Page 65 of The Nymph Prince

“Sit,” he said, nodding to the empty chairs.

Like the last time he’d invited me to eat with him, Father was quiet for the first part of the meal.

Troy, however, was not. He talked about our training, and was even able to pull several chuckles from Father. His exuberant personality always brought a smile to those who were fortunate enough to be in his presence.

Once our plates were near empty, Father grabbed his goblet and took a drink, holding the wine in his mouth a moment before swallowing.

Ever since I was a young boy, I was amazed at his ability to draw attention just by being in the room. I’d often sat and watched him as he spoke to the people, wishing I could be like him when I got older. Perhaps it was a gift all gods possessed or maybe it was just my father, but there was a shift in the air—a power—that told all those in proximity who was in charge.

“How is your mage?” Father spoke, putting an end to the extended silence. “Has his training proven to be a success as of yet?”

I didn’t question how he knew about Eva teaching Alek. I hadn’t discussed it with him, but he had eyes and ears all over the kingdom.

Zander took our empty plates before bringing out a platter filled with fruits and sweets. He poured us more wine.

“He has learned much in the short time Eva has been here,” I answered before lifting my goblet to my lips. Ah, it was laced with ambrosia. Sweet warmth trickled down my throat as I swallowed. My shoulders instantly relaxed. “He has much more to learn, though. But it’s a start.”

“Indeed.” Father tapped his fingers on the top of the table, not taking his blue eyes off mine. “I’ve also heard talk that he could very well be your mate. What truth is there to this?”

Troy took a drink, but I didn’t miss his raised brows. Clearly, he felt out of place.

Well, if I was forced to endure the awkward conversation, he would be, as well.

“It’s true.” I took another drink, mostly to steady my nerves.

Father had never spoken to me about marriage, but I’d suspected he’d want me to find a wife and have children. Once upon a time, I wouldn’t have minded such a thing…but not anymore. Not when my heart belonged to another; a male who was neither part of our world nor able to provide me with children.

I’d heard stories of men who loved men using magic to have a child, though. But I didn’t know if the stories held any truth to them.

“I take it you two aren’t fully bonded as of yet?” Father asked.

“No,” I said, a little surprised.

It wasn’t the response I’d expected.

Father sighed and snatched a berry from the platter. “I always envisioned you with a man of higher standing in our world. Or perhaps even the baker’s son who fancies you so. But amage.” He shook his head as he chewed the fruit. “I suppose it’s natural. At least, it was in the past. I hoped you’d avoid finding a mate, for I care not for the mages. Their fickle loyalties and susceptibleness to the dark makes them hard to control and even harder to trust.”

“I do not wish to control Alek, Father. He is his own man just as I am mine.”

Troy lightly coughed before grabbing the biggest pastry on the platter and shoving it into his mouth. Frosting smeared on the edge of his lips and jam leaked from the back as he bit into it again.

I grinned. He ate when he was nervous.

“We will discuss it more later,” Father said with a tone of finality. “As for now, there are other matters at hand. The scouts returned. King James is, indeed, building his army and is planning an attack. His advisors were heard discussing the matter outside of the council’s chamber.”

“But why attack us?” I asked. “We keep to ourselves. We allow ships to cross our waters. If we go on land, we’re discreet so humans remain oblivious as to who we are. Why would he want to start an unprovoked war? It makes little sense.”

Father smoothed down the soft waves of his long hair before standing from the table and moving toward the wall. He stared out the glass, and I wondered if he was merely looking at the palace garden or if he was looking beyond it, seeing something in his mind’s eye.

“I must confess something,” he said. “The war that comes for us is partly my doing, caused by my own actions.”

“How?” I stood and joined him at the glass.

He’d lived for hundreds of years, and within that time, he was bound to have angered many men. He was selfish at times, mainly when he left Avalontis with little warning, sometimes for a month or more, and he had a tendency to act in his own best interest. But I couldn’t imagine him intentionally bringing war to our doorstep.

Troy stood and walked toward the door. When I looked at him, he mouthedgiving you privacybefore he turned the handle and left. Jam and frosting from the pastry had been on his mouth, and I smirked. He was in for a surprise when Malik said something about it.Ifhe said something.

Poor Troy might have to walk around the palace that way for a while before anyone told him.