Without skipping a beat, they answer in unison, “Elowen.”
Chuckling, I say, “Ok, we get Elowen to stay here and recruit warriors to our side and help them get to Olundy—which is where, by the way?”
Tane replies, “It’s two islands over. We could fly there, but with your wounds and even with the healing tonic, we run the risk of your side opening up again mid-flight. It’d be safer to take a boat.” Mathilda bobs her head in agreement, her eyes darkening as she gazes at him.
“Fine. When do we leave?”
“Now,” they agree again in unison.
They file out with orders to pack our stuff up and locate a boat. Left alone as they ready for our departure, I slide out of the bed and head for the window. My body aches all over, butthe wrap on my side holds, and luckily, I don’t feel my skin tear as I slowly reach out to pull back the curtains. It’s nighttime, and the stars flicker brightly in the sky.
My room faces the back of the street. There are no street lanterns, so darkness covers the view. I crack the window open, craving fresh air, and I groan as the motion causes my wound to sting.
The smell of the sea floats in through the cracked window and eases my pain. I’ve always felt a sense of peace by the sea.
My father used to tease that I had a saltwater battery that needed to be charged by regular dips in the ocean. I hadn’t realized just how right he was until the salt air washes over me, and I reluctantly breathe deeply.
I’m pleasantly surprised I’ve managed to do so without any pain. But when I think of Julius’ claim that he was behind their murder, my body trembles. They sacrificed themselves to keep me out of harm’s way, and then I ended up here anyway because of—Lachlan. He brought me here, probably under Odessa’s orders.
As if my thoughts conjure him, he slips through the door. “We need to ha’ that conversation now,” he mutters softly.
I spin around to face him, my anger at its full height. When he glimpses my face, his jaw clenches.
“Let me explain,” he grits out.
I shake my head. “My parents died trying to protect me from this place, and you tricked me into coming here. You better have a really good reason if you expect me to trust you,” I reply.
My hands squeeze into fists, and I have to hold myself back from rushing across the room to pummel his face.
He sighs but doesn’t break our stare. “I brought ye here to save our lives.”
I don’t—can’t respond to his words.
“It wasn’t until I was a teen that Torin sent me to Idirhalla for my training, and I found out the truth of my existence. Butfive years ago, I became captain and was sent back to the human realm and ordered to find ye and keep an eye on ye. They dinna want ye here. Ye were and still are a threat to whatever their plans are. But after your parents died, the necklace appeared on my doorstep in Orkney. Your mum sent it. She attached a note to the necklace because she realized only ye could stop them.”
His words pelt me like stones.
He draws out a folded piece of paper from a hidden pocket in his leathers and holds out the note. In my mom’s scrawling script are the words: Take Lena home, it’s time.
In a last-ditch effort, my mom orchestrated my coming here to save her people. My necklace warms on my chest, and I lift it up, studying the runes that are glowing faintly.
“Mom,” I whisper, and the runes flare. A tear slips down my cheek. She was with me all along.
But then that means. “You were the raven at the cairn …” I trail off, looking up to meet Lachlan’s heartbroken eyes.
“Ye were our only shot back home. I dinna ken how else to get ye here. With magic fading, I was nae strong enough to travel us both back. There was barely enough to travel back and forth in my raven form, and it’s nae like I could ha’ just asked ye to come. Ye would ha’ thought I was insane.” The words tumble out.
“But I never meant for ye to get hurt in all of this, and I was with ye the whole time, keeping an eye on ye and making sure ye were safe. Ye were my salvation, Lena, and I couldn’t—” His voice cracks, and his eyes beseech mine. “Wouldn’t come home without ye.” His words ripple around me, swallowing me whole. Sorrow and hope are etched into his soft smile. “Ye are not only my salvation, but ye are quite literally the Key to solving all of this,” he whispers.
The use of my nickname makes my chest tighten.
I do understand his motives, and he’s right. Had he told me all of this, I wouldn’t have believed him for a second. I’m alsorelieved that he wasn’t ever part of Odessa’s plans. Actually, quite the opposite. But it doesn’t completely staunch the bitter burn of betrayal.
Lachlan slowly approaches, reading my face for any signs of reluctance, and drops to a knee before me. His hands are warm as he takes mine in his, stroking a thumb over the top of my knuckles.
“I know my words canna undo this, but let my actions speak for my remorse and allow me to swear my fealty to ye.” He looks at me expectantly, and I barely manage to dip my chin.
The sight of him on his knees before me wreaks havoc on my already chaotic mind.
