Page 137 of A Warrior's Heart

No more war. No more tension with King James and fearing the day we were dragged into another battle.

Maybe the wish I’d made on the shooting star came true after all.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Troy

One Year Later

The herbs boiled in the brass pot, a mixture of purple betony and wormwood. I added radish and garlic and stirred. Once it turned a dark red color, I strained it through a cloth and went over to the older woman sitting on the stool.

“This will help ease the pain?” she asked.

“Yes.” I smeared it on her ankles and her aching wrist joints before placing the rest of it in a small jar. “Apply it once a day, preferably in the evening. Your pain should lessen with each use.”

“Thank you.”

Eva had traveled to Talena a week before, so in her absence, I had taken over at her and Cain’s apothecary shop, helping with ailments, injuries, and herb gathering. Alek worked there on occasion, but he’d discovered a passion for blade smithing and spent several hours a day training as the blacksmith’s apprentice. He infused magic into the blades he forged, making them stronger. He welded other items as well, like armor imbued with protection runes.

A presence in the doorway drew my attention.

Malik stood with his arms crossed, a small smile curving the edge of his lips as he watched me work.

“Shouldn’t you be training your men?” I asked.

“Training is done for the day.” Malik stepped farther into the room, and a warm breeze came in behind him, filling the space with the scent of saltwater and smells from the market.

I breathed in the warm spices and cooking meat in the air, my mouth watering. I had been working for hours and had forgotten to eat midday meal. The woman paid me some coin before leaving the shop. I tucked the money into my coin purse, already thinking of how I would spend it.

Definitely on a pastry or two.

“Walk with me,” Malik said, grabbing my hand.

I linked our fingers and smiled as he led me outside.

The island was breathtaking with white sand beaches, trees, and a colorful array of plants and flowers. My favorite part? The crystal blue water surrounding us.

Although we lived on land, I could swim whenever the urge struck me. I loved to dive down to the sea floor and rest beside the coral reefs, staring up at the glares of sunlight breaking through the water, sometimes for hours. Malik would often dive with me and wrap me in his arms as we swam and made love below the waves.

King James had given Lorcan control of a large island south of Talena. The tropical atmosphere was warm even in the winter months. My reserves about living on land had vanished as soon as I’d stepped foot there. With the help of James’ men, we’d been able to quickly construct buildings, homes, and set up our fields for crops. The soil was perfect for growing sweet potatoes and various other vegetables. We had planted breadfruit trees, some for bananas, and coconuts.

And Malik and I had built a home together, close enough to the sea for us to hear the waves crashing against the shore as we slept.

It was a true paradise.

“Fancy a sweet treat?” Seth asked, standing outside his bakery. “A batch of fruit tarts just came out of the oven.”

My stomach growled.

A low laugh rumbled in Malik’s chest before he steered me in that direction. The inside of the bakery smelled incredible. Seth had baked loaves of bread, some with fruit and others without, and he’d made several kinds of pastries and miniature cakes.

I shoved a whole tart into my mouth and groaned as I chewed.

Smiling, Malik pulled a coin from his pouch and offered it to Seth.

“No, no.” Seth held a hand up. “You’re family.”

Family. We really were. Seth was Theron’s godfather, and when he wasn’t working, he was visiting Lorcan and Alek. Sometimes Theron would come with him to the bakery and help knead dough and bake desserts.