I jumped at Destin’s voice, soft enough that only I could hear. Of course he’d ask that just as I faced the reality of my heart.
A blush spread up my cheeks as I thought of the moment Alaric kissed me. I wanted to say that was as far aswewent, but that wasn’t true.
We held hands.
He kissed my head.
I fell asleep in his arms.
We talked and connected and opened up in a way I couldn’t explain.
I felt safe with him, and, I think, he felt safe with me.
He offered me to go with him.
I wanted a life with him… something I never allowed myself to dream of.
“It’s… complicated,” I said, but Destin didn’t seem to mind.
He folded his arms and leaned towards me a little, saying, loud enough that only I could hear, “Alaric hasn’t ever spent time with a woman he has with you. That means something, you know.”
“He’s only trying to protect me.” My heart pounded, especially when Alaric looked our way. He raised an eyebrow at his cousin, but continued giving his men instructions and the plans. They all went right over my head.
Alaric promised his men that he would still pay them, still take care of them… something along those lines.
I was trying to pay attention if Destin weren’t prying into my feelings.
“If you choose a life with him, he will protect you,” he said. “If there’s anything I know about my cousin, he doesn’t like it when people touch things that belong to him.”
“I don’t belong to him,” I started to argue when a hand rested on my hip. The men were beginning to dissemble and leave on whatever assignments Alaric gave them and he now came to my side.
My heart pattered as self-consciousness flooded me once again.
“You don’t?” Alaric’s voice waslow, like he was daring me.
Alaric’s hand was not missed by Destin and he grinned while clapping Alaric on the shoulder. “We’ll see you both back here soon?” he asked, a welcome interruption, sparing me from answering the question. “Hopefully the ship will be ready to sail home in a few more days.”
With burning cheeks, I looked up at the whaler captain. His hand found mine. “Come on. We better get you back before dark.”
So we walked in silence for a long moment, my mind reeling.
He defended me.
He said I am brave.
And now he was holding my hand. Maybe Destin was right… maybe there was something more to this.
Then why don’t I marry him and sail off with him?
For just a second, I entertained the thought: we could have a home at the port, where I could stay if he did business off the coast. Or I could sail with him.
And watch him kill whales?That made my stomach sick and abruptly reminded me that I could not marry him. He would just keep murdering the creatures I loved.
Furthermore, I could never live in Moanalei, though I did miss the waterfalls and peaceful forests. But beneath the tropical paradise was a complicated legacy of power and ruin. As soon as I set foot in that kingdom, Sereth would find out and send a witch hunter or guard… I’d be killed without anyone knowing.
As the cottage appeared into view, a lump formed in my throat.
I should thank Alaric.
