Page 120 of A Warrior's Heart

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Good.” He expelled a breath, a sign of his nerves, yet he remained collected. I wouldn’t expect anything else from him. “Avalontis as we know it will never be the same after today.”

“We will prevail,” I said. “The portal will only allow a few men in at a time, and we will be right there ready to meet them.”

Triton nodded and walked over to a portrait of Lorcan hanging on the wall, right beside one of him and Lorcan’s mother. The artist had captured each of them perfectly. “When you met Ezra… what was he like?”

“The first word that comes to mind is cunning,” I answered. “Also, wrathful. He had so much anger in his eyes.”

“I remember his mother.” Triton’s gaze had a faraway look to it. “It was before I met Loriana. She was a sea witch who came to me one night. I turned her away at first, yet she managed to seduce me. Not a difficult task, mind you. She was very beautiful. Though, her eyes unsettled me. They were a bright shade of crimson.”

“Ezra favors her.”

“Does he?” Triton fidgeted with the ring on his forefinger that depicted the royal crest. Lorcan had the same ring but he never wore it. It sat untouched in a silver box in his chamber. “Since learning of his existence, I’ve gone through several emotions. Rage, mostly, because I suspected he was the son destined to take my life. But I’ve also experienced regret.” The king’s blue eyes flickered to me. “What kind of man would Ezra be had he grown up here instead? Would he still be as angry? Would our destines still have led us to this moment?”

“Dwelling on things that can’t be changed will do you no good, Your Majesty.”

“And yet, my mind wonders anyway.”

“My king!” Zander entered the room carrying gold-plated armor. He struggled with the weight of it and was out of breath when he reached us. “You must dress for battle.”

Triton accepted the armor and watched Zander with a tender expression as the servant strapped the chest piece in place.

“Only the trident can harm me,” the king said, gripping Zander’s quivering chin. “Do not worry over me, sweet boy.”

“I will always worry over you,” Zander responded, closing his eyes as he pressed his cheek to Triton’s palm. “Your life means more to me than my own.”

“You are to stay in the palace during the battle,” Triton told him.

“But—”

“Do not argue with me.” Triton slid his hand to Zander’s neck, then down to his shoulder. “You will lock yourself inside my chambers until the fighting stops.”

“Yes, my king.”

“Father.” Lorcan entered the throne room, trident in hand. The golden armor he wore matched that of the king’s. Alek trailed behind him with Theron in his arms. “Will you watch over Theron during the battle?” He halted in step as his gaze trailed up and down the king. “You’re fighting with us?”

I couldn’t blame him for being stunned. King Triton very rarely interfered when it came to war. After learning that Poseidon wished to overthrow the humans and wipe out their kind, I suspected Triton’s reasoning came from him not wanting to do the same. Perhaps the bloodlust would be too great a temptation to resist, so he separated himself from the conflict.

“This is my home,” Triton said, holding his head high. “And I will fight for it.”

Lorcan turned to Alek. “Take Theron somewhere safe and stay with him.”

“No,” Alek said, grabbing Lorcan’s hand. “I will not leave your side. You cannot make me.”

Sadness clouded in the prince’s eyes before he pulled Alek close and kissed him. He then kissed Theron on the forehead.

“Stay with your Da,” Lorcan told his son, his voice cracking a bit.

“Lorcan, I’m not leaving you. I—”

The prince’s shoulders tensed. “You will take Theron to our room, lock yourselves inside, and stay there for the duration of the battle.”

Alek froze, confusion washing across his face. He visibly fought the command. And then he turned and walked toward the door. Theron reached out his small hand to Lorcan, his bottom lip jutted out. They passed through the doorway and faded from sight.

A tear fell from Lorcan’s eye and rolled down his cheek. He had never used his power on Alek before. It was something he swore he’d never do.

“I had to protect them,” he whispered, staring at the door.