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 theLake 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, butnota 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; Iampart 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.”
