“You act like we’re the ones starting a war. Have you forgotten Tolsten’s attacks on us year after year?” The king’s anger was starting to rise again. “Tolsten’s attack on Axville! I will no longer stand by and watch Adler have his way with our country. This war between us has been ongoing, and we will finish it.”
“Perhaps I spoke too hastily,” Maxwell said, back-peddling. “My anger got the better of me. Of course, we all want justice for Axville, but this isn’t the way.” He looked at Trev. “I think the boy is right; there are consequences to this plan that I didn’t think about.”
King Carver couldn’t do anything unless he had the majority vote in the room, and he clearly wasn’t going to get that.
“Fine. We’ll pretend this idea never existed. King Adler is not to be touched,” his father said to the group of men, but Trev didn’t miss the intense look his father gave Fenton Pryer. “For now, we have sent a large number of men to Axville to assess the situation. We have also sent an official statement to King Adler demanding the hostages be returned.”
“We will wait for Adler’s response before we make any further moves,” Commander Pryer said as he looked at the men around the table.
The meeting was finished. Trev cursed under his breath when he saw Joniss coming down the hall. He was the last person he wanted to speak to right now.
“Ezra.” Joniss always purposefully left out the prince part.
“What do you want?” Trev said, unable to hide his dislike for the man.
“We missed you at the tournament events today.”
“I had meetings.”
“That’s a shame.” Joniss faked sadness. “I spent the day with Renna. She’s such a lovely girl, don’t you think?”
Trev’s face turned to stone despite his best efforts.
“How are things going with Seran?” Joniss asked.
“Excellent.” Trev responded too quickly for it to be believable. “What’s not to like about the princess?”
“She’s a little too uptight for my taste, but as far as arranged marriages go, I guess it’s an okay choice for you. I myself like my women a little wilder. Renna, for example.” Joniss smirked. “She’s exactly my type.”
Great. Joniss suspected something between him and Renna.
“Who knows, maybe we’ll end up being brothers-in-law.” Joniss’s expression was smug.
“I doubt Miss Degray would agree to marry you.”
“Perhaps not.” Joniss laughed. “But at least she has a choice in who she marries, as do I.”
22
Trev
The next morning, Trev leaned against the arena fence, watching crowds of people file into the stands. Conversation and laughter filled the yard while spectators waited for the final day of the Tournament of Games to begin.
Trev looked up and his heart stumbled. Renna walked toward him, her arms swinging casually at her sides. Her hair was spun around the top of her head in a bun, and she wore a pale pink day dress that complimented her golden complexion. Was there any color that didn’t look good on her?
He glanced at Drake and Joniss across the arena from him, talking with a group of soldiers. They both watched Trev as if somehow they knew how much his heart raced because of her.
Trev wanted nothing more than to smile back at her—to comment on her wispy gracefulness, but Drake’s words still hung in the back of his mind. You are terrible at hiding your feelings for her.
“Good morning, Prince Ezra,” Renna said as she stopped in front of him.
His eyes stayed focused on the crowd of people in front of him. If he didn’t look at Renna, maybe his heart rate would go back to normal. And maybe he could hide—correction—get over his feelings for her.
“I wanted to thank you for the chocolates you left the other night, but I couldn’t find you yesterday.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, and he let his eyes meet hers. “You don’t have to thank me. You won them fair enough.”
“Yes, I guess I did.” She rested her hands on the fence post that lined the arena and leaned in closer. Trev could smell the citrus scent of her hair, but he tried to ignore it. “I also received a note with the chocolates. Something very flirtatious from a man who promised not to flirt.”
From the corner of his eye, he could see Joniss walking toward them. “I don’t believe the note was from me.”
“Right.” The side of her mouth raised into a slight smile. “How foolish of me.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Joniss obnoxiously slung his arm around Renna’s shoulder.
“Not at all.” Renna shifted under his weight. “I was just telling Prince Ezra that I can’t believe the tournament is almost over. He missed some exciting competitions yesterday. Don’t you think, Officer Doman?”
“Yes, Ezra missed out on a lot yesterday,” Joniss said, pulling Renna into him.
Trev narrowed his gaze. The man was such a snake. He resisted the urge to punch him in the gut right then and there and watch him topple over to the ground. He could almost imagine how good it would feel.
Renna looked uncomfortably between the two men.
She started talking fast. “Well, we’re down to just sword fighting and then the championship. Then some guy gets a kiss from Seran.”
Trev opened his mouth to speak, but Joniss cut in. “Who says the winner will choose Seran?”
Renna scoffed. “Everyone.”
Joniss turned his face toward her, so his lips were by her ear. “I would choose you.”
Renna dropped her head nervously. “Oh.”
“It doesn’t matter who you would choose,” Trev said bitterly. “You’re not competing, remember?”
“I’m always competing. You, of all people, should know that.” Joniss shot a flinty smile at Trev, then grabbed his sword. “I think I’ll go enter right now.” His mouth twisted downward in mocking pity. “It’s a shame they don’t allow royalty to compete. I would’ve enjoyed beating you.”
Joniss winked at Renna before walking toward the fighting arena.
Trev forced out a breath.
Somehow he had just unwittingly goaded Joniss into entering the competition.
Renna
Renna couldn’t believe Joniss had entered the competition. He walked into the ring like a warrior, unsheathed his sword, and crouched low, ready to fight. With each clash and clang of swords, her nerves worsened. She had seen sword fights like this in New Hope, but she had never cared about who won or lost before. Now, a part of her hoped Joniss would win. She found herself flinching and ducking right along with the competitors in the ring. She pressed her hand over her chest as if she could still her beating heart and watched as Joniss defeated opponent after opponent until his arm was raised as the champion. He looked at Renna, his mouth lifted into a half-smile while his chest panted up and down with fatigue.
It was flattering that Joniss was doing this for her, and the jealousy burning in Trev’s eyes gave her more satisfaction than she dared to admit. It seemed like there was some sort of lover’s triangle happening now that she hadn’t even known existed.