again, or who I hoped was still my friend. We hadn’t spoken since the night in my room, and I wasn’t sure how he’d be after the way everything went down back home. I swallowed hard, fearing he may not even want anything to do with me.
“Princess Analia?” someone called my name in a deep, booming voice.
I turned my head to find a tall, striking man about my age dressed in dark blue military attire of the kingdom, the Dar’ish crest of a phoenix emblazed on his clearly muscular chest, coming up behind me. His dusty blond hair was longer and messy, like he’d just been in a windstorm. It looked good on him, whoever he was. He had pretty, blue eyes and a small scar near one of his brows. Those eyes, though… They reminded me of someone I knew. I shook it off. There was no way I could possibly know this man.
“Yes?” I answered nervously.
“My name is Tarek,” he explained, coming to my side and giving me a tight, forced smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m here to escort you.”
“I-I’m supposed to meet my mother,” I answered, remembering breakfast with her.
“If you follow me, I can take you to her,” he continued, his gaze swiftly raking over my body before falling on my face.
I chewed my lip nervously, contemplating whether I should go with him. He struck me as familiar, but for what reason, I had no idea.
“I’m a captain in the royal guard. Prince Soran sent me to make sure you made it to your mother’s quarters for breakfast,” he supplied, reading the question on my face.
“Where is my brother?” I inquired as we walked down the hall.
“I’m afraid he’s been called to the War Room to discuss an issue that’s suddenly arisen,” Tarek responded, glancing at me quickly.
I figured the sudden issue was me telling Soran that I’d bound myself to Calix and then died. Not to mention how we were going to get me unbound.
“Oh,” was all I said, making sure to walk with my head up like I suspected nothing.
“Are you adjusting well to the palace?” Tarek asked after a moment as we ascended a flight of stairs.
“As well as I can,” I replied, clearing my throat.
“I imagine it’s a lot different from what you’ve become accustomed to. From the reports I’ve read on Earth Realm, all people your age do is sit around on devices all day looking for attention. The good part of being a princess, you’ll still be able to get all the attention you’d like,” he stated it matter-of-factly, like he knew all the ins and outs of who I’d been back home and how Earth Realm worked.
“I’m glad your imagination is so vivid,” I snapped at him, angry at his assumptions. “You can tuck those in the same place you can put your opinion of me.”
“I’m interested in knowing how far your imagination expands, so please, tell me where I can tuck my opinions.” He smirked at me, and it took all my self-control not to turn him into the charred bit of pompous ass I knew he was.
“You wear your anger outward. It’s a bad trait. It gives your enemy far too much insight into your mind,” Tarek continued as we marched through the halls of the palace. I didn’t say anything as we turned left and continued down another hall. “In fact, you’re far too easy to read and won’t last a moment outside of these walls without a proper guard.”
“I don’t need a guard,” I answered stiffly, really wanting to slap the smirk off his face.
“How tragic considering you’re standing in the presence of your new captain.”
“What?” I snapped my head in his direction, my face heating with the very same anger he accused me of showing. I tried reeling it in and took a deep, calming breath before continuing, “Soran is part of my guard.”
“Yes, part of’ being the key to that statement. In case you haven’t noticed, dear Prince Soran has a lot on his plate and won’t always be of assistance to you. That’s where I come in. I will be dealing with all of your training and ensuring your safety.”
“I don’t need training,” I replied evenly, trying to rein in my irritation. “I’ll be fine without it.”
“Excuse me for saying this, Princess, but you’re an untrained Oracle without an ounce of knowledge about this world,” Tarek answered coolly, the mask of measured control falling from his face, only