Lily reached out for the back of a chair to steady herself.
“The man has golden hair,” said Mother. “The woman looks like you.”
Lily left the room and ran up the stairs, this time with no concern for taking the steps lightly. Warmth radiated through her body, her feet flying even faster than the rate of her heart. Her angels were here! Aunt Micah and her Prince! It had to be them.
She got to the top landing and saw Aunt Micah standing at the door to Mother’s bedchamber.
Lily ground to a halt, standing in front of her aunt, panting, puffing, crying, and trying not to fall down.
“Aunt Micah?”
“Oh, Lily.”
It’d been so long since anybody had called her by her name. The sound of it was like listening to all of heaven’s angels singing at once.
“It’s really you.” Aunt Micah reached out to embrace Lily, but let her arms fall to her side as if she’d thought again.
Just like it’d been years since she’d heard her name, nobody had hugged her either. Not since she’d been taken from the desert and she yearned to feel her aunt’s arms around her.
Aunt Micah was pale and shaking, but there was no mistake it was her. She looked a little older and a little thinner but there was fire in her eyes and the familiar way she tapped one foot on the ground, as if it had a mind of its own and was ready to take off.
“You’re afraid of me?” Lily had never imagined a situation where she’d see her brave aunt afraid.
“I’m scared you’re not real,” she said, holding out a shaking hand. “I can’t bear to have found you only for you not to be real.”
“Why wouldn’t I be real?” she asked. “You can see me, can’t you? I’m right here.”
Lily stepped forward and slid her arms around her aunt’s waist. Her clothing was damp and Lily realized she must be shivering not just from fear, but from cold.
Then she felt the warmth of Aunt Micah’s embrace as love overpowered the cold and her arms wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
“It’s really you,” said Aunt Micah. “We’ve been looking for you all this time. Nobody ever gave up on you.”
“I saw you,” said Lily. “I knew you were coming. I saw you in my mind.”
“I saw you, too.” Aunt Micah pulled back so she could look at her once more.
“You do look like me,” laughed Lily.
“I’m sorry, but you look like me,” she corrected.
Lily smiled, then braced herself to ask the question that most needed asking.
“My parents,” she said. “Are they okay? Are they here?”
Aunt Micah nodded. “They’re not here, but they’re okay. They’re going to be more than okay when I bring you home with me. They’ve missed you so much. It broke their hearts when you disappeared.”
“The men took me,” said Lily. “I had no choice.”
“I know you didn’t, my sweet girl. I know.”
There was a noise behind Aunt Micah in Mother’s room and Lily remembered what Mother had said.
“Who’s with you?” she asked.
“Someone who’s been waiting a long time to meet you.” Aunt Micah moved aside to reveal Lily’s Prince, standing a few steps behind her.
“Lily,” he said. “I can see you.”
This wasn’t quite what she’d expected his first words to be when he saw her, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was that he was here. She hadn’t imagined him. She hadn’t made him up.
Aunt Micah put a gentle hand on her back to urge her forward and stepped out of the room and closed the door behind her.
“What’s your name?” asked Lily, feeling suddenly shy.
“Raphael,” he said.
“Raphael,” she repeated, loving the feel of his name on her lips.
“I’m from Wintergreen,” he said.
“Are you a Prince?” she asked.
He shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m just an ordinary man.”
She smiled. There was nothing ordinary about this man. He had an aura about him that was reeling her in.
“Micah convinced me to come with her to look for you,” he said.
Lily nodded. “She’s the bravest person I ever met.”
“I used to think the same,” he said, biting down on his lip. “But now… well, I suspect now that I’ve met you that she might have to be the second bravest. How did you survive for so long out here?”
Lily smiled, enjoying the feeling of his eyes on her. They were even bluer than she’d seen in her vision. He was taller than she expected, too. And stronger looking.
“I never lost hope that one day I’d go home,” she said.
He took a few steps toward her, until he was so close, she could almost hear his heart beat.
“This might sound strange, but… can I touch you? Just to make sure you’re real.”
She tilted her head, remembering that Aunt Micah had said something equally as perplexing. Then a surge of the bravery that Raphael seemed to believe she possessed raced through her body and she drew in a breath.
“Go ahead.”
He reached up for her, placing his hands on each of her arms and she stepped closer until there was only the smallest gap between them.
“I saw you,” he said. “You were under the water holding a purple stone. You were calling to me.”
“I saw you, too,” she said, her eyes firmly on his lips. “You were reaching out to me, trying to help me.”
“I thought you were beautiful,” he said.
“I knew you were beautiful,” she replied.
Instead of kissing her, as she’d hoped, he leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, his hands slipping from her arms to her back until she was pressed up against his chest.
There was a gentle knock at the door and they stepped away, their eyes remaining locked on each other.
“I’m sorry to interrupt,” said Aunt Micah. “It seems the King has found Azrael, Pip, and Griffen.”
“Who are they?” asked Lily.
“Your new friends,” said Aunt Micah. “And they need your help.”
“I can talk to the King,” said Lily. “I know what to say to him.”
Lily nodded at Raphael, knowing that something special had passed between them, but anything more would have to wait.
Right now she had friends to help. Father may be the King of Feldspar, but it was time he found out that he wasn’t her King. Nor was he her Father. Someone else was going to have to rule this kingdom of misery.
Because it was time that Princess Lily of Forte Cadence went home.
PIP
THE AFTER
“Get your hands off him!” Pip snarled at the two men holding Griffen by the arms. “Can’t you see he’s unwell.”
Her euphoria at Griffen’s miraculous recovery of only moments ago had been ruined. He was standing limply between these two men who were half his size like he was some kind of puppet.
Pip and Azrael had only just managed to get Griffen to a stand and help him to the doorway of the lighthouse when a man who told them he was the King of Feldspar had approached them.
He wouldn’t have been so much a threat on his own, but the six men he had standing behind him were an issue.
Pip had seen a flash of Micah in the stairwell behind the King and could only hope that she’d gone back inside to get Raphael to help them. Thankfully, neither the King nor his men had noticed her.
“Can we talk inside?” asked Pip. “He needs somewhere warm and dry to lie down.”
She winced as the King burst out laughing. “You’re trespassing on royal land. You’re caught by the King, and now you want somewhere warm and dry to lie down?”
Pip pulled back her shoulders and looked the King squarely in the eyes. “My name is Princess Philippa, sister of the King of The Bay of Laurel. We have not come here to hurt you. We’ve come here to talk to you.”
This only made the King laugh harder. “And who here is this with you?”
He pointed at Azrael. “You going to tell me it’s the Queen of the desert?”
“Close,” said Pip. “She’s the best friend and advisor of the Empress of The Sands of Naar.”
“Well, it’s a whole royal party then, isn’t it?” The King looked across at his men, who joined in with the laughter. “Who’s this big guy then? The King of Wintergreen?”
“I’m a Guardian,” said Griffen, lifting his head. “Protector of the Princess.”
“Yes, well I can see you’re doing a fine job of that.” The King shook his head.
“He saved my life,” said Pip. “And…”
Griffen was shaking his head, urging her to be quiet.
“And how do we know you are who you say you are?” asked Azrael, stepping forward.
“This is my land, girl. I don’t need to prove myself to you. I’m the King because I say I am.”
“And who’s in the lighthouse?” asked Pip. “Why don’t you want us to go in there?”
The King flinched for a moment long enough to tell Pip that she’d hit a nerve.
“I’m afraid your timing is terrible,” said the King. “I’m here on urgent family business and you’re wasting my time. Where’s your boat?”
“We don’t have one,” said Pip.
“You swam here, did you?” The King laughed once again in such a way that Pip was starting to think he was unhinged, rather than amused. “Perhaps I should make you swim back. I’d like to see that.”
“No!” Azrael put her hands on her hips. “We’ve come here in peace. You cannot send us to a certain death out there.”
“You’re right,” he said. “I’d like to hear more of your amusing stories later when I have more time. Luckily for you, I have some excellent accommodation known as the Terrace where I’d be happy to put you up for a time.”
The King’s men sniggered at this suggestion.
“Father! What are you doing?”
Their eyes collectively swung to the girl who’d appeared behind the King. A younger version of Micah. There was no doubt this was the girl they’d been searching for. They’d found Lily at last.
“Angel, get back inside.” The King stepped in front of Lily.
“I want to help you, Father,” said Lily.
Pip couldn’t help but groan. This was what she’d been afraid of. That when they eventually found Lily, she’d be so brainwashed she wouldn’t want to come with them.
“Angel, I don’t need your help,” said the King.
It was at this moment that Raphael came down the stairs, positioning himself beside Lily.
“And who are you?” asked the King.
“Raphael, brother of Queen Jasmine of Wintergreen.”
“Oh, this is just too much,” said the King, his smirk returning once more.
Then Micah came forward to stand on Lily’s other side and the smile fell from the King’s face. Seeing them side-by-side like this was remarkable. The King was going to have to believe them now.
“I’m Micah, sister of Prince Jeremiah of Forte Cadence. Aunt to Princess Lily, who stands beside me now.”
“This isn’t funny!” said the King, despite him having been the only one who’d been previously amused. “Angel, come here. My men can take these trespassers to the Terrace so we can get on with what we came here to do.”
As Lily went to stand beside the King, Pip did a quick count. Six men plus the King on one side. And four of them plus an injured Guardian on the other. Five if she counted Lily, although she seemed to be on the King’s side for now. If Griffen hadn’t been so unwell then she wouldn’t have hesitated. But could they take on this many men alone? It was doubtful.
“Did they hurt you?” the King asked Lily.
“No,” said Lily. “They said they just want to talk to you.”
“They didn’t need to come all the way out here to talk to me,” he said, narrowing his eyes on Pip, who he seemed to have decided was their leader. “They came here to talk to you.”
“There are too many of us to return to the palace in your boat,” said Lily. “Why don’t we do what we came here to do and leave them here? They won’t survive out here for long on their own.”
Pip bit down on her tongue, not wanting to say the wrong thing as she tried to decide what to make of this. She had a feeling that being left out here would be preferable to this Terrace the King spoke of. But what if Robb never returned for them? He hadn’t seemed to care for their welfare too much when he’d insisted they jump from his boat into the freezing water. Were they better off being kept prisoner with no guards in the middle of the ocean, or surrounded by guards on the mainland? Neither option sounded appealing.
“No,” said the King. “We can make two trips in the boat. What we have to do might take a while, anyway.”
The King’s men nodded.
“How many passengers can you take?” he asked.
“Four at the most,” said the tallest of the men.
“You must take all five,” said the King.
The man shook his head. “I’m sorry, Your Highness, but not with the size of this one.”
All eyes turned to Griffen.
“What if you left this skinny one behind?” suggested the King, pointing at Pip. “She doesn’t look like much of a threat.”
Panic surged through Pip’s veins. She couldn’t be split up from Griffen. They’d fought so hard to stay together.
“She’s more dangerous than she looks,” said Micah, who surely knew how distressed she was right now. “Are you sure that’s wise?”
“Take them all to the boat,” said the King. “Remain on shore for now. Another boat will come when we don’t return. We’ll just have to wait.”
“Perhaps we could wait inside,” said Pip, still concerned about the state of Griffen’s health. He needed warmth and shelter.
“You’ll wait in the boat,” said the King, sneering. “Where we can keep an eye on you. Apparently, you’re dangerous.”
Pip winced. Micah had saved her from being separated from Griffen, but at what cost?
The men took hold of their arms, preparing to lead them to the boat.
“Please!” begged Pip. “Can we wait inside?”
“You’re better off on the boat,” said Lily, locking eyes with her and seeming to want to tell her something more. Was it possible she wasn’t as brainwashed as she seemed?
“He’ll freeze out here!” Pip couldn’t let it go. They couldn’t possibly be better off on the boat than out of the cold.
“Enough!” The King held up his hand. “Take them to the boat. Now!”
The men dragged them a few steps away, Pip struggling as much as her weak body would allow her to.
“Wait, Father,” said Lily. “I need someone strong to help me shift a rock. And the large man doesn’t look much use to me right now. Leave the other man behind for now.”
Pip turned to see the King narrow his eyes at Lily. “One of my men can help you,”
“And risk leveling out the numbers with our prisoners?” said Lily. “What if the large man regains his strength?”
“His name’s Griffen,” said Pip. Couldn’t these people see that he was so much more than just a large man?
“Unless you think you might be good at holding your breath, Father,” said Lily.
A look flashed across Lily’s face, fast enough that the King missed it, but just long enough for Pip to catch hold.
Contempt.
Lily hated the man she called Father. Pip was certain of it. She’d seen that look before. The girl they’d come to rescue was on their side. Not only that, but it was clear she was up to something. Whatever it was, Pip just hoped she’d hurry. Griffen needed to get warm or she’d lose him all over again.
“Fine then.” The King dug his finger into Raphael’s chest. “But don’t you try anything, or you won’t be sent to the Terrace on our return, you’ll be sent to the gallows.”
Pip had never heard that word before but didn’t think it sound
ed very promising. Raphael seemed to have heard it, though, as his eyes darkened and he swallowed hard.
“I’d never hurt your daughter,” said Raphael.
Pip suppressed a smile. No, he’d never hurt Lily.
As for the King, no promises could be made about that.
RAPHAEL
THE NOW
With his companions secured on the boat, Raphael followed Lily and the King around to the other side of the lighthouse. Raphael studied the King closely, trying to get the measure of him. This was the man responsible for causing so much misery by taking Lily and countless other children from their homes. Yet, he seemed to have genuine affection for Lily, despite his otherwise somewhat heartless demeanor.
No wonder Feldspar had never responded to invitations from the other kingdoms reaching out to talk about finding peace. Not when he had so many of their children locked inside his mines. They were the only kingdom not willing to work with the others.
“It’s out there.” Lily pointed out to the ocean.
“What are we looking for?” asked Raphael, wishing the King would disappear into the sea so he could take this beautiful girl into his arms again. They had so much to talk about. But once again, patience was going to be required. The way she’d greeted him in the lighthouse had already been so much more than he’d dared to hope for. He couldn’t blow it now.
“Love stones,” said Lily. “There are two of them out there. One belongs to the King, the other to the Queen.”
“He doesn’t need to know what they’re for, Angel,” said the King.
Lily nodded.
“Am I allowed to know what they’re doing out in the ocean?” asked Raphael.
“Definitely not,” said the King. “Your job is to help Angel retrieve them. Now, off you go.”
“Why don’t you wait in the lighthouse?” Lily asked the King. “Mother would love to see you. She was acting very strangely just now.”
“And I’d love to see her, too,” said the King. “If only I could.”
“But, why can’t you?” Lily seemed confused, in the same way Micah had been when Raphael had been unable to see the Queen on the balcony. Was it possible that Lily didn’t realize the woman she’d lived with, out here in the middle of the ocean, was little more than an apparition? Micah wouldn’t have known if he hadn’t been there to tell her.
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 111
