Page 58 of The Nymph Prince

“Why were you holding her hand?” I retorted.

Troy and Malik caught up to me, but stayed back. Wise of them. Reif stood behind Alek and Eva, his hand resting on the sword at his hip.

“I was not holdin’ her hand,” Alek denied, which was an obvious lie because I’d seen it with my own eyes. “So watch your tone and stop this nonsense.”

“Why not tell me you were sneaking off to meet her then?” I shot back, stepping toward him.

“I didn’t sneak off.” He furrowed his brow.

“You keep everything from me, Alek!” Unable to stop it, I lashed out at him, shoving against his chest. He stumbled back, and I banged my fists on him again. Not hard enough to hurt him; there was little force behind it. “Do I mean so little to you that you can take my body and then break my heart this way?”

I’m overreacting. This isn’t who I am.

Alek’s eyes flashed purple and I was suddenly thrown backward. My back hit one of the pillars several feet away and I slid to the ground, gasping as the breath was knocked from my lungs.

He hadn’t even touched me.

Malik charged forward with a murderous gleam in his orange eyes. Before he reached Alek, he stopped and made a sound of pain. His spine straightened and his arms fell to his sides as his head tilted upward. He was frozen in place.

When Reif moved toward Alek, he was caught in the same spell. His eyes widened with alarm and his hands shook.

For the first time ever, I feared Alek. His purple gaze was unsettling as it remained fixed on the guards.

Eva touched Alek’s shoulder and an instant calm washed over him. The purple faded from his eyes and blue took its place. Reif and Malik were released from their hold.

Silence filled the courtyard as everyone stared at Alek. I hadn’t noticed the tears brimming in my eyes until a few trickled down my cheek.

Malik knelt in front of me. “Are you hurt, my prince?”

I shook my head, too shocked to speak.

He slid his arms around me and helped me to my feet. “I am taking you inside.”

Again, I didn’t speak. I nodded and leaned against Malik, taking advantage of his strength to help me stay upright. My back hurt from where I’d hit the pillar and I was certain a bruise was already forming.

“Lorcan?” Alek called in a broken voice.

I couldn’t make myself look at him. Shame took root in me for the dramatic way I’d behaved, but it washisreaction that troubled me most. That type of power—just like his ability to heal—was unheard of.

“Lorcan, please look at me.”

“I suggest you hold your tongue, mage,” Malik growled at him. “Or I’ll rip it from your mouth.”

Halfway toward the terrace, Malik swept me off my feet and just carried me. In no mood to contest it, I wrapped an arm around his neck and pressed my face against the base of his throat. More tears fell, but I didn’t make a sound.

I wasn’t sure what had even happened.

Having thought he and Eva were being intimate, I’d lashed out at him in a jealous rage. But I hadn’t physically hurt him, other than a few shoves. However, he’d sent me soaring through the air. Even if the hit against the pillar hadn’t beenthatpainful, it was more the fact that he’d done it that hurt.

And he’d made Malik cry out in pain…which was something I’d never before heard.

Malik took me to my chamber, which I was grateful for. I cared not for company. He sat me down, and only after making sure I could stand on my own did he release me.

“You haven’t eaten anything,” Malik stated, scrutinizing me. “I’ll have Dathan bring you something from the kitchen.”

“I have no appetite.”

“You will eat anyway.”