Page 76 of To Ride the Wind

Gwen’s breath caught, everything around her stilling into silence. The face wasn’t exactly the one she had been picturing for years, but it was close enough. And the hair was exactly the same, even the messiness of it, as she remembered.

“Easton,” she breathed, just as he called her name in tones of equal shock.

Her heart swelled. He was alive. And he hadn’t forgotten her.

He ran forward, sweeping her onto her feet and into his arms.

“You did it,” he murmured against her hair. “You escaped her!” He pulled back to grin down at her with the same broad smile she remembered. “You escaped by riding the wind? I can’t say that option ever occurred to me.”

She was too overwhelmed to respond with anything but a smile.

A clearing throat caught her attention, and she turned her head to see Charlotte watching them with amusement.

“How about an introduction?” Her expression suggested she already guessed who the man must be.

Easton let his arms drop and stepped away, and Gwen felt instantly bereft.

“Yes,” he said cheerfully, smiling at Charlotte. “I’m curious as well. I don’t remember you from the mountain court.”

Instant jealousy sunk its claws into Gwen. She had told herself that if only Easton was alive and still remembered her, it was all she needed to be happy. But she had now seen his true adult face and felt his arms around her, and she was already greedy for more.

He might remember her affectionately, but what if he saw her as a friend or younger sister? He might already have a sweetheart or wife. He might like Charlotte more than he liked—

She cut herself off. Charlotte was already married, and Gwen was being ridiculous. If only she could have a few minutes to gather herself after the wild ride and shock of emotion.

“I’m Easton,” he said, holding out a hand to Charlotte when it became obvious Gwen was still too overwhelmed to speak.

“I’m Charlotte.” She shook his hand. “And I’ve never been to the mountain kingdom. Gwen took a…detour on her way here.”

“I didn’t know where you were,” Gwen murmured. “I didn’t even know you were alive.”

Easton’s face—the one that still looked as if it had been made only to smile and laugh—darkened.

“This sounds like a conversation for somewhere other than a sea wall,” Charlotte said, looking hopefully at Easton.

He quickly agreed, directing them both toward a small home on the harbor. It was tucked just to one side of the sea wall, away from the action of the loading and unloading of boats, but with a breathtaking view of the ocean.

Easton saw Gwen looking at the endless stretch of water and smiled. “I like to be near the sea. It makes me feel free.” His face darkened again. “I don’t like feeling constrained.”

Her insides squeezed as she imagined what sort of restraints her mother might have placed on him and for how long.

“What happened to you?” she whispered, wondering how he could face her after what her mother had done to him.

Somehow they had made it inside the small house, although she couldn’t clearly remember stepping inside, and somewhere along the way Charlotte had disappeared.

“I got angry and confronted her,” he said matter-of-factly, not having to specify who he meant. “I should have come to you instead, but I went storming off to her and got myself banished. She made me drink some sort of potion, and when I woke up it was days later, and I was here. My parents were always warning me about what would happen if I ever lost my temper at the palace. I should have listened to them. I just hope she didn’t punish them as well.”

“As far as I know their only punishment was expulsion from the court. I believe they’re living quietly in the city.” She paused, unable to stop herself stepping closer to him. “I’m so sorry. It was all my fault.”

“What are you talking about?” he sounded genuinely surprised. “I’m well aware where the blame lies, and it’s not with you. It’s not with me either, not really. But since I was drugged and hauled over the mountains unconscious, I’ve had no idea how to get back.”

“You’ve been here in—” She stopped, realizing she had no idea where they were.

“It’s called Ranost,” he said with an amused twitch of his lips. “Rangmere’s northernmost coastal town. We fish the northeastern oceans, among other things.”

“And you’ve been here the whole time?”

He nodded. “I’ve been fortunate enough to build a life here.”