Page 49 of Cross Me

“Not an option.” My curiosity had driven me here tonight. At least, that was probably what Norris thought. Part of me wanted to know more about this stranger who shared my blood. Part of me wanted to assess whether or not he was a threat to me. The truth was that I couldn’t wrap my head around any of it. He was my brother. He didn’t know that. And yet, fate had thrown us together in this strange way. And then there was the issue of Clara. “He sees me as his competition.”

I didn’t have to fill Norris in on what the prize was. He’d picked up on Anders’s overtures as soon as he’d arrived. It was blatantly obvious to everyone but Clara, and I suspected she was only lying to herself.

“Perhaps you should finally tell her?” This suggestion was less gentle.

“I tried to stop it from coming to this. I tried to keep her away,” I told him. “She’s happy hosting the games. If I tell her, it will ruin this for her.”

Norris seemed to consider this for a moment. “What will happen if you don’t tell her?”

“She won’t find out?”

“Secrets don’t stay buried, Alexander, and they have no place in a marriage.” He gave me a hard look that said more than any warning. “It’s time for you to let her help you carry these secrets. You’ve shouldered some burdens too long.”

“Burdens?” I laughed humourlessly. “Is that how you view family? I thought it was about loyalty, duty, responsibility.” I rattled off the words my father had thrown at me when he’d sent me away to the war. The ones he’d reminded me of when I’d come home. The ones he’d threatened me with before I’d married.

Brex appeared, juggling three pints of beer. I had never been gladder to see anyone in my life. I needed a drink. He handed them off to us one by one, before dropping down to a chair next to mine.

“What did I miss?” he asked.

“We were chatting about our feelings. You’re back just in time to braid my hair.” I couldn’t hide my resentment. Yes, I had come here with an agenda, but I hadn’t come looking for a lecture. I downed my beer in one long draught.

Brex didn’t say anything. He just shot a disapproving glance at my empty glass. It would take ages to get another one. He looked around, scanning his perimeter and his eyes landed on the table of drivers. More specifically, they landed on Anders.

“Tell me that’s not why we’re here,” he muttered.

“It’s a coincidence,” Norris said flatly.

I hadn’t expected them to buy that one, but I didn’t need to explain my reasons.

“Look at it this way,” I told them, “I could have come alone.”

Brex groaned, rubbing his jaw as he continued to eye him. “It’s always best to bring close friends when you’re going to do something stupid.”

“I knew you’d understand.” I grinned. He shoved my shoulder, and for a moment, that’s what we were. Two old friends, giving each other shit and sharing a pint.

“To bad decisions.” Brex tapped his beer against my empty one.

“I’ll never understand how you two made it home alive.” Norris shook his head. I held up my empty glass and he clinked mine despite his disapproval.

At the table next to us, the noise level rose, and my companions visibly tensed. I, on the other hand, was feeling more and more relaxed. Until one word rose above the ruckus.

Clara.

I twisted, wanting to get closer, wanting to hear what was being said. Next to me, Brex had a hand in his pocket. I placed a hand on his shoulder carefully and gave him a small shake of the head.

“You’re saying you wouldn’t want to hit that?” A man I didn’t recognize called across the table. A few seats down Anders shot daggers at him. Adrenaline rushed through me, setting me on edge. For some reason his reaction made me even angrier. Clara wasn’t his to protect.

“She’s up the duff, man!” Another one crowed.

“That doesn’t matter,” the first man cried back. “She’s got that look about her. Like she likes it.”

“Course she does,” another said. “Gold-diggers always like it. They’re always on their knees—”

Now I was on my feet.

Anders was closer. He threw himself across the table, grabbing the man’s shirt and dragging him to the ground.

“Your Majesty,” Norris said under his breath, his hand hooking my elbow.