I wasn't a stalker. I had simply never been to the coast and wanted to see it for myself. The nomads just happened to be on the same beach. I chewed on my thumbnail as I watched the group gathered around the fire. That sounded like a good enough excuse. Ki might buy into it. I cursed under my breath. I shouldn't be here.

Ki left the others. He waved at them and stopped to talk to his mother. I slipped a little more into the shadows. I came all this way and didn't even know if I could get close to him. His mother would attack if she even caught of glimpse of me being here.

He gave his mom a hug and went off to where the tents were located. This was my chance.

I crept among the lines of tents, trying to stay out of direct light. Ki wandered along to one toward the end of the row. He lifted the flap and entered. I raced across the walkway and slipped in behind him. He jumped when I grabbed his arm. I quickly covered his mouth to muffle his scream.

"I thought by now that you would be used to me sneaking up on you."

Scowling at me, he shoved me off. "What are you doing here?" he said in a hushed voice. "You need to leave now. It's not safe."

I moved closer. "What? I was lonely." I brushed my fingers against the back of his hand.

"It's been a week, Tolcan. You can't be here. You're too close to the barrier. What if your magic causes a ripple?"

"It is so sexy when you use my name." I pressed up against him. "I wasn't planning on touching the barrier." I ran my thumb along his bottom lip. "It's been a really long week and I had to use so much magic to get here. I don't think I have the strength to go back."

With a sigh, he pushed his hair away from his forehead. "I'm not alone. Two other men sleep in this tent."

"It's a good thing I came prepared." I grabbed his hand. "Shall we?"

Ki swallowed hard. "Do you promise to go back first thing in the morning?"

I gave him a quick peck. "I'll be gone before the sun rises."

He tried not to smile. "You go first. It'll be less likely that you'll be seen if you go alone. I'll meet you by the cliffs."

I lowered my head to his level and looked him in the eyes. "You better show up or I'll come and get you. I'll make a scene of it as well."

"I will." He sucked in his lips and ushered me to the door. "Hurry up and go."

Clasping the side of his head, I brought it to me and kissed his cheek. "Meet me at that old castle down the coast. You know where it is, right?"

"That place is cursed. Let's go to the cliffs. I know of some places where we can hide."

"I'm not one to sleep in the dirty. I'll be waiting for you at the castle and don't worry, I'll perform a counter-curse while I'm waiting." I gave him a smirk as I lifted the tent flap. "See you soon." Dipping outside, I fell into the wind and let it carry me up the coast to an old abandoned castle that was about a mile away from where the nomads were camped.

The best thing Ki could have said was that they thought it was cursed. It would limit the possibility of his mother marching in to retrieve her son while trying to stone me in the process. Halfway there, I felt the strain of using too much magic. I'd have to settle for walking the rest of the way. It required less energy and I need to conserve some for the night ahead.

I climbed up the rocks and entered the stone building through a side entrance. Going to the second floor, I went to one of the bedchambers that I had prepared earlier. I pulled back the tattered curtains and they ripped off without much effort. One of the glass doors was only a frame and the other was stained from the salt water. I walked to the railing on the balcony and peered out over the sea. The moon was reflecting on the water. It was a beautiful sight. It wasn't even that far away from the city. It was still too far for my father and the kingdom's liking for a prince to wander.

Letting out a deep breath, I went back inside. As long as I didn't touch the barrier, nothing would happen. No one was certain that anything would happen if I were to go near it. I had one ancestor that went too close and the barrier shuttered a little. Everyone took it as a sign from the gods.

I sat down on the blankets I had brought with me. How long was Ki going to keep me waiting? I laid down and rubbed my eyes. The journey here had taken more out of me than I thought. I was going to be useless tomorrow after going back. I might have to hide in Eglin until I recovered. Yawning, I tucked a blanket under my head. Ki better hurry up and get here. I had already waited long enough for that man.

***

Something brushed against my forehead. I felt the warmth of someone breath on my lips. I smiled and slowly opened my eyes.

Ki laid down and rested his head on my shoulder. "Do you know how long I've been searching this place for you?"

I laughed. "I was more tired than I thought." I wiped my eyes. "I felt nice to take a little nap."

"You didn't need to come all this way."

"I wanted to." I turned onto my side and cupped his cheek. "Back home, all they do is yell at me."

"I can yell at you if you want," said Ki, trying not to smile.

"Smart ass." I kissed him and pulled his body flush against mine.

We parted and I left a kiss between his eyes.

"I kind of understand why you run off to the coast every year. It prettier than I thought it would be."

Ki hugged me. "Let's make this a one-time thing. Next year, I'd rather take a trip home than you coming here."

"What are you so worried about?"

"The barrier falling," he stated.

"Everyone's so paranoid. The castle is cursed, the barrier going to break at any moment, who knows maybe tomorrow the gods might take away my magic."

"You're not making me feel better," he whispered.

I slipped my arm around his shoulders. "Are you scared of what might be out there?"

"Yes."

"It might be better than what's on the inside."

"I'm a nomad, my prince. From the stories past down, it's pretty clear that in no society are my people welcome. At least in Sarid, we're allowed some space to exist."

"You're allowed to do more an exist." I touched my eyelid and met his gaze. "The same blood in these veins"—I brought his wrist to my lips—"flows through mine. You're closer to royalty than most."

He turned into me and rested his head on my chest. "When I first saw you, I couldn't believe it when I was told you were a prince. I never thought a noble would ever come to Eglin or that any of them even looked like me. Then I met you and I realized that you couldn't be anything but a prince."

"What does that mean?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. There's was something about you."

"That's better than my first thoughts of you."

Ki sat up on his elbow. "What were they?"

I gave him a smirk. "How can a man be more beautiful than any woman. Followed closely by; how to do I convince this man to have sex with me."

He scoffed and pulled away.

I yanked him to me and cut off his response with a kiss.

"You're impossible," he stated.

"I know." I kissed him again.

"I'm not some brothel worker."

"I know." I kissed him again and again.

I rolled on top of him and peered down at such a stunning man. He rested an arm overhead and closed his eyes. His breath deepened as he pushed up against me. He was everything I wanted.

"Become my queen."

Ki chuckled. "I'm flattered, my prince, but that would not be appropriate."

"As my father would say, a king decides what is appropriate."

"I am a nomad."

"My mother was half."

"It didn't show," he replied, opening his eyes. "I'm also a man. Your line would die with me."

"My brother can carry on my father's dynasty. Mine can die. We can be the last of our lines. It can die with us."

He gave me a quick peck. "Wouldn't that be a dream worth living."

"We can live it."

"You are a prince, Tolcan."

"Only in these walls." I moved his hair from his forehead. "Outside I can be no one. I can be a simple man without a title."

"We can't leave these walls."

"Are you sure?" I sat up and looked out the window. "I could test it."

He snatched the collar of my shirt and pulled me down to him. "Don't you dare."

"Than become my queen." I leaned in close so our lips barely touched.

Ki nodded. "Okay, for tonight, I'll be your queen."