Page 106 of A Warrior's Heart

I had grabbed Troy’s bow off the floor before we left, not able to have it out of my sight, and I gently squeezed it as we walked.

The corridor twisted and turned before leading us to the king’s chambers.

“Please, sit.” King Triton motioned to a set of chairs in front of the balcony doors. Beyond the sitting room was the king’s large four-poster bed where Zander lay, the sheet hanging low on his naked hips. Triton walked over and smoothed a hand down the servant’s spine. “Wake, my beautiful boy.”

Zander opened his eyes and smiled. “Hello, my handsome king.”

“We have guests.” Triton kissed Zander’s shoulder before pulling the sheet up to cover him. “Go run a hot bath and dress for evening meal.”

Lorcan scoffed under his breath, still standing. He did all he could to disobey his father in any way possible. Even with simple things.

With his cheeks reddening with a deep blush, Zander wrapped the sheet around himself and exited the room, but not before the king placed a soft kiss to his lips. Triton then came over to sit in the cushioned chair in front of us, a goblet of wine in his hand.

“Still fucking your servant, I see,” Lorcan said. “And here I thought you’d be done with him and on to another poor soul by now.”

Triton’s jaw clenched. “Must you always be so crude with your words?”

“Must you always be so insufferable?”

“You will speak to me with respect,” King Triton responded. “I am still your father, whether you accept your role as crowned prince or not. Now sit down. I will not ask you again.”

Lorcan bit his tongue and rested the trident against the wall before dropping down into the chair closest to him. I remained standing to guard the entryway just in case anyone tried to disturb us.

“Tell me what happened with Troy,” King Triton said, grief rich in his tone.

“James ambushed us after we retrieved the trident,” Lorcan explained, then he went on to recount the events that followed.

Triton listened, and though his expression gave nothing away, his fingers dug into the arm of his chair. “He sacrificed himself to save you.”

“Yes.”

“We will hold a feast in his honor,” the king said.

“There’s no time for feasts,” Lorcan snapped. “We must rally the army and hunt down King James. Becausehe’snot wasting time with fancy banquets. He and Ezra will—”

“Ezra?” Triton scowled. And perhaps there was a glimmer of fear behind that glare. “He has allied with the human filth?”

“Yes.” Lorcan returned the king’s glare. “He said some interesting things about you. Is it true you’ve been killing your own children?”

Triton paled before regaining his composure. “Who told you such a thing?”

“Ezra.”

“And you believed him? He is only trying to drive a wedge between us. He will say whatever he needs to in order to cause a cloud of doubt in your heart.”

“Ezra also told me thatyouare the one who killed Poseidon. It’s why the trident hid itself from you.” Lorcan rose from his chair. “Was that also a lie?”

“No.” Triton leaned back and crossed one leg over the other, back to his calm demeanor. “That, my son, is the truth.”

“Why?” Lorcan yelled. “Why kill your own father? What kind of monster are you?”

Triton was to his feet in seconds, grabbing Lorcan by the front of his tunic. Every one of my muscles screamed for me to intervene, yet my feet stayed planted to the floor. It was not my place to question my king.

“You don’t know what myfatherdid,” Triton hissed, baring his teeth. “He built a paradise unlike any other for his darling human wife and their sons. He placed a magical barrier around the land, much like the one I have here, and that magic prevented me or my mother from finding it.”

“So you killed him because you were jealous?”

“No, you insolent child. I was hurt by his actions, but I respected his decision. He brought destruction upon himself. Love is fleeting. After several years, Father grew bored of Atlantis and the people who dwelled there. When one of them angered him by asking for more wealth, he struck the earth with his trident and killed them all, his family included. The island sank to the depths. Even after it sank, I could never find it, because the magic held strong.”