Page 38 of Tower of Tempest
She scoffed behind me but didn’t chase after. I raised the hood of my cloak over my head, hoping to stay inconspicuous from here on out.
“Did you just reject the advances of a beautiful woman?” Driscoll asked, coming up on one side of me with a fried potato on a stick that he was eating. Apparently these were a popular street food in Valoris.
“Are you feeling okay?” Leoni asked from the other side.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine. I just don’t want to draw attention. We’re on a mission. Remember?”
“If you say so,” Driscoll said. “But that woman looked like she wanted to do a lot of very bad things to you.” He glanced at Leoni and snapped his fingers. “A stranger fantasy. You’re walking on the street, and a dashing water elemental walks up to you and whispers in your ear that he wants to stick his hard?—”
“No,” Leoni cut him off. “I’m a royal guard. You think I’m going to just go to bed with a random stranger? They could be a murderer or a thief.”
“You take the joy out of everything,” Driscoll said flatly.
“I don’t have time for a fling.” I waved my hand dismissively, watching as Poppy used her magic to create waves in the fountain.
“You don’t have time for a fling?” Leoni asked. “You? The playboy prince? You once bedded a woman in the stables on our way to the fire court when we’d stopped for five minutes to switch out our mares.”
I snorted, remembering how the hay had poked me everywhere. “Your point?”
“You always make time.”
My gaze lingered on Poppy. “Well, not today.”
“If you say so... I’ll ask around about booking passage on a ship,” Leoni said. “We have a long journey down the isle, and hopefully we can secure some horses or donkeys or something.”
We’d tried to get horses when we arrived in Feathered, but the sky court was in low supply. Their citizens had no need, for obvious reasons, but they did use horses to pull carts and transport goods, and they had no extras for us to use, making our journey harder and longer than we’d anticipated.
Poppy gasped as another younger elemental, a boy, flew down and offered her a flower. She brought it to her nose, inhaling the scent like it was the best thing she’d ever smelled, then handed it to the little girl.
Leoni made to move to go on her mission, but I shot out my arm and blocked her. She gave me a questioning look.
“Don’t. Book a passage. Not yet.”
“Why?” Suspicion filled her voice.
Poppy leaned back and lifted her face to the sun. “She just got her freedom. She deserves a chance to enjoy the city, to live a little before she boards a ship and is carted off to the shadow court.” I shuddered at the idea of Poppy stuck on that island, of her shadow getting taken like mine had. She’d be trapped again, a prisoner just like she’d been in that tower. I wasn’t sure I could stomach that.
Leoni’s eyes darkened. “Prince Lochlan, your shadow?—”
I glanced down at the blue lines, now inching closer to the top of my chest. “It’ll be fine. A few days in the city isn’t going to hurt anyone. Don’t tell me the idea of a bed and three hot meals a day doesn’t tempt you.”
Driscoll raised a finger. “I’m sold.”
Leoni bit her lip. “I’m supposed to be protecting you. I understand what you mean about Poppy. I want her to be able to enjoy herself, too, but your life is on the line, and it’s my job?—”
“Leoni.” I let that familiar charming smile slip over my lips. “It’s just a few days. I promise.”
I hoped she’d drop it, that this wouldn’t turn into an issue between us.
She hesitated, then glanced at Poppy and said, “Okay. A few days.”
I clapped my hands together. “Good. Glad we settled that.” I slung my arms around Driscoll’s and Leoni’s shoulders. “Let’s have some fun, and then to the shadow court we go.”
“Do you swear it?” Leoni asked.
I rolled my eyes and raised my hand. “Swear it on my good looks.” She cocked an eyebrow, and I sighed. “I swear it on my mother. Good enough?”
She hesitated but finally gave a curt nod. Her gaze swept over the courtyard, and she frowned.
