Page 18 of Tower of Tempest
Spirits below, what was wrong with me? If I asked the question out loud, Leoni and Driscoll would no doubt have a whole list of answers at the ready.
Driscoll drummed his fingers on the table. “Why do you think your shadow took her gran?”
I’d been wondering the same thing. “I don’t know. I have no control over my shadow.”
No, the one who had control over it was the same elemental who’d taken it, ripped it from me. I couldn’t imagine what they wanted with Poppy’s gran. I also couldn’t imagine why her gran raised her in that tower, isolated her from everyone. I had so many questions about this mysterious woman, and now I’d never get any answers.
“Hey, cheer up.” Driscoll pounded his fist on the table. “You did what you set out to do. You saved her. Now we can work on getting your shadow back before you die a slow, terrible death.”
“Driscoll,” Leoni hissed. She turned a sympathetic gaze on me. “He might have no tact, but he’s right, Prince Lochlan. We can’t risk your life any longer. You found her. You helped her escape. Now we have to find your shadow.”
Leoni and her damn duty.
My mind churned over the possibilities. “She said my shadow took her gran. What if my shadow is still with her gran? What if finding her gran is the key to finding my shadow?”
Driscoll and Leoni glanced at each other, having some silent conversation.
“Is it because she didn’t like you?” Driscoll asked.
I reared back at that. “What?”
He gestured out the big windows lining the tavern, which gave view to pink skies and cloud-covered mountain peaks rising in the distance. “You’re used to females throwing themselves at you. And quite a few males, as well.” He winked.
That mollified me a bit. “What’s your point, Driscoll?”
“It kind of seemed like she hated your guts.”
Leoni kicked me in the shin, and I winced. “Ow,” I gritted out.
Her cheeks flushed. “I’m so sorry, Prince Lochlan. That was meant for him.” She jabbed a thumb at Driscoll. “I think what Driscoll is trying to say is that you’re used to everyone adoring you. Females and males alike. Old and young. You’re the most famous bachelor on the continent of Arathia. The constant attention probably gets a bit stale. Understandably,” she said quickly. “This Poppy didn’t even know who you were when she first saw you, and once she found out your identity, she didn’t care.”
Leoni’s words brought back the image of Poppy, those wide green eyes, that scowl that lined her face, how she’d been ready to slice me open, even if her stance was all wrong, her aim off. She hadn’t been impressed by me at all. They were right. That wasn’t something I was used to—especially not from the female population. But that wasn’t it. That wasn’t why I wanted to help her. It was something else. Something I didn’t want to explore further.
“No.” I took another drink. “You’re way off. Both of you.”
Leoni eyed me nervously like she was afraid to speak her mind. She certainly had no problem speaking her mind with my sister. I supposed even though Gabrielle was a princess, she was also Leoni’s best friend. They had a far different relationship than I had with the former captain of the guard.
I waved my hand in the air. “You can speak plainly.”
“Why do you care so much, then?” She placed her elbows on the table. “Why does she matter to you?”
It was hard to give an answer when I didn’t have one myself. I’d spent months dreaming of her face, hearing her voice. She had infiltrated me, seeped into my blood, my bones, in a way nothing ever had.
“I don’t know,” I answered honestly, massaging my temples.
“I have an idea,” Driscoll said. “Let’s get you roaring drunk, then you can have your pick of any woman. Literally just point to one. She’ll probably faint from excitement. Have the night of your life with this lovely woman of your choosing. Then tell me about it, sparing nodetails, of course. And tomorrow let’s go back to Apolis and make a plan to get your shadow back.”
“You’re a pig,” Leoni muttered. “He’s clearly not in the mood for that.”
I was always in the mood forthat.But not with any of these women. I took another huge gulp of my drink.
“I’m speaking his language,” Driscoll shot back.
He wasn’t wrong. I should’ve been jumping at the opportunity. Especially after the last year that I had. Kidnapped. Trapped with Mal in Sorrengard, my shadow taken, sure I was never going to leave that godforsaken island. Then Gabby came and rescued us, but by that point, I’d already started having the dreams about Poppy. Started having them while on the island. Shortly after we returned home, I left to find her. And now here I was.
A few females who sat at the bar on round stools glanced at me over their shoulders, whispering, smiling in my direction. Great. I’d been spotted. Maybe Driscoll was right. I needed to get back to being the playboy prince. Get back to my carefree, easy life.
But every time I looked at the giggling women, tried to summon that charming smile I’d used countless times over the years, Poppy’s terrified face flashed before me, her freckles stark against her bloodless skin, a haunted look in her green eyes, her mouth opened in a scream.
