Page 63 of The Promised Prince
Everyone except Trev.
Renna glanced down the row at him. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, his expression as hard as iron.
The starting horn bellowed, sending each man leaping toward his rope, and Renna’s heart to her throat. Joniss’s upper strength gave him an early lead as he powerfully hoisted himself up the wall, but the other men weren’t far behind. He reached the top first, hurling his body into the nets below. The next man over the wall dove into the nets just behind him, catching Joniss’s leg to pull him back and tangle him up in a struggle. The audience booed as another contestant behind them took the lead.
Renna found herself yelling out in a very unladylike way, booing in her deepest voice at the man, but her mouth snapped shut when her mother’s nails dug into the side of her arm.
Joniss untangled himself from the man and shoved away from him roughly, reaching the beam in second place. He walked quickly across the shaft but had no chance to overthrow the leader yet. The crowd cheered as a swinging sack hit the leader’s shoulder, knocking him enough that he lost his balance and fell off the course. Joniss paused, studying the swinging bags and their timing. He sprinted past the first three then paused in a safe pocket, waiting to get the timing of the next three. After a few tense moments, Joniss found the rhythm and easily made it across as another contestant was knocked to the ground.
The crowd roared, and Joniss raised his arms in triumph, flashing a winning smile. He turned to where Renna sat and winked before grabbing the ladder. Renna’s face flushed a hot red, and she had to look down for a quick second to gain her composure.
Joniss leaped toward the first log. She couldn’t help but notice how his biceps bulged and twisted under his sleeves as he dangled from the wood and swung his legs to propel him to the next log.
Of course, she made the terrible decision to look in Trev’s direction and instantly regretted it. By the glaring way his eyes met hers, he could probably read her lustful thoughts.
Joniss arrived at the final obstacle. The only thing standing between him and winning the tournament was the rolling log suspended over the mud. A few long, quick strides and he was at the other end, arms raised in victory. It was unbelievable how he made the entire course look easy. Cheers rippled through the stadium. People were on their feet, clapping and yelling. Renna slowly stood, biting her lip out of anxiousness.
This was bad.
Or maybe it was good. After all, Renna needed something to help her get over Trev.
“How interesting that Officer Doman has won.” Her mother studied Trev. “Jealousy is a powerful emotion.”
Panic started to rise in Renna’s chest. “What do you mean?” She tried to act unfazed by the whole event.
“Only that Officer Doman and the prince are not close. I assume his winning will cause an even bigger rift between them when he kisses Seran.”
“Maybe Joniss doesn’t plan on choosing Seran.” Her words came out sharper than she had wanted.
“Then why does Prince Ezra seem upset?” Her mother nodded in the prince’s direction.
Renna looked down the row to see that Trev had called his assistant, Crosby, over and whispered something in his ear. Crosby nodded and delivered a message to the head of the tournament, a pudgy man with a beard, standing next to Joniss at the end of the course. Joniss shook his head back and forth with intense laughter as he listened to Crosby deliver his message.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the head of the games yelled. “There has been a change to the tournament rules. This year the winner of the obstacle course must face one last challenge before claiming the title of Tournament Champion.”
Confusion weaved through the rows of spectators, some calling out angrily.
But the man continued, “For the last challenge, Officer Doman must defeat Prince Ezra in a wrestling match.”
The crowd went wild.
The color drained from Renna’s face. “I thought it wasn’t customary for royalty to participate in the tournament.”
Her mother leaned in. “Like I said, jealousy is a powerful emotion.”
Trev
“What’s this about?”Joniss spat over the yelling crowd.
“Nothing. I just felt like changing things up this year,” Trev said as he climbed the last step onto the platform and stood next to Joniss. He unbuttoned his shirt and kicked off his boots. “Are you scared of losing?”
“This wouldn’t have anything to do with the tournament prize, would it?” Joniss smiled knowingly as his eyes slid across the arena to where Renna sat in the stands.
Trev gave him a steely glare but didn’t answer.
Joniss chuckled. “You better be careful, Ezra. I won’t let you win like Drake always does.”
Joniss pulled off his shirt and climbed up onto the log suspended over the mud, walking carefully to the far side so Trev could climb up. Trev handed his shirt to Crosby and clambered up behind him, the log swaying dangerously with his added weight. Joniss crouched down and laid a hand on the rough surface to steady himself. Then, he straightened slowly as Trev gained his balance on the opposite end.
