is peace. It’s why our queen has tried so hard to broker an agreement with Cana, why she has devoted herself to her alliances. We could live in Bela, surrounding ourselves in bliss while ignoring the rest of the Six Kingdoms. But we want everyone to experience what we’ve found.”
She looked back out at the high cliffs. “It isn’t about power. It’s about love.”
He pressed a kiss to the side of her head. “Thank you for sharing this with me, for saving my life.”
She drew him in for a deeper kiss, breaking away long enough to whisper against his lips. “Don’t worry, Lord Eirick, I’ll always be here to save you.”
A chuckle rumbled low in his chest. “I don’t doubt that.”
As they watched their future in Bela near, Ara realized she was ready for her fight to end. She’d served as a general, leading her father’s men, and then as a spy. She’d seen multiple wars and killed too many warriors.
Fighting was her duty, her job.
But it didn’t have to be, not anymore.
Now, she prepared for a different kind of life. One with a certain warlord by her side.
Who was she kidding?
There’d always be another battle.
And she’d answer the call.
• • •
Thank you for reading Spy’s Heart. This novella ties to the Fantasy and Fairytales series where you can find out who these queens pulling the strings are and how they secured their thrones – one of them with Ara’s help.
Learn more about book 1, Golden Curse, at MichelleLynnAuthor.com
ONE MORE STEP would mean certain death. I was willingly walking into the viper pit of assassins I used to work for. There was no quitting, of course. Only death. And I was done running. They were looking everywhere for me and here I was, sashaying onto their private beach, sarong dragging behind me, swishing away my footprints in the sand. I walked over to my lounge on the beach, ready for them to find me. See me. Kill me. The aqua water and the salty smell of the sea were a lovely addition to a last view. If you got to pick one.
Today I did.
The legs of the chair were firmly tucked into the white sand as I set my beach bag down. The waiter lined up the three margaritas I’d ordered from my phone earlier on the glass table beside me as I settled in. I murmured my thanks in his language. I was hoping to get through two before I was shot in the back of the head. That's why I was here. Instead of hiding, I came straight to them. A sacrifice on a European beach.
The plush towel under my bum was as soft as a bunny. My skin glistened as I rubbed in my suntan lotion instead of sunblock. Screw worrying about skin cancer anymore. The coconut smell wafted up when I shifted my legs.
Everything was in hyper focus. The thin dusting of sand on the sole of my foot looked like the sugar on a Christmas cookie.
I’d never see another holiday season. I’d made my peace with it. My soul was ready.
In a moment like this, every deep breath was a gift. My hands weren’t shaking as I grabbed my glass and sipped the drink again. I licked the salt from my lips. This drink was a perfect balance between tart citrus, sweet syrup and the distinctive flavor of premium gold tequila. I noticed the exact part of my tongue that experienced the addictive tang from the salt. I loved salt.
Kids were playing in the distance. Not too close, as this beach was private and blocked off. But I could hear them above the breaking of the gentle waves of the surf.
I was grateful to them when whatever they were doing forced them into fits of laughter. What a way to go. I had no pain. At twenty-seven, I was healthy. In my bikini, I was strong. And lovely. I looked at myself kindly, finally.
I toasted the sea with my lifted glass. “To finally seeing the beauty in the moment. God, forgive me for not figuring it out sooner than this.”
Another deep gulp. This margarita was made of angels’ blood because there was nothing quite as good.
I licked off the salt on the rim of my second glass before finishing my first. Every second counted.
I had no illusions of going to heaven, if there was such a place. People like me were in for eternal torment if sentences like