“Never mind,” said the King.
Taking off her cloak, Lily revealed that she was wearing the pale blue dress Raphael had seen on her in his vision.
When she undid her top button, the King put out his hand to stop her.
“Today, you swim in your dress.” He glanced at Raphael as he spoke.
Raphael’s cheeks reddened. Had she really been about to swim in her undergarments?
Having no coat to remove and with his shirt and trousers already wet, Raphael waded into the water.
“So we’re looking for two stones?” he asked Lily.
“I know where they are,” she said, wading into the water behind him. “I just need your help to remove one of them. It’s stuck between two rocks. I put the other one in front of it, so that should be easy enough to move.”
“You’re being watched!” called out the King. “And if anything happens to her, you’ll wish you were never born.”
“He’s very protective of you.” Raphael kept his voice low so the King couldn’t hear.
She nodded sadly. “He is.”
“I notice you call him Father,” he said.
“That’s just a name. I never call him my father. Not ever. I already had a father when he took me.”
He nodded, thoughts of the handsome Prince Jeremiah coming to mind.
“We need a plan,” he said. “For after we find these magic stones.”
She nodded again. “It’s going to be okay. Father wants me to use the amethysts to find my true love.”
His eyebrows shot up. The grim idea of her true love being anyone other than him gripped him around the spine. He wasn’t so sure he wanted to find the stones anymore with that at risk.
“How do the stones work?” he asked. The water was lapping at their thighs now. It was just as cold as before, although the bright morning sun made it a little more tolerable. Or was it because Lily was with him?
“When the amethysts are close to each other, they’re warm,” she said. “When someone touches them, they get a vision of their true love. And if their true love touches one of the stones at the same time, the stones will glow. And if the lovers touching the stones are the true rulers of the kingdom, then something else happens, although I’m not sure what. I’m still trying to piece it all together.”
“And why are you so sure everything’s going to be okay?” he prompted, desperate for her to say more.
“Because I saw you when I touched them,” she said. “It has to be you. When we find the amethysts and bring them to the surface, Father will see who you are to me. He can’t send you to the Terrace if you’re the true ruler of Feldspar. Nor can he send the others.”
Raphael’s eyes widened at this. The true ruler of Feldspar? He wanted no such thing. But there was no denying that he wanted Lily. Especially now that he’d met her and his feelings were even stronger than they’d been in his visions. Would he stay and rule over a kingdom for a woman he loved? That decision would be far easier to make if it were her true home of Forte Cadence—a kingdom filled with light. Not this dark place.
“You don’t want to be the ruler of Feldspar, do you?” she asked, tapping into his thoughts.
“Not especially,” he said, wincing as the cold water reached the base of his spine. “But I’d like to be your true love.”
She smiled at this. A shy smile, averting her eyes.
“Hurry up then!” called the King from the shore.
“Then let’s find out what happens,” she said. “Are you ready? Can you swim?”
“A little.” He wondered if it was his imagination or if the water had gotten warmer, the further out they’d waded. “I do know how to hold my breath.”
“It might take a few tries,” she said. “We’ll go down first and I’ll show you where the amethysts are, then we can come back up for breath. On the second attempt, I’ll remove the amethyst I placed there. Third attempt, I’m going to need you to remove the stone that sits behind it. Does that sound okay?”
He nodded. “I can do that.”
“Can you feel the warmth of the amethysts?” she asked.
“Is that what it is?” He touched the water with his hands, almost looking forward to diving into its warmth now.
“I can’t wait to see the amethysts glow.” She smiled and dread punched him in the gut. What would happen if the stones failed to glow? Lily clearly believed in their powers. If the stones didn’t think they were destined to be together, then it looked like he’d be spending the rest of his life alone. Because now that he’d met Lily there was nobody else he ever wanted to be with. That was never going to change.
“Hold my hand,” she said.
Her hand was warm and he took hold of her, hoping that there never came a time when he’d have to let go.
“On the count of three,” she said. “One… two…”
Raphael drew in a deep breath.
“Three.”
They ducked under the water, pulling themselves down. Raphael blinked, the salt of the water stinging his eyes, but found that although it was blurry, he could see.
Lily led him to some rocks, not all that far under the surface and she pointed to a dark space between two of the larger ones. The water was warm here, just like she’d said it would be. If only they could bring some of that warmth back up to the surface for Griffen.
Already feeling his lungs protesting at the lack of oxygen, it was a relief to head back up for a large gulp of cold air.
“You saw where I pointed,” she said, wiping water from her eyes.
“Yes. The space between the two largest rocks.”
She let go of his hand now, and he felt the separation like a loss. “I’m going to get the first amethyst now. You watch how I do it, so you can get the next one.”
He nodded, trying to suppress a laugh. She was more like Micah than in just looks alone. This was a girl who knew how to focus on a task.
“Did I say something funny?” she asked.
“No,” he said, still grinning. “You’re perfect.”
She smiled then shook away the compliment seeming to remember they were here to do a task.
“Ready to go again?” she asked.
He nodded.
There was no countdown this time. She plunged under the water and he followed, using both hands this time to swim down to the rocks. She reached into the dark space and he worried there might be something more there than the amethyst. A fish with a sharp set of teeth came to mind.
He watched as Lily pulled a large purple gemstone out from between the rocks and she held it out for him to look at.
But it wasn’t the beauty of the stone that made him almost gasp and draw in a mouthful of water. It wasn’t even Lily’s beauty. It was because she looked exactly like she had in his vision. Pale blue dress, red hair fanning out like a halo and a purple amethyst in her hands. The only thing missing was the desperation in her eyes. Because the unmistakable look on Lily’s face right now was one of hope.
If it weren’t for the lack of air in his lungs, he’d stay right there under the water, staring at Lily. The King had certainly named her appropriately when he’d called her Angel. She shot straight back up to the surface, clutching the amethyst in her hand. He followed without hesitation.
“I got one!” she called to the King, who waved back at her.
“May I see it?” Raphael stretched out his hand as he shook the water off his face. “So I know what I’m looking for.”
Lily passed him the amethyst and he winced at the heat it was producing. It was deep purple in color, with the sun’s rays glinting off the surface, but producing no light of its own.
“What do you think?” she asked.
“It’s magical,” he said. “But what if—”
“No what-ifs,” she said. “They’re going to glow. I know they are.”
“What’s the Terrace?” he asked as he passed back the amethyst. He may as well come to terms with what the alternative was if the amethysts re
fused to glow.
“You’ll never find out,” she said. “Come on. I’ve waited so long for this moment.”
“You didn’t really need me to move any rocks, did you?” He was certain she’d used that as an excuse to bring him out here.
“Actually I do need you,” she said. “I’ve tried to dislodge the amethyst myself but never could. You’re stronger and that amethyst is meant for you. I’m hoping it comes out easily in your hands.”
“Let’s see then.” He took in a deep breath, pushed down his fear and dove under the water, aware that Lily was right behind him.
Without wasting a moment, he went to the gap in the rocks and plunged his hand into the darkness, feeling for the warmth of the amethyst. His fingertips brushed the smooth surface and he wrapped his hand around the stone and pulled. It was stuck tight and he pulled harder. If only he could see what he was doing, this may be easier.
As he tugged at the amethyst, a soft purple glow poured from between the rocks. It was happening. It was really happening. Just as Lily had said it would. They were meant for each other. True love. He’d known it in his heart but now he was seeing it with his eyes.
With the purple glow lighting the crevice, he could now see the stone wedged behind a small but jagged piece of rock. Using the strength of his thumb, he pressed down on it until it broke away. Then taking hold of the now burning hot amethyst, he yanked it free and pushed off the ocean floor to drive himself back up to the surface.
Lily was already standing in the waist-deep water, holding the first amethyst, turning it over in her hands as she studied the tendrils of light that were pouring from it, gaining strength the more time that passed.
Raphael looked to the shoreline and saw the King shake his head, his mouth gaping to witness the glowing of the love stones. He turned his back on them immediately and ran toward the lighthouse.
Lily smiled as she waded across to Raphael and they held their amethysts out in front of them, her dark eyes locking on him. She was so beautiful it made his chest ache. He really had found his way home.
“I knew it was you,” she said. “I knew you were my Prince.”
“I hoped it was you,” he said. “I was so afraid it wasn’t.”
“Even Father knows it.” She pointed at the lighthouse just as the King disappeared inside. “No doubt he’s gone to tell Mother.”
“Lily,” he said, wondering how he was going to tell her the truth about the woman she called Mother. Now just didn’t seem the right time.
“Are you going to kiss me now?” she asked, sending thoughts of the Queen flying out of his mind.
“If you…” Now wasn’t the time to hesitate. He kicked himself. “Yes, Lily, I am.”
Still clutching the amethyst in front of him he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. She was soft and warm and her lips parted to welcome his kiss.
He’d never kissed a woman before. He’d never wanted to. But now he never wanted to stop and as he took in the taste of her, he felt her pressing her amethyst against his heart, sending warm waves through his tired body and bringing him back to life.
This was a kiss of discovery and celebration. A kiss of freedom and victory. But most of all, this was a kiss of true love.
They broke away and looked back down at the magical love stones that had bonded them. It was hard to tell if it was the magic of the kiss or the magic of the stones, but he felt better than he had since he’d set out on this quest to bring Lily home.
“I thought something else was supposed to happen,” said Lily.
“I’m pretty sure something else just did,” he said, running his thumb across her bottom lip.
“Maybe it doesn’t happen straight away,” she said.
He nodded. “Maybe.”
“Or maybe I had it all wrong?”
“Maybe,” he said again.
“Raphael, are you listening to me?” She tapped on the side of his head.
“Maybe,” he said, leaning down to kiss her once again.
He knew they had plenty to talk about and he didn’t want to dismiss any of her concerns, but right now, right in this moment, all he wanted to do was be as near to her as he possibly could.
“I love you, Raphael,” she murmured against his lips.
Without stopping to wonder if it was possible to love someone he’d only just met, he drew back just a fraction so he could reply.
“I love you, too.”
LILY
THE NOW
“Lily! We need your help!”
Lily reluctantly broke away from the warmth of Raphael’s kiss to see Aunt Micah scampering over the rocks on the shoreline. Two of the oarsmen were chasing after her waving their arms. Clearly, she’d managed to get away. But what could be so urgent?
Raphael took her hand and they waded back to shore as quickly as they could.
“It’s Griffen,” Aunt Micah called to them, as they clambered back up onto the rocks. “We’re losing him again. He needs warmth. Please, can you see if the King will allow him a blanket?”
The oarsmen grabbed Aunt Micah roughly by the arms.
“Do not hurt her.” Lily glared at them. “She’ll go with you willingly.”
The men kept their tight hold on her, so Lily held up the glowing amethyst for them to see.
“Do you know what this is?” she asked them.
Their eyes widened as they took it in. Of course, they knew. Everyone in Feldspar knew about the love stones. The Fossickers had whispered stories of their existence to Lily long before she ever laid eyes on one of them.
“That’s right,” said Lily. “These stones are held by the ruler of Feldspar and the King has given them to me. What do you think that means?”
The men loosened their grip on Aunt Micah.
“It means the King plans to hand the throne to me and do you really think I’m going to look favorably on men who mistreated my aunt like this?”
“His Majesty is still the King,” one of the men said. “He told us to keep these intruders captive.”
“But you can still treat them nicely,” said Lily. “Because I have a great memory for faces.”
She locked her eyes with him, daring him to argue.
“Griffen needs a warm blanket.” Aunt Micah glared at the men. “And he needs it now.”
“I have something better than a blanket,” said Lily, passing the amethyst to her aunt, who looked like she could use a blanket herself.
As the stone left her hands, the light faded, but given its close proximity to the amethyst still in Raphael’s hands, the warmth continued to radiate.
Aunt Micah brought the amethyst close to her chest and drew in the comfort. “What is this?”
“We need to get it to Griffen,” said Lily. There was no time to explain the magical properties of the amethysts now.
“We have two of them,” said Raphael, holding up his amethyst. “He’ll be warm in no time. Come on.”
They picked their way quickly and carefully around the lighthouse, Aunt Micah warming herself with the amethyst as they went.
“I can feel my fingers again!” she said, as they reached the boat.
Lily could see Griffen lying down in the boat. The dark-haired woman whose name Lily had forgotten was doing something with her hands above him and the thin woman called Pip was raking her fingers through her blonde hair, her face filled with anguish. The King’s men were standing in the water, not looking in the least concerned. It was no wonder Aunt Micah had been able to escape so easily.
Aunt Micah climbed into the boat and held out the amethyst to the dark-haired woman.
“Azrael,” she said.
That was her name! Azrael. Lily stood beside the boat wondering what was taking Raphael so long. He seemed preoccupied with something and had lagged behind.
“Use the stone to warm him,” said Aunt Micah.
Azrael’s face lit up the moment she took hold of the amethyst. She placed it on Griffen’s chest and moved his hands so
they were cupping the warmth of the stone.
“I can feel the heat from here,” said Pip, renewed hope spreading across her face as the amethyst worked its magic on more than just Griffen. “That’s amazing.”
Raphael reached them now holding a brown sack he’d slung across his shoulders.
“You found them!” said Azrael, smiling at him.
He patted the bag and Lily heard the clinking of glass. Small bottles of something perhaps.
“Give Griffen this, too.” Raphael held out his amethyst to Pip. “He needs all the warmth he can get.”
Pip took it from him and immediately the amethyst started to glow.
“What’s happening?” asked Pip, holding the stone out in front of her.
Lily broke into a smile.
“He’s your true love,” she said, pointing to Griffen, his eyes flickering open as the warmth of the amethyst in his hands worked its magic. His stone was glowing too, casting a purple light across his face.
Then the stones did something Lily could never have predicted. The purple light they were emitting grew stronger and brighter with streaks of yellow and blue and orange flickering to life and shooting into the sky, higher and higher.
Lily gasped to watch these two spectacular beams light the sky. Sparks flew off them in every direction like some kind of meteor shower.
Then the beams bent toward the lighthouse, casting all the colors of the rainbow across the drab exterior until it looked like a giant crystal rising from the sea, sparkling and shining, its brilliance reflecting off both the water and sky, which twinkled in response.
The two beams of light continued to curve until the one coming from the amethyst Pip was holding found Mother standing on the highest balcony. Mother held out her hands and caught the light. Father did the same with the beam coming from the amethyst Griffen was holding, and the two rulers of Feldspar lit up, glowing like angels.
“I can see her!” gasped Raphael. “I can see the Queen standing right beside the King!”
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 112
