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Adelaide washed her face in the brook. The cool water somehow eased some of the emotional strain. She didn’t understand how this bond she had created worked. Why and how had Regulus seen her memories? When she first realized what had happened, she had thought she might either faint or vomit.
Regulus not only knowing but watching what Carrick had done...her failure to stop him... It added to her humiliation. She had feared he would see her as broken and used and worthless as she felt. Yet when she touched him, she sensed no judgment or disappointment. Just understanding, sorrow, and love. And fury.
She splashed water onto the back of her neck and massaged her tight muscles. She had also sensed his pride as he told her she was strong. If only she could agree. Simultaneously wanting Regulus’ touch and dreading it didn’t feel strong. Neither did the way the involuntary memories of Nolan’s assault or Kirven’s torture sent her pulse racing. But Regulus and Father looked at her and called her strong.
The gnawing in her stomach drove her back to the others. Dresden intercepted her and held out a handful of fresh-picked black berries.
“We just found them. Over there.” He gestured to the left, not meeting her eyes. “They’re sweet and refreshing.” He pushed his hand out further.
“Oh...thank you.” Dresden didn’t look at her as she scooped berries out of his hand. Her fingers broke the thin skin on some of them. Purplish-red juices stained her fingertips and the flesh of his palm.
“Listen, I...” Dresden sighed as he closed his fingers around the remaining berries. “I’m sorry for yelling.” He scratched his beard. “Reg is...he’s my brother. Not by blood, but he’s my brother all the same. He’s protected me since we were children, and I will always protect him. I nearly lost him, and...” His throat corded.
“You were afraid.”
“I can’t thank you enough for saving him. But his soul was dying under the sorcerer. I can’t watch that again. I can’t.” Dresden took a deep breath and met her eyes. “I wasn’t afraid, I was terrified. If he’d died fighting for you, or if you’d enslaved him, even by accident, it would be my fault. But I shouldn’t have doubted you, and I’m sorry.”
Adelaide stared. “I forgive you, but...how would it be your fault?”
“Ah, he wouldn’t have told you that.” A sly smile spread over Dresden’s face. He looked over as Regulus approached. “Reg, you didn’t tell her my part in enabling your romance, and frankly, I’m offended.”
She expected Regulus to scoff and brush Dresden’s comment off. Instead, he turned bright red. “Drez—”
“Regulus almost didn’t go to the Drummonds’ party.” Dresden tossed a couple berries into his mouth with a toothy smile. “I talked him into going.” He elbowed Regulus. “Forced him to talk to you, too. The frowny-faced coward. Talked him out of giving up on pursuing you several times. Plus, there’s our little secret.” He winked, much to Adelaide’s bewilderment.
“Secret?” Regulus demanded.
“Aw, don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about the pastries.” Dresden arched a brow.
Pastries? The nalotavi. Regulus’ sweet and slightly ridiculous note. Dresden’s postscript confiding that Regulus thought he had thrown that note away in favor of a more restrained message, but Dresden had thought she’d like that one better.
Adelaide smiled, then giggled. Regulus looked affronted, which for some reason made her laugh more. All her stress welled up and bubbled out of her in gut-squeezing, shoulder-shaking laughter.
“You were right, you know,” she wheezed, her hand pressed against her stomach. “It was sweet; and I liked it.”
“See?” Dresden slapped Regulus’ shoulder. “I always have your back.”
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye while Dresden sauntered away. Her laughter died out, but her smile remained. Especially as Regulus watched her with a deep crease between his eyebrows and an expression like a lost puppy.
“Dresden exchanged the letters you wrote when you sent me the nalotavi.” She slipped her hand into his. “He wrote at the bottom he thought the original was more honest.”
“Oh, great.” Regulus’ embarrassment crept into her mind through their connection. “Just...excellent.”
Adelaide giggled and leaned against his shoulder. “I liked it. In fact, I hope you don’t stop writing me sentimental letters when we’re married. Or giving me nalotavi.”
“Marry me and I’ll ask Sarah to bake you nalotavi every day if you want.”
“You do know how to charm a girl.” She kissed him as his abashed delight traveled through their bond.
Dresden hadn’t lied—the berries were ripe and juicy. They walked hand-in-hand over to the horses. Father handed her some leftover cold fish. He looked calmer than when she left, but she still caught the flicker of pained worry in his eyes. They ate quickly and prepared to continue their journey.
Adelaide planted a kiss on Regulus’ cheek while Father’s back was turned before mounting Sieger. Regulus moved toward Father’s horse, but Father stepped up to the stallion’s side and mounted before Regulus could. Regulus stood stock-still. He gave her a helpless, confused look.
Father looked down at Regulus. “Don’t stand there. We don’t have all day, and I doubt you’ll keep up long on foot.” He turned his horse toward the road.
Relief and joy washed over Adelaide. Regulus turned toward her, looking unsure. With a grin, she motioned him over with her head. He cast one more look at Father riding in the direction of the road, then jogged to Sieger’s side.
Once he settled into place behind her, he plucked the reins out of her hands. His torso bumped against her back as he whispered in her ear, “Can—would you mind...if I kiss your forehead?”
She didn’t know if she wanted to laugh or cry, the gentleness in his voice almost too much to bear. Unable to force a response past her tied tongue, she nodded. His lips pressed against her temple. With the contact of their skin, Regulus’ love and desire to protect her sank into Adelaide like an ache. He leaned back and prodded Sieger to follow Father.
The rest of the day passed more comfortably, with Regulus’ arms around her while they rode. After they stopped for the night, it didn’t take her long to fall asleep, tucked against Regulus’ side.
The next morning passed in the same manner, but in the early afternoon they crested a hill and Adelaide’s mouth fell open like her jaw had unhinged. The rolling green hills continued before them, but beyond, stretching into what seemed like an eternity, was an expanse of glittering deep blue. A cool, salty breeze tugged at her hair.
“Is...is that...?”
“The Ismuire Sea,” Father said.
She leaned back against Regulus, staring. The expanse of the water beckoned her. When Adelaide was little, she had told Mother she wanted to visit Khastalland. Mother had asked if she wanted to go by land or sea. She had said she didn’t care, she just wanted to see all the places in Mother’s stories.
But as Adelaide looked across the lush hills at the water glittering like diamonds and sapphires, she wanted the sea. She wanted to touch the sea, to step in it and see what it felt like. To sail out into it until the land disappeared from view. She wanted to know the sea and find out if it would accept her.
They rode to a path that followed the coast. As they neared the water’s edge, the sound of the sea built. She had always assumed the sea would sound like a river, but somehow bigger. It was nothing like a river.
The water pushed and pulled at the shore, the rushing swoosh of the waves building until they fizzled out before receding and smashing against a new, incoming wave. Stones along the shore clacked against each other as waves moved over them, making the water whisper. The rhythmic rustle and crash of the waves held a melodic beauty that would make a musician envious, with an unpredictable wildness that was both exciting and alarming. White-crested waves broke along the shore, bubbling and swirling between massive boulders as the sea breathed.
Regulus placed his hand on top of hers. She sensed his curiosity, then his amusement as he said, “It is incredible, and beautiful. I can’t believe you’ve never been to the sea.” He removed his hand. “Dangerous, too.”
Sir Ruddard had told Adelaide and Minerva about the one time he traveled on the sea. It was a favorite story of his, because he got to dramatize how close he was to death in an abrupt, terrible storm. He always insisted he saw mermaids that day. Or maybe sirens, he would say. The howling wind sounded too much like singing for his comfort.
The sea passed in and out of sight as the trail wound through pines and birch trees and across gentle valleys and hills. They entered a grassy valley with a stream running through it that emptied into the sea. Between two protruding rock cliff-faces topped with pines, a sand and pebble beach surrounded the stream’s outlet.
“I think we need a quick break,” Regulus said, turning Sieger toward the sea. She looked at him over her shoulder. His eyes danced. “I don’t need the bond to know what you want. Your entire body is straining toward the sea.”
“We’re nearly to the city,” Father protested, but Regulus followed the stream, urging Sieger to a canter.
Adelaide couldn’t suppress her giggle. Regulus halted Sieger at the edge of the beach and hopped down. He reached toward her waist, then paused, his concern reflected in his eyes. Oh, Etiros, I love him. She grabbed his hands and guided them to her waist. He smiled, his scar pulling one side of his upper lip higher in that lopsided way she loved, and lifted her off Sieger’s back and set her on the ground.
She pulled off her boots and pushed her trousers up to her knees. The water was colder than it looked, but not unpleasant. Careful not to slip on the loose pebbles, Adelaide waded into the sea. The waves, smaller here in this protected little beach, pushed and pulled on her legs, messing with her balance. She continued until the water was sloshing onto her thighs, soaking her trousers. A receding wave pulled a pebble out from under her foot and her arms pin-wheeled as she leaned to the side.
Regulus caught her arm, steadying her. She grinned up at him. His loose black hair swayed in the sea breeze as he laughed, rich and deep. The sunlight reflected off the rippling water, flickering over his face and making his light gray eyes sparkle. He was so attractive it made her heart physically hurt.
His eyes met hers, his hands still holding her arm to keep her steady. She didn’t need the bond to tell her what he was feeling. She felt it too. The sound of the waves filled her mind, soothing her nerves. She turned toward him. Before Adelaide could even raise her lips to his, Regulus’ arms wrapped around her and he lifted her into the air. She leaned over him, cradled his face in her hands, and kissed him like she had been waiting her whole life for his salty kiss.
