“Huh?”
“During your trials.”
I nodded once, then took a step away from the wall to put some distance between us.
“How long do you plan on avoiding me?” Sebastian asked, grabbing my arm and pulling me back to the wall.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
He scoffed. “You’re spending time with Sawyer by choice just so you don’t have to train with me.”
I rolled my eyes, not breaking my gaze from the door. “I like spending time with Sawyer. We’re friends. And I just talked to you the other day.”
He moved in front of me so that I had no choice but to look at him. I glared into his face, scowling, making sure he knew how unamused I was.
“That was two weeks ago and I hardly consider that a conversation,” he argued.
“What could you possibly want to have a conversation about, Crown Prince Hawthorne?”
He ground his jaw at the use of his formal title. “You know what.”
I looked over his head at the clock. I’d never been so eager to see the king in my life. I tapped my foot. It was noon. He should open his door any?—
“Good afternoon.” King Hawthorne’s voice bounced off the walls of the corridor as the door to his study flew open.
I sidestepped and marched by Sebastian as if he was not even there, then took my usual seat and crossed my legs. The other two filed in after me, the king shutting the door and moving behind his desk.
He got right to the point, not wasting any time before completely fucking up my day. “Duke Sinclair has located three more traitorous Caelestians, whom he has dealt with.However it seems that Draemor is still receiving information about our kingdom and you, Maeve. We are unsure how he's obtaining this information.”
I sat still and silent as he went on.
“We suspect that there could be someone within the walls of the castle who is delivering this information to Cyprian. The things he's aware of are not things that are public knowledge to most Caelestians.”
I twiddled my thumbs as Sebastian moved to take a seat next to me. I fought my eyes from wandering to him as King Hawthorne slid a piece of parchment across his desk to me—a letter from King Beaumont.
To the Ruler of Caelestis,
I present you with one last opportunity to turn over Maeve Willawood to the Kingdom of Draemor. As I have previously offered, in return, I will cease all hazards that threaten your civilians. If you decline, prepare your soldiers for relentless bloodshed. My army will not fall back until the eastern territory belongs to Draemor, and until Maeve Willawood is under my reign.
All the best,
Cyprian Beaumont
I pushed the letter back to him, disregarding Sebastian's hand that tried to grab it to read as well. Unfortunately the king ruined my pettiness by passing him the letter himself.
Sebastian scanned the paper, showcasing how fast of a reader he was. “This is just the same shit he's been threatening us with for months.”
“I am aware,” the king responded calmly.
A muscle in Sebastian's jaw ticked. “I thought you were supposed to be taking care of this.”
“I have it under control.”
“Clearly you don't. Beaumont is just getting more insistent that he’ll have Maeve no matter what—war or no war.”
“He will not take her. Unless there's a good enough reason for me to give her up willingly, that is.” King Hawthorne raised an eyebrow. “Is there?”
Sebastian crossed his arms, his muscles flexing under his shirt. “There's not,” he growled.
