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"My Pearl of the Sea," I croaked. "All this time, I was looking for the stone. And you, my beautiful, sharp-witted, gentle princess, were the stone the entire time."
I laughed, then wheezed. My body was wracked with pain. I could hardly breathe. My limbs were numb. Everything moved slowly. A warm, buzzing feeling bubbled in my gut.
Skies.
What had I done?
"Your chains..."
"Shh," she cooed.
I felt tiny droplets fall to my face. It took a moment to realize she was crying.
"You saved us." Her voice broke through her tears. "The Seaveillers. They all died. And the chains," she sniffled.
Behind her, Kianga's eyes glistened with tears.
"The chains melted away. They just dissipated. I only know it wasn't a dream because the scars remain. But you..."
Raeshelle's words abruptly cut off as she fell over me and sobbed.
Kianga pet her hair gently.
"You could have flown away, Yakobba. Learning the truth of who I was. Learning why I wanted the stone. The truth from the king. Seas. I can't even call him payè. You could have left. But you stayed. You fought for me. For us. I?—"
She took my face in her hands, studying me through her tears. "You foolish, bullheaded, pirate prince. Why did you do it?"
"Because I love you, my pearl," I blurted out. "My head will end up on your payè's trident before I let you be taken from me."
She snorted, laughing. She looked so cute like that, her eyes bright and different shades of blue. Her ivory hair floating in the water. That salacious, pale blue dress hugging her in all the right places. I flushed, looking back into her eyes. Something else was there. Something that made me chill despite my aching limbs.
"Well, I suppose I love you, too. In the chaos, I found this had been left behind. I nabbed it for you."
From a fold I didn't know existed in her dress, Raeshelle slipped her hand in, then pulled out an iridescent stone. It was nearly the size of her palm, carved like a star, with running streaks of lightning that emanated a lavender glow. I jerked, flinching back from it.
"The Atlanthyst Stone." I looked up at her.
She watched me, amused.
"Do you not want it?" Raeshelle asked.
I snorted. "So you can be killed? Please."
"But your payè?—"
"Has one soè he acknowledges exists." I looked away. "Maybe I'll have to accept that and let it be enough." I flickered my gaze to her. Her tears were returning. I couldn't stand it.
"Not you, my pearl. Never you," I whispered.
Then I mustered my strength, lifted from her lap, and kissed her. Hard, long, sweet. I moved in rhythm with her, our breaths becoming one until our tongues did their own dance. She was the sea to my sky, and I knew I would love her for a lifetime of lifetimes. When I pulled away, we were both shaking.
"I love you, my pearl."
Her eyes shimmered. I fought the temptation to take her lips to mine again. For Kianga's sake, I had to show some restraint.
For Kianga's sake.
"I love you, my pirate."
