Chapter 15
Would he be there? The night air whipped around her, louder and more fervent the closer she grew to the cliff’s edge.
He had likely left already.
She told herself that over and over to keep her hopes from getting too out of hand.
Too late.
Her heart raced ahead of her as if it could reach him faster if it left her body behind.
Nice try. Her heart would have to be patient as she stood on the cliff’s edge and scanned the horizon. Her father wasn’t far behind and she could hear his grumbles even through the wind.
She wasn’t certain what she was looking for—it wasn’t as though his ship would be anchored at their docks. His ship was...well, she knew not where. Nor did she know where his crew was.
It didn’t matter. None of it mattered. All that truly mattered was finding Marcus and telling him...oh, everything.
Joy flared up inside her in bursts too intense to contain. Were she truly alone, she would have tipped her head back and whooped with glee.
But not yet.
Not until she was certain he had not left. For if he had...
She shook off the deluge of fears. Where would he go? How would she find him? Would she lose her only chance at love?
Silly thoughts. Made even sillier still when she spotted it.
Spotted him.
A fire flickered in the cave’s mouth.
Her cave.
His cave.
She grinned as she stopped short and took in the beautiful sight. Their cave.
“Min, not so close to the edge,” her father groused.
“He’s here, Father,” she said, whirling around to face him. “He’s still here.”
“Of course he is. Only a fool would leave if he truly cares about you.”
Minerva bit her lip. Her father had no idea that his being here put his life in jeopardy, and it was not her secret to tell. She started to turn back, her feet already edging toward the trail.
“Wait a moment, girl. I cannot let you go down there to be with a strange man. Alone,” he huffed. “What’s more, there’s a dangerous smuggler on the loose and—”
“And he’ll hardly be coming back to the scene of his crime tonight, will he?” she asked. She looked imploringly toward the cave. “Please, Father. I won’t take long, and I shall scream if I run into Roger, but just...” She clasped her hands together. “Please let me talk to him. I must tell him not to go. Not yet.”
Her father sighed but he waved her on with muttered remarks about young ladies with more heart than sense.
She grinned as she ran away. It was true. When it came to Marcus, there was little reason involved. But for once, that was just fine by her. There was no reasoning with her heart, and absolutely no logic in the way he made her feel. As if she were a queen. As if she were perfect just the way she was. As if...
She laughed as she climbed down the trail as swiftly as she could without risking her neck.
As if she were the love of his life.
She finally let out the whoop of joy she’d be holding in when she reached the sandy shores and raced to the cave. She’d barely made it there when he stepped out, saw her, and swept her up into his arms.
He held her so tightly it knocked the air from her lungs, but she held him even tighter.
“You came,” he whispered harshly into her hair.
“You stayed.” A sob escaped from she knew not where. She’d never been happier in her life, so there was no reason to be crying. And yet she could not stop it.
He set her down and wiped away a tear. “Tell me you are not here to say goodbye.”
She shook her head quickly. “I will go.” She tripped over her own words. “I want to go with you.”
“Oh, thank heavens.” He groaned as he pulled her close again, this time trailing kisses over her tear-stained cheeks before claiming her lips in a crushing kiss.
She kissed him back with everything she had, the wild rush of emotions too much for words. Only touch would do. Only this kiss.
When he lifted his head once more, his gaze met hers and held. “Are you sure, my love? Are you certain you could leave your family behind?”
She nodded. “I am ready. They are ready.” She shook her head, at a loss to explain all that had passed. “I would wish to visit—”
“Of course,” he said quickly. “At every opportunity.”
“And I’d like some say in where we go next—”
“Did I not tell you the world was yours for the taking?” He grinned down at her; the sheer joy she saw in his eyes was nearly her undoing. To see her own crazy, unexplainable, furious joy echoed back to her felt as though some final piece had fallen into place—a puzzle piece she hadn’t known was missing until she found it. Together, she and Marcus fit into a larger whole, leaving her feeling more optimistic and excited for the unknown of the future than she could ever have imagined.
“Do you think they will all be safe?” she asked, for that was the one thought troubling her. “My sisters, I mean.”
“I am sure of it,” Marcus said. “Caleb will be staying behind a while as he heals, and he’ll keep an eye on things. And now that Roger is gone, the thieves behind this smuggling will surely be chased off.”
She arched a brow. “And you will just...let it go? The investigation?”
He winced. “I’ll admit, it does not sit well with me to leave it unresolved, but as Caleb pointed out to me earlier, I could spend the rest of my life chasing leads, seeking justice.” He shook his head. “But there is a time and a place for
