Page 7 of The Nymph Prince

The nymph cocked his head, studying me. His expression was curious. “How do you feel?”

“Like I was shot.”

His lips twitched, and that drew my attention to his mouth. A vague memory lingered in the corners of my mind of feeling such lips press to mine, gentle and soft. Breathing life into me.

“Why do you smile?” I asked, frowning at the too beautiful male across from me. “Does me bein’ shot amuse you?”

“Far from it, actually,” he said as a serious expression took over his face. “I am only relieved you are well enough to make quips is all.”

His green eyes continued to hold my gaze before he looked toward the fire between us.

We were in a cave of some sort. Although damp and smelling faintly of mustiness and fish, it was shelter, and for that I was grateful.

Behind the nymph was the opening to the cave. The sun had mostly set and I could make out the sea beyond the wall and the dusting of stars in the sky. The sound of the tide brought with it a sense of calm. A sea cave, then.

The warm breeze coming from outside told me we were no longer in the bitter cold of the north. But that was impossible.

When I’d been on theCrimson Night, we’d just left the town of Wintervale and had been nearing the unchartered waters of the north. It would’ve taken a week or more to get to someplace warmer.

“How long was I unconscious?” I asked, feeling as though a large chunk of time was missing.

“Days,” he answered, stoking the fire with a stick before peering back at me. “You faded in and out.”

“How did we get here?”

“We swam.” His voice soothed me, sounding like honey and silk. I yearned to hear more of it. “Well,Iswam and carried you with me.” Sadness touched his features, and his eyes bore into mine. “I thought you to be dead, mage. Your heart beat soft and weak, and although I’d stopped the bleeding, you’d already lost so much blood. Your life force was slipping away.”

My blood ran cold as something occurred to me.

He’d called memage.

“Why did you call me a mage? I’m not one,” I lied.

I wasn’t sure if I could trust the nymph. Denial seemed like the best way to go.

“Do you take me for a fool?” he asked, glaring. “At first, I knew not why the ship attacked yours, but now it’s clear. They were after you because of what you are.”

I stilled, not knowing how to react. I didn’t think he’d hurt me, but with the promise of a reward for any man who delivered me to the king, well…coin had ways of turning even good men into scoundrels.

“Relax, mage,” he said. “I have no intention of handing you over to them.”

“How did you know?” I asked, barely above a whisper. There was no sense in denying it any longer.

“In your unconscious state, you healed yourself,” the nymph answered, visibly impressed. “During our travels south, I stopped in a town, purchased a room at the Inn for the night, and as you slept, your body glowed. As if the sun itself was pouring out of you. It was obvious then. That sort of power is unheard of, especially from a mage as young as you are. One who has clearly not yet mastered his abilities.”

“And where were my powers when I needed them most? When my home was bein’ attacked?” I countered in a harsh tone. The anger was aimed more at myself than at him. He’d done nothing but help me. “I seem to only tap into them when I’m emotionally unstable. Or unconscious, it seems.”

A pain spread through my chest, one that had nothing to do with my wounds.

I didn’t know if my family was safe—Fletcher and my captain, Kellan. Though of no blood relation, theyweremy family. The attack on the ship had been because of me. Because of what I was. Had the other crew retreated once they believed me to be dead? Or had they continued the violence?

It’s all my fault.

“You need guidance,” the nymph said, tilting his head at me.

“Are you here to guide me then?”

“I am no mage,” he responded before reaching over into a medium-sized satchel and withdrawing what looked to be bread and dried meat. “Here. You must eat.”