“How is it going?” Evie’s voice reached me while I guided Thea to write the letters that spelled her name in the journal.
She, Quinn, Edward, Charlotte, Louis, Harvey, and Aaron were among the crowd that showed up for class tonight, but Thea wanted to start with her name.
Our people bowed to their soon-to-be queen as she walked to my side, my lips curving into a slow smile when I noticed the beautiful dress she wore. It was a bright salmon hue with gold embellishments, far more elegant than anything I’d seen her wear. The pissed off Willow, who rushed behind her with needle and thread in hand, and a measurement ribbon—or whatever that was called—around her neck, told me the outfit wasn’t ready.
Evie had probably said enough and walked out of the fitting to come find us.
Smirking, I stood, bowing my head to the princess when what I really wanted was to pull that beauty into my arms to kiss her long and hard. And possibly rip that dress off her body too, which would, of course, lead to other things.
The chief stopped between Willow and Evie when they reached me.
“Everything is going well, Princess, Chief.” I nodded to him in greeting. “You should join the others. They are learning to write their names.”
“Why would I want to write my name? I know what my name is. It is Kingston, that is what I’m called,” he grunted, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
“Why would you not want to?” Willow interjected before I could, placing a gentle hand on his forearm while she glanced up to capture his attention. “Our name is the single most important thing we have. An extension of the calling in our hearts meant for the entire world to hear. It is how we know who we are and how others get to know us.”
Her attention shifted to Asher when he joined us, offering a journal to the chief. She took it from him instead, slowly unrolling it until the mountain carving was visible, bringing a smile to her lips—a gesture that wasn’t missed by the chief.
His gaze roamed her smiling expression, silently treasuring it.
“I would love to help you write it… so that is exactly what I’m going to do. And you are going to like it,” she added, giving him a glance that dared him to refuse.
A certain light illuminated his features, as though he loved her sassiness and commanding nature.
“Of course, Lady Willow.” He spoke so softly to her that I could hardly believe it was really he who spoke.
Grinning triumphantly, she briefly glanced at me. “I’ll take care of him.”
“Fine with me,” I answered, ignoring the scowling from the chief that warned me not to say otherwise.
She put the needle and thread away before her small hand wrapped around Kingston’s arm. “Come on. Let’s find a place to sit down,” Willow added, taking him with her.
A couple of grunts left him while she dragged him away, but the glint in his eyes told the truth. He was in heaven by her side. Now, if he would only tell her that.
“How did your training go?” Evanna asked after Asher reclaimed his place next to Imogen, helping the new students.
A troubled breath escaped me before I focused on her, and I remained silent for a moment, recalling everything that happened. “I believe it’s better we have that conversation in private.”
“That bad?” Concern pinched her eyebrows, and I nodded.
“I need to talk to my mother because I doubt that mastering this ability is something I’ll be able to achieve on my own,” I admitted in a low tone.
Interest sparked in her eyes, and she glanced around us, finding everyone too focused on their lesson to pay attention to us. “Talk to her in the Lake of Tranquility?” she whispered, only to see me nod. “Do you think I could come with you?”
“Well, Mom is a Soul Walker, so I don’t see why not.” Still, a frown wrinkled my brow. “I’m sure Mom can invite you like she first did with me. I’ll ask her.”
“After dinner?”
With a nod, I let my gaze roam the students and found Nikau’s inquisitorial eyes set on us.
Damn it. Not him too…
Once we reached the sixth floor, retiring to our rooms for the night, Evie’s attention held me in the hallway. Her silent question reminded me of our earlier conversation and what I had to do tonight. My gaze searched for the chief, who was enthralled in conversation with my mentor since dinner.
They stood in the middle of the hallway, gesturing to the walls as though they were assessing the rooms and the space left in the hallway. Huffing, Imogen gestured to me and then to the right side of the hall.
Frowning, Evie and I exchanged a glance, walking past my brothers and sisters gathered there to their side.
“With all due respect, darling. You are a natural born warrior, and a magnificent one at that, but not a natural builder, okay? I know what I’m talking about. We can easily fit five more rooms in this hall!” Her arms gestured to the wall behind her, clearly exasperated.
“Five more rooms?”
“What are you fighting about?” Evie and I asked at the same time.
“Building the rooms to relocate your guard, my prince,” Imogen explained, her scowl still pinning down a grumpy Kingston.
“His guard?”
“My guard?” My voice mixed with Evie’s once more.
“I do not understand why we can’t just accommodate them on the fifth floor or leave them where they currently are,” the chief argued.
“Because just as the princess’ guard needs to be close to her to protect her, the prince’s guard must be near him. Frankly, Kingston, do I really need to explain this to you, of all people?!” She threw her arms in the air in exasperation.
“Okay, pause,” I interrupted, focusing on my mentor after glancing at a pissed off chief. “What guard are you talking about? I don’t have a guard; I am part of the princess’…” Even as I said it, I realized what they meant.
Imogen’s knowing eyes pinned me down, like an adult waiting for a kid to figure it out on his own.
“Oh.”
“You are no longer an Elevated Warrior,” Evie added,” as dumbfounded as I was that we had somehow forgotten that minor detail.
“Exactly, darling. Braxton is the prince, the Harbinger’s son, and the future king. He needs his own guard.”
Suddenly humbled, I exchanged a glance with Evie. All I wanted since I arrived here was to become an Elevated Warrior because that meant I would finally belong and be worthy of her. Not only had I achieved it, but I had surpassed it because of who my parents were.
At first, I wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but then I realized that I had accomplished the first part on my own merits, regardless of what my birthright was. That meant something to me.
The warm smile that began curving Evie’s lips said she knew exactly what I was thinking, and the love emanating from her eyes reminded me I had always been worthy of her… I just needed to realize that on my own.
Her soft kiss on my lips declared I now stood tall beside her—not just as the Harbinger’s son, but as the warrior I had become, and the future king. The man she loved.
“Who are you considering for the guard?” I asked in the next breath, my attention returning to Imogen and the chief.
“Well, there are a few who have caught my eye—”