Page 105 of The Nymph Prince

“Don’t think on it now.” Alek kissed the back of my neck. He slipped one arm beneath my head and pulled me closer to him with the other. “Sleep, my sweet prince.”

I didn’t want to make love to him that night. I only wanted to be in his strong arms. The beating of his heart soothed me, for it was a reminder that we were still together. That he was safe. The future was uncertain. All we had was that moment.

When we marched toward Black Hallows in less than two weeks’ time, one of us wouldn’t be returning home.

26

Alek

Once, I dreamed I was a bird. The wind had hit the tips of my wings, sending me gliding through the blue sky. Never having touched a cloud, I knew not what they were made of. But in the dream, they’d felt like the softest pillow. Soaring amongst them, I’d had no worries.

I wasn’t a mage whose very existence was considered a crime. I wasn’t an orphan with no home and no purpose in life. I was only a bird, flying wherever I wished to go.

Free.

When I’d woken in my bunk on theCrimson Night, I’d stared at the ceiling for several minutes. The ship had gently rocked from side to side, like the way a mother might rock her newborn child. The crew had been asleep, as it was still early in the morning. It’d been quiet. So quiet.

And in that silence, I’d wondered if maybe it hadn’t been a dream at all. That maybe the bird had been the real me and themeright then was the dream.

I felt like that again, as if I was stuck in a dream while the real Alek rested elsewhere.

Maybe I’d died the day theCrimson Nighthad been attacked, and I’d been in an endless sleep ever since. However, where others might’ve been given paradise upon their death, I was stuck somewhere between damnation and salvation.

I opened my eyes and saw Lorcan sleeping inches from me. His silver hair fell across his left eye and his lips pouted a little.

Days had passed since he’d voiced his worries over the battle. He feared that I wouldn’t be allowed to live once the humans knew I was the dark king. Although I hadn’t admitted it to him, I believed he was right.

I doubted I’d make it out of Black Hallows alive; I’d either die by my own hand to prevent me from going dark or I’d die by someone else’s hand. Just as long ashelived, that’s what mattered. Then, it would’ve meant something. All of it. Better I be the one to pay the price.

After kissing his brow, I slipped out of bed, gathered my clothing, and went inside the washroom. A hot bath sounded heavenly, but I had to meet Eva soon. So, I cleaned myself as best as I could before dressing and leaving the chamber.

Reif was already outside the door, staring down the corridor with a vacant expression. He blinked and looked at me.

“Good morrow,” I greeted before yawning. “You’re here awfully early.”

“Off to training already?” he asked, disregarding my statement. Something told me that maybe he’d never left.

“Battle draws closer. How can I sleep when there’s still so much to be done?” We started down the hall, settling into an easy rhythm of feet clacking against marble floors.

Eva was in the courtyard when we arrived. She wore trousers—much like a man’s—and her flowing shirt fanned around her slim body as she fought an invisible opponent. She ducked and punched the air, both graceful and deadly. It was hard to fathom that she was only a physician. Because she would’ve made a fine warrior.

As she swung her arm again, I jumped in the way and blocked her blow with my forearm.

Blue eyes widened with shock, and then she smiled. “Impressive. I didn’t hear you approach.”

I lowered my arm. “You said I needed to work on my stealth.”

Reif stood against a column, crossing his arms over his chest, and watched us with tired eyes.

Every man dealt with stress in their own way. Lorcan, for instance, had trained religiously with Malik for the past week. Then, he’d wanted my arms around him during the night. He pushed himself hard every day, so he’d be too exhausted to stay awake and fret over the battle.

Reif clearly didn’t sleep when he was stressed.

“Ready to begin?” Eva asked, flicking her braided hair behind her back. When I stepped back and grabbed the blue stone from my pocket, she shook her head. “No. You’re strong enough now. You don’t need the stone anymore. Give it here.”

As she held out her hand for it, I clutched it tighter in my palm. It’d become a sort of safety net for me. But alas, she was right. There was no place for safety nets in the approaching battle. I needed to be at my most powerful, relying on myself to do what was needed.

I dropped the stone into her outstretched hand and suppressed a sigh.