Yanking away from Kye, I finally freed myself. He shot me a look of warning, and it took everything in me to not glare back. We’d eventually have to attend balls and festivities together for public interest, but I wasn’t sure that was possible if we couldn’t control ourselves in front of his brother and his friend.
“Didn’t think Kye would ever find someone to tame him,” Aren said, his voice full of mirth.
Surprised, my eyes darted to him. “Kye?”
“Nikolaos,” Hadrian amended. “Kye is what I called him when he was born. It stuck within the family.”
I’d thought he’d made it up as an alias while on the island. “That’s adorable,” I said, forcing the sarcasm out of my voice as I stole a glance at my fiancé. He wasn’t paying attention. His gaze was fixed on the trainees he and Aren had left behind, now entrenched in bows and arrows, aiming for wooden targets across the field.
“Although, he is always looking for ways to disappoint his father,” Aren grinned as he ribbed his friend with an elbow. “But marrying a Leihaniian girl might be his boldest move.”
He was clearly teasing, and though the thought was offensive, I didn’t really care. They could have at me all they liked. I just wanted to leave.
“She’s a lady,” Kye reminded him. I stole a glance at him, surprised he’d defend me.
“Not a princess, though,” Aren snickered.
Kye rolled his eyes at his friend, who grinned at me.
I had the feeling I was missing something.
“She doesn’t know,” Hadrian observed, his ash-brown eyes watching me with interest.
Kye sucked his teeth and sighed. Hadrian and Aren snickered.
Mihaunaalive, my patience was wearing thin. I wasn’t interested in this game, and apparently neither was Kye, but I cocked my head anyway, playing the serious role of a new fiancée. “Know what?”
“A war’s been started because of you,” Aren said, wiggling his brows.
Kye’s jaw tensed, his fist clenching near his thigh. “It has not. Nothing’s been started, certainly not because of her.”
Well, this was going nowhere. Standing next to Kye made me want to vomit, and these other two idiots seemed intent on baiting a curiosity that was nonexistent. I sidestepped around Kye towards the door as Aren opened his fat mouth again.
“He wassupposedto marry the princess of Illuskia.”
Damn me for a fool, my feet skidded to a stop as my gaze snapped up to meet Kye. “What?”
He gave a small shake of his head, not meeting my eyes. Meanwhile the dolts were holding in laughter. My mouth parted as it suddenly clicked. They were teasinghim, though about what exactly, I couldn’t understand.
Annoyance twinged in my chest, and not on my own behalf. “I don’t see what’s funny.”
Kye’s eyes flicked warily to me.
“The princess of Illuskia isn’t easy to get along with,” Hadrian explained, a much more diplomatic answer than what Aren supplied.
“She’s a spoiled bitch.”
Kye glared at them both.
I glanced between the three of them, arms crossed. “What does that have to do with me starting a war?”
“Do you have somewhere you’re needed?” Kye asked politely, though he angled his head toward me finally, burning malice in his gaze.
“It doesn’t. Not directly,” Aren answered. “The conflict between Calder and Rivea over the mountain territories has gained traction, and Illuskia bartered soldiers in exchange for Kye’s hand in marriage to their princess.” His grin widened. “Come on, Kye. You couldn’t keep her locked away in secret forever. You have to let us meet her.”
Hadrian crossed his arms, mirroring me, his eyes crinkling as he finally took a long, considering look at us. Kye’s rigid form, his jaw tight and muscles flexed. The way I leaned away from him, never letting him stray into my periphery. I suddenly saw us through his calculating gaze, and warning bells went off in my head.
How obvious was it that we hated each other? That he would never have chosen me for marriage—not when a princess had been offered to him.
