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Easier said than done.
The men earning medals puffed out their chests when I walked up to them, and I positioned myself by the table full of bronze, silver, and gold medallions.
And when I spun around, I was greeted with a direct line of sight to the man I didn’t want to see. A man I knew immediately was my adversary.
Lord Nathan looked different in his photos in the papers. He was shorter. More sinister. The smirk on his face as he raised his glass of champagne to me sent a shiver down my spine. The curt bow he tossed my way felt sacrilegious and demeaning. “Christine?” Leo said, though I barely heard him.
My heart started racing as I glared at him. The righteous indignation he practically vibrated with could be felt deep in my soul. He looked at me like I was meant to be his.
And I didn’t like that.
I was no one’s property.
“Lady Abernathy,” the announcer said. In a flashy suit, with a bleached white smile, he was a tall, thin man. Everyone became silent when he addressed me, curious to hear us speak.
A microphone was thrust into my hands. This wasn’t in the plans. I wasn’t supposed to speak.
I forced myself to stop staring at Lord Nathan’s beady eyes to look to Victoria. She looked frantic and angry as she waved her hands at me, mouthing something I couldn’t understand.
I took the microphone and forced a smile on my face, though I could feel Lord Nathan’s intrusive, violating, vile stare.
The announcer beamed at me. “Did you enjoy seeing the best men Aldrich has to offer?” he boomed, hyping up the crowd.
Everyone screamed excitedly while I forced my nerves down. I’d been raised in the castle. I knew what was expected of me. I could speak to the crowd.
Even with Lord Nathan glaring in my direction.
Even with my trauma bubbling up my throat.
“It was very exciting. We have fine men and women in our ranks. I’m proud to know they serve the best kingdom in the world.”
Even though the Military Games were a sexist boys-only club, I wanted to show my support for the women.
“I have to agree, we do have the best of the best.” He paused for applause, which he seemed greedy for. “What was your favorite competition of the day, Lady Abernathy?” he then asked.
I opened my mouth to answer, but I saw Lord Nathan again, and the sight of him made my words stall in my chest.
I hated the power that his family held over me.
I loathed feeling weak.
“Lady Abernathy?” the announcer said again.
“The knife-throwing,” I choked out while shaking my head. I could feel my limbs tremble. “I quite enjoyed the knife-throwing.” Lord Nathan tossed me another smile full of malice, and rage burned in my gut. I wanted to show him that I wasn’t a fragile tool he could use to boost his ego. I wasn’t helpless anymore. “In fact,” I added. “I happen to be quite the knife-thrower, myself.”
Many men in the crowd laughed at my words. Some of them so humored by the idea of a lady tossing blades at a target that they had to hold their bellies and tip their heads back for a drunken chuckle.
I lifted my head up as the announcer spoke. “Oh? A fine lady like yourself couldn’t possibly know how to throw a blade.”
My eyes burned with passion, and I felt that numb haze floating over my system. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Victoria jumping and wildly waving her hands, furiously trying to get my attention and stop whatever tangent I was on.
But I didn’t want to do the right thing, I wanted to do the strong thing. I wanted to show Lord Nathan it would take a lot to bring me down.
I shoved the microphone into the announcer’s chest, making an unpleasant sound echo across the arena, and marched toward the podium. The men standing, waiting for their awards, gave each other curious looks. “I’m assuming one of you has a knife, yes?” I said while holding my palm out.
They seemed flustered and unsure about all of this. “My lady, perhaps you should—”
“You should hand me the blade strapped to your belt so I can show all of you how it’s done,” I snapped.
