Page 22 of The Dragon Queen
In that moment, he was the captain of the ship—but he would always be a king.
Talon was quiet on the journey, and I knew his silence had nothing to do with me. I felt a tension in his muscles every time I touched him. They flinched and flexed whenever they felt me. The only physical intimacy he desired was holding me while we slept. After he rejected my attempt for something more, I didn’t try again, and he didn’t extend an invitation. It was unlike him, but I knew the strain of our mission had doused the flames that usually burned for me.
When I woke up on the third morning, Talon wasn’t there.
I dressed then stepped on the deck, seeing the sky a mixture of pink and orange as the sun rose from the horizon over the edge of the world. The galleon had dropped anchor sometime inthe night, and we continued to float on the calm sea. That was probably why I’d slept so soundly because it’d been so still.
When I stepped onto the deck, I spotted Talon at the bow of the ship, staring at the enormous cliff that rose up to the sky.
I followed his gaze, and at the top, I saw the tall spires of a castle, the colored glass windows, the limestone structure that was almost the color of the cliff, rich in tones of beige and red.
That was the moment I knew we’d arrived.
Several fishing boats were in the sea around us, all searching for the traps they’d left the day before. Close to the shore and bathed in the minerals of the rock, the water was a stunning blue that appeared tropical. It was clear, almost to the bottom.
I came to his side and stared at the castle that had once been his.
He didn’t acknowledge me beside him. Either because he was too absorbed to care or too absorbed to notice. His dark eyes were locked in place, but his expression lacked the anger I expected. His breathing was calm. Whatever his thoughts might be, they were a mystery.
I reached for his hand, and I ran my thumb over his skin.
He moved slightly at my touch before he looked at me—and that was when I knew that he hadn’t noticed me until then.
It was a moment that was better without words. There was no consolation suitable for the loss. No amount of wisdom I could impart with my youth. I’d had my father and my castle taken away from me by a necromancer in the night, but this moment didn’t give me any satisfaction.
My heart had forgiven him completely.
He stared for a while longer, his eyes still locked on the castle at the top of the cliff, ruling over the sea as well as the people in the kingdom. “It’s time.” He turned to look at me, his eyes hard as if he was doing his best to feel nothing. “Last chance.”
Now, I wanted this even more. “I’m ready.”
He stared into my eyes, his dark eyes piercing as they tried to uncover my thoughts with their sharpness. A breeze moved through the air and ruffled his dark hair. The short beard on his jawline had grown in the last few days because he’d been too occupied to shave. He was a beautiful man, inside and out, and I was grateful we’d survived all the trials of our relationship, that our love was stronger than hate. “I love you.”
I sucked in a breath when I listened to the unexpected, the declaration he hadn’t made since the moment he’d told me he first told me how he felt. He showed it through every touch and every kiss, but he hadn’t actually said the words until now. I could feel the words melt across my skin and sink into my flesh…sink into my heart. “I love you.”
The galleon sailed into the harbor and approached the docks. Talon let one of the crew steer the ship into the port and dropped anchor near the pier. Some pirates jumped out, while others tossed rope overboard so they could secure the ship in place to unload. They lowered the ramp next and began sliding down the loot in the boxes and barrels, the heavy containers thudding when they hit the deck.
Other ships were docked there, sailors unloading their catch for the day. The stench of fish was unappealing.
We loaded the loot onto the cart then headed to the port where the soldiers were positioned. There was a gate there, and only merchants given permission by the soldiers were allowed to pass and bring their goods to market.
Talon was dressed like the others, in worn and torn clothing, his sword and other belongings hidden in the cart underneath all the items they would sell. I was dressed similarly, looking like another hand on the deck. He turned to me as we walked. “Don’t speak. Stay at the back of the cart.”
“What about you?”
“These men won’t recognize me.”
We walked down the pier until we reached the road that led to the gate. Everyone stood in a single file line, waiting for their turn to pass into the city with their goods. The line moved slowly, so it was clear that the soldiers did their diligence and searched all the carts.
“What is the purpose of such an extensive search?” I asked.
Talon didn’t answer.
“Is this a practice you used to enforce?”
Talon continued to look ahead. He moved forward when the cart in front of him did the same. “No.”
After half an hour, we made it to the front. The soldiers were in full armor with blades across their backs, looking like generals who belonged on the front line rather than checking carts full of fish.