Page 64 of The Nymph Prince

Time was of no consequence. The world outside that room didn’t exist. It was only me and the nymph who’d claimed my body just as he’d claimed my heart.

And there was nowhere else I’d rather be.

15

Lorcan

Over a week had passed since the incident in the courtyard. Tension remained between Alek and the guards, but mine and the mage’s relationship had strengthened. He no longer hid things from me, including his accent, which I adored.

While he didn’t speak often of his worries—he was much too proud to admit such fears—he’d answer me honestly when I asked about them.

When he trained with Eva, I gave them their privacy. I had apologized to Eva for ever thinking so poorly of her, and no matter how much she said it was fine, the guilt lingered in my chest. The bond with Alek that marked him as my soulmate had given me a possessive nature, but there was no excuse for my lashing out in the way I had.

“Your Highness?” Zander, the king’s manservant, asked after approaching me in the armory of the palace. “The king has requested your presence for evening meal.”

Holding the sword in my hand, I lightly swished it down before bringing it back up, testing the balance and weight of it.

I loved smaller blades, but in hand-to-hand combat, swords and shields proved to be more useful. Malik had the blacksmith forge me a special sword, one not as lengthy as the typical longswords. The curve to the blade made it intimidating in appearance, but also allowed it to move with speed as it sliced through the air, just as it might to an enemy’s neck.

“Tell him I accept.” Not that I’d had a real choice in the matter.

Zander bowed, his hands behind his back, before hurrying out of the room.

“I do believe you scared him off.” Malik leaned against the wall, picking something out of his teeth. Probably a sliver of meat that he’d been chewing on minutes earlier.

I repeatedly told him I could survive on my own for the twenty or so minutes it’d take him to go sit and dine for a proper meal, but he disregarded my words, choosing to instead snack as he shadowed me.

“Then perhaps Father needs to get a servant with a spine,” I responded, swooshing the sword again before placing it on the rack.

I’d begun eating with Alek every evening—each morning, as well—and so the change in routine was unexpected. However, it wasn’t often that Father asked me to dine with him. It could only mean there was bad news.

Troy nearly collided with me as I left the armory. He was too quiet and seemed to constantly pop up out of nowhere.

“Gods!” he exclaimed, slapping a hand to his heart. “Nearly gave me a fright.”

“There’s nonearlyabout it, dear friend,” I said with a grin. “The entire palace heard that shriek.”

My friend rolled his eyes. The gold glitter on his lids made the violet of his eyes pop against his pale complexion and pink dusted cheeks. “Where are you off to?”

“Father asked to see me,” I answered, not sounding the least bit happy about it.

“The scouts have returned from the surface.” Troy walked with me down the corridor as I headed toward Father’s private dining chamber. “He probably wishes to tell you of their findings.”

Malik’s steps echoed behind us. A glance over my shoulder gave me an answer as to why he wasn’t speaking. He looked to be deep in thought with a furrowed brow and a distant stare. The unease in my stomach grew.

Had Malik learned of the news and withheld it from me?

“How do you know of their return?” I asked Troy.

Troy twisted the ring on his forefinger. “I saw them return. I was in the garden on the outside of town, watching the portal as I sometimes do when I’m bored. They entered through it and immediately rushed to the palace.”

Arriving at the dining chamber, I lightly knocked on the door and waited for an answer.

“Enter.”

I went inside, followed by Troy who needed no invitation, and closed the door behind us. Father’s eyes crinkled at the edges when he saw Troy.

Troy’s father used to be the king’s best friend, and Troy was the spitting image of him—with the exception of the makeup.