Page 43 of Court of Secrets and Flames

He scratches his neck and shoots me a sheepish grin. “Definitely not. I got assigned kennel-cleaning duty for a week.”

King Jasper may be harsh at times. Cruel, even. But before his father’s death led to the weight of the kingdom landing upon his young shoulders, he was just another innocent boy. And clearly, there’s still good in him.

At least, Knox seems to think so.

Engrossed in the tale, I walk without paying attention to my surroundings until the sharp ring of steel-on-steel clues me in. Knox moves among his men in the training area with an enviable ease, his laughter booming out over the din of combat drills.

Within the group are soldiers in various stages of dress. Some wear undershirts and short pants. Others, like Knox, are in uniform but without helmets, tabards, or shirts.

They’re all impressive, but I only have eyes for the prince.

“Good block, Thom! But remember, anticipate the counterstrike.” Knox parries a blow from a burly soldier with a casual flick of his wrist. Turning to stand next to the man he was just facing, he goes through the motions again, this time with the proper follow-through to the parry he used.

Other men gather around and watch, their focus also stuck on the royal prince, their devotion written across their faces.

He’s a natural leader. It’s evident in every gesture, every word that falls from his lips. There’s no trace of formality. No royal airs. This is Sterling as one of them. A brother-in-arms. Not just a commander or their prince.

The soldiers within the fighting area crowd around him, seeking guidance, sharing jests, their respect for him a palpable, living thing that breathes through the ranks. They honor him, not because they must, but because he’s won their respect.

With a start, I realize I may have just given myself away by gaping for too long. I sneak a peek at Jasper and find his attention glued to Knox too.

All earlier traces of light-heartedness have vanished. A vein pulses near his left eye.

Jasper, the older brother, has left the house, leaving Jasper, the king, in his place.

My eyes return to Knox, and as I watch him there, surrounded by his men, worry settles heavy in my chest. I can’t help but ruminate on whether the king fears his brother. Not for any misdeed or ambition, but because of the love Sterling commands so effortlessly from those who serve beneath him.

The power of a leader isn’t always in the orders he gives, but often in the ones he doesn’t have to issue. Because when a leader is loved, truly loved, he holds the heart of the people in his hands. A weapon no king can afford to ignore.

“My brother, the golden child. He always did possess the uncanny knack for garnering admiration.”

My stomach twists with anxiety.

Is the king jealous of the prince? Or worse, does he feel threatened?

I choose my words carefully, not wanting to say anything that might provoke him and land Knox in hot water. My own anger aside, I don’t want the man to end up in a dank dungeon somewhere…or dead and nailed to the castle wall. “Siblings can be challenging.”

He considers that with a tilt of his head. “Indeed. Shall we? I have a surprise for you this afternoon. I hope you like it.”

I notice he doesn’t mention my mother and wonder if one of the guards overheard my outburst this morning and reported back. I decide not to bring it up as he leads us back to the castle, our path winding before us like a serpent returning to its lair.

He pauses before we go inside, gesturing with a carefree flourish that belies the tense muscles beneath my fingers. “Thank you for joining me on this outing. I enjoyed your company and look forward to spending more time getting to know you. I hate to rush off, but I have duties to attend to. I hope you appreciate your surprise. You’re worth more than a mere distraction from my duties. I’m sure you’ll have other things to do with your time, now that you’re free to roam the palace.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty, I’m sure I will. I enjoyed my time with you as well.”

It’s not even a blatant lie. I did enjoy much of our outing. More than I would have guessed possible.

Is it possible I’ve misjudged the king?

Maybe. But I can’t help recall his sudden mood shift while watching his brother train and fthe lingering knots in my stomach.

King Jasper might be capable of charm, but the sight of those dead bodies impaled on spikes is forever seared into my brain.

For Knox’s sake, I hope jealousy isn’t a good enough reason for the king to ever consider having his brother join them.

Chapter Thirteen

With my dreaded walk with the king over, I enter my chambers, glad to be alone. In here, there’s no pretending. No fake smiles. No measured words. No panicking that at any moment, I may slip up and incur the king’s ire.

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