Sighing, I sank onto one of the benches placed around the perimeter of the room while Cuthbert exaggeratedly showed me a takedown move. Today, he had a little handkerchief tied around his forehead like a sweatband, and every time he moved, his hair sticking out of the top flopped this way and that.
At least I’d gotten a bath this morning. Even though I still yearned for Germ-X with the intensity of a thousand suns, I felt almost clean for the first time since coming here.
I sighed again and leaned against the wall. Still no Courtney. I could only assume her absence was due to the fact I’d seduced her senseless, and she was unfit for warfare.
“Good morning,” a benevolent female voice cooed.
Everything halted as everyone looked up to find the source of that impossibly sweet voice.
Courtney swept through the doorway in a fluttery pink gown, every inch of which was covered in ribbons and lace. Now the only noise was her heels clicking across the polished floors. Her eyes landed on me, and she smiled. Generally, her smiles were stuffed full of sarcasm and schemes. This one was not. It made me feel weird and like I was definitely losing.
A handful of young village girls bustled in behind her, clutching bouquets of wildflowers. They all wore bright dresses like hers, fluttering with yards and yards of ribbons. Their excited voices overlapped, turning into an unintelligible babble punctuated with giggles and squeals. The girls flocked around Courtney like she was their leader, and she amiably doled out attention and approval until she good-naturedly shooed them off.
They began placing bouquets around the room, planting daisies in the visors of the empty suits of armor and tucking bouquets behind crossed decorative weapons hanging on the walls. The flowers immediately wreaked havoc on my allergies. Upon closer inspection, the bouquets included sprigs of ragweed and baby’s breath. This was chemical warfare. Unbelievable. First moaning my name in her sleep, now this. Even after we’d formed a shaky alliance, she was still finding ways to mess with me.
“It was far too gloomy in here!” Courtney proclaimed, clapping her hands together. “This is much better.”
Those who had been training before Courtney came in now paused to smile fondly at her. A few pressed fingers to their hearts, clearly taken by their seemingly kindhearted and agreeable new hero.
I ground my molars as she simpered at the nearest guard andsweetly asked him to check to see if the king was awake yet—probably so she could kiss his ass too.
Then Courtney made her way to Cuthbert and me, her dress fanning out and twirling with each step like the wind itself was on her side. Apparently, she hadn’t considered my proposition at all and was on a mission to make the entire world like her instead. I wasn’t sure I could stand a whole day of watching Courtney flouncing around, beingkindandsmilingand doing upsetting, heartwarming things likeresting her hand on Cuthbert’s shoulderand planting akissin the air next to his cheek. “Good morning, Cuthbert.” She narrowed her eyes at me. “Bryce.”
Standing, I mimicked her narrowed eyes, hoping to show her how ridiculous she was. “Courtney.” Unfortunately, my eyes were still watering profusely from the flowers.
“Look how touched he is by your kindness, Lady Courtney,” Cuthbert bubbled.
“What was that you were saying about choke holds?” I asked pleasantly.
As Cuthbert talked us through exercises on footing and balance, I tried to focus, but my gaze kept sliding back to Courtney. She practiced several feet away, and her entourage of flower stand girls surrounded her, playfully taking part in the exercises with her. She smiled at them like I’d never seen her smile at anyone, and they gazed up at her with wide, adoring eyes. What had she done to win them over? And, if she was so good at winning people over, why did she spend her life being completely awful?
She poked the smallest flower girl in the stomach while they were practicing a balancing move that required them to stand on one foot, and the little girl toppled over, sending squeals and giggles rippling through the cluster. Pain tugged at my heart. I felt like a sad zoo animal, trapped behind a glass wall, watching people live while I merely survived. I wanted to be a part of it, and I’dnever wanted to be a part oflifebefore because life was so intertwined with pain.
I sidled up beside her. “Where were you this morning? What’s with the fan club? Why are people acting like theylikeyou?”
“Because they do,” she said breezily, swiveling her arms as she moved from position to position as Cuthbert instructed.
Oh hell. Her flouncy pink dress had laces up the back. Why werelacessuddenly my kryptonite? They both baffled and fascinated me. A scene glowed behind my eyes—firelight, my fingers hooking into the ribbons at the small of Courtney’s back. Her skin warm against my knuckles through the dress. Her, smiling over her shoulder at me.
I let out a choked cough, refocusing. “What did you do to kiss up to everyone?”
She grinned. “I Robin Hooded the castle. I stole a bunch of gold-plated chairs last night and gave them to the villagers. No one from the castle even noticed, and now everyone loves me. Look at me now. Petty theft to Chosen One. It’s an inspiring character arc.”
“It inspires people to gaze into the sun, so they won’t ever have to read stories about you.” Her unwavering smile made me feel bad for being surly, so I asked, more pleasantly, “Isn’t stealing against the rules if you’re the Chosen One? Besides, Amy told us to mind our own business.”
She picked at her nails. “Rules are like glow sticks.”
“A feeble but steady light to help you navigate your way along the dark and dangerous road of life?”
“Made to be snapped in half.”
“So your stunt won you magic?”
Her face fell. “Well, not exactly. Strictly speaking, I think everyone likes gold-plated furniture, not me. But it’s a start.”
Courtney, the girl who was prickly with everyone, would rather be nice to the entire universe than even consider my plan. I should be relieved by that. Not insulted. Not disappointed that I’d never get the chance to figure out those perplexing laces.
“Now that we’re warmed up,” Cuthbert said, interrupting our conversation, “we’ll practice a few takedowns. We will start with a move called the Rear Naked Choke.”
