Page 70 of To Claim A King
I couldn’t smother the tug at the corners of my mouth, a wide smile replacing the surly frown I was going for. When I laughed, the booming, free noise echoed across the river and down the mountainside like a roaring clap of thunder announcing its presence.
I was a changed man. These three people had changed me and every part of my existence. After tonight, nothing on this earth could hold me back from building the life I’d never even dared to dream of. I didn’t want to waste a single second of it.
I knelt in the grass and gently pulled Hillary up with me, our two men following suit.
“Come on,” I directed, pulling on my pants, leaving my dirty shirt to rot in the sunshine of the following day. “Let’s go back to camp. I want to get home.”
“We have one more stop to make,” Aaron informed me when we stepped onto the chartered plane. We’d spent three days in the Colombian Eastern Andes.
The pilot conducted his checks as we settled into the small Cessna that would take us out to a main airfield, where we could get on a larger plane to cross the Pacific Ocean. At least, that was the original plan.
“Where are we going?” I asked, not overly interested in the answer. I was tired, the emotional toll of a torture trip finally hitting me with a smashing headache and achy limbs. The high altitude and rough terrain hadn’t been kind to my out-of-shape body. My feet were unbearably tender, but Iwould carry that complaint to my deathbed. It had been hard enough convincing Kellan we were all coming on this mission. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction for all his hovering.
“Brazil.” My head shot up to find Aaron’s liquid amber eyes staring through me in challenge. “This is a trip of closure, no? We shall get closure for you as well.”
My spine stiffened at his intrusion. “Aaron! That’s not your—”
“I’m afraid I have sworn to take care of you,Mi Reina. It is very much my place.”
The distinct rumble of engines coming to life interrupted us, and I glared daggers at him over the noise.
“I agree with Aaron on this one, Killer.”
Kellan folded his massive body in the small seat, eyebrows raised as if taunting me to test him. Lucky, on the opposite side of him, lifted his hands in surrender.
“I had nothing to do with this, Blondie. But for what it’s worth—aren’t you ready to let go of everything? A true clean slate?”
Burning tears gathered in the corners of my eyes, but I held onto them for dear life. I wasn’t ready to see her again, even after everything I did to honor her name and bring her justice. Quick, shallow breaths burst out of my nostrils. I needed time to plan. I needed to think. I needed—
Sensing my rising panic, Lucky unbuckled his seatbelt and sidled past Kellan to kneel in front of me, his sea-glass stare searching mine with the clearest sincerity.
“I can’t pretend to know what you're feeling, lass.” He reached up to stroke my cheek with the soothing kiss of his thumb. “But I know how I felt when I visited Shayna’s grave for the first time. Her body wasn’t even in it, but it was the sentiment, you know?” He shifted on his haunches, swallowing hard. “Musta cried for an hour like a bloody baby, but when I left, I felt better. Renewed, even. I want you to have that too.”
His tender tone and kind delivery did me in. Rivers formed along my cheeks, and their drying streaks remained when we arrived at thecemitérioone fuel stop and several hours later.
Our driver dropped us off at the gated entrance, and the four of us stood at its opening staring at the vast expanse of white-washed cement pillars and monuments, hundreds of rows stretching far into the distance.
Aaron wrapped a powerful arm around my shoulders as I stood frozen on the threshold. Every exhibit of my failure to bring honor to her name, to avenge the dishonorable way she died, unfolded in front of my vision in a blurry mirage through a barrage of fresh tears.
Had she forgiven me? Could I move on with peace in my heart and still preserve her beautiful memory, the piece of me she became?
Mycaballero oscuroturned me into him, cradling me within the heat of his body and soft notes of sandalwood and vanilla.
“Mi Reina,” he crooned, “Es momento de despedirse.”
It is time to say goodbye.
I felt Kellan’s broad form close in against my back. He rested the crest of his chin on top of my head, and enveloped the two of us in a tight embrace, exuding stability and calm—classic Kellan.
“Come on, Killer.” He released his hold and walked one step ahead of me before turning to hold out his hand. “We’re here with you.”
We’re here with you. Through it all, they had been. As much as I was terrified of this moment, they stood beside me, offering the sanctity of their strength and the light of their love. They knew what I needed, and had made the arrangements to give it to me, even when they knew it would be painful. These men—my men—didn’t coddle me, but they cherished me.
Love swelled in my chest so deeply, my heart ached with the wealth of it, so powerful it replaced the fear wreaking havoc in my brain. It was time to introduce the new loves of my life to my very first—the woman who’d unknowingly changed my entire world, and eventually, led me on a path to them.
Lucky joined us on Aaron’s other side, a tender smile gracing his lips as the four of us walked down the narrow trail to her gravesite beneath the shade of a willow tree. They held back while I tentatively approached the stone, anxious energy mingling with a wash of euphoria now I was finally here.
I caressed the cracking concrete under the blistering sun. A light breeze picked up as I sat down next to the headstone, as if her spirit felt my presence and was saying hello.
