Page 43 of A Warrior's Heart

“You’re untouched?” Shar asked. “You’ve never had a lover?”

“I suppose a man such as yourself would find it shocking.” Phantos took another drink of his tea. “Celibacy is my choice. But you are not here to talk about me. You’re here to learn the location of the trident.”

The breath stilled in my lungs as I waited for him to say more.

“Follow me,” Phantos said, standing from the grass. “It is time.”

As Lorcan and Alek stood and walked with the seer, I nodded to Reif. He rose to his feet and followed them. I then looked at Troy and the others.

“Stay here.”

“But, Mal,” Troy whined, holding a blanket around his shoulders and standing to face me. “I want to go.”

“You will stay here with Nereus and the assassins,” I responded. Sorcery would be involved and anything could go wrong. It was bad enough having Lorcan present. I wouldn’t allow Troy to be put into possible danger as well.

Troy pouted but didn’t argue any further.

I met Ervin’s gaze. “I feel Phantos can be trusted but stay on your guard just in case.”

Ervin nodded, as did Shar.

I took off after Reif and slowed my pace once at his side. Phantos, Lorcan, and Alek walked in front of us. The full moon appeared even bigger and brighter than the night before.

“We’re going to the waterfall?” I asked as the sound of the crashing water grew louder.

“Yes,” Phantos responded before sighing. “And no, I do not plan to push anyone off the mountain.”

Reif smirked at me, and I snarled.

Lorcan looked at me over his shoulder. “I trust him, Malik. He will not harm any of us. Rest your suspicious mind.”

“I appreciate his caution, young prince,” Phantos said, surprising me. “I’m grateful he has watched over you all these years.”

The waterfall ran from a stream deep within the mountain, flowing off the edge of the cliff and crashing down below. When we reached the grassy area around it, I noticed a small table with a dark bowl and a silver pitcher on top.

“To learn of the trident’s location, I must perform a ritual.” Phantos grabbed the pitcher and went over to the falling water. He filled it before returning to us. “The ritual can only be performed under the light of a full moon when the sky is clear.”

“Why?” Lorcan asked.

“The moon brings us wisdom and intuition,” Phantos answered, running his fingers through his pale blond bangs and brushing them aside. His pale eyes moved to me. “May I borrow your dagger?”

Instinctively, I put a hand to it. “For what purpose?”

“I need the prince’s blood.”

“Are you mad?” I asked with a snarl.

The seer sighed. “It’s for the location spell.”

“Malik.” Lorcan glanced at me. “Hand him your dagger.”

“My prince, I don’t—”

“You will do as your prince orders,” Lorcan said in the same tone I’d heard his father use on many occasions. “I will not ask again.”

Alek frowned at his mate but said nothing.

I bowed my head to Lorcan and handed over the dagger, forcing my fingers to let it go when Phantos grabbed it from me.