Page 12 of The Nymph Prince

Darkness was coming. That much I knew. I felt it deep in my bones, sensed it in the air. It was all around me, searching. My eighteenth name day was quickly approaching, and the seer’s words from months before refused to give my mind rest.

“You’ve been touched by shadow, Aleksander of Black Hallows. The shadow has shielded you from those who seek you. With the coming of your eighteenth year, the shadow will flee. And those who wish to find you shall.”

“Who wishes to find me?”I had asked her.“The hunters?”

“No,”she had answered before looking at me with her milky-white eyes.“The darkness.”

The memory still gave me chills.

Kellan had sought her out to find an answer to his curse, and she’d somehow sensed what I was and approached me, too. Her words hadn’t made much sense. I didn’t know why darkness would be after me, and even more, I didn’t know what that darkness even was.

Was I going to go dark like the mages who came before me? Black Hallows had been the home to Haman. Maybe the land was tainted with his evil; a curse to all those born there.

Or was it a physical darkness that hunted for me?

“How long are we staying here?” Lorcan asked. He seemed to be on edge as we walked through the town of Naporia.

It wasn’t that Naporia was a bad place to be. Out of all the places I’d visited during my travels with the captain, it was on the nicer side. There weren’t thieves and murderers, and the whores, although still present, held a bit of class to them as they beckoned to us from the building across the street.

No, Lorcan was wary of people. The way his gaze darted around, surveying every crook and cranny of the place, told me as much.

“Not long. You can relax,” I told him before walking toward the tavern. “No one knows us here.”

“We mustn’t let our guard down. Enemies can be hiding anywhere.”

“I’m well aware. Have a drink with me, nymph.” I stepped inside the tavern and was instantly hit with the chatter of men and mugs clanking on tables, as well as the smell of cooking meat.

Lately, we’d eaten whatever we could find. Fruits, nuts, fish, and any small animal we could catch in a trap. It’d be nice to have something else for a change.

I found a table in the corner and took a seat. Having a possible enemy at your back was thoughtless, so it was best to find a corner or a wall to have there instead. Kellan had taught me that.

“Evenin’, loves,” the wench greeted once approaching our table. Her accent was strong, very telling that she’d come from the land in the east. “What can I get for ya?”

“Two meads,” I said, taking it upon myself to order for Lorcan, since he wasn’t accustomed to human drinks. “And two rabbit stews.”

Her red hair fell to the middle of her back, and seeing the shade reminded me of Fletcher.

I wasn’t sure if it was a fool’s errand to try and find him. TheCrimson Nightcould be anywhere. Many days had passed since the battle. We’d only traveled through a few towns within the past two days, so it was much too early to give up, but I had doubts about it all.

Also, with the darkness after me—whatever that might be—was it wise to bring that upon my best friend?

“What are you thinking?” Lorcan asked, studying me.

“That maybe it’s best to do as you said and lay low for a while,” I answered with a sigh. “However, I won’t be able to rest ‘til I know they’re safe.”

If Kellan wasn’t able to break his curse, Fletcher would be alone. Sure, he had Horace and some of the other members of the crew, but without the captain, he’d be devastated. He’d need me.

“You greatly miss him, don’t you?”

“Aye. Fletcher’s like a brother to me. And he thinks I’m dead. If the situation was reversed, and I thoughthewas dead, I’d be shattered.”

“That’s how I feel about Troy,” he said just as a longing expression appeared on his face. “He’s my closest friend, and I trust him with my life.”

“Where is he?”

“At home,” he answered.

I wanted to ask wherehomewas, but the tavern wench brought our drinks. I dropped some coin into her hand before she went on her way.