For the Love of a Goblin Warrior (Shadowlands) (32 page)

“You’ll see her again.”

“I know, but it won’t be the same.” Nothing would ever be the way it was.

“If everything stayed the same, you wouldn’t be living; you’d be existing.”

“True, but…”

Meryn raised one eyebrow.

What could she say? Her feet weren’t exactly cold, but it was a big change and she was still getting used to the idea of having someone she could count on. Someone who knew her and understood her and didn’t run a mile. But there was no one else like Meryn and she wasn’t going to let him go, even if holding on scared her.

Nadine shrugged. “I’ve never lived with a boyfriend before.” Whereas he’d done all of this before—true, in another time and place, but it was more than she’d ever done.

He stopped walking and they stood in the doorway, the white van parked in the street beyond loaded and ready to go. “I’m not comparing. I can’t.” He touched her cheek, then leaned in and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “So this is as new for me as it is to you. I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you there. I love you.”

A smile tugged at her lips and she looped her arms around his neck and kissed him properly for the last time in her old house. Her tongue traced his lower lip, then his mouth opened to her. She closed her eyes, and for a moment, nothing else mattered except his hands on her hips pulling her close as their tongues met. It was in those moments she could lose herself and forget everything else. They were just two people getting on with their lives. Only a few knew the truth about how unlikely that life was.

“Okay, let’s do this.” She pushed down the remaining butterflies that were dancing in her stomach.

Meryn released her and stepped outside while she took a breath and closed and locked the front door. She took a moment before she turned. She’d been in many foster homes, but none had been her
home
. This place had come close; she’d belonged here, but in her heart she’d always known it was temporary.

What she’d wanted was family. That was what made a house a home.

With Meryn she’d found that. He started walking toward the van and pulled the keys from his pocket.

“You’re not driving.” She called after him. A car was one thing, a moving van, even if it was only small, was another.

He turned and offered her the keys. “I’m driving tonight.”

She’d known he would if only to rub it in to Roan that he’d learned to drive faster—and without damaging a car. Every couple of weeks they all got together—Roan and Eliza, Dai and Amanda and Brigit, Meryn and her. At first she’d felt like an interloper eavesdropping on history, but now she looked forward to the evenings and the conversations that to anyone else would sound impossible. Tonight was also the first time her father was invited.

It had been Meryn’s idea and everyone else had agreed; after all, he knew about goblins. She’d half expected her father to refuse, but instead he’d accepted, wanting to meet the legendary Goblin King.

Her stomach gave a flutter as the van lurched forward and she hoped everything would go smoothly.

***

Meryn watched as Roan turned the pig on the spit. Its flesh sizzled and popped as embers floated past. Not quite suckling but close enough. If he closed his eyes, he could almost imagine he was back in Wales in the heart of Decangli country, surrounded by his tribe.

Two thousand years ago this wouldn’t have been possible because of the shadow of Rome. Celebration had been curtailed and meetings were held in secret. His lips curved. He was glad to be surrounded by family. Here everyone knew of the curse and there was no need to hide.

Female laughter glided across the night accompanied by the lower murmur of the men as Dai spoke to Solomon. It hadn’t taken much convincing for Solomon to be invited to the gathering. Solomon knew all too well the damage goblins could do, and what was a tribe without elders? Or children?

He glanced at Nadine but knew they were both a few years away from going down that path. The women were admiring Nadine’s ring, but he couldn’t hear their words. He was just glad Nadine had liked it and had decided to move in on a permanent basis instead of living between the two houses.

“That didn’t take long.” Roan nodded in the direction of the women.

“I didn’t see the need to wait.” He knew what he wanted…Nadine knew what she wanted, but sometimes it seemed like she expected it to be snatched away if she reached for it. Hopefully now she’d realize he’d meant it when he said he’d always be there. He took a sip of his beer, enjoying the warm evening.

“How’s the writing going?” Roan asked.

“Good.” Better now he’d realized that by typing on a computer he didn’t need to write anything by hand except his name. He was never going to have the same neat script as Dai or Roan, but it was passable. “I’ve enrolled in a few college classes for next year.”

“What are you going to study?”

“History, I want to catch up on what I’ve missed.”

There was another round of hugs between the women, but this time Eliza was the center of attention. Meryn looked at Roan, knowing he’d been keeping a secret, then slapped him on the shoulder. It looked like there was going to be another child in the little tribe, the first Decangli born in nearly two thousand years. “Congratulations.”

“She said I wasn’t allowed to say anything for another two weeks.” Roan looked a little shocked.

“
You
weren’t allowed to say anything. She can tell other women.” Meryn made an effort to keep a straight face.

“Hey, are you going to show me the ring?” Roan called out.

Nadine walked over and held out her hand for Roan to see, but she grinned at Meryn. Gold Celtic knots surrounded a diamond.

“Congratulations.” Roan kissed her cheek.

“And you too. Eliza said we can’t marry until she’s had the baby.” Nadine slipped her hand into Meryn’s. “A wedding and a baby, it’s exciting.”

“If we were to wait for Dai, we’d die of old age.” Roan grumbled with a smile.

“At least that is a problem again,” Meryn said. His gaze drifting from Eliza, Amanda, and Brigit to Dai and Solomon.

“Dad seems to enjoy chatting with Dai.” Nadine stared across the yard. She and Solomon were still mending their relationship; including Solomon in their gathering was important.

“That would be because Dai is speaking Nuer.” Whether Dai had just learned it or already spoke it, it didn’t matter. He was enjoying himself and Solomon looked thrilled to be able to use a language he hadn’t used in years.

“Oh. I haven’t spoken to him in his language since I was a child.”

For a moment Meryn was sure he saw a shimmer of regret. “Go. Join them.” His arm fell away.

“I couldn’t. It’s been two decades.”

“Give it a go. Your father will appreciate the effort. Besides you could always switch to French.” Meryn gave her a kiss and after a couple of uncertain steps Nadine left. He watched her walk away, her skirt swishing around her calves.

“Any joy getting your sword back?” Roan gave the pig another turn. The scent of cooking meat filled the air.

Meryn nodded. Dai had helped with the paperwork. “I have to identify it next week.”

Roan raised an eyebrow. “The police have more than one?”

“Apparently. And then I have to ensure it is locked up and kept safe.” Meryn laughed. “The police are worried about the sword and not the person wielding it.”

“Whatever makes them feel safe.” Roan shook his head in disbelief.

Beyond the patches of light, darkness clung to the corners of the yard. They all knew too well what hid in those shadows. Safety wasn’t automatic; it had to be guarded and defended. Locking up one sword would do nothing.

Behind Roan was the memorial for the people they’d lost. Before them was a future they couldn’t have dreamed while under Roman rule and couldn’t have hoped for while trapped in the Shadowlands.

Despite everything, the Decangli lived on, changed but not defeated. Rome had failed. They had won. They were free.

Acknowledgments

It’s said it takes a village to raise a child and a book is no different. So many people have input—it wasn’t until I went to the Sourcebooks office that I realized just how many people there are working behind the scenes. The first thing people see is the cover and this series has been blessed with great covers by Don Sipley. My editor, Leah, made sure the book was as tight as it can be. The Winkgirls read my early drafts despite the typos, and my family spent a day traipsing around Kings Park with me as I made notes. Without all of these people, there would be no book. Finally, to my readers who love my goblins as much as I do: without you, there’d be no one to share the story with. Thank you!

About the Author

A civil designer by day and an author by night, Shona Husk lives in Western Australia at the edge of the Indian Ocean. Blessed with a lively imagination, she spent most of her childhood making up stories. As an adult, she discovered romance novels and hasn’t looked back. Drawing on history and myth, she writes about heroes who are armed and dangerous but have a heart of gold—sometimes literally.

The Goblin King

by Shona Husk

Once upon a time…

A man was cursed to the Shadowlands, his heart replaced with a cold lump of gold. In legends, he became known as

The Goblin King.

For a favored few he will grant a wish. Yet, desperately clinging to his waning human soul, his one own desire remains unfulfilled:

a willing queen.

But who would consent to move from the modern-day world into the realm of nightmares? No matter how intoxicating his touch, no matter how deep his valor, loving him is dangerous. And the one woman who might dare to try could also

destroy him forever.

“Shona Husk put together an amazing story about loss, love, redemption, and discovery…”
—
Night Owl Reviews
Reviewer Top Pick

For more Shona Husk, visit:

www.sourcebooks.com

Kiss of the Goblin Prince

by Shona Husk

The Man of Her Dreams

He is like a prince in a fairy tale: tall, outrageously handsome, and way too dark for her own good. Amanda has been hurt before, though. And with her daughter’s illness, the last thing she needs right now is a man. But the power of Dai King is hard to resist. And when he threads his hands through her hair and pulls her in for a kiss, there is no denying it feels achingly right.

In a Land of Nightmare

After being trapped in the Shadowlands for centuries with the goblin horde a constant threat, Dai revels in his newfound freedom back in the human realm. But even with the centuries of magic he’s accumulated, he still doesn’t know how to heal Amanda’s daughter—and it breaks his heart. Yet for the woman he loves, he’d risk anything…including a return to the dreaded Shadowlands.