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And right now, clearly furious.

“Stop!” cried another guard, chasing after him, but if Ralf heard him, he gave no indication, he simply drew his sword as he marched.

“Let’s do this. You and me, right here.”

Any thought of grabbing the sword off the wall was lost as I watched the spectacle along with the rest of the crowd. Perhaps Ralf was about to do the job for me and save me ruining Anika’s life.

“I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” Galen slurred, snorting a laugh, clearly still the worse for wear from the banquet hall. Ralf was going to slaughter him.

“Fucking pleasure? Fucking pleasure?” Ralf shrugged off the guard who had caught up with him, flinging him casually to the side of the hall. “You had the pleasure of my wife though, didn’t you, you little turd? Forced her, didn’t you? Left her devastated, sobbing, dazed.”

“That was your wife? I really must congratulate you on such a fine choice.”

Where the fuck was my uncle? Surely the king wouldn’t let his daughter—even his stepdaughter—marry a man like this?

“I challenge you,” Ralf said, shifting his grip on the long sword. “Right here, right now. I’m going to fucking end you.”

“Really, there’s no need for violence. Name a price and I’ll pay it, for services rendered, so to speak.” Galen laughed, and to my utter fury some of the gathered crowd laughed with him.

For a second, I wondered if I could act now without revealing anything about me and Anika. I could simply be standing side-by-side with my friend.

But before I could do anything, Ralf charged.

The response to his attack was almost too quick for the eye to see. Galen’s knife was suddenly in his hand. More of a ceremonial dagger than a fighting weapon, against Ralf’s long sword it should have been comical, but instead it was horrifying. Ralf’s attack was deflected almost without effort, and he was caught off balance. Despite Galen’s level of intoxication, he moved with precision, turning, pressing his advantage.

Ralf tried to regain control, but it was already over. As he brought his sword above his head for a second lunge, Galen stepped inside his swing and brought the point of his knife up under the larger man’s ribs. Ralf’s eyes went wide, his mouth fell open, and his grip went loose, the long sword clattering harmlessly to the ground.

It was only then that the crowd caught up, gasping suddenly as they should have when Ralf attacked. Galen withdrew his knife, and Ralf stumbled back.

I rushed across the room and caught him before he could fall, laying him down gently on the marble floor. His eyes met mine in shock, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He was trained to the best of our kingdom’s ability, and he’d just been bested in a matter of seconds by some prince of a small, insignificant country.

I turned my gaze on Galen as he stepped forward, his knife out as if to finish what he’d started. “The man’s dying, for fuck’s sake. Let him pass in peace,” I growled.

Galen simply laughed. “Is this honor for you people? Begging for mercy in a fight you started? How weak. In Nemenia, mercy is neither asked nor given. I would take my own life in shame to have someone beg it on my behalf. I deserve to take his life. That’s my right. And my pleasure.”

“You fucking—” I stood and advanced. Unarmed, sure, but I could take this little fucker. Let him try that fancy shit on me.

But I felt hands grasp around my arms, pulling me back. I shook them away, but more joined. King’s guards. And as I glanced around, I saw the king standing there with a look of some satisfaction.

“Let me go, uncle.”

“No, I don’t think so, Maksim. Prince Galen is quite right.” He turned his gaze to Galen, as if I was a disobedient boy to be dismissed. “Congratulations on a fight well won, Prince Galen. Please, do as you will.”

The crowd suddenly fell silent, as shocked as me as they watched the horror unfolding. Ralf lay dying, bleeding out. There was no way he was going to survive this. But he could last for hours and be made comfortable. His wife and children could visit him. He could make his peace, be tended by a priest.

I met Anika’s eyes. Saw the curve of her neck, the little curls at the base of her braided hair. I watched her breathing as she looked on in dismay at what her husband to be was doing, the way her shoulders rose and fell. She clasped her hands together, gently touching the pearls I’d given her, like it was the only way she could find some comfort.

Galen bent down next to Ralf, his knife at the ready, and grinned. “Perhaps, tonight, I’ll seek out your wife and take some more pleasure. She really was very enjoyable. Tell me, do you have any daughters?”

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