"Your Highness," Lara said gently, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Just call me by name, Lara," Prince Alaric interjected, the corner of his mouth quirking up ever so slightly. "I owe you my life. That earns you the right to call me by my nickname."
There was a quiet shift in the room, a stillness that settled as the words hung in the air.
Agilus rolled his eyes and settled comfortably on the wooden chair.
From his place nearby, the white-haired man watched with an unreadable expression. General Kromwel's sly grin barely masked the pride gleaming in his eyes. Though Alaric was not the favored prince of the kingdom, he was still a royal—his bearing and resolve befitting of a true leader. He was a perfect match for his disciple.
Samuel met Jethru's gaze for a heartbeat. The older man's arched brows conveyed a silent, knowing amusement.
