Cheeks heating in embarrassment, I smoothed whatever jealous expression I wore, and Nuwin barked out a laugh.
“Oh my, I can see you have it bad if you’re trying to reassure her that you only have eyes for her now.” The Solis male grinned, and his aura was so playful and infectious that I couldn’t help but laugh.
Nuwin beamed. “And without further ado, I should properly introduce myself.” He brought a fist to his chest and bowed. “Prince Nuwin Achul, at your service.” He straightened and relaxed his fist. “I could go on and on and give you the multiple names I was born with, along with all of those ridiculous titles that go behind it, but I’ll spare you from the boredom. Please, just call me Nuwin.”
I cocked my head in curiosity. “You’re a royal? Does that mean we’re in the royal’s castle?”
Kole inclined his head. “It does.”
Composing myself, I replied happily to Nuwin, “I see. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Prince Nuwin. I’m Princess Primelle Manafold of Mistvale Kingdom on the Silten continent, and I’ll also spare you from my many names.”
Nuwin’s eyes lit up, and he slugged Kole in the shoulder. “Well done, old chap. You’ve landed yourself not only an absolutely ravishing female but a princess on top of it.”
Kole gave him a flat look, but his eyes danced with amusement. “She’s not officially mine. We’ve had to keep our relationship a secret since I’m technically her assigned Imperial Warrior.”
Nuwin gaped, then clapped his hands. “Truly? A forbidden relationship? You do realize I’m going to need all of the juicy details before you leave. There’s nothing I love more than a secretive tryst. It does make therelationsrather exciting, if you know what I mean.” He waggled his eyebrows.
I burst out laughing, but Kole just rolled his eyes.
Nuwin sighed. “Ah, dearest Kole. You so remind me of my brother with your broody seriousness. I think that’s why I always liked you so much. But as foryou...” Nuwin slung an arm around my shoulders, and the Solis prince leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Did he warn you that I love riling up my dearest friends? What do you say that we have some fun and provoke him a bit?” He kissed me softly on the neck, taking me completely by surprise, then pulled his arm back.
Kole’s nostrils flared, and he growled at Nuwin, “Don’t think I won’t take you down if you touch her. And for the love of all the gods,don’tkiss her. If you do that again, I’ll flatten you completely.”
Nuwin threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, how wonderful. Today is going to be so much fun!”
Nuwin gaveus a quick tour of the wing we’d traveled to, which he explained was the south wing of the royal’s castle, and the entire time he walked closely beside me, brushing against me often, and seemed to find complete delight in Kole’s every growl or word of warning. After the tour finished, we returned to the hallway that Kole had originally landed in.
Despite his provocations, and the fact that I still had no idea why we were here, I couldn’t help but enjoy the prince. Even though he did his best to irritate Kole, I could tell that Kole cared for the prince despite his mischievous caresses.
“Well, now that I’ve thoroughly and completely ruffled Kole’s feathers”—Nuwin nodded toward a set of tall closed doors—“I suppose it’s only fitting that we actually partake in the activity that you came here for today.”
I turned to Kole. “Why are we here?”
Kole’s lips curved. “I haven’t forgotten the plan we agreed on, Princess.”
He didn’t elaborate beyond those cryptic words, and Nuwin opened the set of massive doors with a flourish, then gestured for me to go ahead of him. “Ladies first.”
I did as he said, and the second I crossed over the threshold, the feel of a ward tingled against my skin, and thick magic washed over me.
On the other side of it, my lips parted. Before me lay a monstrously sized room. Gray rock walls, incredibly tall, rose at least a hundred feet to the soaring ceiling. And at the very top of them, large windows let the wintry sunlight stream in.
Across from us, on the far wall, rows of weapons waited. There were so many weapons, my eyebrows rose, and beside that was a rather impressive bookshelf with dozens of textbooks. My scholarly mind itched to pull a few out, but I managed to restrain myself.
Nuwin and Kole entered the large room behind me, and Nuwin clasped his hands behind his back, right beneath his wings. He rocked back on his heels. “These are the royal training quarters. Your dearest warrior and I spent a bit of time here in our younger winters when we were mastering our affinities.”
I spun to face Kole. “You did?”
Kole crossed his arms, and a pleasant smile lifted his lips. The fact that he’d dropped his mask in Nuwin’s presence confirmed that he considered the prince a close friend, and it struck me again thataffinitieshad been said in plural form, yet I only knew of one of Kole’s affinities—his warrior affinity.
I cocked my head. “What other affinities do you have?” I asked Kole. “Besides the warrior one?”
Nuwin’s eyebrows shot up. “You don’t know that he hasthreeaffinities in addition to his Silten elemental magic?” He grinned with gusto. “In that case, let me indulge you. Kole has a warrior affinity, which you apparently already know about, but he also has a self-healing affinity, which comes in quite handy on the battlefield, and he has a weak scent sensory affinity.” Nuwin clapped Kole on the back. “Given his strongest magical affinities are warrior and self-healing, our dearest friend here is truly a killing nightmare.”
My eyes widened. “Truly?”
“Indeed, just watch.” Nuwin strolled to the rack of weapons across the room, grabbed a small blade, and strolled back to Kole. “May I, dear friend?” He held his hand out.
Kole sighed but offered his hand. “I’m only doing this because I know you’re not going to stop until you get your way.”
