Page 13 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

Prince Elijah’s eyes locked in on hers, and she gulped. Panic clutched her chest, tugging at every nerve in her spine. He cocked his head while she stood there in an unblinking gaze. The corners of the prince’s mouth slowly pulled up into a wicked grin.

She had never met the prince before, but Nola knew it the moment she looked into his eyes; it was him. He was breathtakingly beautiful. His dark black hair and piercing-blue eyes highlighted his tall cheekbones. His body was wrapped in a black and silver, well-embellished tunic, and a thin robe draped over his shoulders. He was not burly nor robust like his father, but lean muscles perfectly proportioned to his body.

The prince lifted his chin, watching Nola rush to bow, but he gripped at the cloth near her elbow, suggesting she should stand.

As he touched her sleeve, she remembered her bracelet holding the ruby her birth parents had left her. If she were caught with such a gem, as a commoner, she would be accused of being a thief. Nola discreetly shoved the bracelet further under her sleeve, then closed her eyes for a brief moment to gain her bearings.

“Please, indulge me with your opinion about my father,” Prince Elijah said, “—your king.”

His voice came out smooth and accentuated, but she knew there was malice behind his words. Nola looked back at him, and she swore she saw his eyes shine darker as the prince’s smile faded, leaving no trace of the amusement that was there moments before.

She forgot to look down when her nervousness took over. Which meant Elijah had seen what her eyes did when fear radiated within herself—a small mistake could have given her away. Her beating heart pounded wildly against her chest.

“I’m sorry, sir. I did not see you standing there.” Nola lowered her head, looking to the ground. “I’m a fool. I don’t know why I said that.”

A very subtle smirk pulled at the sides of the prince’s mouth, but his face remained serene.

He leaned in and whispered, “No, I do believe you meant every word.” He inched closer. “Didn’t you?”

As panic-filled tears began to reach her eyes, she tried desperately not to show it. She hated crying, especially in the presence of strangers, but right then, she only feared for her life—for her parents’ life—all because she had let her mouth run wild. She had just spoken against the king, which was punishable by death. That was the first lesson her father taught her on their way to the marketplace that day.

Hold your wild tongue, you stupid girl,she shouted in her head.

She looked to her mother and father, who both shone dread in their eyes. Knowing his daughter like the back of his hand, Duncan shook his head, pleading for her to be quiet. Nola, however, found her mouth opening, regardless.

“Do you want me to lie or share the truth? Because either would get me punished, would it not, sir?”

She heard a quiet gasp come from her mother’s lips.

Prince Elijah placed his index finger on her chin, lifting it to meet his cold-stoned gaze.

“I can keep a secret,” he said coolly. “I am more curious about who you are than what you had said about my father. I’ve not seen you in my city before. You see, I always make a point to know everyone in Zemira.”

“We live in Bay—”

“She’s my daughter,” her father said quickly, interrupting her. “She’s nobody, Your Highness.”

Nola gave her father a sharp look as he used her own words against her. But regardless of his reasoning, it had hurt. She felt the prince’s fingers slip down her jaw but did not release it.

“She doesn’t look like nobody,” Prince Elijah said, directing Nola’s attention back to him. “Will you walk with me?”

She reluctantly held out her hand. “Do I have a choice?” she asked.

He took her hand in his and helped Nola to her feet. “No,” he said flatly.

Her father quickly stood, “Sir—”

“She’ll come with me!” Prince Elijah said sternly.

Nola felt her father leap slightly towards the prince, but she rushed at him, placing her hands against his chest. “Let it go, Father. I never had a choice.”

“It’s Duncan. Am I right?” the prince asked. “I’ve heard great things about these bows of yours.”

Val and Duncan’s attention fixated on the prince, who turned his body to look at the bows dangling from the wooden rack. Elijah traced his finger down the hand-carved limb of one of the longbows, then with a grin, he muttered, “I’ll buy one from you—in exchange for twenty minutes with your daughter. I will even pay twice the price.”

Nola’s eyes went wide, and she rubbed her arms nervously.

He can’t be serious,she thought.

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