Page 116 of Somber Prince

I dropped my gaze to my lap. I wasn’t angry with the hag for ratting us out or with Rha for coming after us. Whatever relationship I had with my sister, I’d miss her for as long as I lived. It broke my heart to know I’d never see her again. But at least now, I had a chance to find Elaine. Had I left, I would’ve lost her forever too. In this world, Rha was also with me. I had plenty to worry about, but the tight string of vibrating anxiety inside me was gone when he was near.

His ears twitched and his facial features sharpened with focus as he turned to the doors leading outside.

“What is it, Rha? Are you hearing something?—”

The doors flew open, shoved from the outside by much greater strength than my own.

With his arm wound around my waist, Rha rose to his feet, taking me with him so quickly, I barely managed to grab the dagger from the floor.

“Whatever happens, stay close.” He shouldered me behind him, standing between me and the people marching in through the doors.

Dozens of armed men and women filled the small front room of the temple.

“He’s here, Princess,” one of them reported over his shoulder, then stepped aside, letting an elegant figure come forward.

Sliding the protective fabric off her head, Princess Alzali slipped a prodding glance up and down Rha’s figure.

“Praised be the First Priestess, you’re alive and well, Your Highness.” She bowed gracefully.

“He isn’t well,” I said, relieved that Rha could finally get the help he needed. “He’s been wounded. He?—”

Her orange, almond-shaped eyes squinted like those of a cat when she glanced at me. “You managed to hold on to at least one of your Joy Vessels, cousin. How fortunate.”

Quick as lightning, she reached forward and placed an iron clip at the base of one of Rha’s tendrils. It immediately fell limp, disconnecting from my arm. The guards surrounded us, leaving no route to escape.

Rha lowered his head, leveling his cousin with a heavy glare. “How dare you?”

“Queen’s orders.” Alzali casually took the bundle of clips from her belt and spoke, while clipping them on all his remaining tendrils. “You are to come with me to Kalmena to explain what the fuck has just happened out there.” She tipped her chin at the open doors.

Rha rolled back his shoulders, wincing either from pain or from the situation in general. I gently touched his arm.

“Does it hurt?” My voice came out thick with worry. I glared at Alzali. “Did you not hear me? He’s been stabbed.”

“And he took it well, it seems.” She didn’t look concerned. “You’ll ride to Kalmena in the utmost comfort, my prince. We brought camels.” If she meant it with sarcasm, I couldn’t tell. She hid it well. “As for your sweet Joy Vessel…” Her eyes narrowed at me again.

Rha grabbed my hand. “Dawn has no business with the queen.”

“But the queen may like to have business with her,” Alzali murmured.

“No.” He shook his head adamantly. “She belongs in Teneris. With me.”

“Very well, I shall send the Sweet One to Teneris with an escort.” As accommodating as Alzali seemed to be, something in her cat-like eyes didn’t sit well with me.

I pressed closer to Rha, squeezing his hand tightly. “I’ll stay with Rha.”

“Dawn…” He seemed hesitant, unwilling to drag me into whatever was waiting for him in Kalmena. On the other hand, he didn’t trust Alzali’s people to “escort” me back to Teneris, either.

“We should stay together,” I said to him softly. “They can’t hurt me, right?”

He released a long breath and nodded reluctantly.

“Dawn will come with me,” he said to Alzali. “We’ll travel together.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

RHA

It was dark outside when we left the shelter of the temple. The night fell and with it, the storm ended. The clouds had thinned, perforated by starlight. The haze of the heat was clearing too. The night breeze was too gentle to lift the sand high into the cooling air. Only the fine dust still curled over the crests of the dunes like silver mist.

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