Page 76 of The Nymph Prince

Damn anyone who thought to ruin this moment with my mage. It was our last night of privacy before having to travel, possibly to our deaths.

“Lor?”

I stilled at Troy’s voice. For the past two days, he’d said very little to me. He was angry that I was leaving again. Especially since he feared I wouldn’t return.

“You need to speak with him,” Alek said between kisses to my neck. “I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Leaving Alek in the midst of our touching was difficult, but I managed to pull away. He smiled as I straightened my clothing. Having his lustful gaze on me nearly made me jump back into his arms.

Opening the door, I was met with the sad eyes of my dearest friend. His bottom lip trembled right before he threw his arms around me. His tears wet my cheek as his small body shook with cries.

Malik looked at Troy, a crease in the middle of his forehead and grief in his orange eyes. His hands clenched at his sides, and I realized he was forcing himself to stay still. To not reach for the crying man in my arms.

“Let’s find someplace to talk,” I told Troy, running a hand up and down his back.

He nodded and released me. The black he’d painted on his top lids smeared a little, and I wiped off one of the smudges. He smiled at that before becoming self-conscious and dabbing at his eyes.

We didn’t go far, just to the library that was close to my chamber. It held all of my favorite stories from when I was a child, and some I hadn’t yet read. Once in the room, I lit the sconces on the wall. Shadows were chased away by the golden glow.

“Are you still angry with me?” I asked, turning to him.

“Yes.” Troy stood near the bookcase, crossing his arms as he looked at the leather-bound texts. When he finally looked at me, there were more tears in his eyes. “Yet, I know why you’re leaving. To stop the war. And so, while I’m angry, it’s not at you. It’s directed toward the humans.” He spat the last word.

“Not all humans are bad,” I said, closing the gap between us and grabbing his hand. He moved closer and laid his head on my shoulder. “Just like not all merfolk are good. You cannot judge an entire group based on the actions of a few.”

“That’s true.” Troy pressed his face against the side of my neck and sighed. “I worry over you. That’s all.”

I wanted to ask him to come with me. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue. But I couldn’t ask such a thing of Troy. He’d refused me every other time I asked him to journey to the surface, and so, I knew his view on the subject very well.

And how could I ask it of him when I knew the danger we marched toward? No. I couldn’t do that.

So, I held him—let him hold me—and hoped it wouldn’t be the last time I was able to do so.

Alek was waiting for me when I slipped back into the room nearly an hour later. He was naked and on my bed. Exactly as I preferred him.

I didn’t speak as I joined him. Our gazes locked as I straddled his hips. He smoothed his hand up my chest before cupping my nape and gently pulling me down to him. I smiled when we came face-to-face, as did he. He enclosed me in his warm arms as our lips slowly met.

Soft. Unhurried. Perfect.

Neither of us wanted to rush the night, for when dawn came, we’d have to leave the safety of this room. The place we’d shared countless kisses and lost ourselves to each other’s touch.

When we came together, there were no words to explain it. Maybe the words didn’t exist. There was only the way my heart sang as Alek joined our bodies. In and out he moved, over and over again. Pressure built in the base of my spine. His grunts mixed with mine. My toes curled as he touched that special place inside of me, and I clawed his back.

“I am forever yours, my sweet prince.” Alek rocked his body harder into mine. “All of me.”

And then I shot to the stars.

18

Alek

Lorcan was quiet as we gathered our supplies that morning. Once, twice, I’d asked him to share his thoughts, but he’d only shaken his head.

Eva said that once we’d completed the bond between us as soulmates, we’d be more attuned to each other. Maybe then I’d be able to feel his emotions, but I couldn’t yet. I could sense him, though; sense where he was in the room without even looking at him.

He moved behind me to grab one of his many daggers. The hairs on my nape stood on end. I could sense his movements even with my eyes closed.

With our satchels in tow, we left his room and met the guards outside the door. Both had grim faces.