Page 114 of The Nymph Prince

“Do not leave this room, Lorcan. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

Three more guards approached and Malik looked relieved. They were ones that had been with the royal family for decades and he trusted them. Alek and I were ushered inside the room, but I put my ear to the door to hear what was said.

“Do not let anyone into this room,” Malik directed. “I’ll return shortly.”

He must be going to find Troy. My gut twisted at the thought of anything happening to my friend.

Alek gripped my arm and spun me around. His eyes flashed silver as he held my face. “Are you hurt?”

“No.” I rested my head against his. I was frightened. More so than I’d been in a long time. We were set to march for war in two days’ time, and with the reveal of traitors in Avalontis, I wouldn’t only need to battle the enemy on the other side, but look for them amongst my own people, too. “Just hold me, Alek.”

He led me over to the bed, gently pushed me back on it, and settled in beside me. He played with my hair as he held me.

“Perhaps you should stay behind,” he said after a stretch of silence. “You’ve done enough, nymph. Captain Orta will carry out your orders. There is no need for you to join us.”

“Surely you jest.” I lifted my head and glared at him. “You cannot be seriously asking me to stay here when my men go off to war. Whileyougo off to war. That is out of the question.”

Alek’s chest rose as he inhaled. The breath was then sharply released. “I suppose there’s no stoppin’ you. I only worry over your safety.”

“And I worry over yours,” I retorted. “But we’ll face it together.”

I jumped at the knock on the door and reflexively grabbed the dagger from my bedside table. As Malik had said…no one could be trusted.

“Lor?”

Relief flooded my chest at hearing Troy’s voice, and I shot off the bed to let him in. Once the door was open, I pulled him into my arms.

“Thank the gods you’re okay,” I said against his hair. He smelled of blueberries and jam. “Were you harmed?”

“No. I didn’t know what was happening until Mal found me and explained.” Troy closed the door and settled back into my arms. “Why would our people ever wish you dead?”

“They believe me to be on the wrong side of the war.”

Something was trying to surface in my mind. I had several pieces of the puzzle, but the final one was just out of my reach.

***

Later that evening, I was in the library flipping through a leather bound book by candlelight. Too much was on my mind to sleep. With the attempt on my life—not once, but twice—I saw danger lurking around every corner. I felt the icy breath of death on my neck.

Malik had protested against me leaving my chamber, but the library was only a short ways from it. He stood outside the door, but he’d insisted I take my dagger with me as an extra precaution.

Alek was still asleep in our bed. And it wasourbed. He hadn’t slept in his own chamber in many nights. I wanted—needed—him beside me. However, I needed distance in that moment.

I’d had another vision. Well, not a different one. It’d been the same. Fire, smoke, cries of agony, and death. That’s what waited for us in Black Hallows.

I should tell Father.He’d want to know of my vision. But what would happen to Alek if I revealed the horrors I’d seen?

The solution would be to dispose of the threat. To kill the mage. My mage.

My mate.

I slammed the book shut, stood from the desk, and started pacing the room. There had to be another way.

“Care to share what ails you so?”

I jumped at the voice and turned to see Alek leaning against the doorway.