Disciplined (13 page)

“Do you think she forgives me?” Yoyin asked.

“She never blamed you for her destiny. But she wants you to stop hurting yourself—to forgive yourself.” He looked at her deeply. “Can you?”

Yoyin tilted her head.
Can I?
“If that’s what it takes to stop hurting, I can try, but I honestly don’t how to begin.”

“You could recite the forgiveness prayer. Repeat after me,” he instructed. “I, Yoyin…”

Feeling completely self-conscious, Yoyin repeated her name.

“I, Yoyin, lovingly forgive myself for all errors in the past that were made knowingly and unknowingly. I also forgive those whom I perceive to have injured or harmed me and my loved ones in any way.”

She spoke the words and hoped that her lack of enthusiasm didn’t stop the prayer from working. “How do you know so much about spirituality?” she asked, brow arched curiously. “Are you a shaman?”

“No.” Hoku chuckled. To Yoyin, the sound was musical. “I received a mysterious invitation that promised I’d be reunited with my soulmate. I’ve been here for nearly a year, participating in magic rituals, learning the chants, and calling you.”

Yoyin recalled the wording on her own invitation—
where you’ll always be the center of attention.
Had her invitation mentioned rejoining her soulmate, she would have deemed the lofty invitation as pure rubbish and would have never left Philadelphia. She brightened. Mr. Merrick was crafty. And she was glad he’d chosen
the right words to lure her to Ka-le’a. “You’re not from here?”

“No. I’m from Malosai.”

“I’ve never heard of Malosai—where’s it located?”

“About 2,200 miles south of here. It’s an island in the South Pacific Ocean.”

“Oh.” Malosai didn’t sound very appealing, but with certainty, she knew that if Hoku invited her to share his life, she would move to his tiny country in a heartbeat. She reflected on an earlier conversation with Kina, when she’d vowed that she’d live with Hoku even if he dwelled inside a cave. Yoyin’s eyes lit up, and her lips spread into a sweet smile. And in one blazing second, she realized the process of self-forgiveness had already begun. Her willingness to love and be loved was proof.

Yoyin and Hoku stood on the tarmac together. They lowered their heads respectfully as Kina and Palila placed a garland of hibiscus around their necks.

Kina held a round wicker box. “This box contains your jewels. Will you be taking them on your flight or would you prefer that I bury them beside the
pua aloalo
that adorned your hair on the evening of your awakening.”

“Bury them,” Yoyin murmured. Mutilating devices were no longer necessary. She hugged Kina and then Palila and whispered, “Thank you.”

Michael and Greg came forward. “Aloha,” the two men said at the same time and smiled generously.

“Aloha.” Yoyin and Hoku said in unison and returned their gleaming smiles.

Looking past her former escorts, Yoyin noticed the two women
who’d shared her arriving flight. She tossed a pleasant smile in their direction. The pretty blonde and gorgeous black woman waved at her and to cheerful throngs of islanders before boarding the plane. They appeared changed. Happier. Lighter. As if great weights had been lifted from their shoulders. The blonde had a glow. Her blue eyes sparkled with confidence. The faint smile on the tall black woman’s face was as mysterious as the Mona Lisa and hinted of a pleasant secret. Yoyin wondered briefly what the two women had discovered about themselves during their stay in Ka-le’a.

Adorned in a brilliant white suit, the man named Mr. Merrick came forward and shook Hoku’s hand. “Your journey is complete.”

“Yes, sir. It is,” Hoku responded respectfully, casting a warm glance at Yoyin and draping an arm around her shoulder.

“And you, madam? I understand you won’t be boarding my plane.”

“No, I’m going to Malosai with Hoku. We’re getting married.” Yoyin felt her cheeks flush with pride as she shared the happy news.

Merrick nodded knowingly, unsurprised by the information. His eyes sparkled with kindness and wisdom as he gave Hoku a fatherly smile. “No doubt, your people will be pleasantly surprised when they hear your good news.”

“Yes. It’s very likely that a great celebration is being prepared as we speak.”

“Really?” Yoyin asked wide-eyed. She smiled, imagining that Hoku’s people were primitive and that their version of a great celebration would be dancing around a fire or some custom she’d have to get used to.

Merrick caught Yoyin’s eye. “Be prepared. The good people of Malosai will undoubtedly roll out the red carpet for you.”

Yoyin nodded and lowered her head. She gawked at her ostentatious Christian Louboutin heels. Living in a place where the people were barefoot would have a positive effect on her shoe addiction. She smiled and shook her head at the irony.

“In Malosai, you’d better get used to always being the center of attention.” Merrick gave Yoyin a playful wink.

Yoyin considered the lifestyle she’d be sharing with Hoku. She’d agreed to marry him without a clue about his circumstances. She hadn’t had an opportunity to Google Malosai to learn about the country—its customs, its history, its resources.
Oh well, it doesn’t matter
. She loved Hoku and would help him milk cows, slice coconuts, or do whatever was required.

Pulling away from her musing, she met Merrick’s gaze. “A red carpet won’t be necessary. And I don’t need to be the center of attention.” She shook her head. “Not anymore. I have my true love. I’m complete.”

“You’ll always be the center of my world,” Hoku said, drawing Yoyin closer to plant a kiss on her cheek.

“We’re both truly grateful that you brought us together,” Yoyin said sincerely.

“I merely assisted,” Merrick replied. “Though separated by oceans, those who’ve known true love always manage to reunite. True love is eternal. Your hearts are bound. With or without my help, you would have found your way back to each other.” Merrick was briefly quiet. “If not in this lifetime, then in the next lifetime.”

Yoyin shuddered at the very thought of having to wait until her next lifetime to be with Hoku.

“It worked out for the best,” Merrick added, patting Yoyin on the shoulder.

Throughout the three-hour flight on a private jet, Hoku and Yoyin were treated like royalty. Apparently, Mr. Merrick extended his generosity to his guests even after they’d left Ka-le’a. After disembarking, the couple was quickly whisked away in an official state car. The long arm of Merrick was quite impressive. The luxury vehicle took her by surprise. She had imagined that in Malosai, people traveled by horseback or donkey.

She was particularly impressed by the courtesy and efficiency of the people who were hired to escort her and Hoku to his home. Yoyin looked out the back window and noticed a string of official cars behind them.
Bloody, wow!
They were really getting the royal treatment and it was being poured on thick.

“Welcome back, Your Majesty,” said the driver.

“Thank you,” Hoku replied.

Did I hear the driver correctly?
Yoyin’s throat caught. “What…did he call…” she sputtered. “Am I still feeling the effects of that drink we had yesterday or did I hear your driver refer to you as…”

“Yes, my love. I forgot to mention that Malosai is a constitutional monarchy. I’m King.” He shrugged in apology.

“You’re what?” Yoyin was floored. She locked eyes with Hoku.

“I’m the king of Malosai, and after your coronation, you will be queen.” His tone was matter of fact.

Instant regret shot threw her. Her mouth pursed, and her face grew hot. “Hoku, how could you keep something so important from me?” She looked around the car in a panic, feeling trapped. The walls were closing in on her. “I’m unconventional, you know that. I don’t like living according to social standards. I can’t be queen. I’d break under the pressure of being scrutinized day in
and day out. It was bad enough in England with the press covering my every move. The paparazzi harass celebrities in the United States, but they don’t give a bloody hoot about the fabulously wealthy. Hoku, I really can’t be queen! I mean…I love you, but I can’t…” Yoyin heard the fear and desperation in her tone. She’d resigned herself to life as a pauper but she had to put her foot down about being his queen. She hadn’t bargained for that type of responsibility.

Hoku cradled her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Didn’t you tell Kina that you’d live with me anywhere? You said you’d be with me even if I lived in a cave.”

Yoyin nodded.

Hoku shook his head. “Then, why does living in a grand palace cause you such grief?”

She shrugged.

“Why would paparazzi come to Malosai? There’s no violence. There are no scandals. And now that I’ve found you, total bliss and happiness will prevail throughout the land.”

Yoyin squirmed. “Suppose your people hate me. I’m an acquired taste. People don’t typically take to me right off the bat. It takes a great deal of time.”

“They’ll adore you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I adore you. You’ll see.” He sat back with his arm around her trembling frame.

As Merrick predicted, a red carpet was rolled out and there was a tremendous roar from the crowd of cheering onlookers.

“Welcome home, King Hoku,” the crowd shouted.

“We love you, Lady Yoyin!” people screamed.

Lady Yoyin! Hmm. Not bad.

“Long live the king and our future queen!”

The title of “queen” had a nice ring to it.
Queen Yoyin—it was sounding better by the second.
With her arm linked with Hoku’s, Yoyin waved to the adoring masses, walking proudly down the red carpet. The red soles of her exquisite Christian Louboutins matched the hue of the carpet.

“Welcome to Malosai,” the people roared. “Welcome home, Lady Yoyin!”

“Home!”
Happiness swelled her heart.

She was home.

She thought of her attendants, waiting for her in the United States. She made a mental note to deposit a year’s salary into Sebastian’s and Niklas’ personal bank accounts. The two men had performed their duties superbly, but their services were no longer needed. She would never return to the United States or go back to Great Britain.

She’d found everything she could ever hope for in Hoku.

Before the adoring eyes of the cheering crowd, Hoku pulled her inside his massive arms and kissed her willing lips. “I’ve found my queen. I promise you,” he said earnestly. “With all my strength, with every breath that I breathe, there’ll be no distance between us. I’ll protect you. Take care of you. Give you comfort if I think you’re hurt. I’ll do whatever you need me to do. I refuse to allow anyone or anything to come between us. Not this time, my love.” Hoku held her in an unwavering gaze. He lifted his palm.

Slowly, she raised her arm, shaking as she brought her palm
close to his. She took a deep breath. Now steady, she pressed her moist palm into his, declaring an undying and endless love. “Hoku,” Yoyin murmured with great emotion. “You’re my heart’s true desire and I’ll be proud to be your wife—to sit at your side as your queen for the rest of my life.”

Trumpets blared. A merry roar rose from the crowd and the doors to the castle swung open, welcoming home the king and his future queen.