Beyond(12)

“Come on,” he says, shaking his head, his eyes still smiling. “Tomorrow we can work on archery.”

I smile smugly. That was one thing I excelled in.

“You did well today,” he continues as we walk to my room. “You surprised me, that’s for damn sure.”

I beam at his compliment. “Thank you.”

“Sam’s been teaching you?” he asks, his tone even.

I nod. “He has. He’s been patient with me. I owe him a lot.”

He stays quiet after that.

We’re almost at my door when I hear a woman call his name.

“Dane, there you are,” she says, walking quickly towards us. Dane stiffens slightly, then looks down at me with a forced smile. “Are you okay to walk the rest of the way by yourself?”

I shake my head. “No. I’ve been told it’s dangerous.”

I think I see his eye twitch a little.

“Olivia--”

“Dane, I didn’t see you all day,” she says when she reaches us. She looks to me and smiles. “Hi, I’m Gina.”

She looks a little familiar, but I can’t place her. I’ve probably just seen her around the castle.

“Olivia,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. Was she his ex-girlfriend? Past fling? My mind was racing. What if he had a girlfriend when he was told he had to marry me? I didn’t even think of that. Fuck. I’m such a bad person. I didn’t want him to be apart from the woman he loved. I wouldn’t do that to him.

“Of course. I know who you are,” she beams. “The princess. Everyone talk about you.”

“Good to know,” I reply, saying each word slowly. What do people say about me? I could only imagine.

I study her pretty face, and only then do I remember where I’ve seen her before.

Just f*cking great.





Chapter Seven




“You look familiar,” I say, seeing Dane wince slightly. She was the woman from the brothel, the one who opened the door. I felt shy seeing her now, since I saw her practically naked.

“Oh, do I?” she says. “I don’t think I’ve ever formally met you.”

“How do you two know each other?” I ask, turning from her to Dane.

Gina flashes Dane a coy look. “We go way back. We came here together about three years ago.”

“I see,” I murmur, my chest tightening. “I’m going to go to bed. Nice meeting you Gina.”

She smiles. “Pleasure was all mine Olivia.”

Great, she was nice too.

Dane grips my upper arm. “Gina give me a second.”

He leads me further down the hall, until we reach my room door. “It’s not what you think.”

I pull out my key and open the door. “It usually never is.”

“Olivia--”

“I’m sorry I messed up your life Dane,” I say sadly, stepping into my room and trying to close the door, but he puts his hand in to block it.

“No, you don’t get to make assumptions and then slam the door in my face,” he growls, pushing himself into the room and closing the door behind him.

“Gina is just a friend, all right?”

“So you’re saying you’ve never slept with her?” I ask, getting my answer when he looks away.

“About three years ago,” he replies. “Before we came here.”

I look down. “I see.”

“Friends ever since. And you don’t get to be mad. You only get to be mad for anything I do from now on, not before.”

I hated that that was fair.

He steps closer to me and lifts my chin with his index finger. “Okay?”

I nod. “Okay.”

I hold my breath as he lowers his head and grazes his lips with mine, barely a touch. “And that’s how Lars is going to be instructed to kiss you.”

I push his hand away and stare daggers at him. “You’re such a jerk.”

His boyish grin makes my chest flutter. “A jerk that one day you’re going to love.”

“A cocky jerk.”

“Your jerk,” he calls out before he leaves my room, closing the door behind him.





“So his ex is one of the women from the brothel?” Sam asks, eyebrows hitting his hairline.

“Looks like it,” I grumble.

“I’ve always wondered what goes on in there,” he says. “I mean sex obviously, but public sex? Group sex? Who knows?”

“Why don’t you find out?” I tease, nudging his shoulder.

“You know why,” he replies, laughing.

No one knew, but Sam was gay. Well no one except the man he was secretly sleeping with.

“I wonder if Dane goes in there.”

Sam clucks his tongue. “You can’t hold it against him really, can you? He was single.”

“What is this? Dicks before chicks,” I mumble, my shoulders drooping.

Sam laughs and wraps an arm around me. “I’m on your side, always Olivia.”

“Good to know,” I reply, laying my head on his shoulder. “I’m so glad I have you here Sam.”

A throat is cleared and I look up into Dane’s angry eyes. He was bare chested, and my gaze immediately zooms in on this smooth, tanned chest.