Page 48 of The Nymph Prince

“Well, she wants to see Alek, too,” Troy said, looking just as baffled as I felt.

“What does she want with him?”

An even better question would be: how did she even know of him?

“She didn’t say.” Troy’s gaze landed on Alek. “But she said it was of grave importance that she speak with him.”

“Very well.”

I returned to the garden where my mage sat with his arms crossed over his chest and his head leaning against a small pillar that had glowing yellow and orange ivy snaking around it.

“Alek?”

With his eyes closed, he responded, “I thought my company was too miserable, nymph.”

“I apologize for saying such a thing.” Even though he should’ve been apologizing, too, for snapping at me. “You need to come with me. There’s someone who wishes to meet with you.”

“I’m not in the mood to meet anyone, Lorcan. Leave me alone.”

My chest burned as anger gathered inside it. “Do not speak to me that way, Alek. I do not deserve your ire. Just because you’re in a pissy mood does not give you the right to treat me with so little respect.”

Alek’s eyes opened. “Forgive me. Leave me alone,Your Highness.”

I could’ve slapped him right then. By the gods, I nearly did. He was an insolent and stubborn ass who pushed away those closest to him.

I held out my hand to him. “Please come with me. I’ll stop asking you what’s wrong, if you stop treating me like I’m the dirt beneath your feet.”

Finally, the real Alek showed through the angry façade, and he grabbed my hand, squeezing my fingers a bit tighter than necessary. I didn’t mind, though, for I craved his touch.

“I’m sorry, Lorcan. I’m used to pirates who leave me be when I’m in a mood.” He stood from the bench and closed the gap between our bodies. He glided a finger along my jaw before dropping his hand. “Lead the way.”

Together, we walked over to where Malik and Troy waited.

Malik glared at Alek before moving his gaze to the group of people we were about to pass. Several people lived in the palace, not only the royal household like me and Father, but also Troy, Malik, a few other guards, and the servants. Even so, the palace could seem empty at times.

Troy quickened his pace once we got to the sitting room, and he dashed through the open doorway.

Malik took bigger strides after that, as if eager to have my friend back in his sight.

The room was one of my favorites in the palace, mostly because it was designed for comfort—plush couches and armchairs, a gaming table where you could play cards or dice, and a wall of books. Like many other rooms in the palace, there was a glass wall that gave a view of the sea behind the barrier.

Eva was just as stunning as I remembered: blonde hair that kissed her shoulders and blue eyes that gave one the sky even when so far below the waves.

She was four years older than me, and once upon a time, I’d fantasized about marrying her. The three of us—Eva, Troy, and I—had grown up together. She’d always viewed me as a little brother, though, and never as a lover much to my dismay.

“Loo-loo,” she said, jumping into my arms. The nickname had been with me for so long. The origin of it was humiliating. “How lovely it is to see you!”

“And you,” I replied, lifting her off the ground and gently moving her from side to side. After placing her back down, I took one of her hands in mine. “What brings you home?”

She shook her head. “Silver Falls is my home, silly prince.” The humor faded from her expression as her blue eyes darkened. “I regret to say that my visit isn’t one of pleasure this time. Something has happened. There’s a change in the air, like a cold shadow that clings to those with magic in their veins.”

One reason she was a magnificent physician was she infused each of her salves, oils, and medicines with magic. She’d been born with the gift of magic and had since used that gift to save countless lives. She was also very intuitive. Where my father knew all that happened in the sea, Eva had a gift for knowing about the land.

“You requested to see Alek,” I said, feeling uneasy after hearing her ominous words. “Why?”

Eva’s eyes focused on my mage. He stood at my side, meeting her serious gaze with one of his own. An unspoken thing passed between them. He clutched his bandaged arm again before breaking eye contact with her.

“Aleksander of Black Hallows,” Eva said as she stepped toward him. “I am called Eva and I’m here to help you.”