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“I can’t seem to recall it,” he says, his eyes hooded. Thrusting harder each time, we rise together. And even as the sensations intensify, I’m somehow able to still find my voice.

At least, I thought I could speak, but as he moves faster, harder, my core clenches. I try to warn him, knowing what comes next. Instead, he looks at me and continues to circle and thrust, Clearly has no intention of pulling himself from me.

I nod just as my whole body shudders. Squeezing his eyes shut, Aiken roars with pleasure. I never answered his question with words, but I think he knows what my answer is anyway. My head lowers to Aiken’s chest as he cradles me, still joined. Our bodies recover just as a knock at the door drags us back to reality.

“Are you going with the Elderman or sailing with us, my lady?” a voice calls from the other side.

Lifting my head up, I smile and answer him clearly.

“I will not be sailing with you this morn. A moment, if you will, as I gather my belongings.”

Silence greets us as his answer.

“What did you say to him?” I ask.

Aiken pulls away from me as my gown drops. I watch him as he dresses, still in disbelief about what has just transpired.

“Spy something interesting, Princess?”

My eyes fly upward. “Perhaps.”

He leans in, kissing me gingerly, and then steps back. “I gave him more than enough coin to compensate for the delay and told him you’d no longer be sailing with him this morn.”

“Coin from the Legion?” I ask. “I always did wonder about that.”

“Aye,” he says, moving toward my trunk. “Mercenaries are paid for their skill. And none are better than my brothers.”

“And you.”

Not a boastful man, he does not answer, so I ask another question. “How did you know I would come with you?”

“The same way I knew you would not run away at the stream that first day.”

I think back, remembering. “You never did answer me then. Or most often, as I think on it. You spoke so little.”

“And you, so often,” he teases.

It seemed as if Aiken would lift my trunk, but instead he navigates around it and makes his way back to me. Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, he does answer me now.

“I knew you’d not run away because you were scared.” His kiss is soft, gentle. “And I knew you would come with me today because you are not. You were brave when we met, Hilla, and are even more so now. It is one of the many things I love about you. I will spend the journey back telling you all that I love about you, but I do believe tis time to leave this cramped cabin.”

“For an equally cramped one on Kipp’s ship?”

“Hmm.” His hand slides upward from my waist, until it completely covers my breast. “Mayhap I do not mind. I’ve never been more anxious for a journey as I am for this one.”

He squeezes gently, as if showing me what is to come.

“Cettina will think I’m mad when she learns of how we met. Tis ridiculous if you think on it. Taken by an Elderman.”

The glint in his eyes hints at mischievousness. “In more ways than one.”

Epilogue

Aiken

“Are you ready?” I ask as land appears on the horizon. Kipp stands beside me, the day as calm as any we’ve seen thus far, both of us aware the events on shore will be anything but.

“As ready as a man can be for such a thing.”