Somber Prince by Marina Simcoe

Author:Marina Simcoe [Simcoe, Marina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rocky River Publisher
Published: 2024-01-17T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

DAWN

The following evening was dragging torturously slow as I waited for Princess Alzali to leave and take her people with her. So that Rha would finally feel safe enough to let anyone enter the sacred golden bedroom with his most precious “treasure,” aka plain old me.

It was ridiculous how much he fussed over me. I absolutely believed him when he’d said he wished he could put me in a locket to wear around his neck. There were moments when his adoration was flattering. But often, such an obsession felt restrictive and even smothering.

When the intricate sand clock in my bedroom finally indicated midnight, I felt too excited to stay still. Leaving my bedroom, I hurried out into the main cave and ran into Elaine and Melanie descending the stairs. Several guards escorted them, including Prince Rha himself.

“Dawn!” Elaine jogged down the stairs and straight into my hug.

“Oh, it’s so good to see you.” I hugged her tightly, my fingers sinking into the soft knit of her ever-present sweater.

Over Elaine’s shoulder, I met Melanie’s curious eyes.

“Not bad.” She whistled, giving the cave an assessing look. “I can see why you don’t want to come to the sarai anymore.”

I released Elaine from my hug. “I’m not here by choice.”

Elaine turned to Rha, but he held her gaze stoically, the same way he met Melanie’s glare. Clearly, he was not going to apologize to my friend or sister for keeping me all to himself.

“Are you staying for lunch?” Melanie asked him with a snark.

Instead of replying to her, he turned to me. “Do you need me to stay, Dawn?”

“No. We’re good,” I said quickly. There was no need for his presence or for the tension it generated with my friends.

“Then I will not.” He gave my guests a brief nod. “Enjoy your meal, ladies. The Keepers will take care of you.”

I spotted a familiar face in the small group of servants behind Rha.

“Sigid? It’s so nice to see you again. How have you been?”

The Keeper bowed his head. “I’ve been well, Dawn.”

Rha arched an eyebrow, flicking a curious glance between the Keeper and me. Knowing his obsessive possessiveness, I half expected Rha to send Sigid away in a jealous fit. Instead, the prince nodded calmly.

“I’m wishing you joy, ladies.” He turned, his skirt whipping around his legs. The side slit opened as he ascended the stairs, flashing his muscular thigh with every step.

“Well,” Melanie turned to me. “He really wants to keep you joyful. Just look at this place. And it’s all for you alone.”

“Alone,” I echoed. “Which isn’t as great as you think.”

Elaine’s expression darkened. “Did he hurt you?”

“What? No.” I shook my head adamantly, refusing to let anyone think about Rha like that even for a second. “It’s just boring, sitting here by myself. That’s all.”

Elaine wrapped herself tighter into her sweater, not looking relieved by my words.

“Elaine,” I tried to calm her worry. “They can’t hurt us. It’s not in their interests, remember? They want us to be happy, so they can experience it, too, because they can’t feel it on their own.

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