Page 3 of The Desert Prince's Jewel
Worry coils in my gut again, halting my steps. I’ve never been this unsure in my life, even after the death of my mother. I can’t get myself out of the same looping morbid thoughts. There’s a doomsday clock ticking over my brothers’ heads and my own, foreven I can’t fight off the hordes of warriors who will contest my crown and fight for the throne without the mandate of the stone.
Parth and Harsh don’t deserve that cruel fate. And, even though I can’t stand their mother, she doesn’t deserve to see her sons beheaded, either.
It’s up to me, I suppose, to save us all. I have to show mercy by going against tradition, if need be.
My mother, Neha, goddess bless her soul, wouldn’t want it any other way. Her poisoning was partially due to her noble heart, which longed to treat family as family and be loyal to a fault. Maybe that same heart will be my undoing. Perhaps I should stop worrying about the worst traits I inherited from my parents and focus on the best—my dogged tenacity to face any challenge.
“Shit, this hurts,” Rohan croons softly to Kunal, a rare admission of discomfort within earshot of me.
As we close the distance towards the door, I lift my feet like a show horse in silent agreement. We were meant to slither and slide against sand with our tails, not teeter on hard concrete with human feet. However, Princedelphia is a melting pot, not a magnet for magic. Donning human disguises is necessary to blend in. I remind myself of that so I don’t suddenly sprout a tail.
As my eyes scan the premises, I’m surprised to be greeted by an elegant human woman who seems to be expecting me as she waves away a lesbian couple walking to their room hand-in-hand. Beside her is another receptionist named Simon, who doesn’t spare us a glance before wandering off to assist a group of tourists trying to pry open a wrought-iron elevator with their bare hands, if my heightened sense of sight can make out the scene unfolding correctly in the east wing of the hotel. The west wing seems to be under construction.
“Idiots,” Kunal mumbles, and I suppress a snort. It takes a lot to make him anything but pleasant in temperament at any given time, even in the midst of battle.
Then, we are left alone with the odd woman who doesn’t appear to be a receptionist at all. Said woman, whose name badge reads Layla, gives me a knowing smile and playful wink, straightening her uniform as she tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. Unusual, to say the least.
“Welcome, Ranbir, to Renversé Hotel. Are you ready to check in?” she chirps like the morning cries of a songbird. It’s grating on my last nerve.
I peer at the woman through hooded eyes. She radiates warmth and a motherly aura that almost circles her like a halo. But her eyes are shrewd, assessing me from head to toe, and I can’t tell if she likes what she sees.
Layla Fischer.
I sigh. Of course, there wouldn’t be two Laylas at this establishment. The patroness’s reputation has spread wide and far, drawing me to this place, a haven for the type of people who may run in the same circles as an art thief able to penetrate a magical kingdom without detection.
My eyes narrow as I approach the check-in counter. “How do you know my name?”
She narrows her eyes in return, though her face holds too much mirth to appear equally menacing. “That’s a funny way of saying hello,” she replies. “And you have a reservation and a unique name that’s hard to forget, if you’re well acquainted with magical royal circles like me.”
“You didn’t say hello,” I offer, ignoring the other half of her sentence.
So the rumors are true.Renversé Hotel is a runaway prince hotel. Royal sons can come here if they are willing to work.
I clutch my golden necklace, knowing I do need the work. We’ve sold so much of my people’s treasures, but worldwide travel for three men isn’t cheap without access to the royalcoffers. And we are dangerously low on cash and food, thanks to Kunal the glutton.
Without reservation, I spare a glance at three of my pure golden rings, gifts from my father to silence me when I begged him to show up to the opening night of my movie premiere. Back when I deluded myself into thinking there was any path outside the throne for a firstborn royal son.
With a sneer, I think of where I’ll pawn them off for an excellent price tonight to replenish my pockets, seeing as I can’t pay for the hotel room in cash, and certainly not in gold.
“Welcome? Hello? Tomato, tomato! Regardless, I greeted you as a professional would,” Layla counters, pulling me away from my morose thoughts, my gloomy mood stifled by my suspicion of this woman. “Besides, there aren’t many people like you checking into the hotel. And your name, well, precedes you.”
I suck my teeth and sigh. She has several points. And I’m being an ass.
“Excuse me, yes, I’m ready to check in,” I glance over my shoulder, “We’reready to check in.”
I suck in a sharp breath as I rummage through my wallet and hold out a credit card. I pray that it isn’t maxed out.
Layla’s hand pauses near the card reader before she hands my card back to me. I stiffen as she waltzes around the counter and gives me a once-over, eyes narrowing skeptically as she rubs her chin.
“So you ran away. You heard a rumor. And now you’re here. And you’re broke. A prince wouldn’t usually be, but I see you sending up a silent prayer that this card doesn’t decline. Am I right?”
None of what she says sounds like a question, so I don’t respond. Suddenly, the proprietress bursts out in joyous laughter, going up on her tippy toes like a young girl to clap me on my shoulders.
“You’re a big, strong na… man! We need extra security around here. Especially since we’re drowning in repairs from a hotel wing renovation, and taking on several unique guests as of late. So, if you’re willing to work long shifts, I will offer you refuge, food, and shelter. What do you say, Ranbir?”
She steps back a little, her hand sliding down my arms until she clutches my elbows and is only on the balls of her feet. She peeks around my left and then my right with a grin, waggling her eyebrows. “I’ll throw in shifts for your bodyguards, too, room and board included. Top-floor accommodations. Separate rooms. We got a deal?”
“Top floor accommodations and separate rooms?” I parrot, thinking the deal is too good to be true.
