Page 50 of Reign of Light
A single tear escapes as I look out across the beach, my eyes drawn to him instantly. As if he feels my stare, he looks over at me. His smile falters and his brow furrows as he scans my face, clearly seeing the tear. Jorn laughs beside him at something one of the boys in the group says, but Weston steps away, turning toward me and no longer hearing the conversation he was just in.
What’s wrong?he mouths. His jaw tightens, and his gaze bores into me, looking like he’s going to cross the beach toward me the moment I say I need him. I shake my head, giving him a slightly water smile.
Nothing,I mouth back, but he strides forward, halting only when I shake my head again. His head tilts to the side, and his eyebrows draw in closer.
I’m fine, I mouth again and flick my wrist to shoo him back to the group. He takes a reluctant step back and turns toward the group again, but not before sneaking another glance my way, his relaxed smile now a close-lipped line.
“See?” Sig says, and I turn back to her. “He’s different.”
“I just don’t understand. Why would he push me away for so long if deep down that’s how he truly felt? If he thought life back home would be better, why would he tell me we couldn’t be together, when here we could be?”
I swear my loyalty to her, Lennox Holt, andvow to stay by her side in whatever way she will have me.
The words settle in the pit of my stomach.
Would it actually be better back home? We would have purpose, a life to live with real experiences that we’d be denied here, but be unable to have them together? Would we be cursed to constantly be near each other, but never able to act on the love that has grown between us? At least not while my father was still alive.
But that could be years. It is my duty to provide the kingdom with an heir. Would Weston stand by and watch that happen? Would I be able to court a prince, one that would provide Blackwood with opportunity or protection, knowing that the man standing behind my father is the one I truly want? Or could I ignore tradition, like my father did, and choose who I want?
Choose Weston?
Maybe it is better we are trapped here, so I don’t have to make that choice.
The thought makes my chest ache. There’s no right answer. There’s no better choice. Each is different, but only one thing matters.
Right here, right now, we didn’t get to choose.
“Because he’s more stubborn than you are,” Sig says, and looks up just as another Voyager steps through the portal, the same sullen look on his face.
I sneak a glance back at Weston and watch the shadows from the flames dance across his features.
This future may not be ideal. It may not be what we visualized or chose for ourselves, but we chose each other.
It’s the best future we have.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
One by one, the Voyagers leave the mountain, and with every fallen or defeated face, the crack in the hope I’ve held onto deepens. But it isn’t until I see the small body with slumped shoulders step onto the beach that my heart truly breaks.
“Roley!” Fin calls from the other side of the now roaring fire. His tiny form leaps up, his legs pumping as he darts across the sand toward his friend.
“I’m going to go check on him,” I tell the girls, and am met with nods and words of approval. I cross the beach behind Fin and almost run into him as he comes to a halt watching Roley swipe at his cheeks.
“Oh, you’re sad,” Fin says. “Did Dawnlin tell you no too?” His voice is sullen, and I stifle the emotions bubbling in my chest. Roley needs strength and encouragement, not disappointment that he wasn’t successful either.
He sniffs before nodding, and Fin’s shoulders sink too. I step past Fin and crouch down before Roley, reaching out and gently grasping his hand.
“Well, Roley, that means you’re one of us now. None of us got it either,” I say.
His chin lifts, and his watery eyes widen, his eyebrows scrunching on his forehead.
“You mean I’m a Castaway now?”
“Only if you want to be. But that’s how we all became one. The island told us no too.”
“Yeah, so now I’m a Castaway forever!” Fin cries, throwing his fists in the air. He tries to crow, the screeching noise making me flinch with a smile. Jorn calls out Fin’s name from somewhere behind us, and Fin’s eyes brighten as he looks back toward the beach where Jorn stands, a huge grin on his face and his thumbs up in the air. Fin holds his hand up, returning the gesture, before turning back to Roley, whose eyes bounce between us.
“It’s okay, Roley! Now, you can see the ship and play hide and seek with mister Weston and me. He’s really good and always finds me. Maybe now that there’s two of us, he might lose and we win. And Jorn can teach you how to climb, and you can see my job. It’s lots of fun being a Castaway,” Fin rambles, and Roley’s tears dry up quickly as he listens.
