The Siren and the Deep Blue Sea - Kerrelyn Sparks Page 0,76
admired her, respected her, cared about her. He’d used every word but love.
How could he admit to loving her, when he’d feared he would be cursed for the rest of his life and never worthy of her? But in spite of his fear, he loved her with a passion that never failed to take his breath away.
Did she love him? He believed so, but how much could love endure? Would she still be able to trust and love him, knowing what her mother had done to him and his family?
As for him, once Brody had recovered from the revelation, he had realized his feelings for Maeve remained constant. She had nothing to do with her mother’s villainy. Maeve was going to be sickened and appalled when she learned the truth.
She was nothing like her mother. He preferred to think of her as the Seer’s daughter. She had inherited his gentle and loving soul. Yes, she was stubborn, but now that Brody thought about it, the Seer had definitely had a stubborn streak, too. That made him smile to himself. Stubbornness could be a strength, after all. It might help her endure whatever would happen over the upcoming days. And it might help her feelings for him to survive.
For now, he needed to figure out what to do on the Isle of Moon. With Nevis and Captain Shaw gone, he would have to ask his mother to send a message to Leo. With an inward groan, he took flight and headed for Lessa Castle.
It had been almost a year since his last visit. He knew he should see his mother more often, but holy goddesses, he was so tired of the same old blandishments. “Ye’ve been gone far too long. Ye’ve even lost yer island accent. When are ye coming back home? When are ye going to take yer rightful place as king?”
It was so damned frustrating when his answers were always the same. No, he hadn’t found the witch. No, he didn’t know how long it would take. No, he couldn’t be king as long as he was cursed.
This time his answers could be different, but he wasn’t sure he should get his mother’s hopes up.
He landed on the balcony to his bedchamber and shifted into human form. His mother always kept this entrance unlocked, so he opened the glass-paned door and stepped inside. She also kept his bedchamber clean and ready for him. He glanced at the large four-poster bed and, for a second, imagined Maeve naked and waiting for him under the covers.
Not now. He pushed those thoughts aside and hurriedly pulled on some breeches and a shirt made of fine linen with the family crest embroidered on the shirt pocket. Then he headed down the hallway to Queen Esther’s suite of rooms. There was a guard stationed outside the door to the royal privy chamber, so she had to be still at work, even though it was after midnight.
He saluted the sleepy guard, who jumped to attention and saluted back.
“Yer Highness.” The guard bowed. “Are ye here to see Her Majesty?”
“Yes.” Brody knocked on the door, then cracked it open. “Mother?”
She whirled around at the sound of his voice. “Brody! Come in, come in.” She dashed toward him and pulled him into an embrace. “Och, it’s been too long.”
“You’re up late.” He looked her over. There were circles under her eyes, and now tears were making her blue irises shimmer.
“Are ye all right?” She laid a palm on his cheek. “Ye seem too thin.”
“You always say that.”
“Because I’m always right.” She rushed to the door and addressed the guard, “Vernon, could ye ask a servant to bring up a tray of food? Make that two trays.”
“Aye, Yer Majesty.” The guard bowed and hurried away.
With a small smile, Queen Esther strode back to Brody. “I just remembered I forgot to eat dinner.”
“Is something worrying you?”
“Aye.” Her smile faded away. “I thought yer sister would be back by now.”
“Elinor? Where did she go?”
“She took her boat in search of the Isle of Secrets.”
“What?” Brody’s heart lurched up his throat. “Do you have any idea how dangerous it is there?”
Esther gripped her hands together. “She should be safe. She has powers of her own. And I sent that nice colonel with her.”
“Nevis?”
“There’s no need to shout, dear.” His mother strode to the window and glanced out at the harbor. “The colonel seemed quite capable to me.”
“Nevis?”
She gave Brody a curious look. “Ye must know him, then?”