by Cait Marie
When she sat down, Shane gave her a grateful smile.
“I was thinking,” he said, glancing to Carys, “if your mother says it’s all right, you could come stay at the castle tonight. There are a couple of children there who could use a friend right now.”
Her face lit up. She moved to kneel on her chair as she looked to her mother. Mrs. Lavens nodded her approval but asked, “Children?”
Taking a deep breath, Shane told her about Kal and Karey, leaving out the more gruesome details of why they’d had to come here so as not to scare Carys. His heart broke speaking it aloud, and he saw the same grief reflected in Mrs. Lavens’s eyes. He then told her about Michel and the plans to sail to Rayerna. Her face paled with each word, but he didn’t want her focusing on the upcoming fight.
“I was hoping, if it’s not too much to ask, maybe you could check in on them from time to time?” he asked. “I will have Melanie stay with them, but perhaps you could bring Carys to play with them occasionally? They’re a little younger, but—”
“Of course,” she said, cutting him off. “Whatever you need.”
Carys gave an enthusiastic nod.
Shane let out a relieved breath, and beneath the table, Phillip put a hand on his leg. Mrs. Lavens insisted they eat before heading out, and Shane was glad for the lighter mood. And for an excuse to stay longer.
“Thank you,” Shane whispered to Phillip as she got up to grab bowls.
“Always,” Phillip said before standing to help his mother.
They ate their stew, filling Mrs. Lavens in on how they’d dispersed the flower and hoped people would heal quicker. Carys asked a million questions as usual, and the afternoon felt more normal than anything Shane had experienced in a while. Even after they finished eating, they sat around the table talking. Shane draped his arm over the back of Phillip’s chair as Carys told them all about her school. She didn’t like most of the subjects, but she enjoyed history and learning about the different kingdoms. Her enthusiasm reminded him of Adalina at that age.
As if reading his mind, Phillip patted him on the knee. Shane’s attention shifted to the man beside him—to the comfortable way their relationship had changed since Phillip had returned from Rayerna mere weeks ago. It was such a short time, but it didn’t feel like it. Not when they’d grown up together. Other than Phillip’s recent excursions with the Nihryst, he and Shane had spent almost every day together for over twenty years. They’d been inseparable as children, and now…
Now, Shane couldn’t bear the thought of being separated from him again.
“Do you love each other?”
Shane’s eyes snapped up to the little blond girl across from him. Amusement filled her eyes as she bounced in her seat. Clearing his throat, Shane pulled his arm away from Phillip and straightened in his chair. At some point, while lost in his thoughts, they’d drifted closer, and Shane had been practically leaning against his friend.
“Well?” Carys crossed her arms, waiting for an answer he didn’t have.
“I… um…” He had always loved Phillip as a friend—as part of his family. He’d never been in love though, and he was sure it was too soon to tell if that’s what this was.
“Carys, I think it’s time to pack a bag if you’re going to stay at the castle. Maybe you can bring some of your toys and old clothes for the children.” Mrs. Lavens pushed back from the table and stood to grab her daughter. She picked her up and headed toward the hall, hushing Carys’s excitement. Before disappearing, she turned and said, “Clean up the table for me? I will be right back.”
After they disappeared into the girl’s bedroom and shut the door, Shane and Phillip sat in silence for a long moment. When Shane finally glanced over, he said, “Phillip, I—”
But Phillip abruptly pushed to his feet, nearly knocking his chair over. He caught it with his quick reflexes and then started stacking the bowls. Shane sighed but began helping. Gwyn’s words from what felt like a lifetime ago ran through his mind as they stood side by side at the basin in the corner of the room. He’s in love with you.
Did she mean that literally? Or was she just saying that to get her point across?
“Stop,” Phillip said, gripping the ledge of the sink and hanging his head low.
“I wasn’t…”
“You're overthinking it.” Phillip turned to face him. “I know you.”
Shane opened his mouth to argue, but nothing came out. There was nothing he could say because it was true. All of it.
“It’s all right,” Phillip said, putting a hand on Shane’s arm.
“Isn’t that my line?” Shane asked, trying to lighten the mood.
Phillip stepped closer, moving to pin Shane to the porcelain behind him. Shane’s breath caught in his throat. The physical touches still made him nervous despite knowing this was what he wanted. His heart throbbed in his chest.
Any remaining space between them disappeared as Phillip moved even closer, their bodies flush against one another. At every point they touched, Shane felt sparks. He burned with desire—with need. With love.
“It’s true,” he whispered before he could think better of it. “I think—I mean, I know—”
Phillip’s lips crashed into his. His hands twisted up into Shane’s hair. He kissed his way along Shane’s jaw toward his ear. “I do, you know. I love you.”
Shane barely heard the whispered words, but he felt them deep in his core. He opened his mouth and then shut it. There didn’t seem to be any air in his lungs.
“Stop,” Phillip said, sliding his hand to cup the king’s cheek. “You don’t have to say anything. This is still new to you. I’ve had years to come to terms with how I feel. I just never thought I’d be able to tell you.”
Finally taking a breath, Shane leaned forward to kiss him again. He’d only had to hide this for a few weeks. He couldn’t imagine years.
Just as they broke apart and he opened his mouth to make Phillip promise they wouldn’t be hiding that long, a throat cleared. Phillip stilled, and Shane glanced over his shoulder to find Mrs. Lavens standing in the entrance of the room. Carys was nowhere in sight, but they heard quiet thumps from her room as she undoubtedly threw her belongings around, deciding what to bring.
“Boys,” she said as Phillip released Shane and stepped away. Her warm smile was at war with the concern filling her eyes as she took them in. With a sigh, she turned a chair around from the table to face them and sat down, crossing her arms. “I love you both and will do anything in my power to support you…”
Tension radiated from Phillip, and Shane wanted nothing more than to reach out and take his hand.
So, he did.
Whatever her next words were, he needed Phillip to know it didn’t change anything. They were in this together.
“But have you thought this through?” she asked, nodding toward their clasped hands.
Shane tightened his grip, fearing Phillip might pull away again. “I know that I must be able to pass on the crown to an heir, but that’s a long way down the road. There’s time to figure that out.”
“Sweetheart, this is so much bigger than that,” Mrs. Lavens said. “What about Phillip’s promotion? Have you thought about how people will react to him being your captain when this is going on?”
He clenched his jaw. They had talked about it. Multiple times. It was one of the most significant reasons Phillip held back.
She continued, “You were just betrothed to a woman.”
“A woman I didn’t love.”
“I know that. Phillip knows that,” she said. “But do the people? You gave a speech praising her in front of a crowd, publicly announcing your happiness together. Beyond that, this woman was kidnapped and killed because of her ties to you. Do you not think your enemies will try to do the same to my son?”
“Mother,” Phillip started.
But Shane straightened and interrupted. “I would never let anything happen to him.”
Like you didn’t let anything happen to Adalin
a? a cruel voice asked inside his head.
“You’re about to head off to battle,” Mrs. Lavens went on, her voice softening. “No one is safe in a war. Not even a king. You might not have time to figure it all out—to name an heir.”
Shane stared at the woman who’d stepped in as a mother figure all those years ago. The one person other than his sister he’d thought for sure would accept them.
“Even if I was still betrothed to…” He cleared his throat, trying to rid it from shaking. “Even if I was still going to marry Lady Saundra, or any woman for that matter, it would make no difference on the heir front. There would not be time to have a child before we go to war.”
“I know.” Mrs. Lavens slowly nodded, the corner of her mouth lifting in a sad smile. She got to her feet and moved to stand before them. She reached for their clasped hands and held them up in front of her between both of her own. “I am not against this. Your happiness is all that matters to me—both of you.”
“You’re not…” Phillip paused. “Angry?”
At that, she let out a small laugh. “Phillip.” She pulled him into her arms.
Phillip returned the embrace, the remaining tension seeming to dissolve from his entire body.
“No, I would never be angry about you falling in love. I’ve seen your feelings evolve over time. I’m not sure when this officially started,” she leaned back, “but I’m your mother; I’ve always known. I wish you would have told me.”
“It’s very new,” Phillip said.
She smiled, looking from one man to the other. With one arm still around her son, she reached out to take Shane’s hand. He couldn’t help the sigh of relief he let out. She wasn’t against them being together.
“I just want you both to be sure of this before you do anything too rash,” she went on. “This is a big deal, not just because of war and politics. You’ve been best friends your entire lives, and I don’t want to see you lose that.”
Shane nodded in agreement. That was one of his biggest concerns. He’d thought about it a lot since that hazy day when Phillip had kissed his brow and ran off to join Ada on her search for the Heulwen.
Carys took that opportunity to run back into the room, bag in tow and a huge grin on her face.
“I’m trusting you to protect my baby,” she said. “His heart just as much as him physically in this fight.”
Beside him, Phillip scoffed. He was charged with protecting the king—a job he took way too seriously most of the time.
Shane didn’t look away from Mrs. Lavens though. As he lifted Carys into his arms, he said, “With my life.”
Chapter 10
Adalina
Ada stared up at the tower in awe. She swept her hair out of her face and blinked at the abandoned structure. It looked centuries old, but the vines wrapping around it were very much alive. She reached out a hand, but Lee grabbed her.
“They’re poisonous,” he whispered.
She looked closer at the simple green leaves. “How can you tell?”
He pointed to one that had curled in on itself, revealing a thin, red vein underneath. “They’re not native here.”
“Then, where…” She trailed off as he met her gaze.
“The southern islands.” Keeping her hand in his, Lee walked around the tower’s base. “I’m guessing they were put here to keep people from climbing. So, there has to be another way in.”
“It’s not like it can hurt us.”
“Immortal or not, you’d be miserable for a long while, and I don’t think you’d be patient enough to just stay behind while I found a way inside.” He was right, but she’d never admit it. Instead, she remained quiet and followed him.
The tower was wide, and it took several tries before Lee seemed to find something. He leaned in, accessing the stones. Stepping back, he searched the ground. He quickly grabbed a stick from beneath a nearby tree and used it to move some of the vines out of the way.
Ada rolled her eyes. She closed the distance between them, pulling her dagger out as she went, and began sawing at the thick corded vines, careful not to touch them with her hands. Beside her, Lee chuckled as he tossed aside his stick.
“I don’t know if I should be concerned that your first instinct is to go at an obstacle with a blade,” he said, unsheathing his own dagger to follow suit, “or if I should be proud.”
The corner of her mouth ticked up. “I’ve clearly spent too much time with pirates.”
He laughed again. As the vines began to snap apart, Ada saw what had caught his attention. The otherwise smooth mortar between the stones had turned into a deep crevice that trailed all the way to the grass. Vines and greenery had concealed most of it, keeping it from view of anyone not looking for it.
They continued chopping away, staying cautious not to let the plants touch their skin. When they uncovered what appeared to be the top of a secret stone door, Ada jammed her blade into the crack. She huffed and shoved to no avail.
Blowing a strand of fiery hair from her eyes, she faced Lee and held a hand out toward the stuck weapon. “Please?”
“I was just waiting for you to ask.” He winked before grabbing the hilt. With a grunt, he pulled the blade back at an angle.
A pop sounded, and dust floated out in a puff from around the door. Lee handed her the dagger, along with his, and then yanked at the stones. The grinding noise echoed through the trees, and Ada glanced around, worried someone would see. But the tower was abandoned, and judging by the dark staircase covered in cobwebs inside, it had sat unperturbed for decades.
Lee took his dagger back and wiped it along the grass before sheathing it at his side. Ada stepped forward with hers out, unwilling to part from her only defense just yet.
“Love, if you think I’m going to let you walk up those questionable stairs with a blade out…” he said, raising a brow with a smirk she both loved and hated. “You’re going to end up tripping and injuring both of us.”
Narrowing her eyes, she said, “What’s the point of being immortal if we still have to be so cautious?”
With a breathy chuckle, he cautiously took the dagger from her grasp and wiped it on the ground like he had with his. “Trust me, you don’t want that poison in your system. We’ll need to clean these better when we get back, but for now,” he put it in her sheath at her waist, “this will do.”
“Fine.” She made to step around him, but he reached for her hand.
“Besides, as you said, we’re immortal. You don’t need a little blade to protect you.” He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, laced their fingers together, and headed into the opening.
She smiled at his back and followed him into the darkness, but his words kept repeating in her mind. We’re immortal. She knew it, and still, it was hard to grasp the idea of not dying. A single stream of light came in from high above, giving them some guidance up the spiral staircase. It creaked and groaned as they slowly made their way up, Lee testing each step with one foot before continuing. Twice, a board fell through. Twice, Ada’s stomach launched into her throat.
She wondered if she’d eventually grow fearless of such situations. From what she knew of Lee’s past, he’d always been brave, but had time helped him become one to face danger without worrying about his safety? In a century, would she not be scared of injury? Of death?
The platform at the top was sturdier, with the structure supported by the stone center of the tower. They walked into the dark space, and Ada tried to make sense of what she saw.
“Hold on,” Lee said, releasing her hand. He walked to the stream of light, and she realized it was coming from the shuttered windows. As he pushed them open, sunlight filled the tower.
Ada gasped as the room came into full view. She looked around in wonder. It appeared to be a home of some sort. Two cots sat along one side with a low dresser between them. There was a single round table in the center of the room, upon which sat a vase full of long-dead flowers that had turned black and curled in. On the opposite side of the spa
ce was a small fireplace with a few chairs surrounding it, including an ancient-looking rocking chair. The tower was so tall she hadn’t even noticed a chimney from outside. A thick layer of dust coated everything, dulling what might have once been a colorful room.
“Ada…” Lee whispered.
But she’d already seen it. She stepped closer to the fireplace and gently put a hand to the wall. Painted images surrounded the room.
Hundreds of images.
“What is this?” Lee moved to her side.
Brushing a finger across the familiar, swirling symbols throughout the paintings, she shook her head in disbelief. “It’s a story.”
She grinned at Lee and slid her hand into his. He looked back up with wide eyes. It started with the sun dripping down to a flower, and she knew then exactly what story they were looking at. Together, they slowly walked around the room, trying to understand the tale unfolding. From the creation of the flower, it showed figures at war. Ada’s pulse raced as they finally reached the part of a king putting a petal into a bowl and then feeding it to a pregnant woman.
Lee stilled. His breath turned ragged as he stared at what was undoubtedly supposed to be his mother. Ada squeezed his hand and kissed his shoulder. He lifted his other hand to the painting. It wasn’t lifelike or done well, but it was clear who the story was about.
“Do you want to continue?” Ada asked in a soft tone. She would continue without him if he couldn’t go on. Somewhere in these paintings held the answers they sought. She knew it.
“I…” His ocean eyes met hers, full of grief.
Her heart ached for him, and she didn’t know how to make this easier. “I’m right here. I’m with you.”
He nodded and moved to look at the next images. The ones depicting his childhood. His sister’s birth. Their move across the sea. The paintings after that blurred together until the distinct moment he was cursed. The war continued above, adding a layer to the story, weaving events together. Amid them, the entwined Heulwen and rose symbol began to dot the timeline, and Ada knew it represented the prophecy.
