She was also very protective of me, but she knew I was right. Lachlan was our friend; he’d been in my guard before, and they all knew how much he’d always cared for me. He would never hurt me or let anything happen to me.
Nodding, she stepped back. “We’ll wait for you here.”
I moved towards my old friend, seeing a breath of relief expand his chest with my acceptance.
“Thank you, Princess Evanna.” Smiling handsomely, he offered me his arm, but the nerves that tensed his muscles didn’t ease.
“Of course. We grew up together, Lachlan, and you were there for me after my aunt passed on. A private walk is the least I can offer in return.”
As I took his arm, he turned us around, leading me towards the back gate of the castle.
“That was a beautiful speech,” he began, and I slightly paused, believing his words might be the start to another quarrel about the way I handled things. “No, I mean it,” he instantly clarified. “I appreciate the reassurance you gave our people. I know it isn’t easy to make the decisions you have to make each day, but this is the one place that has ever felt like a true home for us, and I value that you are trying to preserve that sense of security for them.”
My hand fell from his arm when he faced me fully, his gaze holding mine.
“In the past, I handled our disagreement poorly, and I truly regret that. Nevertheless, I want you to know that I respect you and the leader you are, Princess. I am truly sorry that my actions ever made you doubt that. You have my respect and loyalty, always.”
With a nod, I graciously accepted his apology. “I appreciate that, Lachlan. Thank you.”
Offering me his arm once more, he resumed our walk, and we stepped outside the castle.
“It was Braxton’s idea to let our people remain here, to find a way to protect this home for them,” I explained, giving credit where credit was due. “He knows what it feels like to be forced to leave your home. He doesn’t want us to have to keep running, so he’s working on a way to protect them all while remaining here.”
A certain weight seemed to fall on his shoulders with the realization, and for a few moments, he became silent. “It was the right course to take,” he finally agreed.
“It was. I can recognize that too, although I must admit I was hesitant at first. But it is just the man he is. Braxton is always trying to do what is right for everyone.”
“As his father would have…” Lachlan whispered.
His statement brought warmth to my being. “Yes. Just like the Harbinger of Justice.”
The private training area greeted us outside, the shah’s pond dimly glowing as we walked towards it.
“Do you remember the time we accidentally fell into one of the shah’s ponds while sparring?”
Lachlan’s reminder immediately brought a smile to my face. “We were six, I think.”
“And we had no idea they only fed from the small animals lured by their glow. Commander Sacha hadn’t told us that yet.”
“Yeah, Amma was funny that way.” I chuckled; my aunt loved playing jokes on us all.
“You panicked after you fell.”
“Me?!” I stopped to glare at him. “I was not the one running around while screaming‘It’s in my pants, it’s in my pants!!’”
“Help me, it’s going to eat my butt!”
“‘I need my butt!’”
Laughter burst out of us with the memory, almost bringing tears to our eyes. The image of six-year-old Lachlan trying to pull off his pants while he ran all over the field was one I’d never forget.
“I thought people would never stop teasing me after that. Thank the Gods they eventually forgot.”
“They didn’t. They still call you ‘wet pantsLachie’ behind your back,” I teased.
A grin stretched his lips, he was fully enjoying the forgotten nickname. “Lachie… It’s been a while since you last called me that.”
“It has,” I agreed. “Everything changed after my parents died and I became the ruler. Having to constantly train and prepare for being queen didn’t leave much time for childish things.”
