Chapter 10

                                    

                                          
Ezra's POV

                          
Sophie lingers by the corners of the rooms, edging toward windows, acting so odd, jumping back from any form of furniture. It's the first time she's been in a castle. The rest of us stand around a fireplace in the drawing room.
                          
Titan, Ula, Merwyn and Cora are with me, as we discuss her future.
                          
"You can thank me for that pendant," Cora whines, "Do you know how long it took to create such a rare power, to enable her rare kind to walk? Only for her to try and devour your hand."
                          
"What happened to – you know?" Merwyn hisses at me, refusing to say the plan in front of Sophie. She can hear us talking.
                          
Merwyn is referring to all my loose talk around murdering her.
                          
It was too easy to do.
                          
No.
                          
I look over my shoulder to see Sophie attempting to sit on a couch, looking extremely uncomfortable on the velvet underneath her. And she gets grime on everything.
                          
When she sees me watching, she tilts her head in a cute manner and waits for me.
                          
"Let us help you," Titan pushes for them all to stay.
                          
They are always helping me.
                          
 Always protecting me.
                          
"I can find some clothes for her with Cora," Ula suggests.
                          
"Do that," I hold up my hand, agreeing, "Go with Cora. Titan... Merwyn... the rest of the night will be for Sophie and I alone."
                          
 "She will not sleep without water," Titan murmurs.
                          
"Who said sleeping was a part of the plan?" I try not to roll my eyes.
                          
"She wants to devour you," Titan reaches over and grabs my wrist of my broken hand, showing me the bleeding red bandage, still very sore from her chomping power, "Don't be mad like your father. It's a miracle he's not dead."
                          
"The disrespect, Titan. Watch yourself. Eros is King of Belle Island, as Lily is Queen and I am Crown Prince, so get out!" I snarl at Titan, furious because he constantly berates and questions me.
                          
"We are your council, Ezra," Titan challenges me anyway, "You must listen to our advice."
                          
Instead of biting back, I look them all over carefully.
                          
"I've considered your words – but Sophie is my find. She is mine. She came to me –"
                          
"Excuse me."
                          
A small whisper intrudes.
                          
I turn, as we all do, to see Sophie at my back, her hands clasps in front of her as she stands, looking doe eyed.
                          
 Her large amethyst eyes ogle up at me.
                          
"If you hurt him," Titan comes up behind me, standing over my shoulder as he talks to her, "You will be hung. Pest."
                          
 "She is a River Nymph," I murmur, while she remains shy and quiet.
                          
"Why are you never alone?" Sophie asks me, "Are you afraid?"
                          
She asks because she cares about me.
                          
But something in me snaps.
                          
I slowly turn to my friends.
                          
The look in my eye says it all.
                          
Without another word, Titan, Merwyn, Ula and Cora back out of the drawing room.