he was in the courtyard, he’d shift. Then he could fly back to Nocturne Falls and get on with his life.
Without Willa.
The ache of that thought blurred his vision. He pushed blindly through the crowd, caring less about being polite than getting out of the great hall before his emotions got the best of him.
Willa’s voice rang out over the audience as the applause died down. “I hope that means you approve of her, because I hereby abdicate the throne and name Shay my successor, effective immediately.”
Nick stopped, and the thump of his pulse filled his ears. What had she just said? Judging by the utter silence in the hall, Willa’s words hadn’t quite registered with anyone else either. He turned, about halfway to the door, and looked back at the platform where she and Shay stood.
She held her hand up, even though there was no racket to be silenced. “I know this comes as a shock. Please don’t mistake my decision for flippancy. The weight of what has been bestowed upon me is great. Which is why I know I am not the best queen for you.”
She glanced at Shay. Nick’s gaze followed hers. Shay looked a little shaken, but was holding it together admirably.
Then Willa’s gaze went back to her parents. She frowned. She was looking for him. Wondering why he was gone, maybe. He started working his way back toward her, the possibility that something amazing was about to happen too great to ignore.
She kept looking while she spoke. “I’m sure you want to know why, and I feel you deserve an explanation, so I’m going to give you one. I also think this is a moment when the plain truth is the best choice.”
He was only a few rows from the front when she located him and smiled.
“The reason I’m abdicating is I am in love with a man who isn’t from here. He’s from the town where I’ve created a life for myself, and that life, with him in it, isn’t something I can walk away from. It’s not something I’m willing to walk away from. If I stayed, you’d never have my full commitment, because my heart would always be there, with him.”
He put his hand over his heart and nodded at her, happy he didn’t have to say anything, because he wasn’t sure he could have managed more than a grunt.
She’d given up the crown for him. Had she been planning this all along? The level of the sacrifice wasn’t lost on him. To become the ruler of the very place she’d run from and then to walk away from that for him…it staggered him.
The crowd began to realize he was the one she was talking about. A small circle formed around him.
She nodded. “Yes, that’s right. He’s a gargoyle.”
A few small gasps and mutters went up, but nothing like what he’d expected.
The man standing closest to him clapped him on the back and smiled. “You better take good care of her.”
Nick nodded and found his voice. “I will.” It was all he wanted to do.
Hands pushed him toward the stage. “Go on up,” they persuaded him. “Go, join her.”
The crowd parted, and he walked forward to the dais. He leaped onto it and stood beside Willa.
She took his hand, grinning madly as tears shone in her eyes. “This is Nicholas Hardwin. The best man I’ve ever known. Nick, meet the citizens of Rhoswynn.”
He waved.
Two thousand fae waved back.
Nothing in the Rangers had quite prepared him for that.
Willa laughed softly. “You look like a deer in headlights.”
He gave her a short nod. “I feel like one, too.”
She held tight to his hand, but turned back to her subjects. “I hope you’ll all understand my decision and not hold any hard feelings toward my sister because of it. I know she can be the queen you need, or I wouldn’t have made this decision.”
Gerard stepped up to stand on the other side of Nick and bent forward so he could see Willa. “I suppose another coronation is in order then?”
Willa glanced at Nick and nodded. “Yes. And no need to wait two hours this time.”
“I understand. Shall I begin the proceedings then?”
Willa gave Shay’s hand a little shake. “Ready to become queen?”
Shay’s nod was the most regal thing Nick had ever seen. “I was born ready.”
The crowd laughed along with Willa. “Good.” Then she pulled Nick closer. “Because all I want to do is go home.”
He leaned into her. “Me, too. But until we can do that, I’ll go stand with your parents again. This is Shay’s moment.”
Her smile went from joyous to knowing, and she bent her head close to his. “If you try to leave me again, I’ll have the royal guard hunt you down.”
“You saw that, huh? I can explain.”
“And I’ll expect you to. Later.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He jumped off the dais before she could say anything else. He was still stunned she’d given up the throne for him. It was a gesture that humbled him and made him realize that he had truly met his match. Willa was the most amazing woman he’d ever known, and it was overwhelming to think she’d chosen him over all the other men she could have had.
He stood beside Melinna, who smiled at him before turning her attention back to her daughters. He joined her in gazing up at them and smiled with the kind of satisfaction he hadn’t felt in a long time.
Queen Willa wanted him.
Shay went through the coronation ceremony like she’d done it a hundred times, which reinforced Willa’s decision that giving her little sister the crown had been the right thing. With the help of their parents and Gerard, Shay would be just fine. And she’d grow into the job as she continued to grow into her powers.
Willa’s sense of peace continued even after she took the crown from her head and placed it on Shay’s.
And as the king left and the last of the gathered crowd was ushered out, she finally managed to relax. Just Nick, her family and a number of guards remained. She and Shay came down off the dais to stand with them.
“That was a bold move,” Jarrel said.
Willa nodded. “I know, but it was the only thing I could think to do.”
“That’s why you asked if I would help Shay if she needed me for something big, isn’t it?”
“Yes. And thank you.”
Her father nodded. “Anything she needs.”
Shay hugged Jarrel. “You can be my counsel, Daddy.”
He bowed to her. “Whatever Her Highness requires.”
They all laughed. Willa slipped her hand into Nick’s.
Melinna clasped her hands hopefully in front of her body. “You must be starving. Let’s all go back to the house and have a grand dinner, what do you say?”
Willa smiled. “As wonderful as that sounds, I really need to get back to Nocturne Falls. My poor cat, Jasper, has been locked up in the house with no one to look after him since we were kidnapped.”
“You have a cat?” Shay’s eyes rounded. “I want to meet him.”
She crouched to hug Shay. “I would love for you to visit. I just don’t know how easy it’s going to be for you to travel now.” She sighed. “I hope you don’t end up hating me for making you queen.”
Shay looked at her with great seriousness. “I could never hate you, Willa. And I’ll come visit. You’ll see. I’m the queen now. No one can tell me no.”
Nick laughed. “The crown suits her.”
“Too much, perhaps,” Melinna said. She laid a hand on Willa’s arm. “I’m sorry for how your visit here came about, but not sorry for the end result. I hope you’ll come and visit us, too.” She smiled at Nick. “Both of you.”
He nodded. “We will.” He put his arm around Willa’s waist. “Right?”
“Right.” She gazed up at him, wondering how it was possible to love a man she’d only
known for a week this much. She reached over, yanked the bracelet off his wrist and tucked it in her pocket, which no longer held the key to the Crystal of Ardwynn-Rhos. “I think we’re done with that now.”
“Good.” Nick’s stomach growled.
She laughed. “Mother, I know I said we had to head home, but maybe you could make us a few sandwiches for the road?”
Melinna nodded. “I’d be happy to.”
Forty-five minutes later, Willa and Nick had each had a sandwich and were ready to go, another bag of sandwiches and a flask of water packed for the trip. They stood out in the garden of her parents’ home, aware they would soon be the subject of many curious eyes, but not caring.
“You ready?” Nick asked. “It’s going to be a long trip, but not nearly as long as the one up here. I can fly it in about half the time.”
“I’m ready,” Willa answered. She wanted to be home more than anything. She hugged her parents and Shay, pausing to say a few last words to the new ruler of Rhoswynn. “You know you still have to decide what’s going to happen to Zane and Kyanna, but if you want me to help you, I can come back in a few days and—”
Shay shook her head, her bright gaze sharp. “No, I can do it. It will be my first ruling as queen. They deserve to be punished for what they did to you and for what they were planning to do to the kingdom. I’ll figure it out.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Willa kissed her cheek. “I have great faith in you.”
Shay smiled and took her parents’ hands. “Come back and visit. And bring your cat.”
Willa grinned. “I’ll see what I can do.”
She gave Nick a nod. “Let’s go before I get weepy.”
“You got it.” He shifted into gargoyle form in front of them, flexing his big stone wings. “Man, that feels good.”
Willa grinned, loving the gravelly timbre of Nick’s voice in this form and his awe-inspiring size.
“Wow,” Shay whispered.
Jarrel whistled. “Leviathan class, am I right?”
Nick flexed his wings one more time. “Yes, sir.”
Jarrel nodded, admiration in his eyes. “You did well, Willa.”
Her cheeks warmed. “Thanks, Dad.” She gave her mother a little wave. “Bye, Mom.”
Both parents waved back. Shay was too occupied with staring at Nick.
He crouched on all fours. “Get seated. It’s time to fly.”
She climbed up and situated herself between his wings, then patted his massive back. “I’m ready.”
“Hang on.”
She latched on to the base of his wings, and a second later, he leaped skyward. The ground fell away from them so fast it sucked the breath out of her. All over the kingdom, fae lifted their heads and shaded their eyes to see Nick soar over them. Willa screwed up her courage, lifted one hand and waved.
His enormous shadow ghosted above the kingdom’s patchwork of colors. She stared over her shoulder for a minute, watching Rhoswynn fade away.
“Sad you’re leaving?” he asked.
“Not sad I’m leaving the kingdom, but a little sad for my family, yes.”
“I can imagine.”
His words struck her hard. “I know you know what I’m feeling.” She lay down, resting her head between his shoulders. His skin was warm and hard but also soft. There was nothing to compare it to. It simply was the impenetrable hide of a living creature made of stone.
“You’ll see them again.”
She nodded against his back. “I know.” The wind rushed over them, cool but not unbearably so thanks to his warmth and the way his massive form provided a buffer.
“Looking forward to being home?”
“More than I can say. I miss Jasper. I hope he’s all right.”
“I miss him, too. I’m sure he’s fine. Probably hungry and mad, and maybe a little skinnier, but otherwise fine.”
“Oh, he’ll be mad, all right.”
Nick snorted, a deep sound that was carried off by the wind.
She traced circles on his skin with her thumb. “We need to talk, you know.”
He flew on silently for a long moment. “About?”
“Were you really going to leave me?”
“I…hang on.” A second later, they dove sharply downward.
The wind whistled past. She grabbed hold of his wings again and hung on until they landed abruptly in a wide-open field. A small herd of cows grazed off in the distance. She jumped off his back, and he transformed into his human self once more. She stared at him. “Next time, a little warning would be nice before you dive-bomb the countryside.”
“Sorry.”
“Why’d you land?”
“Because this is a conversation that needs to be had face to face.”
She nodded. “I agree. So let me ask you again. Were you really going to leave me?”
“Yes. I didn’t see any other choice. You were queen. I didn’t know you planned to abdicate. But I also understand why you didn’t tell me.”
“I wasn’t sure I’d get away with it.” She put her hands on her hips. “But me being queen wasn’t a reason for you to leave.”
He huffed out a short laugh. “Willa, that’s nice to think, but the truth is very different. The fae queen with a gargoyle?” He looked away. “I care too much about you to put that kind of stress on you.”
She dropped her hands, stepped closer and poked him in the chest with her finger. “That would have been my decision to make.”
He stared at her, a slight amusement in his eyes. “So I should have just gone along with it and suffered the comments and criticisms while your reputation took a hit and your rule was questioned?”
“You’re assuming that’s what would have happened.”
“And you’re assuming it wouldn’t have.” He took her shoulders. “Willa, your kingdom was going to crown Kyanna, who was about to reinstate slavery.”
She shook her head and stared at the grass beneath their feet. “I want to think there would have been an uprising.”
“I want to think that, too, but what if there hadn’t been?” He narrowed his eyes. “My presence could have made things very dangerous for you.”
She pursed her lips. “Your presence makes things a lot safer, if you ask me.”
“You know what I mean.”
She sighed. “I do. But the idea of you leaving because of what you think my best interests are is just…” She threw her hands up, knocking his grip on her loose. “Unacceptable. I love you. I can’t be in love with someone who might walk away from me one day.”
His hands settled on her waist and pulled her close. “That’s not going to be a problem moving forward. I have no plans to ever leave you again.”
“Ever?”
He shook his head as he bent to kiss her. “Promise.”
She lifted her head to meet his kiss. It was the seal on his promise and the tease of what was to come.
After a long moment, they broke contact, and she smiled and reached up to press her hand to his cheek. “Take me home.”
Twilight had fallen by the time Nick swooped down into his backyard. It made for good cover, although Nocturne Falls was one of the only places in the world he knew of where being spotted by tourists in one’s true form was usually seen as a good thing. Night flights by flying-capable supernaturals were under some restrictions, but if he got dinged for it, he had a feeling the Ellinghams would look the other way since it was part of his bringing Willa home safely.
He shifted back into his human form as soon as Willa slid off. She looked a little worried. He grabbed her hand. “Jasper’s going to be fine.”
She stared at the house. “I hope so.”
Nick prayed that was the case. “I’ll have us inside in a sec.” Thankfully, he kept a spare house key tucked away in a magnetic hideaway inside the grill. He fished under the grill cover and opened the lid enough to grab the little box. He slid the key out and unlocked the back door, then pushed it wide
to let her in. “You check on Jasper. I’ll run around front and see if all the picnic stuff is still laying there. Open the front door for me, okay?”
“Okay.”
She went in, calling for the cat. “Jasper? Where are you, baby? Momma’s home.”
Nick jogged around front. No sign of the cooler or the umbrella or anything. He hoped a neighbor had stored it for him, not that it had been stolen. The front door opened behind him.
“Nick.” Willa’s voice was strained. “I can’t find Jasper.”
“He’s probably curled up somewhere sleeping.” But even he knew a hungry cat was more likely to yowl for food when humans arrived than to stay hidden away sleeping. Nick went inside.
Willa stood in the living room, shaking her head. “I can’t imagine what’s happened to him. I’m going to check the bedroom again.”
“Okay, I’ll poke around out here.” He went into the kitchen. The food bowls were licked clean. The water dish wasn’t entirely empty. That had to be a good sign. The house smelled like it had been closed up. He opened the slider into the backyard and let some fresh air in even though it was warm.
The breeze blew a piece of paper off the counter. He went to see what it was. A note, from Pandora Williams.
Hey, not sure where you guys are, but I checked on the house and took Jasper home with me. I put the stuff from the front yard in the garage. Everyone’s worried about you two! Call me!
“Willa,” Nick called out. “Jasper’s at Pandora’s house.”
Willa came running down the hall. “How do you know?”
He held up the note. “She was here. Let’s go see her and get Jasper.”
Willa let out a breath. “Yes, absolutely. If she’s got him, he’s definitely okay. Probably a few pounds heavier, but perfectly fine.”
Nick grabbed the spare truck keys off the hook by the phone. “Good to know our disappearance didn’t go unnoticed.”
She waited by the counter while he shut and locked the sliding glass door. “How could it? Neither one of us showed up for work and with as neat and tidy as you are, leaving the picnic stuff out in the front yard had to arouse some suspicions.”
The Gargoyle Gets His Girl Page 22