AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The green in my eyes was so vibrant and my skin so golden that I barely believed I was the person in the mirror.
“You look gorgeous,” Maeve added.
There was a knock on the door, and I flinched.
“I’ll answer it.” Maeve strolled out of the bathroom, leaving me alone.
But I was done being protected. It was silly now that I was in a tournament where people were actively trying to kill me.
I entered the bedroom as she opened the door and stared. She reached for her sword. “What are you doing here?”
My chest tightened, and I hurried toward the door. Rowan was there.
“I need to see Princess Alina alone,” she gritted out as she fisted her hands at her sides.
Everything in my head screamed at me not to listen, but if I said no, Orla would no doubt scold me for appearing weak.
Maybe I’d die today after all.
Chapter Fifteen
“Abso-frozen-lutely not,” Maeve’s hand tightened on the handle of her sword.
This was going to escalate if I didn’t step in. When I straightened my back to look more authoritative, my muscles throbbed, but I swallowed my whimper. “It’s fine.”
The way Maeve’s head swung toward me so quickly, a laugh lodged in my chest, but when I saw her glare, the urge left. She was pissed, and I never wanted to be on the receiving end of her wrath again.
“Seriously. If she has something important to say, it would be better to discuss it in here than out there in front of everyone.” I might not like my sister, but that didn’t mean I wanted to alienate myself from her. It was in her best interest to make sure I was somewhat safe, even if it was an illusion.
“I—Princess Alina.” Maeve pursed her lips, her disapproval shining through in the way her body tightened and the sheer disgust on her face. It made me think she was considering all the ways she could kill me herself.
The irony of the situation washed over me. She was the only person who cared about me, besides—maybe—my fucking kidnapper. Talk about a plot twist.
Every fiber in my being shrank inside me as I prepared to say my next words. “It’s not a request, Maeve.” My voice sounded commanding and authoritative.
Maeve’s head jerked back, and she said bitterly, “Yes, Princess.”
Princess might as well have been a curse word.
I held firm. If Orla didn’t have a field day with me not having a direct conversation with Rowan, she definitely would if I backed down to Maeve.
“If you decide you need me, scream. I’ll be outside the door.” Maeve kept her hands on the hilt of her weapon as she strolled past Rowan.
Rowan smiled, and a chill coursed down my spine as she shut the door behind her … a little too hard.
Luckily, Maeve and I had secured the dagger to my thigh in case I needed it tonight. Getting it from underneath my skirt would be a sight, and graceful was one thing I wasn’t.
I took a few steps back, putting more distance between us. Worst case, I could use my giant skirt to disorient her long enough to retrieve my weapon.
“If you’re here to attack me …” I hiked up the skirt, ready to attack.
Her fingertips darkened to a deep gray, similar to the color of the mist in the arena. “I’m not.” Her deep frown was legitimately a smile turned upside down.
Here I’d thought that was a figure of speech.
I paused. “That’s not the vibe I’m getting from you.”
“Don’t make this harder than it already is. Please.” A shadowy substance danced over her fingertips like a flame. “I didn’t want to come, but that doesn’t matter. The result is the same, so I figured I should be frosty enough to admit it.”
