Page 39 of Court of Rivals
“The one and only.”
Did he just notice me here? Can he really just not stand me existing?I know exactly what his problem is, he hates me, but I don’t know what his problem is specifically tonight. I’m nowhere near him and his men. He should be grateful I’m over here keeping myself busy and away from him.
Grabbing the dagger out of the bar, I toss it toward them underhanded, so it goes sliding across the floor. I’d loved to have thrown it right back at him, but I’m pissed right now. Knowing me, it’d end up in his head, and I’d be being hung for murdering the prince.
I turn back to Lee. “Want to get out of here?”
“Yes,” he says so quickly that I can’t help but laugh.
As I make my way out of the tavern, I realize that most of the men are staring at me. Glancing toward them, I see that all three princes are focused on me with some mix of surprise and angercoloring their faces. But I pretend not to notice. They can hate me tomorrow. Tonight? Tonight I’m fucking the brains out of a nice man.
Desire burns through me as we step out into the warm air. I lace my fingers with Lee’s, trying to spot a dark place for us to have some fun. Beside me, he’s got a worried look on his face.
“Listen, I’m just a farmer.”
“I know,” I say.
“I’ve only been with two women. I’m not exactly experienced. I don’t know how I’m going to…. Do. I’ve never been with a woman as beautiful as you before.”
Unable to help myself, I pull him closer and rub my lips against his neck. “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you a few things.”
Suddenly, I’m yanked back from him. I ball my hands into fists, ready for a fight, when I spot the three princes standing there, chests heaving, blind rage written across their faces.
“What are you going to teach him, Peasant Queen?” Prince Lucien taunts.
“What the hell?” I say. “Leave us alone.”
“Oh, no, slut, we’re not about to do that,” Prince Gareth hisses, and I swear his jaw is going to snap by how hard he’s clenching.
I glance at Lee. “Let’s get out of here.”
We start to walk when Prince Alaric grabs my arm and hauls me back. I try to escape, but he holds on tight, a look of outrage on his face. Lee is staring back at me, and I can see it on his face. He’s wondering if I’m worth the trouble.
I turn and push Prince Alaric with my free hand, but he doesn’t budge an inch. “Let go. This doesn’t concern you.”
Prince Gareth walks up and grabs the back of my neck, forcing me to look at him. “You’re a dragon rider now, everything you do concerns us.”
“You’rea dragon rider?” Lee asks, sounding shocked. “The only female one? The one everyone is talking about?”
I jerk free from Gareth and look at Lee. “Yeah, but–”
He backs up, shaking his head. “Sorry, but I have to go. It’s late,” and then he runs the hell out of there.
Prince Alaric releases my arm. “What the hell did you just think you were doing?”
I glance from one to the next of them. “The same thing as all of you.”
Prince Alaric snorts. “You’re a woman. You don’t have needs like that.”
“The hell I don’t!” I counter.
“Well,” Prince Gareth says, crossing his arms in front of his chest. “As long as you’re under our supervision, you won’t be fucking anyone.”
“Excuse me? Since when are the three of you the gate keepers to my panties?”
“Since you rode in on a dragon,” Prince Gareth says, not missing a beat.
I laugh at the three of them. “If you think you’re going to stop me from enjoying myself, you have another thing coming. You may be able to make my life at the academy hard, but you’re not going to do a thing to my personal life.”
