Page 29 of The Nymph Prince

A light knock sounded at the door.

“My prince?” Malik’s tender voice was so different than the gruff one he used around everyone else. “The feast is about to begin.”

I gave myself one last glance in the looking glass, ensuring my hair was in place, before opening the door.

Malik never dressed in the typical guard’s uniform, deciding to wear his leather armor instead. He said the guard’s clothing was too restrictive and would prove ineffective in an actual attack. He wasn’t wrong. Taking in his appearance, I noticed he’d trimmed his hair, shaved, and smelled like a warm spice, which was as close as he got to being formal.

“You look…nice,” I said, tilting my head at him.Niceseemed ill-fitting for him, yet it was all I could come up with.

His orange eyes narrowed, but he couldn’t hide the way the compliment reddened his cheeks. “As do you, young prince.”

“Thanks. Is Alek in the dining hall already?”

I searched the corridor for my mage. He’d been assigned the room down the hall from mine. I would’ve much preferred for him to sharemybed, but Father wouldn’t hear of it. As the crowned prince of Avalontis, it was too dangerous to have a stranger in my bed while I slept—according to him.

“Yes.” Malik angled his head down in a respectful nod before stepping aside. “The world waits for you, my prince. Best not keep them and their grumbling bellies waiting any longer than necessary.”

“Riots have been started over less.”

Malik smirked.

I advanced down the corridor with him at my side. Other than a handful of servants, the palace was vacant. Everyone must’ve, indeed, been waiting for me in the dining hall.Great.I hadn’t thought I’d been running that far behind. Obviously, I’d been mistaken. The last thing I wanted was some grand entrance.

Once down the main set of stairs, we headed for the left wing where the feasts were held.

Upon entering the Great Hall, my insides coiled a little. More people were there than I’d anticipated, and they all turned to look at me as the large doors opened.

I wasn’t shy in the least, nor was I self-conscious. Yet, there was always a bout of nerves when being in front of a large group of people. Prince Lorcan, son of King Triton and heir to the throne, a nymph with god’s blood running through his veins… it became exhausting to carry that weight, of meeting the very high expectations of the people around me. Most of them compared me to my father.

Would I be a great ruler like him someday? Was I worthy of his bloodline? I knew they all asked themselves the questions that often plagued me, as well.

Up ahead, there was a dais where Father and the head of council sat. The raised platform had one long table with Father in the middle, an empty seat to his right—where I was supposed to sit—and two men on the other side of him.

Salvatore was in the chair to Father’s left, and I bit back the revulsion upon seeing him.

It wasn’t that I hated Salvatore. He was a decent male and served my father well. However, he was bitter and set in his old ways, much like the king. He thought himself superior to me, calling meyoungandnaïve.During the times when Father was gone and I was left in charge, Salvatore would attempt to take control by using such words to describe my inexperience.

The rest of the people sat in various tables with benches on both sides, so they faced each other. There were no platters of food yet, since they’d all had to wait on my arrival first, but there were many pitchers of wine and alcoholic spirits to appease them for a while.

I walked toward the dais and smiled when I saw Alek seated in the chair beside mine. Troy was on the other side of him. Usually, Troy sat beside me, but he’d allowed Alek to that evening.

Looks like I no longer have to introduce them.

I squeezed Troy’s shoulder as I passed him.

He lightly patted my hand. “Some things never change, Lor. Fashionably late as always.”

I shook my head and continued to my seat.

Malik stood behind me, his back against the wall, and faced the crowded room. He wouldn’t eat at the feast, even though I’d insisted for him to do so. He preferred to stand guard as I ate and look like a damn mountain behind me to scare away any threats.

Another guard named Reif stood beside him. Reif must’ve been the one assigned to trail Alek. His long dark hair was divided into several braided pieces and there was a scar on his left cheek. He never smiled and glared at everyone. He and Malik got along great.

The first thing I noticed about Alek was his nerves. His hands were in his lap and his spine was straight. And he was too still. My father sitting a seat away probably aided in that. Worry was etched on his handsome face, but upon seeing me, relief sparked in his blue eyes.

“Good evening,” I greeted him before moving my gaze to the king and nodding. “Father.”

“Now that you’ve arrived, Lorcan, we may begin the feast,” Father said. He wore a form-fitting shirt and jacket, looking every bit the part of royalty. His silver hair fell to his chest and one large section was braided down his back.