Page 115 of A Warrior's Heart

Theron laid his head on Alek’s shoulder and closed his eyes.

“I need to give this one a bath and put him down for a nap,” Alek said.

After they left the field, I walked toward the barracks. Men practiced swordplay in the training area and nodded to me when I passed by. Others sat around a fire and rested after a long day of grueling drills. The army had begun training harder than ever since our return.

Two familiar voices pulled my attention to the left.

“Stop fussing over me,” Shar said as Nereus forced him to sit down in the grass. “I’m not helpless.”

“An arrow pierced your heart.” Nereus straddled the assassin’s hips and wrapped his arms around him. “You must be careful and not overdo it.”

“Two months have passed since then.” Shar took hold of Nereus’s chin. “I have healed.”

“Eva said you will never be at your full strength again,” Nereus said. “If you’re not careful, your heart can give out.”

“How can it when it belongs to you?”

“Your charms won’t sway me, you beast.” Nereus nipped at Shar’s cheek. “You’re done training for the day.”

“I’d listen to him if I were you, assassin,” I said, and both looked up at me. “A warrior must know his limits. You will do your men no good by overexerting yourself and possibly putting your heart at risk.”

Eva’s advice as a physician had been that Shar leave the assassin force altogether. But having become a friend over our journey, she knew he’d never heed that advice even if it killed him.

That evening, King Triton summoned me to his dining chamber. When I entered the room, Zander was pouring wine into the king’s goblet. The two exchanged a tender look before Triton focused on me.

“Thank you for joining me,” he said, motioning for me to sit down. “I didn’t wish to dine alone this night.”

“Dining with you is an honor, Your Majesty.” I took the seat beside him.

“Is it an honor?” Triton paused to take a sip of his wine, the dark red liquid wetting his lips. “Tell me, Malik. Do you still respect me?”

“Of course.” Although learning the horrible truth about the things he’d done in the past, he was still my king. “My life is yours. Now and always.”

“I hear the honesty in your voice. Thank you for that.” Triton smiled before letting it fade. “I know we’ve had our differences in the past, but I have always admired you and even envied your grit to fight for those you hold dear. I could never be so selfless.”

Worry knotted in my gut as I listened to him speak.

“My son is who he is today because of you,” Triton continued. “You taught him loyalty, valor, and compassion. I would ask you to keep instilling those principles into him. Never let him forget himself.”

“As you wish, my king.” I bowed my head to him, my unease growing. “I know it’s not my place to question you, yet I can’t help but feel like you’re saying goodbye.”

“Fate is strange, is it not?” Triton leaned back in his seat, his silver mane cascading down his chest. “You can delay it but never escape it.” He moved his gaze to the window where the water outside the barrier darkened from the lack of sun in the surface world. “No matter how fast you run, it always catches up to you.”

He's referring to his curse.

“Prince Lorcan might be angry with you, but he loves you,” I said. “He wouldn’t take your life.”

“Perhaps not.” The king looked away from the window and focused on me. “Yet, it’s not Lorcan who will end my life, but rather his brother.”

“Ezra doesn’t have the trident. And to reach you, he will have to go through me first.”

“Your loyalty pleases me. I know you will do everything in your power to defend this kingdom. Yet, I feel a change in the air, old friend. Death’s icy breath is upon my skin. We all will be tested in the coming weeks. Ensure that our men are prepared.”

Zander entered the room pushing a cart with our food. He set the king’s plate in front of him before setting down mine. Without being asked, he squeezed a lemon over Triton’s fish and refilled his wine.

Triton snagged hold of the servant’s elbow and pulled him onto his lap. “So considerate you are, my darling boy.”

Zander grinned as he locked his hands behind Triton’s neck. “Always, my king.”