Page 2 of The Nymph Prince
“Do not presume to tell me what my life is worth, dear friend,” I said with a bit of annoyance in my tone. He meant well, and I cherished him, but he didn’t understand my connection to the young buccaneer.
“Put all of this from your mind,” Troy said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “You’ve been locked away for far too long in this room. Let’s take a walk?”
A change of scenerywouldbe nice; however, no matter where we went in the underwater kingdom it still felt like a prison.
The guard outside my room eyed me suspiciously as Troy and I walked past. If I hadn’t known him since I was a toddler, I might’ve been intimidated by the much larger male. He stood at six feet and seven inches, had raven black hair that was shorter on the sides and longer on top, and his eyes glowed orange. His squared jaw was lightly covered in dark stubble.
“Highness,” he said, slightly bowing his head.
“No need to follow me, Malik,” I told him. “We’re only going for a walk around the palace.”
“The last time you said such a thing, you escaped and were gone for a week,” Malik responded, narrowing his eyes. “So forgive me when I say… I do not trust you.”
I grinned.
Troy pressed his lips into a line, but a smile slipped free anyway. “He’s not wrong, Lor.”
“Very well,” I said with a long, drawn-out sigh. Always the one for theatrics. “Follow us if you must, but do not complain of boredom when you find nothing but tired feet.”
“With you, my prince? The word boring does not exist.” Orange eyes held my gaze, and within their depths was amusement.
I couldn’t blame Malik for being overbearing. It was his duty to protect me, and I’d tricked him way too many times in the past. One of those times had been when I’d been captured by the pirates. Malik had found me shortly after I’d escaped the ship, and he’d been frantic. I’d never seen him so upset.
I was reckless, as well as rebellious.
We walked down the corridor and took the stairs down into the entrance hall. Father was fond of gold and shiny things; therefore, the palace was extravagant. Gems were in the tiles on the floor, gold lined the columns, and everywhere you looked was luxury and jewels, some of which had been gathered from sunken ships.
I cared not for riches.
The kingdom was alive with activity. Once outside, I heard the sounds of the market nearby, followed by the smells also associated with it.
The golden palace was surrounded by various shops and homes. There were gardens, swimming holes, and places of entertainment, such as the arena for games and sport. The merfolk who traveled to the surface often brought back trinkets and goods that they then sold in the market. It was almost like the towns I’d seen from the world above.
Almost.
The transparent dome that surrounded us was an instant reminder that I was trapped.
“The king should be returning this evening,” Troy said as we descended the steps and moved toward the garden.
I already knew this, but nodded anyway.
Father often left for long periods of time before coming home. Funny how he reprimanded me for wanting to leave, and yet, he was exactly the same; never staying in one place for too long.
Troy stopped walking and turned to me. We were in the garden now, beside vibrant plants that glowed different shades of purple and green. He placed his hand on my arm.
“It hurts to know you hate being here. I see it in your eyes, Lor.”
Guilt swam through me. “I enjoy being with you, dear friend. But this?” I motioned to the wall above us. “This is not where I long to be. I love my home and my people, but I feel as though I’m missing out on so much down here.”
Malik stood about ten feet away, his posture straight and his hands behind his back. A dagger was at his hip and he had several more hidden within his armor. Only a fool would ever challenge him.
“It’s normal to want what you cannot have,” Troy said, dropping his hand from my arm and going over to one of the florescent plants. He touched a leaf, causing it to glow brighter where he held it, before releasing it and looking back at me. “I hope one day you realize that everything you need is right here in Avalontis. You are heir to the throne, Lorcan. The people look up to you.”
“No, they look up to my father,” I said, shaking my head. “I am only the prince.”
“A father who is hardly ever in his kingdom,” Troy continued. “Youare the face the people see, Lor. Your father might be king, but you’re the one the people seek when something is amiss. The one they turn to. You’re a natural born leader.”
I suppressed an eye roll and settled with a sigh instead.
