bed and sat down. My shoes were on the floor, and I pulled them on.
“Are you hungry?” he asked, sounding a little more like himself.
“Yes,” I replied. “You?”
“No.”
I lifted my gaze from my shoes to his face and lifted an eyebrow. “No? You should eat whether you’re hungry or not. Even if you don’t feel it, your body needs it. And you’re going to be burning lots of energy using magic.”
“I know.”
“So, feed me, and force yourself to have something too.” I was starting to feel cranky, and my belly rumbled.
Killian muttered something under his breath as I stood.
“What?”
“Nothing,” he replied quickly. “Just wondering what you’re hungry for.”
“Anything.” My stomach was a yawning open pit. “Everything.”
“I have to glamour you.” He seemed a little nervous. Good. He needed to be out of his head for a while. If fear of me snapping at him did it, that was okay.
I wanted to ask if he was feeling better, but he was acting more like himself—albeit a little kiss-assy—and I didn’t want to ruin it. “Go for it.” I shut my eyes. “Make me beautiful.”
He chuckled. “Can’t improve on perfection.”
“Wait,” I said quickly, before his magic could touch me. “Don’t glamour me. Ronan or Flynn can do it.” He sighed, and I saw the conflict in his eyes. “Please, Killian? Save your magic for when you need it.”
“Okay,” he relented. “You’re right.”
You’re right? Had the crown prince of Tuatha Dé Danann really just admitted that I, Imogen Eveningsong, was right?
There was a first time for everything.
He opened the door, and I followed him into the hallway. A pair of guards turned the corner, approaching us, and I ducked behind him. Before I could ask him what to do, my skin tingled from the top of my head down to my chin. I shut my eyes, waiting for the tingling to stop and the sharp wintery smell to disappear before opening them again.
You’re welcome, Ronan said quietly in my mind as he and Flynn appeared behind the guards and called out to Killian. The guards startled, spun, and stood against the wall.
Flynn waved his hand graciously as I stepped beside Killian, looking like a guard once again. “No need to salute. We need to go to the training room right away.”
But, food…
Three distinct laughs sounded in my mind. Don’t worry, Genny. There will be food.
Imogen
When we reached the training room, which was in the undercroft of the castle, my struggle to act like a convincing guard became infinitely more difficult. The vaulted brick ceiling and pillars helped create a series of separate training spaces, where at least twenty men and women were practicing sword fighting, performing spells, and a few maneuvers that were completely foreign to me.
Even though I knew I should keep my attention on the princes and potential threats, I couldn’t help but take it all in. These contestants weren’t what I’d pictured. Many of them were as big as Ronan, and all of them appeared to be taking their preparation seriously.
I’d assumed most of them had entered for the attention or just to say they’d participated in the King’s Tournament. That’s what I got for assuming.
It seemed that Killian had a reason to be worried. Or, maybe, his despair was merely rubbing off on me.
Flynn gestured to the far corner of the room, where I could make out several tables overflowing with food. “See, Gen? Food.”
I couldn’t help smiling. “Thank the gods.”
“I would thank the kitchen staff,” Ronan said gruffly. “But that’s just me.”
Looking up at him—though we were much closer in height while I was in this form—I asked in exaggerated surprise, “Did you make a joke?”
Flynn snickered as he side-eyed me. “Can’t imagine why he’s in a good mood today.”
My cheeks heated at the implication. Did everyone know Ronan had slept in my bed last night?
“Go eat,” Killian practically demanded, ignoring both of his brothers. “We’ll be over there,” he said, pointing to the deserted area of the room. Must be their designated training space.
All three of them started walking away, and I stared at their backs, clamping my jaw shut to keep it from unhinging. You’re just going to let me go off on my own?
So, yeah, maybe a smarter girl would have seen this as an opportunity. With the princes distracted, I could easily slip away. In my current form, I’d be able to waltz out of the castle without anyone even thinking of stopping me.
But I wasn’t smart—not when it came to the princes. If