The Nymph Prince (Tales of Fate Book 2) Read online

  The Nymph Prince

  Tales of Fate Book 2

  Jaclyn Osborn

  The Nymph Prince

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious and are products of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual events, or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

  Text Copyright ©2019 Jaclyn Osborn

  All rights reserved

  Published by Jaclyn Osborn

  Cover by Simply Defined Art

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the publisher/author’s written consent.

  Dedication

  To all the readers that loved Alek enough to message me and curse my name when they thought I’d killed him in Book 1.

  Tehehehe…

  Note to Reader

  The Nymph Prince is Book 2 in the Tales of Fate series and while it can be read as a standalone, there are events that happened in Book 1 that are referenced in this book so it’s best to read the books in order to fully enjoy the story! I hope you fall in love with Alek and Lorcan just like I did.

  -Jaclyn

  1

  Lorcan

  My father once said that coveting a thing I could not have would destroy me in the end. That the desiring of it would consume me.

  He was right.

  Yet, I couldn’t deny my feelings for the young pirate. A connection unlike any other drew me to him. A bond. He was mine. I knew it deep in my bones, just as I knew the sea I swam within. Convincing him of that bond? Well, I suppose that was trickier, especially since I’d barely said two words to him.

  Having the god of the sea as your father certainly had its perks, but it was more irritating if anything. Everywhere I went, I was followed. Protected.

  I didn’t need to be protected. I wanted to go wherever my heart desired, to swim the crystal clear waters of the Southern Isles or to pass through the deep blue waters of the north.

  To follow the Crimson Night, a pirate ship with the most precious of goods aboard.

  “I know that look,” Troy said, eyeing me. “You’re contemplating leaving again.”

  Troy was my closest friend. He’d been by my side ever since I could remember. Our fathers had been close, and so, once we were born it was decided we’d be the same. He was only two months older than me, but sometimes he behaved much older than that.

  I often poked fun at him, saying he was nineteen going on a hundred.

  “Perhaps.” I looked up at the glass ceiling and sighed. “I miss the surface. The freedom.”

  We lived in a golden palace beneath the sea, in the city of Avalontis. All of the merfolk dwelled there, living in their own homes with their families. Where they felt safe from those who wished us harm.

  Where I felt like a prisoner in my own kingdom.

  Well, not my kingdom yet. I was only the prince.

  Our home was surrounded by a magical barrier and could not be seen from outsiders. Only merfolk—and nymphs like myself—could enter. If you weren’t one of us, you could only enter Avalontis with one of us.

  Needless to say, there’d never been outsiders in the kingdom. Merfolk only trusted each other.

  We were able to live in our human forms down there, since the barrier kept out the water. Free to walk around on two legs as the people did in the world above, yet my view was much different than theirs: blue water beyond the barrier instead of the sun and green fields.

  Oh, how I missed the sun.

  “You’d feel the same if you’d seen the things I have,” I told Troy. “The beauty is unparalleled.”

  He’d very rarely left the barrier in all of our nineteen years. Not because it was forbidden. He was just afraid of it. Of humans. Inside the barrier, there were pools and bodies of water to swim in our merforms, but he was reluctant to go beyond the borders—to truly experience the freedom.

  Troy shook his head, causing his light-brown hair to fall in his face. His violet eyes shifted to me. “I cannot.” Then, his brow furrowed and he lightly shoved my arm. “Did you forget what happened the last time you left? You were nearly killed, Lor!”

  “It was a foolish mistake that won’t happen again,” I said, walking over to the window in my bedroom. Fish swam past, colorful and beautiful, and I watched their synchronized movements. “The pirates got lucky. That’s all.”

  I had been captured by the crew of the Crimson Night. They’d caught me in their net and brought me aboard the ship before trying to kill me. The pirate captain was a cruel man with his different colored eyes and soul as dark as the waters he sailed upon. However, I’d seen a light within him that day. One caused by the young man with hair the color of fire.

  Love changed men. Not nearly enough, though, as he’d still given the order to have me killed there on the deck.

  Just as I’d been staring death in the face, the man I was so drawn toward had saved me. He’d cut my bindings and helped me over the railing and back into the sea. Before I’d been forced to leave, I saw that he was made a prisoner on the ship because of it.

  It was torture not to know what became of him. Father had ordered me to return to the palace, where I’d been surrounded by his guards for days. Perhaps longer. Days all seemed to blend together below the sea.

  “The same pirate captain who slaughtered our kind,” Troy continued, appearing at my side. “Why are you so obsessed with his ship? The boy you follow is not worth your life, Lorcan.”

  He was right about it being dangerous, but I’d never let that stop me from doing what I wanted in the past. I was known as the rebellious prince, always sneaking out of the palace and going beyond the barrier without an escort.

  It drove Father mad. Very little could kill a god, but I was certain I’d give him a stroke one day.

  “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 scenery would be 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. Ma
lik 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. “You are 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.

  It was true that I was home more than Father. Even though I escaped the barrier and explored the sea, Malik found me and brought me back much too soon. Therefore, I was mostly in the palace, available to hear petitions and any concerns the people might have. It didn’t mean I enjoyed it, though.

  When both Father and I were absent, that responsibility fell to Salvatore, the head member of the king’s council. He was an older and highly irritable male who had the personality of a dried out piece of seaweed.

  No…the dry seaweed was more amusing.

  “I know what’ll lift your spirits.” Troy smiled and grabbed my hand, leading me farther through the garden.

  Entwining our fingers, I walked beside him.

  Affectionate and loyal were the words best used to describe Troy. He frequently held my hand or linked his arm through mine; anything to touch me. Our friendship was closer than most, but purely platonic. He enjoyed physical contact and sought it from me. He knew I wouldn’t hurt him or try to take more than he was willing to give.

  Wary of others could be used to describe him, as well.

  I smiled when I saw where he was leading me—to the arena.

  “Strange,” I said in a slightly cocky tone. “I was unaware you wished to have your pride damaged today.”

  “You think you can beat me?” Troy grabbed one of the knives and tossed it back and forth in his hands.

  “Unless your atrocious aim has gotten better, then yes,” I answered.

  Malik chuckled from behind me, and Troy tossed him a playful glare.

  “You stay out of this,” Troy said, pointing at the guard. But the laugh in his voice took away any punch to the words. “Or I’ll have to whip you, as well.”

  “Oh, please,” Malik responded with a sly grin. “I could beat you while blindfolded with one hand behind my back, young one.”

  Throwing knives was one of my favorite pastimes. As prince, it was imperative for me to train and learn specific skills, like defensive and offensive combat. I also trained with various weapons, such as knives and a bow and arrow.

  I could wield a longsword, but I preferred daggers.

  The soldiers trained in an arena, learning land-fighting techniques, but they also trained outside of the barrier. When I was little, I used to sit at the edge of the dome and look out into the sea, watching the men train and move through the water. They’d been graceful and deadly.

  I’d once dreamed of becoming a soldier, until I was told fate had other plans for me.

  As they continued to banter, I picked up one of the knives and moved it around in my hand. Seeing the target at the end of the field, I raised my arm and took aim. As I flicked my wrist and sent the knife hurling toward the target, I felt an amazing rush of excitement.

  Yes. This is exactly what I needed.

  ***

  Malik was going to murder me. Or at least chain me to the wall once he realized I was gone and hunted me down.

  I had to admit it was incredibly foolish to run from him. Father had chosen him as my personal guard because he was the best.

  Before my birth, Malik had been the captain of Father’s army; a warrior so renowned and feared that enemies were said to have pissed themselves once they discovered it was he who led the force.

  Father had wanted only the best to watch over me. Not only because I was his son, but because I was also rare.

  Nymphs were a dying breed and very few remained. And I was a nymph that also had god’s blood running through my veins. Among our enemies, I was a prize unlike any other.

  “Lor?”

  I froze at the voice.

  I’d snuck out of the palace early that morning. It had been tricky with Malik outside my room, but I’d waited until he left to find the other guard for a shift change—because even a warrior such as himself needed to rest—and then I’d made my move.

  Troy knew me better than anyone.

  I turned to him. He was still in his night attire, cotton pants and a matching top. His light-brown hair was messy and his violet eyes were tired.

  “Don’t go,” he whispered.

  “I must.” After closing the space between us, I grabbed his hands. “I will not be gone long. Perhaps a day or two. I just need…” I looked up at the sea life swimming on the other side of the barrier. “Freedom.”

  “Malik will be angry.”

  “He can be angry all he wants,” I responded, pulling my hands from his and stepping backward. “I’m still leaving.”

  “What of the king?” he pressed. “He has just arrived home and now you are the one leaving.”

  “Even more reason for me to go,” I said. “The king is in charge once more, so there is no need for the prince.”

  Troy watched me with disappointment. I thought he might argue further, but he seemed to know there was no stopping me. With a sad nod, he walked away.

  I didn’t have time to stand there and make things right with him. The guard would discover my absence any moment and then relay the news to a very grumpy Malik. With one final look at the palace, and to the sad-faced man who stood at the top of the steps, I turned and made my way to
ward the portal.

  There was only one way in and out of Avalontis, and I was fortunate that there wasn’t an armed guard waiting for me once I got there. Since no one but merfolk could pass through the barrier—unless they were with one of us—there was no need for it to be guarded.

  That might change, however, if I continued to sneak away. The guard would be placed there specifically for me.

  That’s a worry for another day.

  Without wasting another second, I passed through the portal, shifting into my merform as I did. The transformation process was fast and oddly satisfying. My legs lengthened and changed to a blue and green tail, violet fins sprouted from my forearms, and gills opened on my neck.

  My heart soared as I caught a current and swam through the blue water.

  The underwater kingdom was located between the Southern Isles and the north, so the water was on the warmer side, but still held a slight chill during the early morning. My senses were enhanced in my merform; echoes of sea life came from all directions and my skin tingled as though tiny zaps were traveling through my veins, guiding me.

  The closer I got to the surface, the more I saw the light shining on the water, like a thousand crystals.

  I yearned to feel the sun on my skin once more. With the promise of such a thing so close, I swam faster. Reaching the surface, I broke through the top of the water and gave a relieved sigh as the sun finally greeted me.

  That’s also when I felt him.

  My pirate.

  Not only did I feel connected to him, but I could sense him, as well. When he was close, it was like an invisible thread connected us and all I had to do was follow it.

  Just as I was following him now.

  He was farther north, so I dove back beneath the waves and traveled that way, eventually feeling the warmth leave the water. A deep chill took its place. More scales appeared on my skin, covering the tops of my shoulders in a cascade of blue. Better protecting me from the cold.