Page 29

Kai

T he early tendrils of dawn reach across the horizon, turning the sky to soft shades of lavender and gold.

No more storm clouds ominously looming in the distance, and no more dark waters promising death and destruction.

As the sun crests, its light glow shimmers across the gentle waves, bathing them all in warmth.

They were all free.

Not only the men who have been trapped here so long, but the sirens, too. The world is open to them for the first time in centuries.

I watch as Evie and Florence embrace, noting the other Elders and how they also hug their loved ones. They were prisoners as much as the sailors were, forced to obey Yvette or meet the wrath of her power like Evelyn’s mother.

The gathered company of sirens and sailors part suddenly as Mathius makes his way toward Evie. There is a heavy sadness in his gaze, one that tells of centuries of regret and heartache.

Evie breaks free of her embrace with Florence and watches as he takes long strides toward her.

He halts just a single step away from her, and they both stare at one another.

Everyone stands silent, and the only sounds are that of the ocean’s current and the swift breeze rustling through the trees beyond the beach.

It is Mathius who speaks first, “You are so much like your mother.” He chokes out, and that is all Evie needs to hear, because she throws her arms around him, a fresh batch of tears trickling down her cheeks.

Mathius’s large arms encircle her, and he lays his head atop hers.

The sparkle of emotion in his eyes, and a warm smile spreads across his face.

“Kai?” A quiet voice says behind me, and I turn to find Dru standing there. “I remember.”

Relief washes over me, and a slow smile blooms across my face, “Welcome back, brother.”

He smirks back and then arches a brow, “You know you didn’t have to grab my leg out from under me. I busted my lip from that, see?”

He pulls down his bottom lip, where a small gash is present. I wince, “Sorry about that. I was sort of at the end of my rope. I didn’t know how to get you back.”

Dru sighs, putting an arm over my shoulder. “What are you even doing here? How are we both here on this strange island?”

I huff a laugh, “It’s a long story.”

“Well, I think I have time to listen.”

Dru and I leave the group of sirens and sailors, and I tell him everything that has happened over the past month that he’s been gone.

I tell him of Father not doing well, that I didn’t want to take over the province, and that I came looking for him, to bring him home knowing he wasn’t dead.

I tell him that my journey led me to this island, directly to him.

“Gods,” Dru runs a hand through his dark hair. “An entire month. I remember the storm and the shipwreck, but after that, it's all such a blur.”

“It’s okay, you’ll get it all back in time. Listen, Dru, there's something else.” He frowns at me, waiting for me to continue, “I’m not exactly sure how to say this, because… well, quite frankly, I can’t fully believe it myself, but the lost elven King of Halvendor is here.”

Dru choked, coughing, “W–what?”

“I know, I know. He’s been here this whole time, and I think we need to bring him back home.

You know as well as I do that Halvendor suffers without a true ruler.

There are all the pretender kings who can never hold the throne, playing dress-up, but without the true king, the entire kingdom has been suffering for far too long. ”

“Halvendor needs its king,” Dru nods, agreeing.

A glimpse of pink and blue shimmers in the corner of my vision, and I turn to see Katarina sauntering towards us. Dru curses under his breath, and I smirk.

“Well, well, if I had known if you two were brothers here on the island, I would have tried to have a little extra fun.” She says.

Dru pinches the bridge of his nose and groans, obviously exasperated. “Katarina, I think we need to talk.”

“I can think of a few better things to do than talk, royal boy.”

Dru casts me a look dripping with annoyance, and I only chuckle. It seems that Katarina’s charms no longer work on him. “I’ll let you guys talk.”

I leave them, not wanting to be involved in whatever conversation Dru was about to have.

I’d seen him break up with women before, and none of them ever took it well.

Dru was the tall, dark, and handsome type, the guy that girls swooned over back home.

His dark hair, hazel eyes, and tanned complexion from days at sea always had the girls looking past me and straight at him.

It didn’t help that he was also heir to the province, and nearly half a head taller than I am.

The sirens and sailors have dispersed across the beach, and I notice Mathius and Evelyn still together, away from the others.

I need to speak with both of them, because not only does Mathius need to get off of Kafigda and back home to Halvendor, but I want Evelyn to come as well. I only hope she does, too.

Before I even make it that far, Evelyn is waving me over with a large grin on her stunning face.

“Kai! Come quick!” She yells, and I jog over to them.

“I didn’t want to interrupt your reunion,” I say.

Mathius suddenly places a large hand on my shoulder, and I can practically feel the power emanating from him in waves.

“I owe you my thanks, Kai. Without you and Evelyn,” he pauses, a dark shadow passing over his face.

“I can’t think of how much longer all of us would have been stuck under that siren’s spell. I am indebted to you. We all are.”

“It was mostly Evie,” I say, smiling over at her. “I was just along for the ride.”

Mathius huffs a laugh, “Even so, thank you.”

His face shifts to one far more serious, and his hand tightens slightly on my shoulder, “Tell me, Kai. How fares Halvendor in my absence?”

Looking away from him, unable to meet his intense golden-eyed stare, “It’s a much better place than you remember, I’m sure,” is all I can manage.

I wasn’t alive in his time, and so I don’t know how much has changed.

I have no idea what it was like when he sat on the throne, other than in history books.

All I know is now. And now the country is in shambles.

“Since you disappeared, no one has been able to stay on the throne. Although many have tried, all fail and most end up dead.”

His hand drops from my shoulder, and he nods, “Only an Elf can sit the throne and rule the land. Someone from my line.” He looks over to Evie with a soft smile, and I realize that Evelyn is probably his only child.

“I–I don’t know what it was like when you ruled, but the entire kingdom has been taken over by the strongest warlords of men.

It’s been cut and divided into provinces for centuries.

I’m afraid there isn’t much left of your ruling city.

It was picked over long ago, and now it’s little more than a war zone for those fighting to claim your throne.

” I look back up at him and almost back away.

His face is set in a grim line, and a surge of energy roars around him, making him look so much bigger as he says, “It’s time for us to get off this island and go home.”