Page 46 of Reign of Light
“I dunno,” he says and kicks the ground beneath him with the toe of his boot.
“It’s safe, I promise. There’s nothing to be afraid of. The island will take care of you,” I say, and he looks up at me with a sheepish smile.
“What if it says no?” he asks.
I crouch down and set my hand on his shoulder. “Then it says no. We can’t control it, and we can’t change it. You wouldn’t be alone. It’s the same answer the rest of us got. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Okay,” he whispers. I smile, then glance over my shoulder toward the entrance, only to find Weston scaling the ledge back to our side. He steps back onto the solid ground and walks over to us, his clothing completely soaked through from the spray of the falls.
“Let’s go, Roley. I’ll carry you over,” he says, extending his arms out.
Roley’s shoulders touch his ears as he takes a hesitant step forward. He looks back between Mara and me as if asking for permission, or more likely reassurance.
“He won’t hurt you, Roley. He’s not the bad guy,” I say, and watch as Roley’s throat bobs with a gulp.
“I’m going to put you on my back, alright? You need to hold on tight,” Weston says to him, and before Roley can utter any denial, he reaches down, hoisting Roley onto his back. The moment he’s in the air, a grin breaks across his face before he’s wrapping his arms around Weston’s shoulders and wiggling with glee.
Weston scales the ledge again, Roley’s tiny body dangling down his back the same way I’ve seen Fin do countless times, until he sure-footedly disappears through the portal on the other side.
“I can’t believe we thought he was a monster,” Mara murmurs, shaking her head in disbelief.
My chest squeezes, and even though I can’t see him any longer, I know he’s probably reassuring Roley again, making sure he’s safe entering alone. He may think he’s just doing his duty as the captain, but I know it’s more than that. Weston cares, and he’s a good man. One that deserves more than the life he’s been dealt.
I swallow the lump forming in my throat. “We only saw what we were told to see, but that’s not who he is. Not at all.”
“He wouldn’t have kept all of you safe for that long if he was a monster.”
The morning moves along as the suns trail across the sky. The entire line of Voyagers disappears into the mountain, leaving only Mara standing beside me.
“This is it,” I say, smiling at her. “Are you ready?”
“I’m terrified,” she says with a deep sigh. “But I have to know, you know? I don’t want to wonder. I’ve been wondering if my mom is still even alive for all these years, and I don’t need something else to add to it.” She steps to the edge of the land, where the boulders form beneath the ledge. “Maybe it’s better this way.” She stares at the waterfall, her face drawn with her own internal thoughts and preparations before walking into what she wanted the most. “I doubt there’s anyone left for me at home, so at least here, I’m not alone.”
“You wouldn’t have to be alone, Mara. If we could go home, I’d find a place for you at the castle.”
Her head snaps toward me. “Wait, did you just say castle?”
Shit.
I may have left out the future queen part of the story, only focusing on the fact that Dane previously knew my mother.
I gape at her, trying to come up with a quick explanation, but there’s only the truth, and we don’t have time for that right now. She has something to accomplish, and I will not stand in her way.
Mara laughs, her eyes wide as she stares at me. “Tell me, Lennox!”
I shake my head and shove her shoulder, causing her to stumble toward the mountain wall. “There’s plenty of time for that. Right now, you have more important things to do. Get inside that mountain. We’ll see you on the other side.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Auralie spent the afternoon prepping the beach with a few of the others, so by the time the suns set, the entire crew left the ship and made our way down to the collection beach. After we made sure all the Voyagers were through the entrance, the energy level of the crew was high with anticipation and constant chatter, wondering if anyone would be worthy.
And now it is time to find out.
Fin clutches my hand and swings my arm back and forth as we walk down the main path toward the beach. The edges of the sky are still pink, while the purples and blues deepen above us, and I find myself lost in thoughts about the finality of this night. As I look out over the landscape, and take in all the people around me, it is so easy to see that what I thought was a curse months ago, turned out to be a blessing. I only needed time to see it.
A breeze comes off the water, sending a chill through me despite the warm day. Weston follows behind, close enough that I can feel hispresence but far enough away that Fin and I have our own space. I smile softly at the memory of the last time we walked on the island, toward the collection beach. His trailing was much different from today, especially after I yelled at him not to follow me like a guard.
“Do you think Roley will get it?” Fin asks with a skip then a hop as he drags me along behind him. “I think he should. He’s nice. But so are you, and you didn’t get it.”
