Her ensemble was out of this world. It was dark navy, and while there was plenty of skin on display, the outfit hugged her body tightly as if protecting her. Her eyes of eccentric pink almost hypnotised me. She was Ezah’s sister, there was no doubt about it. I saw parts of him in her face and her eyes.
I was standing before the lone princess of the Maji.
“My princess,” I squeaked as I placed my hand over my chest and bowed my head deeply. “I am honoured to meet you.”
“The honour is mine. I am most excited to meet you.”
She was?
“I … I didn’t know that you knew I existed, my princess.”
“I didn’t,” the princess answered as I straightened. “But Ezah told me about you earlier, and I appointed myself as your guide, though I’m sure he will take over that position when he realises I am out here with you—”
“Surkah!”
I jumped at the loud bellow, and Surkah rolled her eyes.
“Go away, Mikoh. I am speaking to this beautiful female.”
If my skin was as fair as Nuni’s, I would have positively glowed bright red.
I shed my embarrassment at the princess’s unexpected compliment when a large male stormed down the steps of the palace’s entrance. He was tall but not as tall as Ezah. A lot of the Maji males I had seen didn’t reach his height. This male still towered over me, though. He had black hair that appeared long but was tied up in a top knot. He had dazzling but scary eyes. They were blood red with silver flecks in them. The gold caps on his teeth drew my focus because they were bared as he came to the princess’s side and hissed at her.
I could have died.
“You’re scaring her.” The princess growled. “Stop it, Mikoh.”
Mikoh’s scary eyes moved to mine, and I dropped my gaze immediately. While I felt I had grown a bit of a backbone since meeting Ezah, my encounter with Mikoh was a swift reminder I still felt fear around males. I was in the middle of lowering myself to my knees when an arm reached out and stopped me. I looked up, and the second I locked eyes on his, the weight of the world fell off my shoulders.
“Ezah.”
Without a thought, I hurriedly pressed myself against his hard body. His arms came around me instantly. It was unbelievable how his presence, his touch, put me at ease when I’d felt trapped with fear just moments ago.
“I got scared.”
“I know,” he murmured, his hand stroking up and down my back. “But Mikoh is a good male. He would never harm you. He is my sister’s intended.”
I bobbed my head. Logically, I knew the male had no reason to harm me, or to want to harm me, but because he was angry with the princess, I had the urge to submit to him and avoid his wrath. I hated it. I knew I had to work on it. I had been on Ealra just over four moon cycles, I couldn’t break a lifetime habit in such a short time.
“I’m sorry, my prince.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for … my sister, however, does.”
“How is it my fault that Mikoh lost his temper like a little one, baja?”
Mikoh’s growl didn’t scare me because Ezah was holding me.
“You know better than to leave the safety of the palace unsupervised and without informing your intended. Do you want to invoke Father’s rage? He will keep you locked up in the palace for the rest of your life if you keep trying his patience.”
Surkah grumbled something under her breath that I couldn’t hear. Whatever it was made her brother and Mikoh growl.
“Oh, for the sake of Thanas, both of you stop.” She huffed. “I just wanted to see her on my own without the interference of males.”
Me? The princess was in trouble because she left the palace to see me?
“Levi?”
I separated from Ezah, embarrassed to still be clinging to him, and I straightened my clothing. I turned to the princess and smiled widely. I didn’t look at her intended. I kept my eyes on her. Her own smile was warm and inviting.
“Yes, my princess?”
“Come.” She held out her hand. “I will lead you to the feast hall.”
I glanced up at Ezah to make sure he was okay with this, and when he nodded, I took the princess’s hand and allowed her to lead me up the steps. I used my free hand to pull up the end of my dress so I didn’t trip and fall.
“I want to thank you for what you did for my aunt-in-mate,” Surkah said, and her fingers intertwined with mine. “I don’t know what we would have done if we had lost her.”
I almost forgot why I was coming to the palace in the first place.