Page 41 of The Nymph Prince

Avalontis was more advanced than any other kingdom in the surface world. There were weird glowing plants, trees that had shiny bark, and everyone could breathe indefinitely while submerged in water. Even non-merfolk.

It hurt my brain to think about.

“Am I allowed to leave the palace?” I asked.

“Only if accompanied by me,” Reif answered in a thick, gravelly tone. The gruff voice matched his appearance.

“He speaks,” I said in fake astonishment.

The guard narrowed his brown eyes.

Lorcan’s sarcastic tongue must be rubbing off on me.With that thought, came one of him doing other things to me with said tongue, and I quickly ridded myself of the fantasy before I made a fool of myself.

After descending the steps of the grand staircase in the entrance hall, I walked forward until I was in the entryway. I craned my neck as I looked up, wondering why anyone would ever need such massive doors.

Once outside, that uneasy feeling continued to grow. There was no sun. No moon. Yet, there was light. How was there light? When I cast my gaze skyward, all that rest above me was blue water. Sharks moved smoothly on the other side of the barrier, some as large as small whales. I then looked around at the buildings, trees, and people around me.

“How is this real?”

Reif didn’t answer me. I didn’t expect him to.

Seeing a familiar face approaching, I debated on whether I should turn and go the opposite direction or stay where I was and hope he didn’t notice me. If only I could be so fortunate.

“Alek,” Troy greeted once spotting me. He stopped several feet away and gave me a once-over, as if sizing me up.

“Troy.”

“I get the impression you don’t like me.”

“Strange. I get the same one from you,” I countered in a short tone.

Troy’s violet eyes were surrounded by black lashes, and maybe it was just a trick of the light, but it looked as though there were tiny silver sparkles on his lids. Freckles marked his cheeks, right beneath his eyes, and his lips were the shade of a pink rose. I hated that he was beautiful. That he’d—possibly—known the pleasures of my nymph.

My nymph?

“It’s not personal,” Troy said. “I’m just protective of my friend.”

“Is afriendall he is to you?”

The merman smiled, flashing pearly white teeth. “Is that why I sense hostility coming from you? You believe I’m Lor’s lover?” He released a musical laugh and smoothed back the strand of hair that’d slipped from its hold. “I told you at the feast that Lor is like a brother to me. And I love him as such.”

The amount of relief his words caused was almost comical. I’d been prepared to fight him for Lorcan’s affections like we were two knights dueling over a damsel. Or two pirates sparring over spilled rum and rights to the plunder.

What’s wrong with me?I’d never been so possessive of anything in my life.

“It might be too late for it, but I feel we need to start over,” Troy said, stepping closer as he offered his hand. “I’m Troy, best friend to the prince, skilled archer, and soon-to-be physician.”

I shook his hand and offered my response, “I’m Alek, mage, and friend, I suppose, to Lorcan. Though he feels like so much more.”

“You’re a mage?”

Fear struck my chest before I remembered that I was safe in Avalontis. Merfolk didn’t have a problem with magic like the humans did.

“Aye, though I know very little of magic. I was never taught.” Wanting to take the focus from me, I added, “So you’re a physician?”

“Not yet,” he said. “But I’m learning the craft. My sister was the best physician in Avalontis before she chose to leave.”

“Why did she leave?”