Page 56 of Winds of Darkness

It wasn’t until Nasima took to the air once more, a soft cry coming from her, that Ashtine blinked her eyes open. She appeared almost startled.

“You came,” she lilted. “I did not think you would.”

Guilt gnawed at him, but he didn’t let it linger. “Are you well, Princess?” he asked, taking a few more steps until he stood right beside her. Peering down, he held her stare as she mulled over his question.

“Is anyone ever truly well?” she finally countered. “Or do we all simply mask our ailments?”

“I …”

“I do not require an answer,” she continued, her eyes falling closed once more.

Movement in his periphery had him turning to find Abrax making his way forward. He bent his head, huffing into her hair, and Ashtine smiled. Or tried to. It certainly didn’t reach her eyes when she blinked them open, stroking a hand down Abrax’s muzzle. He huffed softly into her hand again.

“Would you like to come up to the House of Water?” Briar asked, crouching beside her.

“That is not necessary.”

Except that it probably was. This area of the beaches was close enough to the House of Water it was patrolled regularly. She would be discovered soon. If not by his guard, then by his Inner Court.

“Please come with me,” he said gently, extending a hand to her.

“It is not necessary,” she repeated.

He smiled softly. “Please come join me for the midday meal. Or at the very least, come out of the sun. Your fair skin will burn quickly here.”

“Fae heal just as quickly.”

“Ashtine.”

Something in her eyes cleared a little at her name, and he reached for her hand. When she didn’t resist, he curled his fingers around hers before pulling her to her feet. A moment later, he guided her through a water portal directly into his private rooms. They were less likely to be interrupted here, and he was certain Ashtine didn’t want others to see her in this state.

He sent a request for a light meal to be prepared before he said, “I am going to change quickly if that is all right with you?”

“It will not bother me if you change.”

“Would you like different clothing?”

Her brow furrowed. “Do you have female clothing in your rooms?”

He stifled his huff of laughter. “No, Ashtine, but I could have some procured for you.”

She waved him off, moving to pull the open window closed before examining the ledge that ran along the perimeter of the room. The ledge was halfway up the wall, and the top of the ledge was shallow, allowing water to pool and flow. It was for aesthetics as much as it was security. The more water around the Water Prince, the more powerful he would be.

Briar let her be, going to his bedchamber to change into a set of fresh pants and tunic that weren’t damp from the spray of the sea. When he returned, he found her on the other side of the room, far from the windows and balcony doors. She was studying a large map of their continent that was mounted on the wall, a hand raised and her finger tracing along the western edge of the map.

“Food will be delivered shortly,” Briar said.

“I am not hungry.”

Briar shrugged, moving to her side and clasping his hands behind his back. “That is no bother. I can eat, and you can tell me what brings you to the sea this day.”

Her finger paused, head tilting to the side. “I do not always know where I will find myself when I walk among the winds.”

“Are you saying the winds brought you here?”

“No. It was simply a statement.”

“What is the most obscure place you have found yourself?”