Page 53 of Court of Rivals
“Okay,” I say, filled with uncertainty.
Why in the world would he want to dance with me when he hates me so much?It’s clear that as a handsome prince he can’t possibly be struggling for female attention. In fact, even as I glance about the room, I see ladies staring after us with envy.So if he doesn’t need female attention, what could he possibly be up to?
“Is this going to end with me being punched in the face again?”
Prince Alaric inhales sharply, and his lips curl into a frown that does nothing to take away from his classically handsome face. “I do not hit women. I mean, I’ve never hit a woman before, and never intend to again. But if you’re in combat with one of us, you can’t expect us to go easy on you just because you’re a woman. We’d hardly be preparing you for battle against the Hollowborn if we did.”
“Oh, wow, so I was just the lucky, lone woman who got battered by you?”
He winces. “Listen. I–well, I just, it’s like this.” I watch as he struggles painfully to figure out how to answer me. And if he was anyone else, it’d be darling. “I apologize for hitting you. That wasn’t my intention.”
“You’re apologizing?” I ask, sure I misheard him.
Those soft brown eyes of his find mine again. “I’m apologizing for hitting you. I lost my temper fighting with you, but I’m not sorry for everything else. I want you to understand that I consider it a personal affront to my honor that my father has allowed an untrained commoner to become a dragon rider, someone who hasn’t been working for this since you were a childlike all the rest of us, and simply expects us all to accept you as one of our own when you’ve done nothing to earn your position.”
“How do you know I’ve done nothing to earn my position?”
Anger flashes across his face. “I mean nothing on your knees.”
Yanking my hand from his, I go to leave the dance floor, but he catches me again, and forces me back into his arms. “The dance isn’t over yet.”
I laugh angrily. “It is for us.”
“You know what I was saying,” he mutters, tightening his grip on me.
“Yeah, you were implying that I sucked someone’s cock to be a dragon rider, when I’ve done nothing of the sort. Not your preciouslittledick. Not the king’s. And sure as fuck not Ebron’s. But I will have you know that for all your training and all your nights of hard work, I can hold my own with all of you. Because, guess what? I haven’t spent my life lying around in silk britches while servants attended to me. I’ve worked hard. I’ve saved lives and ended lives. I’ve been out in the world, surviving against challenges most of you never experienced once in your pathetic, privileged little lives.”
His eyes are wide. His mouth hangs open, and I can practically hear the gears turning in his head. I’m sure he’ll come up with some arrogant, asshole response, but for now, I enjoy seeing him stumped.
Then, he seems to gather himself. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe that comment was out-of-line, but I’m still not wrong that dragon riding isn’t right for you.” He sighs. “I mean, wouldn’t you rather focus on getting married? On babies?”
I stare at him. “We’re nearly the same age. Areyoufocused on marriage and babies?”
He bristles. “I’m not a woman.”
“My vagina isn’t a magnetic dragging me to a wedding ring.”
He looks frustrated. “You’rea woman. You’re not a fighter.”
“I’ve been holding my own against you just fine.”
His hands tighten on me. “You can’t possibly compete with a lifetime of training.”
“And yet, I am. Aren’t I? That’s what’s bothering all of you the most.”
He opens his mouth, then closes it.
The song ends, and I’m immediately pulled away from Prince Alaric and into another pair of broad arms. My eyes travel up those thick arms and broad shoulders to land smack dab on Prince Gareth, whose expression is positively thunderous.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter, then, louder. “What do you want?”
“Why are you dancing with my brothers?”
“Did I look like I had a choice?”
“I don’t trust you.” His hands tighten on me. “You’re plotting something.”
I roll my eyes. “Oh yes, you gorgeously intelligent man you, you’ve figured out my sinister plot to dance with two assholes I can’t stand, and spend more of my time being insulted by idiots.”
