Island of Glass, Page 29

  “Yeah, kiss me, Doyle.” Despite the dress, Riley boosted up, wrapped her legs around his waist. “And make it good.”

  He made it very good.

  EPILOGUE

  A royal celebration required fancy, Riley discovered. She also discovered Annika was a force of nature when the mermaid’s mind was set.

  She banished the men, decreeing the women would dress together.

  “It’s special,” Annika insisted as she patiently fastened what seemed like half a million buttons on the back of Riley’s gown. “When we have a special celebration, my sisters and I prepare together. You’re my sisters.” She rested her cheek on the back of Riley’s head. “I’ll miss you so.”

  “Don’t cry.” Alarmed, Riley turned. “We won. We saved the worlds.”

  “We’re still going to see each other.” Sasha moved in for a hard group hug. “We’re a clan, remember? We’ll come to your island, and Bran will make your pool so you can come to us. And we’ll all go to wherever Riley and Doyle are.”

  “It’s an oath.”

  “Pinky swear.” Riley held up her pinky. “A very serious oath.” She took Annika’s, hooked it, and Sasha added hers. “Done. I love you guys, sincerely. And I’m going to need regular Sawyer and Bran fixes.”

  “Could I have a favor?” Annika asked.

  Sasha kissed her cheek. “You have only to ask.”

  “I’m very excited for the celebration here, but . . . Could we have one of our own? Just us, when we go back to Bran’s? A night for the six of us, without worry and weapons, before I go back to the sea?”

  “That is a most excellent idea.” Riley looked at Sasha. “You up for that?”

  “Absolutely. Biggest and best celebration ever.”

  “And done again. Okay, Anni, how about the big reveal?” Riley gestured to the mirror Annika had covered with a tapestry.

  “Oh, yes.” But first she gave her friends a long study, and a nod of approval. Then swept the tapestry aside with a flourish. “We are beautiful!”

  “Whoa.” Riley blinked.

  She’d seen her companions, of course, Annika in a gown of blues and greens as iridescent as her mermaid’s tail with her hair a glory of sleek braids streaming down her back. And Sasha, hair in long, soft waves over a fluid gown of silvery blue. But she barely recognized herself in the fitted gown the color of crushed rose petals with a glimmering gold underskirt.

  She touched a hand to her hair—Annika had managed to fluff and curl and add some style.

  “We’re rocking it.” She slid an arm around Sasha’s waist as Annika did the same. Joining them. “We’re badasses who clean up really well.”

  “Badasses,” Annika repeated and laughed. “Beautiful badasses.”

  “That’s who we are.” Riley shot a finger at their reflection. “Let’s go party.”

  She figured the endless primping time worth the effort when she saw Doyle’s face. And more when he took her hand, bowed over it, kissed it. “Warrior queen. Mine.”

  “You look pretty good yourself.” She brushed her fingers over his doublet of dull silver. “Ready to do this thing?”

  He offered his arm, and though she laughed, she laid hers on it so they walked, all six, up the wide stairs.

  People in their finery crowded the ballroom where tables groaned with food on platters of silver and gold. Lights sparkled from the ceiling, massive candles glowed, and jeweled trees shined in air scented with the perfume of masses of white flowers.

  Doors and windows stood open wide to bring the sound of music and celebration from outside in.

  As the six entered, conversation stopped. At some signal, the happy din from outside stilled. Men dropped to one knee; women swept into deep curtsies. And the queen rose from her chair, walked to them.

  “Tonight we honor heroes.” She curtsied before them, head bowed. “Your names, your deeds will be remembered for all time, and celebrated on this night through the ages. You, and all who come from you, will be welcome here, always.”

  She rose, took Bran’s hand, took Sasha’s. “Bran Killian, Sasha Riggs. You have only to ask.”

  “I’ve been given more than I ever dared to wish. I found myself,” Sasha told her. “And love. And family.”

  “I have my heart.” Bran brought Sasha’s other hand to his heart. “Brothers, sisters. What I am, what I have, is stronger for it.”

  “You are well matched. When it comes my time for a life mate, I hope to find such harmony. Our blessings on you.”

  She turned to Sawyer and Annika, took their hands. “Sawyer King, Annika of the waters, you have only to ask.”

  “Everything I could want is right here with me,” Sawyer said. “I don’t travel alone anymore.”

  “I wished for Sawyer, with all my heart, and my wish was granted. I kept my oath, and my people can have pride. I have a new family, and we have promised to come together.”

  “Child of the sea, your heart is so kind. Would you not ask for the one thing still held inside it?”

  Now Annika bowed her head. “The moon must turn, my lady, for the worlds to be. I can’t ask.”

  “The moon will turn, and you may ask.”

  “But I . . .” She lifted her head, eyes wide and full of hope. “The legs? I could keep them, walk with Sawyer?”

  “If this is your wish. Daughter of the sea, and of the land. Would you wish to be of both worlds?”

  “Oh, yes! Sawyer.”

  “Wait. She wouldn’t have to give up her parents, her sisters, her people?”

  “She has, as you have, given all. She gives up nothing. Yes,” Aegle said, smiling back at Annika. “There can be children.”

  Tears sprang to Annika’s eyes as she laughed, flung her arms around the queen. Riley braced, waiting for lightning to strike at the breach in protocol. But the queen only laughed in turn.

  “You are joy, and deserve to have it.”

  “Thank you, thank you. Sawyer!” Annika whirled, threw her arms around him. “I can walk and dance with you. We can make children.”

  When she whispered in his ear, he cleared his throat. “Yeah, we can do that, right after the party.” Heart in his eyes, he looked over Annika’s head to the queen. “Thank you.”

  “You would not ask it for yourself. You are well matched. Our blessings on you.”

  She turned to Doyle and Riley. “Doyle McCleary, Riley Gwin, you have only to ask.”

  “I have a million questions,” Riley began, and made Aegle smile.

  “This is not a wish, but study. You may stay or come back as you will, and learn. The Island of Glass is forever open to you. If you stay, time is different here. You would have more.”

  “No. No,” Doyle said, firm. “You have work, you have your pack. We’re fine,” he said to Riley.

  “It is for her to ask or not. Would you give up the moon, Riley Gwin, the change and the wolf?”

  “I—” Everything inside her knotted. “It’s who I am. Doyle—”

  “It’s who I love.” To cut her off, he gripped her hands. “You thought I meant to strike you down that night, the first change, after the battle. But I was struck. And began to change. Those eyes, ma faol. No, you give up nothing.”

  “It’s who I am.” Content, Riley turned back to the queen. “Having the door open here, that’s a great gift to me. Thank you for it.”

  “I would have been sorry if you’d chosen differently.”

  As Aegle spoke, Riley saw the deer leaping over the path, the doe who came out of the woods, the woman holding a little girl on her hip, the rosy-cheeked maid who’d filled her bath.

  “You’re a shapeshifter.”

  “I am in all, of all. I was always with you. And you,” she said to Doyle. “Will you ask?”

  “I have family again, and with them succeeded where I’d failed for three centuries. I have my wolf.”

  “The dark marked you, giving you what some men seek, knowing it would bring you grief. Light can lift it. Would you cast away im
mortality?”

  “It can’t be done. Even Bran—” Doyle caught the look in Bran’s eye. “It can?”

  “I asked, and was shown. It can be done.”

  “Hold on. Not for me,” Riley insisted. “And not on impulse. Dying’s no picnic, and—”

  “Three centuries doesn’t qualify as impulse.” Hope, real hope brought a kind of pain.

  Bittersweet.

  “A life with you? A real one? Really living, knowing a day is precious and finite? It’s what I want. It’s more than I ever thought to have.”

  “Then you must accept.” Aegle held out her hand. A servant rushed forward, gave her a glass goblet. “From your brother.”

  Bran took the goblet, and a vial of clear liquid from his pocket. “This is the water of life, conjured of light. Its purity defeats the dark, breaks the curse.” He poured the water into the goblet. “If you choose to be mortal, drink.”

  Doyle studied the water, thought of his life, the deaths, the battles, the long roads traveled alone.

  He lifted the goblet to Bran, then to Sasha, to Annika and Sawyer in turn. And last to Riley.

  To the love of his true life.

  “I want a pack of kids,” he said, and drank.

  “Wh— What?”

  “You heard me.” He waited a beat. “I don’t feel any different.”

  “Be glad you didn’t do a Nerezza and age three centuries. Define pack.”

  “We’ll talk about it.” He turned to the queen. “The first girl of our pack will have your name. However many days I have from this night, I’ll be grateful.”

  “Well matched. I see an adventurous life ahead. Blessings on all of you. A queen may reign with kindness and care, with wisdom and justice, people may prosper, but without those who will risk all to stand against evil, no world can flourish.”

  There was music and feasting, wine and joy. The color of sweeping skirts, the sparkle of light. Late in the night, amid the celebration, the queen and her goddesses led the way to the beach.

  Arianrhod held out the sword cased in a simple leather sheath. “This is yours.”

  “Seriously?” Riley stared at it. “I’m allowed to take it?”

  “It is yours.”

  “She was our sister,” Luna said. “We will mourn what she might have been.”

  “And grieve for what she chose to be,” Celene added. “And cherish what has come home. For Aegle, the radiant, the Fire Star.”

  “For Aegle, the radiant, the Water Star.” Luna turned with her sister.

  “For Aegle, the radiant, the Ice Star.” Arianrhod lifted her hand with the other goddesses. In them the stars whirled and pulsed.

  And flew, streaking into the sky, leaving their trail of light on their journey to the moon. The people of Glass roared as the stars settled, a perfect curve, to shine.

  “And there they will ever be, for all the worlds to see, to wonder, to hope.” Once more Aegle held out her hands. “Safe journeys, Guardians of Glass. The door will always be open for you.”

  “Go in joy.” Celene crossed her hands over her heart.

  “In love.” Luna laid a hand on hers.

  “In peace.” Arianrhod tapped a fist on hers.

  And Riley found herself standing with the others by the seawall of Bran’s home.

  “Wow,” Sawyer managed. “That just happened.”

  Laughing, still wearing the ball gown, Annika turned cartwheels over the lawn.

  “Home again.” Bran drew Sasha close.

  “And all’s well.”

  “I have a magick sword.”

  Doyle glanced down at Riley. “You’re going to need training.”

  “Yeah, yeah, but I’ve got a magick sword.” She drew it, lifted it toward the sky. “And look.”

  The sword glinted as it pointed to the three stars under the moon. “There they are. We did that. And what do you think astronomers are going to have to say about it?”

  “Only you,” Doyle said with a shake of his head. Then he cupped her face, looked into the eyes he loved. “Only you.”

  “I call for a moment. Gather up, team.” Sawyer managed to grab Annika.

  “A major moment.” Riley clasped Doyle’s hand, slid an arm around Sasha’s waist. Waited while the others moved in close, joined.

  So the guardians could stand, above the sea, under the Stars of Fortune.

  United.

  READERS GUIDE

  Doyle is an immortal who has lost everyone he’s loved to time and death. Do you think immortality is a curse or a blessing? If it’s a curse, why do you think so many people want to live forever?

  As a soldier for centuries, do you think that Doyle can truly give up the fight even if the war against Nerezza is over? We’ve seen the difficulties many veterans face in reality—do you think Doyle can adapt to a civilian life?

  The setting of the novel is Ireland, which is Doyle’s ancestral homeland as well as Bran’s current home. What is the importance of home to these characters?

  As a werewolf, Riley is a creature of myth and legend who also happens to be a scientist. How does she reconcile such opposing sides in her own nature?

  Riley is willing to give up an essential part of herself—her wolf—to be with Doyle. Sacrifice made for love is an eternal theme explored in art and literature as well as something that everyone has struggled with. What sacrifices would you or have you made for love?

  Each Guardian gets their heart’s desire as a reward for their services. What is your heart’s desire?

  Keep reading for an excerpt from the first book in the Guardians Trilogy

  STARS of FORTUNE

  by Nora Roberts

  Available now from Berkley Books

  PROLOGUE

  Once, in a time long ago, in a world beyond our own, three goddesses gathered to celebrate the dawn of a new queen. Many who’d traveled across the land and skies, through time and through space, had brought gifts of gold and jewels, of rich silks and precious crystals.

  But the goddesses three wished for more unique gifts.

  They considered a winged horse, but news came that a traveler had flown in on one, making it a gift for the new queen.

  They debated gifting her with beauty beyond compare, with wisdom or uncommon grace.

  They couldn’t make her immortal, and knew from those who were that this was both blessing and curse.

  But they could give her an immortal gift.

  “A gift that will shine for her, for all time.” Celene stood with her friends, her sisters, on the sand, white as diamonds, on the verge of the ink-blue sea, lifted her face to the night sky, to the swimming moon.

  “The moon is ours,” Luna reminded her. “We cannot give what we are pledged to honor.”

  “Stars.” Arianrhod lifted her hand, palm up. She closed her eyes, her fingers. And smiling, opened them again. Now in her palm a jewel of ice glowed. “Stars for Aegle, the radiant.”

  “Stars.” Now Celene held out her hand, opened it. She held a jewel of fire. “Stars for Aegle, who will shine like her name.”

  Luna joined them, produced a jewel of water. “Stars for Aegle, the brilliant.”

  “There should be more.” Celene turned the burning star in her hand.

  “A wish.” Luna stepped closer to the sea, let the water lay cool kisses on her feet. “A wish from each for the queen, and into the star. For mine, a strong and hopeful heart.”

  “A strong and questing mind.” Celene held the fiery star aloft.

  “And a strong and adventurous spirit.” Arianrhod raised both hands, one holding the star, the other lifted toward the moon. “These stars to shine while worlds turn.”

  “They shed their light in the queen’s name for all to see.” The Fire Star began to lift into the sky, and the star of ice, the star of water with it.

  They spun as they rose, showering light, over land and sea, pulled toward the moon and its cool white power.

  A shadow passed under them, a silent snake.


  Nerezza glided across the beach toward the water—a shadow smearing the light. “You meet without me, my sisters.”

  “You are not of us.” Arianrhod turned toward her, with Luna and Celene flanking her. “We are the light, and you the dark.”

  “There is no light without dark.” Nerezza’s lips curved, but fury lived in her eyes, and with it the early blooms of a madness yet to fully flower. “When the moon wanes, the darkness eats it. Bite by bite.”

  “The light prevails.” Luna gestured as the stars flew now, trails of color in their wake. “And now there are more.”

  “You, like supplicants, bring gifts for the queen. She is no more than a weak, simpering girl when it is we who could rule. Who should rule.”

  “We are guardians,” Celene reminded her. “We are the watchers, not rulers.”

  “We are gods! This world and others are ours. Only think of it, and what we can make from our powers combined. All will bow to us, and we would live in youth and beauty forever.”

  “We have no desire for power over the mortals, the immortals, the demimortals. Such matters bring blood and war and death.” Arianrhod dismissed the notion. “To crave forever is to dismiss the beauty and wonder of the cycle.” She lifted her face again as the stars they’d made spilled their light.

  “Death comes. We will watch this new queen live and die as we did the last.”

  “She will live a hundred years times seven. This I have seen. And while she lives,” Celene continued, “there will be peace.”

  “Peace.” The word hissed out between Nerezza’s sneering lips. “Peace is nothing but a tedious lull between the stretch of the dark.”

  “Go back to your shadows, Nerezza.” Luna dismissed her with a careless wave