As we continued forward, the scent of brine curled through the trees, and I could hear the distant hiss of waves against sand. Soon the redwoods parted before us, and the moon’s silver glow illuminated an endless stretch of sea that melted into the dark horizon. In unison, we came to a stop at the edge of the tree-line and gazed out at the expanse. The water stretched on for miles without even a dot of land marring the surface. It suddenly felt as if we were the only two people left in the world.
“It’s beautiful at night,” I whispered. “The sea, I mean.” But really, I meant everything about this place: the forest, the village, the people. All of it called to my soul.
“So is this,” Rune answered. I turned to find him leaning against the trunk of the nearest tree, holding a purple lily. Smiling, he held it toward me. “You said they were your favorites. Well, one of your many favorite things.”
A sudden lump clogged my throat. “Rune.”
“Frida.”
“Why are you doing all these nice things for me?”
He pushed away from the tree and strode toward me, his muscular body backlit by the moon. “Because you shine brighter than the sun when you’re happy, and you deserve to have everything that makes you feel that way. The flowers, the music, the dancing, the books, the cheese. Your new bonded dragon. All of it, Frida. You don’t have to go back to that place. Everything you want ishere.”
My heart thundered in my ears.
“You forgot one thing,” I whispered.
“Lilia’s ale? Because you won’t get that back in Erik’s fucking cage, either.”
“No, that’s not what I meant,” I said, trying to find the courage to voice it. “There’s one more thing I want that’s here. You.”
Rune went very still, though his eyes swept back and forth across my face, as if he was searching for confirmation that what I’d said was true.
“Come on, Frida. Don’t joke about that.”
“Did that kiss feel like a joke to you?” I countered.
“No, it fucking didn’t,” he said in a low growl. Rune erased the distance between us, his eyes sparking with heat. “Does that mean you’ll stay?”
I looked away, hating that I couldn’t tell him what he wanted to hear—what webothwanted to hear. “How can I? If I stay here, Erik and my father will send someone looking for me.Andyou. I can’t let that happen. Plus, the folk of Oakwater deserve peace, and we can’t risk the guild discovering Eldi.” I took a deep breath. “I’ve put a lot of thought into this, and there’s only one solution to keep everyone safe. I have to return to the guild and tell them I wasn’t able to step foot on the island. I can say the protective magic stopped me. Erik will have no choice but to give up on finding you.”
Rune scowled. “What about the ship’s captain that saw you come ashore?”
“Louisa didn’t seem too fond of Erik. I think I can convince her to keep quiet about it. And if she seems resistant, I’ll offer to steal some coin and pay for her silence.”
“That’s a terrible fucking plan,” Rune said with a bitter laugh.
“It’s the best plan I have!” I threw up my hands, tears blurring my vision. “Trust me, I have been falling apart trying to fix this impossible situation. And the only solution is to make myself miserable for the rest of my life!”
“I don’t accept that,” Rune shot back. “I’m going to make you happy, whether you like it or not.”
“And I’m going to save your bloody life, whetheryoulike it or not.”
“Oh yeah? And what are you going to do if I toss you over my shoulder and lock you up in my cottage so that you can’t throw yourself to the wolves?”
I narrowed my eyes. “You wouldn’t.”
“You underestimate my hatred for the guild and everything it stands for. If I had to choose between you hating me or you becoming one of them, you better fucking believe I’d choose to lock you up every damn time.” His lips quirked up in the corners. “Fortunately, you’ve just given me a better idea.”
Folding my arms, I glared at him. “Oh yeah? And what is that, Rune?”
“If you think the ship’s captain will be willing to lie for you, then we make it a better fucking lie. We can say the magic not only stopped you, but it took your life. And if anyone tries to outsmart it again, the same thing will happen to them.”
My stomach dropped. “Rune, no.”
“Don’t you see? As long as your captain friend agrees, it solves everything. You can stay here, where you’re happy, and Erik won’t send someone else.” He shook his head, his eyes searching mine. “Give me one good reason we shouldn’t do this.”
“You’re right. It would definitely stop Erik from sending someone else. But…” I blew out a breath, hating the tumultuous beating of my heart. “I can’t bear the thought of my family believing I’m dead. And if I did this, I’d never see them again. Surely you can understand why that’s not an easy decision for me to make.”
