Page 48 of A Warrior's Heart

I accepted the flask and took a drink before returning it to Malik. “Thank you.”

Shar and Ervin appeared unfazed by the heat, as did Reif. Another hour passed. My mind wandered, and I began to feel a bit disoriented.

“Mal?” I whined, stumbling over loose pebbles. “Carry me.”

One moment, I was miserably moving along the path, and then I was lifted off the ground. I grinned and wrapped my arms around Malik’s neck, laying my head on his shoulder.

“You spoil him,” Lorcan said with a light snort.

Malik said nothing in response, but he held me closer against him. Cradling me.

I caught Lorcan’s eye and winked.

My friend threw his head back and laughed.

The rocking of Malik’s body as he walked relaxed me. I closed my eyes before slowly opening them again. I could fall asleep like that, in his arms.

“Thank the gods.” Nereus’ cheeks were pink from the sun, and his brown hair glistened with sweat. He pointed ahead. “I see the red and black sails of the Crimson Night through the trees.”

Several steps later, we left the dense forest and found ourselves on the beach. Salt water filled my nostrils as a much-needed breeze swept through my hair. I breathed it in as a sense of home washed over me.

Malik set me down, but not before pressing his face against my temple. The tender action made the jellyfish return to my stomach.

My feet sunk a little in the sand as we moved toward the ship. Fletcher waved at us from the upper deck, then took the stairs two at a time on his way down to greet us, his red hair catching the sun.

The four assassins who’d stayed behind stood on the beach at the water’s edge, their black cloaks drifting behind them as another gust of wind snagged hold of them. Ervin and Shar headed toward them.

“About time you returned,” Eva said after walking down the gangplank toward us. She wore a red tunic and tight black trousers that were tucked into high boots, making her look more like a pirate than a mermaid. “It feels like ages since I’ve seen your brooding faces. Did you meet with the seer?”

“Yes,” Lorcan answered, embracing her. “Once we’ve eaten and rested, I’ll gather everyone and explain.”

I dropped my satchel to the sand before unstrapping my bow and quiver of arrows, setting them beside the bag. I kicked off my boots next and happily sighed as I buried my toes in the warm sand. Then, I removed my shirt and added it to the pile on the ground.

Malik watched me with a quizzical arch to his brow.

“How about a swim?” I asked, holding out my hand to him.

He looked as if he wanted to take it, but he didn’t. “Troy… there’s much to be done. We haven’t the time for swimming.”

I dropped my arm back to my side. “Suit yourself.”

I turned and waded through the surf until it was deep enough to submerge my whole body. I dove into the water, letting the tranquility of it soothe my spirit as I transformed.

Red fins rose from my forearms, allowing me to control my direction better as I glided through the water. My tail fin thumped once, twice, shooting me forward, then down. The exhaustion from earlier as I’d trekked through the forest fled as I spun and swam.

My soul felt alive. Invigorated.

Vibrant coral gently swayed with the current, and fish moved above and around it. Some scattered upon my arrival, though others swam around me. I played with them a while, enjoying the lighthearted fun. I admired the pink, orange, and green plants before finding a spot beside the reef on the sea floor and flipping to my back to stare upward.

The clear water allowed me to see the sun breaking through the surface above me, the rays finding me even on the sea floor.

Beautiful.

Peaceful.

Home.

But it wasn’t truly my home, this place near the coral reef. I was so far from Avalontis, far from the streets I walked in the market when sampling treats from the bakery, far from the palace gardens and the florescent plants that glowed when touched. Far from everything I’d ever known.