Page 54 of Escape from the Green

"You said you weren't stupid," I reminded him, backing up into the wall, aware of the pole to my side, attached to mop, no doubt, but big and heavy, something I could use to defend myself with if necessary. "How so?"

To that, he snorted, leaning back into the wall nearest him as well, arms crossing over his chest as those freaky eyes stayed fixated on my face.

"When my father told me of our... betrothal," he said, spitting the word like venom from a snake bite wound, "it got me wondering. Why you? You're Light. You're lacking any skills to speak of. Your lineage, while decent, is certainly not worthy of royalty."

"I get it. I'm beneath you," I shot back, annoyed, words sharper than I had ever heard them on my tongue.

"Exactly," he agreed, shrugging. "My father is nothing if not opportunistic, cunning. Your mother seems cut from the same cloth, so surely you know what I mean."

"I do," I agreed, a bit frustrated that there was any kind of kinship between us.

"It didn't take more than a moment or two to put the dots together. Care to prove you're not utterly useless and come to the same conclusions yourself?"

My spine stiffened at that.

Sure, he was raised as royalty, he was aware that as a future king, he could do or say anything he wished.

But that didn't make it okay.

"In case you weren't aware, Jet," I started, voice cutting. "This is not your kingdom. I am not some peon you step on for fun, who you can belittle to prove how big and mean you are. Watch how you speak to me. You might be bigger than me. Stronger. But I have a hell of a lot more to lose."

"Are you threatening me?" he asked, brows drawing down as though he almost couldn't process that information.

"Yes."

"With a mop?" he asked, lips twitching, seeing where I was standing.

"A mop, sure. Or that piece of steel to my other side."

"Interesting," he said, nodding, almost sounding impressed. "I underestimated you. I won't apologize. I don't apologize. But I will attempt not to condescend to you. Unless, of course, you prove too stupid not to put this little puzzle together. The one where we stand off to the side in our wedding finery with our parents smiling in satisfaction. Not for the marriage, of course, but because they both got something else they wanted."

This was a test.

And, sure, I owed this man nothing.

But I still somehow felt as though I had something to prove.

Maybe because he had pressed his cruel fingers into a very sore spot.

My so-called uselessness.

My lack of skills.

My utter unspectacular-ness.

Maybe I was not graced with powers, but I was not stupid.

Why did his father want his son to marry the likes of me?

His only son.

His only heir.

Oh.

"Cece," I told him, feeling a bit of pride as he nodded slightly.

"What about Cece?"