A short while later, we were making our way through the grass fields and back to the woods that separated the field from the hill my sister’s army had crested.

The trek went slowly due to our injuries, but soon enough, a cool breeze floated by us, carrying with it the sound of voices from Anaya’s army; my stomach fluttered with excitement but it was instantly replaced by fear.

What if Eryk wasn’t all right? What if we’d come all this way, only to have the joy of our victory snatched away by grief.

“There, you see? Smoke,” Titus said, pointing over the jagged tree line towards a column of gray smoke swirling towards the sky. “They’re close.”

“Thank goodness,” I murmured, casting a quick glance down at Titus’ side.

He had his hand pressed to the stab wound, but blood still leaked out from between his fingers. I had tried to convince him to let Dimitri and I patch him up at the base of the rubble back at the courtyard, but sounds of awakening townsfolk starting their day had been bubbling outside the walls and he had insisted on leaving immediately. Odds were, they’d keep their heads down and mind their own business, but there was no sense taking any chances.

We quickened our pace as much as possible, and, soon, the sounds of voices grew closer. I peered through the dense curtain of leaves and branches until a beam of sunlight glinted off metal armor in the space between two massive tree trunks.

“Over here!” I called as I waved a hand above my head. “We’re over here!”

“Watch yourself,” Dimitri growled, grabbing my elbow and yanking me to safety behind a bulky trunk. “It’s not wise to throw yourself in front of armed men when they’re-”

I tugged my arm free. “They would recognize my voice.”

“Perhaps,” Dimitri grumbled as I revealed myself again.

A figure stepped into my line of sight, and I let out an ecstatic cry of joy as I recognized the dark hair and powerful form.

Gatlin St. John.

He was crushing branches beneath his feet as his long strides ate up the ground between us.

My exhaustion lifted for a moment and I raced forward, my laugh ringing in the air as we closed the distance between one another.

When we collided in a bear hug, tears stung my eyes. He drew back a second later and inspected me with his keen gaze. Relief washed over his handsome features and he let out an exasperated breath, clasping my hands tightly.

“Thank the Gods you’re alright,” he whispered, before turning around and cupping a hand around his mouth. “She’s here! And she’s well!”

The sound of many footsteps approached, and as Gatlin stepped back, my eyes fell upon the most beautiful sight my eyes had ever seen.

Eryk.

He’d been given some clothes as well but his skin was covered in grime and blood. Despite it all, he looked spectacular as ever as he strode forward to meet me. I threw my arms around him when we met, and he nuzzled his face into the groove of my shoulder. My hands trembled as I held his head against me and kissed his cheek and ear.

“Thank you,” I whispered into his ear.

He nodded against my cheek and then pulled away, pausing to plant a firm, warm kiss on my lips.

When he fell back a step, my sister’s other three mates emerged. All of them looked equally as relieved as Gatlin and Eryk had been. Michael gave me a warm smile that somehow made the pain in my back feel like it was farther away. Lucian met me with such a fierce hug that I forgot how usually stand-offish he was. Seeing me seemed to chisel away some of the hardness in him for just a moment. When he stepped back to make room for Connor, his features reassembled into their usual scowl.

A grinning Connor shook his head and rested one hand on my shoulder. “Anaya will be so happy to see you. She’s not with us. She very reluctantly- and I must stress just how reluctantly- stayed back on the ship.”

“She’s here?” I demanded with a scowl. “She shouldn’t have even come and put herself in harm’s way like that.” I thought of the pirates who had managed to get aboard The Duchess and a chill ran through me. “Why did you even agree to let her accompany you?”

His crack of laughter echoed through the trees, and, despite my concerns, a smile tugged at my lips.

“Okay, I get it. Imagine Anaya letting anyone tell her what she can and can’t do. Point taken. In that case, thank you for making sure she stayed out of the fray. I know it probably wasn’t easy.” And there was no doubt she’d only agreed to even that because she was with child. I supposed I should be glad for small favors that my niece or nephew was safe on the ship.

“I’m surprised I made it out of her cabin with my head, to be honest,” Connor said with a wry grin.

When someone behind me snickered, I whirled around with narrowed eyes. Dimitri arched a brow at me and shrugged.

“What?” he asked defensively as he hooked his thumbs in the waist of his pants. “It’s just funny to consider that there might be another woman in this world as stubborn as you.”

“I prefer the word strong-willed,” I said, lifting my chin.

“Hard-headed?” Lucian offered slyly to my right.

I shot him a dark look. As I was about to respond, I caught a glimpse of a familiar royal blue tunic on a man who was draped over the saddle of a brown stallion through the trees. Four guards stood around the horse, hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

My gaze slid to Gatlin as my pulse stuttered. “Is that him?”

“Indeed. Preston Du Monde. Doesn’t look all that foreboding while hogtied over the back of a horse, does he?”

“No,” I said absently as I made my way out of the cluster of men and towards the eldest son of Sebastian Du Monde.

When I drew up in front of him, he lifted his chin from where it rested on the saddle. A strip of fabric had been crammed into his mouth and tied around the back of his head. Whoever had done it hadn’t been kind about it. It was so tight that his cheeks were puffing out below and above it.

Too damned bad.

“I bet this isn’t how you saw it ending,” I said coldly.

Du Monde’s eyebrows drew together in a scowl that seemed almost comedic under his current situation. I dropped to a crouch so that I was peering up at him, and then I smiled.

He’d caused so much pain and misery, but we’d prevailed. And now, in spite of it all, I wouldn’t have changed it even if I could. My sister’s rule was now truly uncontested and she and our people were safe.

As for me? It had been rough, but I’d come out the other side stronger, smarter, and, best of all, loved.

It almost made me want to thank the bastard.

Almost.

“You never even managed to bring your army into Ironhaven. How embarrassing,” I observed softly. “But a fitting fate for a coward like you. Even your father would be disgusted by how weak you are.”

His face went a furious crimson, and I patted his cheek before I straightened. My sister would decide his ultimate fate and I knew, in her infinite wisdom, she would ensure he would never be able to hurt us again.

It was enough for me.

Blowing out a cleansing breath, I turned on my heel to face Anaya’s suitors, Dimitri, Eryk, and Titus, my lips turning up into a smile again.

It was over. The nightmare was finally over.

“Take me to see my sister, please.”

Gatlin brought me a white mare and helped me get into the saddle.

After reuniting with everyone and learning that the rest of the people I loved were safe, all the adrenaline rushing in my veins evaporated, leaving me feeling almost weak with relief and exhausted.

Once I was on the horse, Gatlin fetched me water and half a loaf of bread. He made sure the others had the same as they hoisted themselves into their saddles. I devoured my food and watched Titus strain against the pain in his side as he adjusted atop his steed.

It was a tedious journey back to the docks, but one that was made remarkably easier by the horses. Still, I was thankful to hear the crashing of the waves when we finally we neared the ocean. The air smelled of seaweed and salt and I glanced over my shoulder at Titus. He was pale, but alert and I shot him an encouraging smile.

“We’re almost there,” I called.

We emerged over the crest of a hill just as the sun was leaving the sky, and we found ourselves staring down. Grass gave way to sand, which gave way to a long wooden dock that led out to Anaya’s massive warship.

Heart singing, I dug my heels gently into the mare’s sides and we rushed forward, galloping down the gentle hill to the boats. Her hooves kicked up the sand behind us until we hit the dock. I leapt off her and handed the reins to a young soldier waiting at the base of the gang plank.

“Iris!”

Anaya was leaning over the railing of the ship, close enough that I could see a sparkle in her eyes that I knew was matched by the tears in mine.

“Anaya!” I cried as I raced up the gang plank. I launched myself over it and rushed to my sister.

Her arms encircled me and both of us sank to our knees on the deck. I leaned back to get a good look at her. Her skin was fair, as always, but her cheeks were bright pink and so was the tip of her nose. She was dressed in thick black furs and wore gloves. I was happy to see the swell of her belly was even bigger than I remembered.

I put a hand on it and gave a delighted sigh when I felt a kick almost immediately.

Anaya was laughing and crying at the same time as she inspected me the same way I had been scrutinizing her. She touched the cuts on my cheek lightly.

“You’re hurt,” she whispered.

“No, I’m okay. This is nothing. I’m so happy to see you.”

Heels hit the deck and we both looked up to see Gatlin. He smiled, but didn’t stop as he made his way around us. The others hopped on to the deck in a similar fashion and gave Anaya and I the space to reunite.

We laughed and cried and hugged, and then repeated the process until we were both certain that this was real…that we were both safe.

“I was so scared,” Anaya said once we’d stood and made our way to her cabin. We sat down in front of a burning fire and she draped a blanket over our laps.

“I was, too. I didn’t think...” I stopped talking. I didn’t want to give voice to my fears. That I thought I’d never see my sister again. “They kept me safe. Eryk, Titus, and Dimitri. I never would have found my way back to you without them.”

“Iris…”

“I know,” I cut in, shaking my head furiously. “They are the ones that took me, but they truly had no choice. They shouldn’t be punished for doing what anyone would do if a person they loved was in danger and--”

“Stop,” she demanded.

I ceased my babbling and nodded as she took my hands in hers and held on tight.

“What I was going to say was that, if you were angry with them, you should try to forgive them. I sent men to retrieve each of their family members and place them under our protection. They were all terrified and shaken to the bone. The men guarding them had scared them half to death, so I know they had been telling the truth about their fears and the reasons behind their perfidy. They also risked their own necks to turn to me for help in saving you. So, while I’m still angry at what you’ve suffered, I will get over it. As long as you feel they can be trusted not to do such a thing again--”

“Oh, I do. I…” I swallowed hard, cheeks flaming. “I’ve fallen in love, sister.”

Anaya’s face lit with joy and her lips curved into a knowing smile. “Oh my.”

“With all three of them,” I admitted, trying not to fidget under the weight of my sister’s stare.

She let out a gleeful laugh and clapped her hands together.

“Amazing. Oh, Iris, I’m so happy for you. I just hope your males understand that you’re going to be very busy. There will be time for fun, but there is also work to be done.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, cocking me head as I studied her mischievous expression.

Anaya shifted so she was facing me more squarely. “All this time wondering where you were and if you were safe helped me see something important,” she said before pausing for a long moment. I waited for her to continue and, when she did, she chose each word carefully. “Iris, you all brought down a man who posed an incredible danger to me and to Ironhaven. The four of you. That’s very impressive. You’re impressive. And I think I was wrong.”

I blinked. “I’m sorry?”

Anaya nodded with a knowing smile. “I was wrong for excluding you from serving. I need a Captain for my fleet of ships, Iris. There are too many lands we haven’t seen, too many people outside of Ironhaven who might need our help. I want us to be a beacon for free thinkers and those who need refuge. I also want to make sure we have soldiers prepared to fight on the seas and eyes and ears in all corners of the globe so that a plot like this will never escape our notice again. In order to do that, I need to focus on travel by sea. I’ll need someone to recruit and train our sailors and spearhead these first journeys to spread the word. I think the position should be yours, if you would have it.”

My heart hammered so loud, I could hear it. I hadn’t expected something like this. The swell of excitement and elation inside me reminded me of how much I had wanted this moment back before everything had changed on the day of the archery competition.

That felt like a very long time ago now. But my dreams and aspirations still beat like a drum inside me.

“I want it,” I said. “I want it now more than ever. Thank you, Anaya. You won’t regret it. I promise. I’ll do well. You’ll see. Just give me-”

Anaya held up her hand as she chuckled and I fell quiet. “Iris. Relax. Let’s just get home first. Then we can discuss the details, and maybe plan your first course together. You’ll have to have a first mate, of course,” she added, giving me a sideways look. “Or three.”

“Three.” I nodded. “Three is good.

“Then three you shall have,” Anaya said.

We chatted for a while longer, but my imagination had already taken flight.

I was to be made a Captain.

I could hardly believe it. And if the men I had my eye on for my mates would accept, I would finally have it all. Everything I’d ever dreamed of…