Page 128 of Shadow Queen
“Who are they?”
She turned her head slightly toward the horizon and pointed to where the sun had already set. Only the fading twilight remained. “See how Hakah stretches his light, even after he’s been pulled under the earth? He’s trying to catch a glimpse of Umai.” Her gaze moved to the eastern sky, searching. She found the faintest outline of the moon starting to appear. “There,” she said, pointing. “There’s Umai.”
She smiled sadly.
“Their paths don’t allow them to be together,” she continued. “Saddened that he couldn’t be with Umai, Hakah’s heart broke into thousands of pieces. He scattered them across the sky to create the stars so that when Umai wakes, she can see how much he loves her.”
Caspian watched as the sky grew darker and the moon fully emerged with the stars all around.
Tahla nestled against his shoulder again. “But then I remember that Hakah can never hold Umai in his arms. He can’t kiss her or touch her. They can’t be one.” She tipped her face up to his. “Hakah and Umai wish they could be Caspian and Tahla.” She stretched her neck to bring her lips closer. “Kiss me, Northman.”
And he did.
Chapter thirty-seven
Kharavwelcomedherreturn.The breeze kissed her cheeks and lovingly brushed through her hair. The sweet scent of the gardens embraced her. Norah was finally home.
When she reached the courtyard, Mikael was waiting for her. She stopped when she saw him. Nearly two months had passed since she left—two months they’d been apart. Too long. She slid off Sephir, her body stiff and aching. It had been a long journey, a seemingly endless one. But she was finally back where she belonged.
Norah knew how this was supposed to go: she would bow her head in greeting, he would bow in return, then he would offer his arm and she would accept, and he’d lead her into the castle. This was the general way of royal things, not unlike Mercia.
But unlike Mercia, none of that mattered too much to Mikael, and when she reached him, she threw her arms around his neck. He picked her up and held her tightly, and she clung to him.
He pulled back to look at her and cupped her face in his hand. “Are you well, Salara?”
She wasn’t well, but he was making it better. All she could do was nod.
“Let’s get you inside.” With his arm around her, he practically carried her into the castle. She didn’t mind. She was almost too tired to carry herself.
Mikael waved everyone off as they reached the great hall. When they were alone, he stopped and turned her to him. “Let me look at you,” he said softly. His eyes moved over her face. “You’ve been gone too long but returned sooner than I’d expected. I”—he brushed her cheek as he paused—“I worried you might not return at all.”
“I had to.”
His face changed, and he brought his hand to her stomach with asking eyes.
Norah swallowed, then shook her head. The hope on his face gave way to disappointment. Disappointment that there was no child. A deeper sadness seeped into her. “I had to return because Kharav is my home,” she told him. “And you’re here.”
A small smile came to his lips.
Her words weren’t just to lift his spirits. They were true.
“And the Bear remains in Mercia?” he asked.
“He won’t return.”
His smile grew. “Let’s get you settled.”
Mikael followed her up to their chamber, where Vitalia met her with an unconventional squeal and hug and then went to draw her a much-needed bath. Norah pulled off her overcoat and draped it over the bench at the foot of the bed.
“I’ve missed you, Salara,” he told her as he sat down in the side chair and watched her loosen the lacing on the back of her dress.
Norah stepped in front of him and took his face in her hands. She had missed him too. His skin was warm, and she liked the way his short-cropped beard tickled under her nails.
“I’m hungry,” he said, gazing up at her.
She reached up and pulled her hair free from its tie and unraveled the braid with her fingers. “You should call for some food,” she said as she stepped toward the bath chamber. “Eat something. I’ll just get cleaned up and join you after.”
He caught her wrist and pulled her back to him. “It’s not food I’m hungry for,” he said in a low voice.
