Sword in the Stars (Once & Future #2) - Cori McCarthy Page 0,117

pushed it back down.

“What do you think he’s up to?” Ari asked. “Anniversary present?”

“It’s a surprise, Ara.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“But I do,” Gwen countered. “Let him have his fun.”

“What about my fun?” Ari said, abandoning whatever Merlin was about to show them for a few stolen kisses. Blindfolded kissing was a good time as it turned out, and Merlin had to clear his throat several times before Ari released Gwen and went back to the ready-to-be-surprised position.

“Step this way. Lightly.”

Ari and Gwen walked hand in hand into a portal while Merlin kept a leading grip on the back of her shirt. She wouldn’t lie; her heart trilled. Traditionally speaking, every time she went through a portal, something rotten happened, but she trusted Merlin, and she knew where they were the moment they arrived. Copper in the air. Dim light. Metal grating underfoot. She couldn’t wait for Merlin to say so and tugged her blindfold off. “We’re on Error.”

Ari dropped Gwen’s blindfold, too, so that she could see what Ari was seeing.

Merlin threw his arms out before Error’s main cabin. Strings of bright lights crisscrossed the entire space while the small table was bursting with food from what looked like several different worlds and eras. “It’s a throwback party! Happy anniversary!”

“Surprise!” Val yelled, followed by a full-mouth echo from Jordan who was currently making serious business out of a cupcake with a tiny Excalibur sticking out of the top.

Gwen smiled, crushing him in a huge hug.

Val wore an interesting grin as Ari gave him a hug. “Give me a heads-up, will you? No, let me guess. My parents are going to pop out from some place, and we’re all going to drink and hang out until—”

Ari’s words disappeared. A long-fingered hand clapped over her eyes. She would have known that hand anywhere—even if the smell was now mingled with horse and fire and leather armor. She spun around and right into Lamarack’s chest.

Ari was shouting. She had no control over her excitement as she hugged Lam again and again while they laughed. “How is this even possible?”

“Magical time baby,” Val crowed. “Kai nicked them from Camelot for a few hours. Surprise,” he finished, poking Ari in the side. “Now we can have a real party, huh?”

Ari found a few smudges of gray at Lam’s temples and a brand-new wrinkle to their eyes. “You’re older! How long has it been on your end?”

“Seventeen years,” Lam said, placing their wrist on her cheek. “You look the best you’ve ever looked.” They smiled to Gwen. “I imagine you have a lot to do with that.”

“Keeping Ari busy is my favorite esteemed position.” Gwen embraced Lam, and they lifted her off her feet.

Lam looked around the spaceship as if they were in a waking dream. “Arthur and I were on our way through Mirkwood. On a quest to free Gawain, and this person jumped out from behind a tree. I nearly ran him through, but Arthur stopped me.”

“I did nearly get killed,” Merlin said solemnly. “I have improved my tactics since then. Don’t surprise past humans with portals. It’s a grand rule.”

Ari felt the universe tilt. Or perhaps it was just the spaceship. Val was on her left, Lam on her right. Jordan was checking out the controls, and Merlin was staring at her straight on with the most tentative, hopeful smile. “Thank you, Kai.”

“I couldn’t think of a better present than to bring us all together, even if just for a night.”

Ari felt a familiar stab. This was her family, and they were together… minus one.

“All of us,” Merlin added, his brown eyes bright with excitement.

The entire cabin turned quiet while Ari looked around. There was no way… was there? She pushed through them, rounding the empty cockpit, heading straight to Kay’s room.

She burst the door open.

Kay was passed out on his bed, half fallen off the mattress, boots stuck to the floor and head thrown back. The rest of her friends were right behind her, uttering their own surprised noises as they collided with her back.

Merlin cleared his throat. “So, here’s a rather enormous condition of the night. Kay is alive, yes, but he’s also, um, trashed. Too wasted to remember this tomorrow, which was my exact plan!” He looked to Ari and Gwen. “I stole him from the afterparty of your wedding to Gwen, which is why we’re having the party here and not on Ketch. I should warn you, though, he’s still rather disgruntled by the idea of your marriage, which isn’t the best way to celebrate your anniversary, but—”

Ari couldn’t wait a second more. She leaped onto the bed and shook her brother by the shoulders.

“Hey!” Kay shouted, more alert than anyone would have guessed even if his gray-silver hair was standing straight up. “Where’s that Lionelian whiskey?” He pointed to Gwen. “She knows what I’m talking about.”

Gwen clapped a hand over her mouth.

“What are you all looking at?” Kay smacked his own face. “Did someone draw a vagina on me when I passed out?”

Ari pulled him to his feet and they returned to the cabin where Merlin set the music blazing with a well-aimed spark. Drinks appeared in every hand. Ari watched as Lam and Kay tried to outdrink each other, and Jordan and Gwen leaned shoulder to shoulder.

Merlin walked by Kay for the second time and gave him a squeeze. Kay elbowed him off, but Ari saw the secret smile, the way Kay never really minded the love, and in truth, he had always been one of the minor gods of it.

Merlin stepped over to Ari. “Are you happy?” he asked tentatively.

“More than you know.”

“I don’t think we can do it again. Even this is a little risky, but…”

Ari put an arm around Merlin’s shoulders. “You know I like risk. Things have been a little boring since we overthrew the all-seeing time enchantress and straightened out Mercer.”

“Val keeps telling me that boring is good.”

Ari and Merlin traded a knowing look and then turned to watch as Val, Gwen, and Jordan talked and laughed together. Lam and Kay were arm in arm, mid–drinking game.

“Living up to your name, Kairos,” Ari said, wrestling the idea that time was fleeting. A river that could only ever sweep them away. They’d have this night and then their lives would keep moving, changing. But wherever they went—wherever hope went—new legends would draw mighty swords and fight for better futures.