Page 12 of A Warrior's Heart

What have I gotten myself into?

We left the tavern and headed toward the prince’s home located at the edge of town. He and his mate had created a wonderful life together.

Alek worked as a physician, using the skills Eva had taught him that combined medicine and magic. Prince Lorcan mostly stayed at home and watched over their son, but he had hobbies he enjoyed, such as knife throwing and wood carving. A quiet life under the sun, just like he’d always wanted.

And now I’ve come to take him away from that life.

Eva beamed with excitement as we neared the cottage by the sea. “I wonder how big Theron has grown since I last saw him.”

Theron belonged to both Prince Lorcan and Alek; a child born from magic. However, a female had been needed to carry the child. Eva had agreed to give birth to Theron, though she’d made it clear she had no desire to be a mother. She still adored the ground the child walked upon, though, and she spoiled him rotten each time she visited.

“He’ll be four years old,” I said. “I suppose he is still small.”

Troy chuckled. “Everyone is small compared to you.”

I glanced down at him, noting our vast height difference. Not only our height, but also our bodies. Troy was short, had little meat on his bones, and was so delicate. The urge to protect him strengthened.

When we arrived at the cottage, Theron ran through the grass with his arms stretched before him. His silver curls bounced and touched the tops of his shoulders, having grown longer since I’d last seen him, and his green eyes gleamed with joy.

“There you are, my darling dove!” Eva scooped the boy up into her arms and kissed his pale cheeks. He smiled and closed his eyes, accepting the affection in silence.

Theron had never spoken a word, even though he was at the age now where he should’ve been speaking.

Lorcan had also been silent as a child. As he’d grown older and finally started talking, we realized he had the gift of persuasion. His voice was a powerful weapon. He could force men and women to obey with a single word. It made me wonder if Theron also possessed such gifts.

Only time would tell.

Lorcan approached us, and a swell of pride filled my chest upon seeing him. I recalled the spoiled, reckless prince I had often scolded in the past, one who had snuck out of the palace at every opportunity and who had driven me crazy. He had changed so much over the years, but he was still my prince.

My son.

He was not mine by blood, but I had raised him. He was my son in all the ways that mattered.

“Malik.” Lorcan smiled. “It’s good to see you.”

“And you, my prince.” I bowed my head.

“Lor!” Troy pounced on Lorcan, throwing his arms around him. Tears brimmed in his eyes and he tightened his hold. “I missed you.”

Lorcan rubbed his friend’s back, fighting his own wave of emotion. “I missed you too. What brings you to the surface?”

Troy’s fear of the human world was no secret. By the unease in the prince’s eyes, he seemed to know that our visit held a deeper purpose than simply seeing each other again.

“May we come inside?” I asked.

“Of course.” Lorcan squeezed Troy’s arm before pulling away. “I’ll make us some tea.”

Just as I stepped forward, I felt a light pressure on my leg and looked down. Theron stood beside me and held his arms up. He was almost identical to how Lorcan looked at that age, the same hair and eyes and the inability to speak. Yet, he somehow still managed to convey what he wanted.

“Very well,” I said with a sigh before picking him up.

I carried him inside the house, earning a smile from Lorcan and another from Troy. Theron pointed toward the hearth, and I walked over to see what he wanted. He pointed to a wooden toy horse. I bent down to retrieve it and handed it to him. He smiled and moved the toy along my arm.

A giggle made me turn around to see Troy and Lorcan exchanging grins as they prepared the tea. I failed to see what was so amusing.

“You have a weakness after all,” Reif said, glancing at Theron in my arms. “Who knew the mighty Malik was such a pushover when it came to children?”

Troy laughed again, harder this time.