Instantly, Tristan’s arms fell from us as he waved at his girls, and I heard him clear his throat repeatedly. Glancing up, my heart melted at the sight of tears falling from his eyes.
We were moments away from docking, so I gave him his space, knowing he needed to go to them immediately. Turning back, I reached for Dakath’s hand, and we fell into step, heading toward the middle of the ship where everyone was gathering.
“You okay?” he asked quietly, squeezing my hand in his knowing way.
“I will be,” I answered truthfully, glancing up at him with a soft smile. “Even if it’s not today, one day I’ll be able to stop thinking of all the what-ifs that could have possibly saved more lives.”
His feet came to a halt before he turned to face me. Lifting his free hand to cup my jaw, I immediately leaned into the warmth of his touch and closed my eyes, soaking in his strength and support.
“Ky, I could stand here and tell you that everything will be okay and that one day the shadows tormenting your heart won’t be there anymore,” he breathed out before pressing a kiss to my forehead. The warmth of his breath pressing against my skin sent a shiver down my spine as he continued, “But we both know that isn’t true. What I can promise is that I will always offer you a safe place to experience those emotions when they become overwhelming.”
His steady reassurance was exactly what I needed to hear, and I found myself nodding before going onto my tiptoes to press my lips to his. Melting into his embrace, we stayed tangled together for a few moments before Elijah and Kolvar pulled our focus.
“Damn, it feels good to be home,” the latter practically sang as he wrapped his arm over my shoulder. The anchor was dropped into place as he held me tight, and I watched as crew members jumped off to tie the ship to the dock.
Without preamble, Tristan jumped over the railing off the ship, running with ease toward Rina and Bailey. He fell to his knees, meeting Bailey as her knees hit the dock as well. Rina wriggled free from her mother’s arms and turned to throw herself into Tristan’s waiting embrace. She was pressed between her parents as Bailey leaned forward, wrapping her arms around them both—my heart ached sweetly at the sight of them family holding each other and crying in relief.
Elijah cleared his throat to my left, and I looked up to find him wiping at his eyes.
“Getting soft on us in your old age?” Kolvar asked, and I lightly ribbed him in jest.
“Don’t make fun of him!” I defended before cuddling up to Elijah’s side, looking up at him as he glared at Kolvar. “I, for one, find it incredibly sexy when a man is in touch with his emotions.”
His eyes dropped to mine as he quirked an eyebrow. “Oh yeah? If that’s the case, then—”
He was cut off by the sound of Rina squealing, “Ky!”
“Go see them,” Elijah suggested, steering me toward the small line to depart the ship. “I’m going to round up our wards from the lower levels to get ready to head into the castle.”
I found myself bouncing in excitement, standing on my tiptoes to give him a quick kiss before he disappeared once more.
“I don’t know if he can handle them all without his eyes blowing out of his face in frustration, so I’m going to help him,” Dakath announced with a laugh as Elijah flicked him off.
“This is going to be a big adjustment for us all,” I mused to Kolvar as we inched closer to the gangplank leading off the boat.
With a deep laugh, he admitted, “It sure is, but honestly, darling, I have trouble picturing a boring and easy life for us anymore. I just don’t think that’ll ever be in the cards for us.”
“I think you may be right,” I agreed before turning to leave the ship.
The second my feet hit the wooden dock, I heard the pounding of little feet running toward me. Turning to face them, I ran the distance between us and scooped Rina up into my arms as she giggled and put her hands on my cheeks like she couldn’t believe I was here.
“Ky! You’re home,” she squealed in delight before glancing behind me and tacking on, “Kol!”
His deep laughter sounded from behind us as he came to my side and gave her a hug. The little girl wrapped her arms tightly around my neck as we made our way to Tristan and Bailey, who were still wrapped in each other’s embrace.
“Thank you, Ky,” Rina chirped, surprising me.
“For what, silly?” I mused back, poking her in the side to make her giggle from the tickling.
Her laughter and smile lit my entire being up, her energy infectious.
Her little hands rested on my cheeks as she squeezed my face and said, “For keeping your promise! Daddy came back.”
Before I could get choked up by the sentiment, Bailey’s voice floated over to us.
“Yes, thank you, Kyella, and I’m so glad to see you again as well.”
Tristan reached out for Rina, and I moved to embrace Bailey.
