Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
“You know, I’m not feeling so hungry after all of today’s excitement. I think I’ll go to bed early. Catch up on some sleep. Let’s meet up tomorrow morning. We can search for a caravan to join. I can also take care of what we owe Adeline and Jasper.”
The silence stretched between us before Nylian released a slow, soft breath.
“Going with me isn’t your only option,” he stated.
I lifted my head to look at him, to find that the smirk was long gone from his lips.
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m not sure I believe that you’re from another world, but everyone in this one believes you’re Prince Victor Montcroix. It’s not a long trek to Gushan from here. You can go there and live a very comfortable life as a prince. At least, until you find a way to your home.”
There was nothing in my brain for several seconds. Just static. Discovering that I was Victor Montcroix had created chaos and complications, but I was through all of that now. I had never considered that there was a bright side to this. I could go live a comfortable life in a palace. There was even an older brother to inherit the throne, so I wouldn’t have to worry about making important decisions. It was possible to walk away from all the danger and insanity right now.
My stomach soured, and my heart skipped a beat at the idea of leaving Nylian to his own devices. Alone in the world.
“No.”
“What?”
“I said no.” I shoved out of the chair and Nylian straightened from his lean on the wall as I took a step toward him. “When we first met, I wasn’t sure whether you killed Orian, but after spending the past several days with you, I can’t believe it. So, you’re stuck with me. There’s no way in hell I’m letting you wade through all these evil, scheming people alone. You need help, and I’m going to help you. Remember, I’m the king of distractions. And now I’m a prince of Edros. I can be of use.”
As I spoke, Nylian’s smile returned, growing wider with each sentence. His eyes brightened and twinkled again, lifting a heavy weight from my chest. Maybe he thought I was crazy. I didn’t care.
“Okay,” Nylian breathed.
“Good!” I marched a couple of steps away from him, only to realize I didn’t know where I was going or what I was doing. My brain and heart were relieved that he didn’t think I was an evil prince out to kill him or his brother. “Then…I guess…tomorrow…”
“Sure.” I glanced over my shoulder to see the elf stroll to my door. He placed his hand on the knob, but paused, staring at it as if he couldn’t remember how it worked. “Are you sure you’re not hungry? I did spot this restaurant while I was following you that looked promising. Smelled like it baked up some delicious bread and some tasty sweets.”
As if on cue, my stomach let out a vicious growl that filled the silent room. Fuck it.
“You know,” I began as I swung around to face him, “that sounds like a good idea.”
I wasn’t sure how Nylian viewed me any longer. Maybe not as a friend, but I didn’t think he saw me as his enemy, either. At least I didn’t need to hide the truth from him any longer.
Okay, so I hadn’t come right out and said that he was a character in a book that I’d sort of written. And I definitely wasn’t telling him about the harem. He was the one fucking that bit up. Not me.
But it was crystal clear that he needed help on this journey, and I had more ways to help him than I’d previously believed. Yep, I was more than a distraction now.
Chapter 12
Fake It Till You Make It
A belly full of food, a long soak in a hot bath, and a comfortable bed with soft blankets meant I slept like the dead at long last. For the first time since ending up in this world, I caught up on sleep. Worries about someone trying to kill me or how I was going to get home slipped away.
When I awoke in the morning to someone pounding on my door, it took my brain an extra second to figure out where I was. As I groused to myself about unnecessary wake-up calls, I pulled on my pants and stumbled over to the door.
I opened it a crack and peered out to find a man in City Watch livery standing on the other side. My heart jolted into my throat and I was more awake than if I’d just inhaled three shots of espresso.
“Forgive the intrusion, Your Highness,” the guard begged, bowing before I could even stammer out that he had the wrong guy. Clearly, he didn’t. Well, not technically.