**
When I woke in the predawn light, Royce was still there, his eyes closed and his breathing heavy. I could hear Johanna’s gentle snores on the other side of the room, glad that my roommate had come back to see that I was all right.
That a king had taken care of me.
I allowed myself to study him, as I had during our last time together. In sleep he seemed relaxed, younger, though no less gorgeous. Idly, I wondered if Arthur or Max would have done the same as Royce had done.
My knight in tattered armor, watching over me when I couldn’t do it myself. My heart softened and I wanted to push us into a cocoon again, where it was just Anna and Royce and not the blasted titles that went with our names? Why did I feel like this was normal for me?
When had I stopped hating him and started to really care for Royce?
He stirred suddenly and I shut my eyes, allowing my breathing to even out so that he wouldn’t catch me awake. A moment later, his lips brushed over my forehead before the weight next to me lifted from the bed, the door opening and closing a moment later.
I cracked open an eye to make sure he was gone before grabbing his pillow and breathing in his scent. What was Royce doing to my poor, tortured heart?
***
Royce
I stalked down the hall, my boots in my hand and my shirt slung over my shoulder. The hall was quiet for the early morning hour, but my mind was a shit storm of worry and concern over what I had witnessed last night.
Anna had tried to kill herself. I couldn’t shake the image of her with that blade in her hand, knowing that if I had been just a minute longer, she would have done it and I would have lost my pauper.
The pain wouldn’t have been something I was able to handle. No, I would have gone fucking crazy if she had gone through with it because of Isauros.
Someone not even worth Anna’s time. Isauros had nearly cost Anna’s mother her life and thought that Anna would do the same, putting all her problems in a tidy little box so that she could throw it away.
Well, she had fucked up when she messed with Anna.
Turning the corner, I paused long enough to get fully dressed before heading to the door. I had wanted to check in on Anna since I had been gone at the tournament all week, something pulling me toward her like a beacon. I fucking hated the feeling, but I had gone anyway.
And damn, I was glad I had.
I pushed open the door, barely feeling the cold blast of arctic air that greeted me. Isauros had gone too far this time. She had nearly made a young woman, a fucking innocent one at that, kill herself.
It was time that the kings, all of us, did something about this.
Chapter 21
Anna
I pushed away the plate, patting my stomach in the process. “Thanks for that. I probably gained ten pounds by just looking at the food.”
Johanna grinned as she set her plate aside. “Well, that won’t necessarily be a bad thing. Sorry that I couldn’t find any alcohol to go with it.”
I smiled at her, knowing that she was attempting to tread on fragile ground. “I’m fine, Johanna, really. I’m sorry I gave you a scare.”
She shook her head, her hair flying about her face. “It was more than that, Anna. You nearly killed yourself because of her.”
I scooted off my bed and walked over to hers, sitting next to her. “I really am sorry. I shouldn’t have let her get to me like that.” I had already relayed the same story I had told Royce last night, seeing the anger in my friend’s face with each word. Isauros had found me at my lowest, but she wasn’t going to get that chance again. I was going to beat her at her own game and not stop until I found out who I was. I had so much to live for, and it was time to show her who she was going up against.
A knock sounded and we both looked at the door warily. “What if it’s her?” Johanna asked in a hushed whisper. “She could be coming back to finish the job.”
“Maybe,” I whispered back, grabbing her hand and squeezing it. “But we can take her.”
Johanna choked on her laughter. “I don’t know. Who knows who she’s brought with her.”
The knock sounded again, and I rose, tugging my hand free of my friend’s. “There is only one way to find out.”
“I’m right behind you,” Johanna called out in a whisper as I approached the door, steeling myself for what or who would be on the other side. Isauros could shoot me outright, of course, and there was nothing I could do about that.
I gripped the knob and twisted it, pulling open the door slowly. Arthur’s face was the first I saw, and I let out a breath. “It’s you.”
“You expecting someone else?”
I pushed my hair back off my forehead, opening the door wider. “Maybe, but I’m glad to see you.”
He grinned as he stepped inside and I gasped as Royce followed him, with Max bringing up the rear.
All three kings, in my room at once. “What is going on?” Johanna stated as they lined up before me. Royce winked and I blushed, thinking about how he had stayed the night. He had broken another piece of my heart wide open and I didn’t know how to handle it.
“We are here to discuss Isauros,” Arthur said as Max
