by Cait Marie
“I am,” he said, shifting her to hold with one arm as they walked through the crowd toward her mother.
“Does that make me a princess?”
“That’s not how it works,” Phillip said, mirroring Shane’s earlier words and shaking his head with a chuckle.
She stuck out her bottom lip. Shane squeezed her to him, kissing her cheek. “You’re a princess.”
“You shouldn’t fill her head with such nonsense,” Mrs. Lavens said from her spot beside Talia. He knew she was right, but the sad look Carys had given him made him want to give her anything she wished for. Setting her down, he laughed as she ran to her mother and all but jumped into her lap.
“How are you this evening?” he asked Talia.
The corners of her dark eyes crinkled as she smiled up at him. “I’m well, your Majesty.”
Shane nodded, wondering if he’d ever get used to the title.
Chapter 3
Shane
“You’re sure about this?” Phillip whispered.
Shane took a deep breath before nodding. He wasn’t, but he didn’t know what else to do. Phillip pulled out the particles from the flower petal they’d crushed up. After much deliberation, they had decided the quickest way to help the people of Detmarya was to do exactly as his father had once planned—use the water supply.
When Talia suggested dropping minuscule amounts of the Heulwen throughout Ferda, Shane had insisted he go to one of the deposits. He wanted to be a part of the kingdom’s healing—to check in with his people.
“I want to do it,” Carys said, jumping up and down at her brother’s side.
Phillip unfolded the cloth containing the golden particles. “All right, hold your hands out over the water.”
She did as she was told, still wiggling around. Shane laughed and moved behind her. Putting his hands on her shoulders, he said, “You’ve got to be really careful.”
Carys stilled, and Phillip gently put the cloth in her open palms. He put a hand beneath hers and guided her. Together, they tilted it, letting the tiny pieces of the flower sprinkle down into the water of the open well. They’d picked a well in the center of Ferda that connected to one of the main water stores.
As soon as the cloth was empty, Carys shook it out and then turned around to grin up at Shane. “I helped save people!”
With his own smile, Shane reached down and lifted the young girl into his arms. “Yes, you did.”
“All right, it’s time for you to go home, you little monster,” Phillip said, taking the cloth from her and shoving it into a pocket.
Carys tightened her arms around Shane’s neck and laid her head against his shoulder. “Do I have to? You’re the king; he has to listen to you.”
He shot a smirk over at his best friend, who did not look amused. Instead, Phillip shook his head. “Mother said to have you home by dinner.”
“Sorry,” Shane said. “I may be king, but even I still have to listen to your mother.”
Burying her face against his neck, Carys let out a dramatic whine. “It’s not fair. I never get to see you two anymore.”
Shane held her closer, his heart aching. He knew she was still having a hard time, no matter how happy she seemed. When his father had taken her and her mother prisoner, a rage like he’d never experienced filled him. Seeing her brought up in those filthy clothes after staying down in the dungeon for weeks… his stomach churned just thinking about it. It had been months, but those memories wouldn’t just go away. For anyone.
Shane glanced at Phillip before saying, “Maybe we can ask your mother about you coming to stay at the castle with us sometime soon.”
“Really?” she asked, her mood immediately improving.
Phillip mouthed a thank you to Shane before telling his sister, “We’ll ask.”
She let out an excited squeal, and they all headed toward the Lavens’ quaint home nearby. As soon as they were inside, Carys squirmed out of Shane’s arms and ran to the kitchen, likely telling their mother what he’d said. Before they turned the corner, Phillip faced him and put a hand on his chest. The sweetness in his eyes made Shane smile.
Shane lifted a hand to Phillip’s cheek and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He hated having to hide behind closed doors, but until he could convince Phillip that everything would be fine, he’d do whatever made his friend the most comfortable.
“Are you boys coming in?” Mrs. Lavens asked as she rounded the corner.
They jumped apart, but it was too late. Shane knew she’d seen them holding on to one another.
“Mother, I…” Phillip hesitated, seemingly unsure of what to say. He glanced at Shane, his concern at being caught clear in his gaze, but the king was equally at a loss for words.
“Are you staying for dinner, your Majesty?” she asked in a soft tone before either of them could decide how to handle the situation.
“I need to go find Ada.” He hadn’t seen his sister since she ran from the coronation celebration the night before, which meant she was frantically searching for answers again. She’d barely come out of the library the past few weeks. “She’s having a hard time, and I…”
Mrs. Lavens stepped forward. “Is there anything I can do for her?”
Shane shook his head. “I don’t know. I have no idea how to help her right now.”
“You’re going with him?” She turned toward her son.
Clearing his throat, Phillip nodded. “I’m still on duty.”
The corner of her mouth lifted just slightly. When she pulled him into a hug, Shane heard her whisper to him, “That’s not why you’re going.”
He blushed as she stepped away and moved to Shane.
“Tell me if there’s anything either of you need from me.”
“Thank you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her short frame.
As she walked away, she glanced over her shoulder, pointing from one to the other as she paused near the corner of the hall that led to the kitchen. “Don’t think you’re getting out of this conversation. The next time you come for dinner, we’re discussing whatever is going on here.”
With that, she was gone, and Phillip ran a hand through his hair as he cursed under his breath.
“It’s all right,” Shane said, turning toward him. He hooked a finger under Phillip’s jaw and made him meet his gaze. “It’s fine. Trust me.”
Phillip visibly swallowed and nodded. True fear filled his eyes, and it tore at Shane’s heart. He took Phillip’s hand, lacing their fingers together, and brought it to his mouth. He kissed it once before releasing him to move to the door.
“Ready?” he asked.
Taking a deep breath, Phillip nodded again, still not speaking. Shane knew the interaction shook him up. They’d been so careful, so cautious of not letting anyone see them because of Phillip’s worries. If anyone found out about their growing relationship, they would question his position as the captain—more than they did because of their well-known friendship. But Phillip earned his role as their leader. He was the best swordsman in the kingdom, and people tended to listen to him. Shane just needed Phillip to see his own worth and know that their men would still respect and follow him if they learned the truth.
Together, they walked through the streets, keeping distance between them that felt like a wide chasm. Shane hated it. The trek back to the castle was short, but passing the clock tower brought about an ache in his chest. When the back of Phillip’s hand brushed his, he turned to one of the few people who understood the agony brought on by the place.
His sister’s blood had washed away from the cobblestone street with the rain, but the image of seeing her still body would haunt him forever. The pain of losing her was unlike anything he’d ever experienced. Those were the longest moments of his life.
“She’s all right,” Phillip said in a gentle tone as he urged him on.
The minute they’d stepped out of the Lavens’ home, his other guards had descended. It was not acceptable for the king to wander the streets wit
hout an escort, regardless of how peaceful Ferda seemed of late. They led him to safety behind the castle walls. To the place slowly coming to life under his rule.
Once inside, Shane dismissed the guards and headed straight toward the library. He needed to see Adalina. After passing the place she’d… he needed to see her.
“Shane.” Phillip grabbed his arm after the library’s large oak doors closed behind them. As if reading Shane’s mind, he said, “She’s fine now.”
Shane whirled toward the iron staircase. High above them, in the labyrinth of shelves, the sounds of books falling to the floor with the occasional groan or curse filled the air. “No, she’s not.”
Phillip put a hand on his chest. “Just give it time.”
Shane glared at his best friend. When Adalina returned a month ago, he’d had to live through the pain of losing her. Yet, somehow, finding out she was immortal was nearly just as devastating. He’d seen what a never-ending life did to a person—he’d seen the agony in Loxley’s eyes when he lost someone he loved—and Shane didn’t want that for his sister. She deserved to grow old with her family and friends. She deserved a happily ever after.
As if reading his thoughts, Phillip slid his free hand into Shane’s while the other rested over his heart. Shane looked from the top of the stairs to the man always at his side.
“She has been tearing through those books for weeks. She’s going to ruin the library—her favorite place, mind you. When she finally realizes it was for nothing, she’s going to hate herself for destroying all that history. All those stories.”
Sighing, Phillip lowered his arm. “Fine. You’re right.”
“Of course I am.” Despite the situation, the corner of Shane’s mouth ticked up. He leaned in close to whisper, “I’m always right.”
Shane kissed him once then turned back to the stairs, but Phillip stayed with him.
“I’m here,” Phillip said, squeezing his fingers.
Though Shane’s strength had returned with the healing properties of the Heulwen, the thought of climbing the stairs to face his sister exhausted him. With a deep breath, he did though, pulling Phillip along with him.
Adalina let out a huff, and a book went flying as they reached the corner of the open nook she used to curl up in. Shane ducked, but Phillip hadn’t seen it in time. It hit him in the face, and he cursed. Trying not to laugh, Shane put a hand to his friend’s cheek. “Are you all right?”
Phillip narrowed his eyes. “Not funny.”
Before Shane could argue that it was, in fact, hilarious, Phillip let go of his hand and stomped around him toward Adalina.
“I’m sorry, Phillip,” she said, her eyes widening with horror. “I didn’t see—”
Her words cut off with a shriek as he grabbed her and hauled her over one shoulder. Shane watched with amusement as the man carried her to where he stood. “So, this is giving her time?”
But Phillip didn’t stop. He walked past him to the stairs, a yelling princess trying to escape his arms.
“Let me go!”
“Not until you calm down,” Phillip said, making his way to the ground floor.
Shane trailed after them, grabbing Adalina’s hands as she beat at Phillip’s back. It reminded him so much of when they were younger.
In her room, Phillip finally put her on her feet. When she tried to move around him, he held out an arm and Shane stepped in her path.
“Let me go,” she repeated in a low voice, glaring daggers at both of them. Anger radiated from her.
“Talk to us,” Shane begged. They used to tell each other everything. Now, she barely spoke to him at all. “Adalina, please.”
“What do you want me to say?” Her arms flew out to her sides as she backed up. “He left me! After everything, he left.”
Shane sighed, scratching the back of his neck with one hand. No matter how many times he tried to reassure her that Lee would return, her frustration stayed. When the pirate insisted on taking part of the Heulwen flower and supplies to the southern islands, Shane hadn’t argued. It needed to be done.
He just hadn’t expected the man to leave Adalina behind.
“That’s what I thought,” she said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
Phillip grabbed her by the shoulders as she tried to move past them again. “Sit.”
Shane bit the inside of his cheek, hiding a smile as she listened to Phillip’s demanding tone. She sat on her bed and tugged a pillow onto her lap, the fire that had filled her over the past few weeks as she searched for answers extinguished. Looking down at her hands, her shoulders curved in. It broke Shane’s heart.
“I can’t be immortal,” she whispered.
A tear splashed onto her pillow, and that was enough. Shane sat beside her and pulled her into his arms. Her own went around him as he said, “We’ll figure it out.”
Phillip knelt in front of them, smoothing a hand down her hair. When she didn’t say anything, he met Shane’s eyes.
“He left me.” Adalina lifted her head from Shane’s shoulders. “Now that he’s stuck with me forever, he wants nothing to do with me.”
Rage bubbled up inside the king, and glancing to Phillip, he knew his friend felt the same. This wasn’t his fierce, stubborn sister. She was never one to give in or pity herself.
Lee loved Adalina—Shane had no doubt about that—but something happened on that street he’d never fully understand. She broke the curse by sacrificing herself.
Except the curse didn’t fully break. Lee was still immortal, unlike the rest of his crew.
And now, so was she.
Chapter 4
Loxley
Leaning back, Lee let out a long sigh. He thumped his head against the wall. Soft sobs filled the room. Someone hushed the children, and he straightened, ready to tell the person to leave them alone. They’d been through enough the past couple weeks.
Ada’s former nanny, Melanie, sat on the infirmary bed smoothing down a young girl’s blond curls. She wasn’t telling the children to be quiet; she was trying to comfort them. Something he’d failed to do on the trip back from Obaith. In those moments on the ship, he’d thought about Ren and how well he’d always handled children. The death of his friend ate away at Lee as he spent those cold nights alone in his cabin.
The door opened, and his eyes snapped up. But it wasn’t Ada entering the infirmary. No, it was her furious brother charging straight for him. In a former life, Lee would have braced himself, stopping anyone who’d dare confront him. But he didn’t move.
Shane’s steps faltered as he looked from Lee to the two small children lying a few feet away.
“What’s going on?” Shane asked in a quiet tone as he neared.
“Wait, are they—?” Phillip moved closer, recognition in his eyes. He’d been with the crew when they visited the small island last. He’d helped care for the children in their short time there.
“They’re orphans from Obaith,” Lee whispered, trying to get the image of the blazing island from his mind. “For years, we’ve delivered supplies to the rundown island, and we knew they needed the flower, but when we got there…” His words choked off, and he cleared his throat. “The village was burning.”
Shane’s eyes widened. “How?”
“We don’t know,” Lee said. “I couldn’t tell if it was an accident or if they were attacked. Everything was destroyed—everyone was dead.”
“Except these two.”
It wasn’t a question, but Lee nodded. “The last time we visited, Karey was so sick she couldn’t stay awake. I can’t imagine what Kal must’ve gone through to drag her out of the orphanage. She was unconscious when we arrived, and he hasn’t spoken since we found them on the beach.”
Lee shoved a hand through his hair. Seeing them outside of the village tore him apart. The fires were still going strong, so he didn’t think they’d been there too long, but they were alone. While everything—everyone they’d ever known turned to ash around them. It made Lee sick to think abou
t. The Nihryst had searched every bit of that island without finding any other survivors. He hadn’t hesitated to bring the two children onto his ship.
He’d given them each some water with a tiny piece of the Heulwen crushed into it. By the end of the first week on their way back to Detmarya, Karey was alert and mostly healthy once more. The trauma of what happened had hit them though, and they’d hidden below deck for most of the trip.
“We’ll watch over them,” Shane said, bringing him back to the present. “Go find Ada.”
“I’m sure you have more important things to worry about.” His crew had stayed down in the village, but he wanted the children to come here to the castle. He’d remembered how moved Ada had been when meeting them, and he’d hoped seeing her—a familiar face—might help Kal at the very least. Karey was young enough to not fully understand what they’d been through, but her brother did, and she stayed upset because he was upset.
Shane crossed his arms. “You need to stop this.”
“Stop what?” Lee mirrored his position. “I brought the flower to save you and your kingdom, as well as the southern islands. My crew is free from the curse, and I apparently take in orphans now. What more could you people possibly want from me?”
Phillip stepped closer, angling his body in front of Shane’s. “How about you go talk to the girl you love, who is dealing with becoming immortal,” he hissed the word so no one could overhear, “all on her own?”
Lee’s face paled. His hands tightened into fists.
“Ada’s too stubborn to admit it, but she needs you,” Shane said. “You’ve had over a century to deal with this; she’s had a few weeks. Remember how you felt back then.”
“At least you had your crew,” Phillip added. “You had other people all living through the same thing. As much as Shane and I are there for her, we don’t know what it’s like. She won’t talk to us.”
Lee buried his face in his hands. “I never wanted this to happen.”