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Sera steps out of the hut and crosses her arms. “You’ve been nothing but a distraction, dragging us down.”
I balk at her. “Isavedyou that first day.”
She sighs. “Sure, and I thank you for that, but honestly, Zora, why should we help you out when you already have the Heir on your side?”
I crane my neck toward Cristen. “Do you see what you’ve done? I told you not to be here.”
He scratches his chin.
“Who is even taking care of the Kingdom right now?” Harmony asks.
“The Royal Council, as well as the Princess.” He shifts his weight and rolls his shoulders back. “If you sincerely want me gone, I can go. I only thought if I was sticking you all in the trenches, then I should suffer by your side.”
“We have trained our entire lives for this tournament,” Sera barks. “You may think you’re being honorable to your future wife, but you’re also being condescending.”
“Oh, he’s always like that,” I add.
Harmony tugs on a strand of her hair. “Leave, prince. You’ll be with one of us soon enough.”
“I don’t doubt that with the way you two fight,” he offers and smiles.
My brow furrows. “Hold up.”
“I’ll be going then.” Cristen ignores me and backs away. “Thanks for saving me from doing the honorable thing. It’s a lot of work if I’m honest.”
I narrow my eyes. “Fucking excuse me, but did you just leave me out of your ‘who’s going to win this’ round-up?”
“He’s being sarcastic, Zora,” Sera says with a roll of her eyes.
I straighten.
Cristen chuckles.
“Wait, so you’re not leaving?” I demand.
“Gods no.” Cristen strides over to the water beast’s leg on Harmony’s spit. He plucks a piece of its cooked flesh in between his fingers. “Why would I return to a castle with all my riches, when I could stay here with a group of beautiful women and eat…” He tosses the meat into his mouth, and Sera gives a disgusted gasp. His face scrunches up, but he tries to hide it behind a weird half-smile. “Such delicious, and er —chewyfood,” he finishes, before forcing a swallow.
Harmony grins and tears off another piece. She hands it to him and bats her eyelashes. “Since you like it so much, here’s seconds.”
He pales.
I bite back a laugh and give the monster’s head a kick. “Or maybe you’d like some raw? I hear fish is great that way. Maybe the sentiment transfers to slimy water beasts?”
Cristen looks between the three of us, panic tensing his features. “Oh, I’ve made a mistake.”
“What? It’s just you and us. Don’t worry. We won’t judge,” Sera says.
“No, that’s precisely the problem. You’re all ganging up on me,” he remarks, his gaze swirling intensely. “You’re supposed to protect me.”
“Afteryou marry one of us,” I point out. “Until then, you’re fair game.”
“Very true,” Harmony agrees. She rests her hands on her hips and looks Cristen up and down with a sly smile. “Fair game in every department.”
“Why am I suddenly envious of the water monster?” Cristen mutters and walks away.
“Where are you going?” Harmony fake pouts.
“I need a bath.” He waves an arm back at us. “I’ve got a sword. I’ll see you three later. Maybe.”
