The Shattered Sylph (27 page)

But her father wasn’t the type. In the time when he wasn’t working on treaties or training Eapha, Leon had reacquainted himself with both Lizzy and Ril, learning to just enjoy their company with them as a couple. She had the best father in the whole world.

She smiled at her friend, the woman who’d taken her in and saved her life without any reason except kindness.
She couldn’t think of anyone who more deserved to be queen. “You’ll be fine,” she assured Eapha again. “Father says we’ll send someone from the Valley to show you how we do things. It’ll all work out.”

“I hope so,” Eapha said. Leaning forward, she hugged Lizzy and smiled. “Take care of yourself.”

“And you.” Lizzy let her go and eyed Tooie. “Take care of her, you.” He nodded.

Turning, Lizzy walked toward the air ship. Ril was standing by the gangplank, and he joined her as she ascended onto
Racing Dawn
’s smooth deck, headed toward where her father was talking with the captain. Justin stood only a few feet away. He hadn’t spoken to her since his tongue was restored, but Lizzy knew he was always watching.

She stepped closer to Ril, who set a hand on her shoulder, his gaze never leaving the boy. Justin turned away, heading belowdecks. Lizzy felt bad for him in some ways, but she couldn’t help remembering him leaving her on the dock. No matter what Justin had done or how he’d tried to make up for it, she’d made her choice and she had no regrets.

“My hero,” she said, smiling up at her battler.

He raised an eyebrow. “If you say so.” His lips twitched in a smile, though.

Her father finished his conversation and faced them. “We’re ready to go. Have you said your good-byes?” When Lizzy nodded, he went down to cover a few last points with Eapha. She was certain he would never be entirely satisfied.

Within twenty minutes, though, the air ship was lifting off and racing north toward home. Lizzy stood with her father and her battler in the bow, leaning against her father’s side while she watched the ocean pass beneath
her. The sylph pushed the ship very fast, and her long, golden hair blew behind her as they went.

“Thank you for coming after me,” she said. She didn’t think she could ever say it enough.

Her father put an arm around her. “Anytime, sweetheart. Your mother will be glad to see you back.”

“I miss her, too,” Lizzy said. Her mother likely wasn’t going to approve of her being with Ril, but she’d have to deal with it. Lizzy had some apologies to make, though. Her mother had been right in not wanting her to go to Para Dubh. Lizzy didn’t regret going, not now, but she did regret the pain her mother must have felt. She owed her for that.

After a moment she glanced at Ril, who was staring at the horizon ahead, his face as inscrutable as always, but his emotions more joyous than ever. Her father could feel that as well, and Lizzy looked up to see him smiling.

Behind them, Meridal vanished in the distance, swallowed by the sea. There were endless waves ahead, but home would appear out of them eventually. And Lizzy could wait. She’d left unsure of who she was and what she wanted. Now she was with the two men she loved most in the world, both of whom loved her more than life itself. She didn’t have any questions anymore. She knew exactly where she belonged.

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“Lovers of
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A LEISURE BOOK
^®

April 2010

Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.

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Copyright © 2010 by L. J. McDonald

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E-ISBN: 978-1-4285-0837-8

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