But something shattered the moment, and Ezra’s hand never left mine. Just when it seemed like everything was going to be alright, it unraveled, like a kelp strand caught in a shifting current, pulled loose and drifting, unable to anchor itself.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EZRA
Ididn’t take her to the sea. When would I ever keep my promise? It was killing me. But she’d have to wait… just a moment longer.
Because Tavo is back.It felt like the wind had blown down a steady koa tree, one that had just taken root, one that had just grounded and believed nothing could cause it to up heave. And yet… the news came so suddenly and forcefully, I stood there holding my breath, for, what felt like, hours.
“Ezra.” Kalei shook my shoulders. I sucked in air.
This is all too much…He was… dead. And now?
“He’s on his way to the palace now,” my cousin said. "I think people are wondering what's going to happen–word has already spread that he's alive. People at the ports are celebrating.”
Celebrating? Had they celebrated when I came back from being a frog?
Ezra, we should go.Aulani touched my arm and I met her eyes, this woman who I wanted to marry–and who wanted to marry me. Yes. She was beside me.I’ll be with you,she said, and my heart stilled. Only for a moment.
We went to the throne room, where I paced, waiting. Aulani, Ho‘ohuli, my other closest counselors, and Kalei stood off to theside, along with my guards. Cressida was being escorted back to the palace, and Tavo would be here any minute.
“Why would he bring an army?” I asked aloud, fists clenched. I wanted to welcome back my brother, I really did. But all of this seemed… off. He wasdead.Dead, with a capital D. His men brought back hisleiomanoand said he died in foreign lands, coming face to face in a duel with a white man.
“How did he survive?” I hated it appeared I was angry about this. There was no anger in me though, just confusion. I wasgladmy brother was alive, yet, at the same time, incredibly worried.
I was just crowned…And he comes home, rightafterthat happened? Was he hoping to take the throne? Come back and claim what was supposed to be his? Would there be a power struggle?
Just as I could wait no longer, the throne doors opened and in strode a man worn by the sea.
Tavo was always bigger and bulkier than me, but he was just as tall. With his wavy dark black hair pulled back into a bun, he looked as robust as ever.
“Little brother!” he exclaimed and rushed to me. I hugged my brother, still confused.
“You’re alive,” was all I said, then relief flooded me at the truth of that statement. I relaxed a little. “You’re alive, Tavo.” He held my shoulders as we pulled apart.
“What happened?” I asked, amazed. Tavo and I didn’t exactly look like brothers. He had dark brown skin like the natives, and his eyes were the color of dark eucalyptus. He looked every bit like the king of Kaiora, a full-blooded native…
“I survived,” Tavo said, his voice rough yet assertive.
“How? They said you died in a duel. They brought back your leiomano.”
“My men turned against me.”
I gaped. “The soldiers who brought back your weapon? They said nothing of a mutiny…”
Tavo’s eyes narrowed at the word “mutiny.”
“It wasn’t a mutiny.” His tone had an edge to it.
I stiffened. “Then why would they turn on you?”
He walked up to the throne–my throne–and sat on it lazily, swinging his bulky legs over the armrest and putting his hands behind his head, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
“Tavo…” I didn’t want to get impatient, but it was apparent: he was hiding something. His men–our people and guards who were loyal to us–wouldn’t justturnon him.
There had to be a reason.
And, now that I thought of it, the men who returned Tavo’s weapon retired and disappeared. They told us that he died in foreign lands but never provided enough details. Only, "He was shot."
