Page 128 of A Warrior's Heart

I took hold of James’ chin and brought our lips together.

He stopped struggling and relaxed against me, cupping the side of my neck as I gave him air. I continued upward with him in my arms. He was much bigger than me, broad shoulders and long legs.

Malik, though reluctantly, moved to the king’s other side and helped me carry him.

I had to breathe air into James several more times before we reached the surface. We had to ascend slowly because of the water pressure. It could be fatal to humans if we moved too quickly. Once we broke through the top of the water, James sucked in a lungful of air.

The sun glared down on us as Malik and I took James ashore.

“If it were up to me, I would’ve let you drown,” Malik said, dropping James on the sandy beach. “But Troy says you helped him, and for that, I owed you. That debt is paid now.”

“T-Thank you,” James stammered before coughing. Then his eyes opened wide. “My men. They’re still down there.”

Splashes sounded behind me, and I turned to see more heads breaking the surface of the water. Mermen from our army had followed my lead and had brought up many of the human soldiers. I smiled at the sight. The soldiers were carried to the beach and laid out on the sand, some barely conscious, while others grabbed the hands of the men who’d saved them and thanked them profusely.

An hour ago, those men had been fighting against each other. And now the line between friend and foe was blurred.

“Why?” James asked me. “Why save me after everything you went through?”

“Because when I was at my lowest, scared and hurting, you came to me and showed me kindness.”

“But it was my fault you were there in the first place.”

“We were at war,” I said, kneeling beside him in the sand and checking the wound on his head. It wasn’t as bad as it looked. “Ezra convinced you King Triton was a threat. When it mattered most, you did the right thing and called off your army. I forgive you.”

James’ topaz eyes softened. “I’m not a good person.”

“I know.” I stood up and peered down at him. “But maybe one day, you will be. This is a second chance, King James. Don’t waste it.”

“Wait,” he said, grabbing my wrist as I turned to leave.

Malik snarled and broke the hold James had on me. “Keep your hands to yourself. Troy believes you can change, but I don’t. Touch him again, and I won’t hesitate to rip your arm off.”

James dropped his gaze to the sand.

Malik guided me back toward the water, his hand resting at my lower back. I pressed myself closer to his side before we dove into the sea and transformed. My heart was heavy as we journeyed back to Avalontis. Or what was left of it.

Malik linked our fingers as we swam.

The warmth of his palm against mine gave me the strength to keep going. I longed to bury my face against his neck and feel his strong arms around me, yearned to make up for lost time by kissing and becoming lost in each other’s touch. I wanted to rid myself of the grief from the last two months and revel in the man I loved.

But our reunion would have to wait.

The magical barrier around Avalontis was gone. As we approached the kingdom, my chest ached at the sight of debris floating in the water, collapsed buildings, and the overwhelming atmosphere of fear and sadness as people gazed upon the destruction. Some sobbed and others stared in numbed shock.

“Troy!” Eva threw her arms around me and held on tight. “I thought I lost you.”

I returned her embrace, too emotional to respond.

“We need to gather the dead before the sharks begin to feed on them,” Reif told Malik, looking upward at the floating bodies.

As the two of them issued orders to the army, I approached Lorcan. He held his son in his arms and leaned against Alek. The trident stood beside him, as if obedient to his will. Seeing me, Theron wiggled and flicked his little tail. He shot from Lorcan’s arms and swam around me, excited.

“I’m glad you’re okay too,” I said, grabbing him.

His arms looped around my neck right before I felt another presence. Lorcan hugged me, not saying a word. He didn’t need to. Just like with his son, I could sense the direction of his thoughts. Sorrow. Anger. Relief.

The storm had finally passed.