A court of Unshed tears

chapter #16

Tamlin had taken a walk in the forest after dinner.

He originally planned to go alone but Amranthana soon caught up with him.

"Now why is a prince of spring frolicking around the woods like a commoner," her bright red lips twisted into a sinister smile.

"I am no prince, Amranthana," he said with forced lightness.

Lately Tamlin had become very irritable. Especially with females.

Well, one female... Amranthana.

It had only been a week since he had last seen Luna, but to Tamlin it had felt like fifty years.

"You are the son of a high lord that is enough to make you a royal in Hyburn," she moved closer to him.

"I am simply high fae. This continent doesn't share Hyburns Royal status," Tamlin was ready to be done with this conversation, "where is Ash?" He hoped Ash and Amranthana's time together would get her to stop lusting after Tamlin.

It seemed he was wrong.

"Why should I know," she took another step towards him, backing him against a tree, "I'm not his keeper."

Her voice dropped to a sensual honeyed tone that sounded worse than a attor to Tamlin.

"Do you have a keeper, Tamlin?" she said his name with such lust it made Tamlin want to bang his head against a wall.

She dragged a finger down the front of his tunic making him cringe even more.

He didn't want Amranthana to touch him for obvious reasons, but also because she was a siphon. They were not very common in high fae. Both her and her sister had the capacity to steal magic.

That was one of the sole reasons he had never trusted her.

Be polite, be polite, he heard his mothers voice inside his head, "I do not need a keeper," he gently removed her hand from his chest, his cheeks heating in anger.

He did not want to be touched by anyone... except for his mate.

Gods, he craved her touch more than he craved air.

"You think that now," she smiled as if it stored a secret that he was supposed to understand.

"I have to go and pack Amranthana," he stepped away from her and back towards the manor. He knew he made her blood boil at the dismissal.

Her face showed none of the embarrassment she probably felt.

"your leaving?" her black eyes glistened with curiosity.

"My father has insisted I stay with the war bands," he continued walking toward the manor, "I am sorry I won't be able to meet Clythia."

Some more delegates from Hyburn were coming tomorrow. Including Amranthana's sister.

Equally vain, equally dangerous. Especially now that there would be two siphons in spring court. Tamlin's father hadn't wanted him anywhere near them. He told Tamlin to stay with the war bands on the border of spring.

A naive young inexperienced child, was what his father had called him after Tamlin had questioned why he was to be sent away.

So Tamlin was going to the war bands.

He would stay at the cottage at night and train with the war bands on the border during the day.

His other brothers were to stay and welcome the delegates.