It’s beautiful.
The sides of the cavern catch the ultraviolet light, reflecting in the shimmering pool of water near the center. The sediments and minerals in the rocks glow bright, dazzling colors; amazing reds, pinks, blues, and greens, contrasting the black around them. The water is crystal clear, and beneath its still surface, a white slab of rock illuminates the pool like a silver halo.
“Whoa.”
I jerk my head sideways and bring my hands up. Caben stands behind me. “Goddess, Caben.” I release a forced breath.
His lips turn up. “Sorry,” he says. “I thought your protector senses would warn you that I was near.”
Shaking my head, I turn back around to inspect the cavern. “It is amazing.” I pause only a moment longer, letting the scenery wash over me, then start looking for a connecting tunnel. Lowering the light, I search for another stream.
“We should take a dip,” Caben says from behind me.
“In our drinking water?” I laugh. “Probably not. Besides, we don’t have time. I need to find Lilly before the guards discover we’re missing.”
“It’s fresh running,” he says, ignoring my second comment. “We won’t be drinking our bath water.”
“You never take anything seriously,” I say under my breath, then add a little louder, “What I mean is, you’ve been raised a prince. You’ve never had to do things yourself, and maybe that’s why it’s easy for you to shrug off our predicament. You’re waiting for someone to save us.” I swallow. “But they’re not. And you need to realize that.”
I expect a quick retort, for him to make light of our situation with a joke, but he says nothing. He’s quiet as I continue to search, working my way along the cave wall, and I wonder if he’s left. Turning around, I bring the light up. Caben stares into the pool of water, his shoulders slumped, and his fingers trace the scar along his temple.
I open my mouth to say something comforting, but I’m unsure of what—maybe take back my remark. In this moment, I’m reminded that I know little about him. Other than the sarcasm and desire to understand nothing of my queendom, he hasn’t allowed me past the surface.
But then, I have my own walls, hiding things I’d never want him or any other to know. And I understand that need to hide them. You can’t trust anyone.
“Caben . . .” I start, but still can’t find the right words.
He lowers his hand from his face, never taking his eyes off the glinting water top. “You’re right,” he finally says. “Let’s find the access to Lilly’s section.”
A hollow pang hits my chest, and I’m not sure why. Something in his voice sounds lost, broken. I imagine the gears around my heart spinning faster, trying to keep up with my racing heart.
When he sidesteps me, I reach out and grab his arm. “Caben, I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine, Kal,” he snaps. “We have work to do.”
“No, I’ve said something to offend you.” I drop my hand, but keep close to him, not allowing him to leave my side. Goddess, trying to understand the male brain is harder than anything in protector training. I’ve heard people say that you have to tip-toe around a woman’s emotions, but a man’s ego is every bit as fragile, if not more so.
He releases a heavy breath through his nose and walks back to the pool. He sits down along the edge and rolls up his pants, then slips off his boots. “I honestly don’t think Bax or his goons will be returning tonight.” He sinks his bare feet into the water and sighs.
Glancing at the back of the cave, I plant my hands on my hips. We don’t have time for indulgencies, but the prince is still my charge. If it were my empress, I’d give her anything she’d ask for. Allow her as much time as she needed to collect herself. I have to watch over his mental state as well as protect him, so I push the pending need to find Lilly aside and sit down next to him.
“Here,” he says, turning his hand out near my crossed feet. “You have to feel this.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth. “I can remove my own—”
“Have you never been pampered a day in your life?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow. “I know that the Nactue are fierce and will put a hurt on any man for touching them. But try to relax.”
“Is that the rumor in Perinya?”
“What?”
I bite my lip, suddenly regretting my blurt. “Nothing. Never mind.”
From the corner of my eye, I see his lips pucker into a pinched smile, as if he’s trying not to. “Ah,” he says, like he’s made some great universal connection. “Well, there are many whisperings about the Nactue. Some I dare not repeat for fear I’d leave here missing a limb, but that’s one, yes.” He takes my booted foot and begins to unlace it. “I’ve heard that the empress’s protectors are untouchable—forbidden to give themselves to men. And that they’ll snap a man’s neck just for making an advance.”
My mouth drops open. Appalled, I counter, “That’s not true.”
“All right,” he says, as if he hasn’t just insulted my very existence. “It’s only rumors. Things men jaw about in pubs. The unattainable woman is a fantasy, Kal. Don’t be offended.”