I remained silent. Something was not sitting right.
“But what if…” I pursed my lips before continuing. “What if you were the daughter of a whaler?”
Malia sighed and shook her head. “I’d be ashamed. To come from someone with blood on their hands. But… maybe I’ve always been the villain in my own story. Maybe my family’s full of dark hearts.”
I looked at her, steady and sure. “We’re not our parents. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what they’ve done. What matters is what you build with your own hands… and your own heart.”
I ran a rough hand through my hair, voice softening. “I built my empire from nothing. Nobody believed in me. Theysaid I was reckless, cruel. But I did it anyway. You’ve got that same fire. Don’t ever doubt it.”
Her lips curled into a small, grateful smile. She shifted closer and gently rested her head on my shoulder as I looked at the necklace.
“Thanks for coming back,” she whispered. “Even if it’s just for a little while. I’m going to miss you.”
I placed my arm around her, feeling a sudden ache. “I’ll miss you too. More than you know.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MALIA
Iawoke to the sound of wood splitting and metal crashing against something else. Birds chirped and the storm that had passed the previous night left a muggy feeling in the air. As I sat up, my shoulder ached and a shocking sensation passed through my body.
Poison.I squeezed my eyes shut. It had been a rough night, thinking about my strange origins.
Was my motherreallymy mother? Or my father? He had always been kind, though a little aloof. I figured it was because his kingly duties kept him busy.
But mother? She seemed to loathe me the older I got.
As I sat up, my body ached, and I knew exactly what I needed to fully wear off the poison: noni. It was sour and pungent, but it would most definitely help the poison run its course quicker.
That and a walk.
Besides, Alaric was probably ready to go. It was sweet of him to make sure I was alright.
And those sweet words he said to me last night?
I hugged my arms, a sad smile on my lips.
I’d remember it for the rest of my life.
But he needs to go.
We were only making this harder on ourselves the longer we stayed together. So I made a plan: we could walk to town together and then he’d go on his way.
After preparing myself for the day and wearing the last thing I had in my closet–a black lace dress with an elegant corset, ribbons, and long sleeves, I brushed my hair then walked onto the front porch to find Alaric chopping wood.
His shirt was off, the wound on his side a white line. I watched for a moment, quiet. His back faced me. The rhythm of the axe was steady, focused. He didn’t know I was standing on the porch and, for a moment, he didn’t seem so guarded. He was just… a man. Not a whaler. Not a weapon. Just him.
For some reason, that made my heart ache.
I could almost see a life together: living in a cottage built and kept up by Alaric. Children running around and helping with chores… A husband and wife deeply in love…
And then fear crept in. Would those children grow up to be whalers too?
He paused to wipe sweat from his forehead and that’s when he noticed me. A blush crept up my cheeks and I tried not to stare, but I failed horribly. I forgot why I’d come outside.
“Good morning beautiful!” he said, making my heart pound.
“Good morning…” I tried to remember why I came to talk to him. Instead, I stuttered. “Do you always… chop wood… like you’re going for a swim?”
