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My eyes dart around the room as I try to figure out what they are up to. Plotting I’m sure, it’s what they are always doing. There’s never any good that comes from the two of them being together. “Did you receive a message from Father?” I question as the two of them scramble to hide whatever they were reading before I entered the room.
“Sneaking around isn’t very ladylike, Robyn,” my grandmother sneers, her hand firmly on my brother’s shoulder.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be, dear sister?” Rami grinds out suspiciously. He tries looking around me to see if my guard is escorting me. They are, they always are, and he knows that, but I won’t let him distract me from what I stumbled upon.
Clearly, they had no intention of being caught doing whatever it was they were doing.
“Is there a reason why the two of you are avoiding the question?” My feet move closer to the desk on their own accord,hoping to get a look at what has them acting so suspiciously. Glancing down, I catch sight of a map of the realms with X’s marked along the outskirts of our territory. “Planning to take our father’s lead and head into battle,brother?”
“You would like that, wouldn’t you?” my grandmother snarks.
“Why would I like both my father and brother putting their lives at risk?” I frown, rolling my eyes at her.
A sinister smile takes over my brother’s face. “I wouldn’t dare leave you all alone in this castle,sister. You never know what dark shadows are hiding inside these walls. Who would protect you? Who would keep you safe at night if I were to go off to battle?”
My grandmother lets out a menacing chuckle. “Have you forgotten, My Prince? The princess is a trained warrior now.” The two of them double over with laughter before my brother quickly sits up straight in his chair and stares me down.
“Are you so naive to think the last week has prepared you to defend yourself? To stand among men who’ve trained their whole lives?”
“I’m not naive, Rami. It was simply a question. One, youclearlywant to avoid. Making secret plans, are you?”
“I have no need for secrets. I’m the ruler in our father’s absence!” He slams his hands down in anger. Rami has always been one to throw tantrums, and he’s so easily riled up that it almost takes the fun out of it. “You seem to have forgotten that the king has left me in charge, not you. He trusted me to lead our people, not you—a little girl who can’t even properly wield a shield.”
His words sting.
“My Lady, we should be going,” Dominic interrupts. Glancing over my shoulder at him, Dominic and Tristan share a look of concern. You can only push my brother so far beforehe lashes out, so I take this as my cue, turning away from them without another word.
Tristan enters the stables first, checking all the stalls and dark corners to make sure we are alone, then gives us the all-clear. Greyson then slams the stable doors, locking them behind us. His massive body stands tall, vibrating with rage. The scar above his right eye twitches.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed, Lady Robyn? Do you have a death wish that we’re unaware of? If so, then tell us now so we can stop wasting our time and energy trying to turn you into a warrior,” Greyson snaps, his gray eyes stare back at me. The scowl on his face deepens as he thrusts a hand through his dark brown hair.
I roll my eyes, turn away from him, and walk over to my mare, Koa. Her coat is black and beautiful, standing tall and strong. The stable boys have already prepared my saddle on Koa’s back and secured it in place. She’s ready for a long day of riding.
“Don’t be ridiculous, Greyson. My duty to IronHaven includes protecting it from those who wish it harm. Even if that might be people under my same roof. I won’t just turn a blind eye like some.”
Greyson scoffs as he turns to gather his steed. “Don’t tell me about duty to protect, Princess. It’s been my only purpose in life since the day I was born.” His sardonic tone takes me by surprise, and I wonder what he isn’t telling me.
I mount Koa as Dominic walks over, stopping me from taking off after Grey. I want to demand to know what’s in his head, why his brow is furrowed, and why his jaw is clenched. Dom watchesme closely, but I refuse to meet his glare, knowing the power he holds over me when I look into his dark, stormy eyes. Not today, sir, not today.
“You can’t keep pushing him. Sooner or later, he’s going to break, Princess,” Dominic tries pleading with me, using a softer tone than his usual commanding one, but I’m not the one pushing Grey; I’m only holding my ground. I know that my brother’s wrath is inevitable. There’s no escaping it, and only a fool would try to deny it.
My mouth goes dry, a thick knot forming in the pit of my stomach from Dominic’s words. My grandmother has spent many years poisoning his mind toward me and our father. Her ideologies, along with the old men whispering in his ear all the things she pays them to say, have given him a false reality. Rami is smarter than that, I know he is. My brain has scrambled to find a logical excuse for years, but the truth is, there isn’t one.
Rami is thirsty for power, and whatever unknown promises my grandmother has made him quench his thirst. I only pray that he doesn’t do anything stupid while Father is around to witness it. Let him at least have the decency to wait until our father is gone to destroy everything he’s built.
I’ve yet to figure out a way to stop it. “I’ll heed your advice, Dom, but I’d like to believe that my brother wouldn’t hurt me. Even if that’s just a childish dream, it’s one I’d like to hold onto for a little while longer. Now, may we begin our training for the day?” Looking down from Koa’s back, I find Dominic’s shadowy eyes filled with worry and concern.
He places a hand on my leg and pulls it away just as swiftly, realizing what he’s done. The other men are watching us carefully, waiting for Dominic to make a move one way or another. Reluctantly, he steps back, moving to his own horse and waving the others to carry on.
“Will you be using the prince’s face for target practice today, little bird?” Tristan chuckles, mounting his horse.
“Who knows.”
We make a break out of the stables into the clearing and head straight for Blackwood Forest. Tristan and Grey pull away from us. Out of my peripheral vision, I see Tristan disappear into the trees to the left. Greyson does the same on the right. I glance beside me to find Dominic still pounding the straightaway by my side.
Dominic draws his sparring sword, causing me to mimic his motions. My skin prickles with fear and anticipation. “Always expect the unexpected from your enemies, Princess,” Dominic shouts through the wind.
Before I have the chance to process his words, Tristan charges from the side, taking a swing at my head. I’m filled with anger as I duck low. I try to recover from dodging the impact, moving to retaliate, but the weight of the sword in my hand has me losing my balance.
