I rolled over and glanced out the cave. I bit my lip in giddy excitement, aching to see my amichai again. I imagined his arms pulling me close and his lips on my forehead. I stood and sauntered out of the cave lazily, daydreaming about him as I made my way over to the fire pit. Perhaps he was out catching breakfast.
I smiled to myself, thinking about our life together on the island. Everything was absolutely perfect.
"Hands on your head!"
Galian
I stood in the clearing, mouth agape. There was a person—a real, live person who was not myself or Theo on the island. Was I dreaming?
I blinked and rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was dreaming. I felt the heels of my hands in my eye sockets, so I couldn't have been.
"S-sire, is it really you?"
The voice was familiar, but I couldn't quite place the face. The stripes on the uniform meant something, but it had been so long since...
"Martin?" I gasped. The name came from some life long ago—a young two-striper who'd been assigned to protect me.
At once, realization washed over me.
They'd found me.
"Martin!" My face exploded in a smile as I rushed over to him, grasping him by the shoulder. I heard myself laughing. They'd found me. They hadn't left me. I was saved. Everything was going to be all right.
"Sire, it is...very good to see you," Martin said, grasping my arms as I did his. "We thought you were dead."
I couldn't help but laugh again. "I thought I was dead, too!"
Martin shared my excitement, glancing around the camp. "With all due respect, I thought I was going to find your remains here. How did you survive?"
My smile grew, thinking of Theo. I was going to make good on my promise. I couldn't wait to get her back to Norose and pamper the ever-loving shit out of her. I couldn't wait to see her in a dress. Preferably white.
After all, I wasn't bringing a Raven girl back to Norose just to date her.
"Sire?" Martin prompted me.
"It's a long story." I ran my hands through my hair. Far from the short military crop that Martin wore, my hair hung shaggy around my ears, my beard was thick and curly. "How long has it been?"
"Sire, you've been missing for two months," Martin replied. My breath left my chest. Two whole months? Time had flown, it seemed, and yet it also seemed as though I'd been there a lifetime. I tried to piece together the days and weeks in my mind and found I couldn't. Everything was a blur of rabbits and water and Theo.
"How did you find me? What's going on back in Kylae?"
Martin opened his mouth to speak then closed it, considering his words.
"Speak freely, Martin," I said, my mood darkening immediately. "His Royal Asshole-ness can't hear you. Trust me on that."
"Sire, I'm not sure...in your condition."
I snorted. "I don't have a condition, trust me. So everyone thinks that I'm dead?"
"We... There's already been a funeral procession," he said quietly. "We buried an empty casket."
I clicked my tongue against my teeth. "How long after?"
"Three days."
"Son of a bitch," I swore, turning to face the forest. "I knew it."
"But your mother...she wasn't convinced," Martin said. "Especially when several trading vessels reported seeing smoke in the northern islands. And...well, we received a note from Herin's northern radar station that they'd picked up some odd traffic."
I shook my head, anger seething inside me. All those times that I'd expected someone to come, those signs had been seen. Seen and ignored. "Let me guess. There was suddenly a need for every available resource for the war?"
Martin nodded. "Your mother asked me and Kader to look. It took us some time to pinpoint exactly where... I'm so sorry it took us this long—"
I quieted him by placing my hand on his shoulder. "Martin, you came right on time. Trust me on that." Had they come a day earlier, Theo and I would never have confessed our love, or spent a very pleasurable night in each other's company.
I clapped Martin on the arm. "Thank you for coming for me. Thank you for not giving up on me. You have no idea how good it is to see you." I looked at the ground as I became emotional. I probably had every right to be, but I didn't want to show it just yet. Later, I might cry like a baby in the comfort of my own home.
Home. I was going home.
"It was Kader, mostly," Martin's voice saved me from blubbering. "He's the one who was able to get passage out of Kylae to get here. He wouldn't rest until you were back home."
I furrowed my brow. "And here I thought he didn't like me very much."
"Pardon my frankness, but he doesn't," Martin said. I couldn't help but smile; his loyalty and deference extended only to my father, it seemed. "But he also didn't think it was right of your father to leave your body behind. He wanted to bring you home for your mother."
"Yeah, imagine the shock when he finds me living and breathing." I chuckled. "Where is that bald bastard anyway?"
"We split up about an hour ago."
"I..." My eyes widened. "We have to get back to my cave."
Before Kader found Theo.
Theo
The words didn't register, but the pain of being slammed into the ground did. I cried out from surprise and shock.
"Who are you?" I screamed. We hadn't seen another person on the island, and we had canvassed every single inch of it together. A million possibilities crossed my mind until I saw the shade of his uniform.
Kylaen.
They'd found us.
It was over. Our perfect paradise was gone in one fell swoop. There wasn't time for tears or anger, because I had a gun to my head, and if I didn't think quickly, I'd be looking at my brains on the ground.
"Get up, Raven scum," the man hissed at me, pulling me off the ground and pointing the barrel of his gun at my face. He was bald and tall, and from the snarl on his face, he wasn't one to be tangled with. "Where is the prince?"
"I... He's here... I...." I gasped, praying Galian would appear in the clearing. At this point, only he could save me.
"Where is he?"
"I promise, he's fine," I yelled in panic. I'd grown fond of one Kylaen, but I still thought the rest of them were a bunch of trigger-happy idiots. And I didn't like the half-crazed way this bald one was threatening me. "Just... please put the gun down. He just walked away for a minute. I'm sure—"
The gun pressed harder into my skull.
"Shut your filthy mouth." He threw me on the ground, and I stared up at him and the barrel, not making any sudden moves. He eyed the uniform I wore —the old Kylaen uniform we'd found in the radar station. "What are you wearing?"
"I found it here," I whispered.
His eyes narrowed. "I'll ask you again. Where is the prince?"
"I promise you," I winced as he cocked the gun, "I swear on my life that he's here. Galian is—"
"Do not call him by his first name!"
I shrank down again, averting my eyes. "The prince is here. I swear on my life that he is unharmed. He's healthy. He is... he's fine, I swear it."
"And why should I take your word for it?"
"Because..." I trailed off, almost telling this soldier that I loved Galian. But he'd probably kill me for saying such a thing. "Because it's the truth?"
"You Ravens are lying pieces of shit—"
"Kader. Kader!" My heart lifted to the skies as Galian ran into the clearing with another soldier behind him. I was saved, for the moment, at least. Although I knew everything was going to be much more difficult. The world which we'd kept at bay, the war which we'd set aside in favor of our love, it all was crashing back in. And there was nothing either of us could do to stop it.
The last thing I saw was the butt of the gun before everything went dark.
Galian
"What the hell?" I screamed as Theo slumped to the ground. I rushed past Kader, gently lifting her head, and touching the knot where Kader's gun had knocked her out.
"Your Highness!" Kader
sounded surprised, but I didn't care if he was surprised to see me alive or to see me caring for a Raven soldier. Saving me or not, he had no right to hurt Theo.
"That was unnecessary," I snapped, sliding my arms under her and picking her up. Her head fell against my chest limply. I'd get a better look at her when we got off this island, but for now, it was enough to keep her away from Kader until I could explain things.
"S-sire." Kader stepped forward. "Sire, we all thought you were dead."
"Well, I'm not, so can we get out of here, please?" I said, adjusting Theo in my arms. "I would really like a shower."
"Who is she?" Martin asked.
"She shot me down. Her name is Theo. She's coming with us."
Kader and Martin shared a look of surprise.
"S... What?" Kader said, blinking in confusion.
"She shot me down," I repeated, slower. "We're... She's coming with us. I promised her."
Kader cleared his throat. "That's all well and good, but in case you forgot, we're at war with her people. I don't think your father—"
"I could give a shit what he thinks," I snapped. "The dickhead left me on an island to die."
Kader glared at Martin, who withered. "He couldn't spare—"
"Save it. I know my father well enough to know he'd have rather you'd found a skeleton," I said. "But thanks to Theo here, I survived."
"We can't take her," Kader said.
I needed to make them understand. "Well, I'm sure it comes as no surprise that I had absolutely no idea how to fend for myself out here," I said, unashamed to admit my deficiencies in front of those who already knew them. "Theo's the reason I'm still alive." And I'm the reason she's still alive, I added silently, but I didn't want them to know that just yet. "I would have starved to death or died from dehydration without her. I...I love her." I straightened my shoulders, wondering why it was much scarier to admit my feelings to Kader and Martin than to the woman herself.
"Be that as it may," Kader said, more gently than I thought I'd ever heard him speak to me. "She's a sworn enemy of the crown."
"Then so am I."
Kader's fists balled in frustration and I half-expected him to deck me.
"Sire." Martin had decided to try, it seemed. "Let's all..." He glanced at Kader then back at me. "All of us go back to Norose. Get you and... your friend to a hospital."
I nodded to Martin and ignored Kader's angry look. They would have to pry me off the island if Theo didn't come with me. And I think Martin knew that.
"Let's go."
We marched quietly back to our original camp, passing by her deformed metal ship. Martin asked me how we'd ate, and I told him about Theo's rabbit traps and how we'd found an abandoned radar station on the other side of the island. That elicited a curious look from Kader, but he said nothing.
We continued our parade onto the nearby beach where my ship had landed two months ago. Further along the shoreline, I spotted a small plane with vertical take-off capabilities—the only way anyone would be able to land on the island. It told me that not only did they know I was on the island, but they'd also spent a few days planning the best way to retrieve me. When they got used to the idea that Theo was a part of my life, I'd thank them properly. With tears and free-flowing alcohol, most likely.
I stopped in the middle of the beach, mouth watering. Beer. Food. Food I didn't have to kill first. Dessert. Chicken. Lemon pie. Beer. Shower. Underwear. A toothbrush.
Clearing my throat, I adjusted Theo once more and followed my two rescuers onto their ship. The vessel was larger than the one I'd flown, this one had an area for cargo and was lined with jump seats along the edge. I stopped when I saw the wooden box in the center of the plane. My supposed coffin.
"Really, guys?" I asked, kicking it.
"Be careful or I'll bring you back in it anyway." Kader grunted, brushing past me to sit in the captain's seat. "Nobody knows you're alive."
I considered this and shut my mouth. I settled Theo into one of the seats and strapped her in tight. I placed a gentle hand on her cheek, wishing she would wake up so I could explain what was going on. But she continued to sleep soundly, though the welt on her head was growing.
"Sire, we're ready to take off." Martin's voice was quiet, but firm.
I settled in the seat next to Theo, strapping myself in. As the ship rumbled to life, the realization washed over me that I was leaving the island.
I was going home.
The feeling flooded through me and I found it hard to breathe for a moment. This nightmare was finally over. I had survived.
I glanced at the girl next to me and smiled. We had survived. She had saved me, I had saved her. And through our struggle, we'd found something even better.
I watched the sandy beach and forest disappear. The gray ocean waves that lapped against the shore. As we rose higher, I saw the crater where the laboratory had been. For as much as it had given us, I felt a duty to ask some serious questions about what happened there. My father, at least, owed me an explanation for why he continued to pretend like Mael wasn't killing people.
But as the ship gained altitude, I decided those problems would be addressed later, after I'd had a shower and a full meal. And maybe after a long nap with Theo in my arms.
Kader pressed the ship forward, toward Norose and Kylae and all of the real-world problems I was sure would come roaring in our direction as soon as we landed. But I glanced back at the small dot of land rapidly disappearing against a sea of blue, and I knew that whatever they threw at us, we could handle together.
"We're going home, Theo."
SEVENTEEN
Galian
Kader landed the ship in the small military airfield near the capital city, the very same one that I had taken off from two months before. My survival had not been broadcast, it seemed, because there was no greeting party or tabloid photographers waiting and Kader, Martin, Theo (still asleep), and I piled into what I assumed was Kader's personal car. There was barely any leg room for me, but Theo and I managed.
"You stink," Kader grunted from the front seat after we'd been driving for a while.
"It's been a while since I've showered," I replied, glancing over at Theo, curled up under my arm. "You know, we were a little focused on trying not to starve to death," I continued, brushing the hair off her face. "If I'd known you guys were coming to get me, I'd have jumped into the Madion Sea."
Martin snorted and the corners of Kader's mouth turned upward.
"Besides, Theo didn't mind."
"I'll bet she didn't," Kader muttered.
I was about to snap at him when we crossed a hill, and the city of my birth grew larger on the horizon. I pressed my face to the car window, taking in every single detail. I'd never considered Norose mine or held any love for it when I was growing up, but now...now it was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
I glanced at Theo—except for her, of course.
We passed the long strip of statues that marked the main drag of the city to the castle. An abundance of black ribbons hung from the street lamps.
"The king declared a period of mourning to last ninety days," Martin said, when I asked.
"Ninety, wow," I said, sitting back. "That's thirty more than Dig got. I guess I should be touched that he thought so highly of me."
"There was also an uptick in enlistments," Kader said. "More young men wanting to avenge your death."
"Maybe I'll just stay dead then. Let them all kill each other." I glanced down at Theo, then shook my head. Running away was something the old Galian would've done. Now I had a chance to be better.
When Kader turned down the long causeway to the Royal Kylaen Hospital, a rush of glee washed over me. The big, beautiful white building gleamed in the late afternoon sun, seven stories' worth of windows reflecting the sun and the Madion Sea.
Kader, not having the royal car, pulled into the emergency room entrance. I opened the car door and stepped out, almost ready for the rush of people that normally accomp
anied my arrival. But since I was still dead, there was nothing. Two young nurses caught a glimpse of me—I recognized one who'd made eyes at me when I was a resident. But they took one look at my bedraggled clothes and disgusting beard and scurried away.
"Galian."
Dr. Maitland's face was as I'd remembered it—his cheeks still round, the liver spots still adorning his bald head. But his eyes reflected emotion I'd never seen in them.
"Dr. Maitland, it's—" I meant to shake his hand, but he pulled me into a hug so tight it was hard to breathe.
"Son, I thought we'd lost you," he said, stepping back. "It's...well, it's damned fine to see you."
I grinned at him and reached into the car to pull out Theo.
"Who is that?"
"This is Theo," I said, wishing she'd just wake up already. She was missing too much excitement. I couldn't wait for her to meet Maitland. "She crashed on the island with me. Shot me down, actually."
"Galian, is she...Raven?"
I nodded and adjusted her in my arms. "She has an injury on her left leg I want you to take look at. She can't walk on it very well. I think the gash on her other leg has healed, but—"
"Galian," Dr. Maitland said, cutting me off. "She is fine. How about you? That's a nasty bruise on your forehead."
"My forehead?" My fall seemed a lifetime ago, but it had only been a day or two since I'd woken up. "Malnourished, dehydrated, maybe a small concussion."
"You didn't sustain any injuries in the crash? No hypothermia?"
"I parachuted out," I said. "What's the story my father's been telling everyone?"
His old eyes grew sad and solemn. "You crashed in the ocean. Fighting off ten planes."
"It was one, and she kicked my ass," I said, glancing down at her with pride. "But her ship exploded, and that's how she landed there too. She was in rough shape—bleeding out."
The Complete Madion War Trilogy Page 16
