“I don’t think I’m supposed to speak to you, sir.”
If he knew that this was the most I had spoken to any male since I arrived on Ealra, he wouldn’t push me so much to speak to him. It was freaking me out, and all I wanted to do was run away.
The prince looked at our surroundings, then back at me, and asked, “Says who?”
“Everyone, sir,” I blurted. “We’re not supposed to speak to any member of the royal family unless—”
“Unless a member of the royal family addresses you first, which is exactly what I did.” He cut me off, his tone sounding … amused. “What other excuse will you come up with to run away from me and our conversation?”
I was at a loss for words, and the prince knew it.
“I … I guess I have none, sir.”
“Good,” he hummed. “Because I wanted to speak with you.”
An array of thoughts ran through my mind at what a prince of the people could possibly want to speak to me for.
Tensing, I said, “About what, sir?”
“Humans,” he answered. “You have all been here a while now, but you’re still somewhat of a mystery to me.”
“Our species are new to one another, sir. I think it will take a long time to figure each other out.”
“Look at me when you speak, not at your feet.”
“Yes, sir.” My eyes darted up to his. “Sorry, sir.”
He frowned at me. “My name is not Sir, it is Ezah.”
“Oh.” My ears burned. “Sir is not a name, it is … it is a term of respect my people use for a man … a male.”
“Call me Ezah, not sir.”
“I cannot,” I blurted. “You’re a prince of the people, sir. I cannot.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Then use the term the people use when addressing a prince.”
“What … what term would that be, sir?”
“My prince.”
My prince.
I felt like I was standing near an open fire even though the night’s air was crisp and cool. It was the prince’s words that brought so much heat to my body, and I had no idea how to deal with it. I clasped my hands together just so I wouldn’t fidget with them.
“Everyone uses that term … sir?”
I couldn’t not call him sir until he confirmed that I had to call him “my prince”. I was too scared of the repercussions of not using the title. The only man I was never to call Sir was Master because he preferred his slaves calling him something that held power over a subject entirely.
“Each of the people do,” Ezah answered, his eyes watching me as if challenging me to disobey him. “My siblings? Not so much.”
I had no idea why he just told me something personal, even if he didn’t think it was a big deal.
“Okay … my … my prince.”
Ezah’s lips twitched. “I have a task to complete, female. I need to learn about humans. Human females, in particular, and I’ve chosen you to be my teacher.”
My legs nearly buckled from underneath me.
“But sir, I mean my prince.” I shifted my stance. “There are many other women who would be delighted to help you with your task. I am … I am very shy and awkward and—”
“You’re perfect,” Ezah interrupted. “I have chosen you.”
I could only nod. Even though I wasn’t cold, I felt my body begin to shiver.
“Return to your homestead and get some rest,” the prince ordered. “Dawn comes early.”
I could have deflated with relief at the out he had just given me. I bowed my head to him, just to show him respect, then I turned and hurried towards the trail at the base of the hill.
“Levi?”
I jolted when he said my name. It rolled off his tongue in a way that made my throat run dry.
I paused and looked over my shoulder. “Yes … my prince?”
His eyes flashed with an emotion I couldn’t decipher.
“It is currently a minute past the twenty-fifth hour of the day, meet me here at this time tomorrow night.”
I couldn’t work my throat to respond, so I simply nodded before I turned and began to walk away.
“And Levi?”
I paused but didn’t turn around this time.
“No more running away from me.”
My body felt like it was on fire. I jerked my head in response and resumed walking once more. I knew the prince was watching every step I took, and it blew my mind when I realised that … I liked it.
Chapter Five
Ezah
“I’m not wearing that. I’d happily walk into the Underworld smiling at Kuat first!”
“Muma!” Surkah, my only sister and youngest sibling, shouted. “Ezah is defying me again.”
I hissed at the little pest, which earned me an eye roll for my trouble. If there was ever a being in the Universe who I could not intimidate, it was my sister. My younger brothers even knew they could only get so far with baiting me, but Surkah? Her annoyance knew no bounds.