Page 21 of The Nymph Prince

The guard stepped away but kept his eyes on Alek.

“The curse will take Kellan soon,” Alek said in a tight voice. “I’m not even sure if he and Fletch are alive.”

“They are.”

Alek and I looked at the larger male.

“The sea speaks,” Malik said, moving his orange-eyed stare to me. “The ship was nearly sunk, but made it to shore in time. Both the captain and his lover are safe.”

“My friend was stabbed.” Alek looked at Malik with pleading eyes, and his tone was softer than earlier. “He is on the mend?”

Malik nodded.

“Do you know how to break his curse?” Alek focused on me.

“No. That’s the honest truth.” I hated the look of betrayal in his eyes. “My father had the curse placed on him, but I’m not certain how to break it.”

Finally, after what felt like hours, the resentment left Alek’s face, and his shoulders relaxed. I couldn’t blame him for being upset. He didn’t want the captain’s curse to claim him, and he’d thought I’d withheld information that could’ve prevented it from happening.

“If my calculation’s correct, he only has a few days left,” Alek whispered. His eyes glistened, and he quickly swiped his hands over them and coughed. He was trying to mask his pain, and I hated that he couldn’t confide in me. “’Scuse me.”

He got up and walked toward the trees to the right of us.

Malik moved his gaze to me. “You care for him.”

“Yes.” Tired of sitting in the same spot I tried to shift my position, and an ache spread through my thigh. I winced before groaning, “I detest this.”

“Perhaps you’ll think carefully before running off on your own again.”

“We’re really going back to the palace?”

“Yes, my prince. I’m taking you home. Your people have taken note of your absence.”

“And Alek?”

His nostrils flared with his exhale. “I suppose he must return with us.”

Not having expected that answer, excitement jolted me out of my tired state, and my sudden movement made me cringe again.

“Careful or I’ll have to tie you down,” he warned.

“Outsiders aren’t allowed in the kingdom,” I stated the obvious.

“Not unless they’re invited,” Malik countered. “It seems the only way to get you to stop running off and risking your life is to bring home the one thing you keep running offto.”

“Fair enough.”

I didn’t know if Alek wouldwantto go. And if not… well, I was afraid Malik would tie him up, throw him over his shoulder, and force him to go anyway.

6

Alek

I flew through the air, carried by the wind. As I soared amongst the clouds, I lifted my hand and found it strange that my skin appeared translucent, as though I was some kind of spirit. The sun was bright, lighting my path and warming me from the inside out. I felt free; unburdened by the supposed shadow that clung to me.

A rumbling of thunder broke through the calm. And then a streak of lightning.

The gentle wind that had once guided me along vigorously shook me. I was taken from the sky and thrown to the land. That’s when I recognized the scenery. My home that wasn’t a home. A ghost town.