Page 131 of The Nymph Prince

“What is that?” I asked, even though I already suspected.

“Just a little bit of poison,” Ezra stated, gliding his long fingers along the base of my throat.

I love you, my sweet prince,I silently told Lorcan, closing my eyes as tears fell down my cheeks. I should have told him those words more often.

I’d never get the chance to again.

The seer gripped my chin, and the smell of rot overwhelmed me. I jerked my head to the side, but she gripped me tighter, clawing my face with her sharp nails. The vial was placed at my lips.

“Drink up, drink up.” Gurgling sounds left her throat again.

People said that before you died your life flashed before your eyes. If that were true, I wanted my last waking thought to be of Lorcan’s face: emerald green eyes that held an impish gleam when he was being an ass, creamy skin that I loved to adorn with kisses, soft pink lips, and pointed ears that jutted from his silver hair.

I recalled the sound of his voice as he whispered my name.

The warmth of him as he lay on my chest.

And the smell of roses.

I love you, I thought one final time.

31

Lorcan

Our armies were stationed outside of Black Hallows. A unit of my men had taken position at the docks, another in the woods, and the rest were with me in the field at the back. King James had sent some of his men with mine, and he and the rest of his force would be coming from the right.

Night had painted the sky black. Clouds covered the moon and most of the stars, giving us little light. I didn’t favor the ominous sign of it; a world consumed by darkness. Fires were lit throughout the town and torches moved down the lane toward one building. All of the people were gathering there.

“Them being in one place makes it easier to pick them off,” Troy said, holding his bow. “Shall I ready an arrow?”

“Not yet,” I said, looking at my friend. Fear reflected in his violet eyes, but he kept a brave face. “You can turn back, Troy. Stay in this field if you do not wish to fight. We’ll go ahead without you.”

“Of course I don’twishto fight, Lor. But I must. We all must. I’ve come this far, and I refuse to stop now.”

I pulled him against my chest, hating the way his small body shook. Images of his throat being cut open filled my head, and I hugged him tighter. My vision wouldnotcome to pass. I wouldn’t let it.

“What are your orders, my prince?” Malik asked from my other side.

I knew not what to do. If Alek was in the process of easing the tension with the dark mages, I would ruin everything by giving the kill order.

“Alek came ahead of us to stop the fighting. But I don’t see him. Do you?”

He was still alive; I felt his heartbeat. That’s what kept me from losing my calm. Yet, with his heartbeat I also felt…something else. Whatever it was knotted in my gut.

“No.” Malik focused on the building in the center of town where everyone congregated. “I fear he has failed in his mission. We have to act soon, my prince. Do you hear their chants growing stronger?”

I nodded. “You’re right. We cannot wait any longer.”

“Your Highness,” a gruff voice said from behind me.

“Reif?” I turned, but my relief at seeing him was fleeting. He was a man who showed very little emotion; however, he showed his fear right then. Pressure pushed on my chest as my unease grew. “Where’s Alek?”

“In the temple,” he answered. “They…they have him bound with chains at an altar. When I saw movement from the armies, I came to find you.”

“What are they doing with him?” I could hardly ask the question, for my heart was in my throat.

“It looks like a sacrifice,” Reif answered, dropping his gaze. “There was a dagger and a cup for his blood.”