Chapter 18 Back Again

• Meridian Water
• Back in the Kingdom of Umbra, I finally felt that familiar comfort of being home once more. The return went down smoothly—totally different from the outbound trip and the ambush that still echoed in our thoughts. On the way, we kept it professional, even though our gazes crossed now and then, hinting at the sexual tension that still lingered between us.
• Arriving at the Kingdom, the relief was obvious. We walked the palace corridors, me trailing behind the Prince, and I could spot a subtle tension in his face. It got me curious, wondering what was going on in his head. There was a slight smell of suspicion in the air, but I couldn’t pinpoint its source. For a few seconds, something inside me stirred but quickly went back to sleep.