partial to the sight of Mallory jogging around the palace grounds with her long red hair bobbing out the back of a baseball cap. In a sports bra and those lycra pants that were a gift from the gods to the male species.
“That was classy. And sweet,” said Sir Theo Holst, Genevieve’s boyfriend. He’d been out of town for the past few weeks. Christian was glad to have him along today for solidarity. And because he genuinely—thank God—liked the man.
Even finding out that Theo had a stick up his ass about the royal family for most of his life only made him like the man more. It was a refreshing change to have someone new in his circle who didn’t give a rat’s ass about his title.
“Thanks, but I can’t take the credit. King Julian started the tradition, years ago. I’m only carrying it on.”
“A royal wins every year?” Theo—ever skeptical of the privileges accorded to the House of Villani—shot him some seriously shitty side-eye. “You expect me to believe that’s for real? It’s got to be rigged, right? So everyone maintains their awe?”
“No.” Even though it still stung, he waved an arm to reveal the truth. “I’ve won eight times. But Elias here has won twice.”
Eli also passed Christian a stein of beer. God forbid he be caught on video carrying a beer all day at the Harvest Festival and be labeled a lush. Sir Kai had given him that warning every year, like clockwork, since he’d turned eighteen. “When I did, you bet I rubbed Christian’s face in it. But then I maintained the tradition set by the king. Handed over the trophy to a deserving child.”
Theo gave a dismissive wave side to side with his oversize soft pretzel. “So, aside from Elias, you and the king have walked away with the trophy for decades? What—I’m supposed to believe there’s elven blood in your veins, giving you special archery skills?”
Christian wiped his mouth with the back of his hand after taking two long gulps of the ale. “That’d be sweet. Aren’t elves the ones who live for thousands of years?”
“Yes. But then you’d have to rule for thousands of years,” Elias pointed out.
His best friend often killed the fun with the voice of reason. “Then I’m relieved to report that the House of Villani is purely human.” Because that would suck. “Look, there are expectations laid out for us from birth that are slightly different from the rest of the citizens of Moncriano. We learn a bunch of languages. We aren’t given any choice about joining the family business. And we have to excel at archery. Not just excel. Be the best.”
Christian made a grab for Theo’s pretzel. Because carrying food around was against the rules, too. And he’d worked up an appetite staying ahead of Elias in the point count.
Theo handed it over without so much as blinking. In fact, his eyes were popped wide, his jaw slack. “We? You mean my beautiful Genevieve can do the bow and arrow thing, too?”
“Indeed. What the hell, Theo? Who eats a pretzel without painting it with mustard?” Yeah, he still took half of it, but it didn’t make him happy.
Elias looked over the rim of the stein and smirked. “The princess would kick your ass, Holst. Blindfolded.”
Theo just shook his head. “Then why didn’t she compete today?”
“Because of Kelsey. What with her being brand new to the whole princess thing. Doesn’t know one end of a bow from the other.”
Christian finished off the explanation. “Genny didn’t want to put any pressure on her by participating and having people expect to see both sisters competing.”
Theo sucked in a long breath. His chest puffed out so much that the white scarf came untucked from the top of his vest. “She’s the best. I adore that woman. So much so that I’d be okay losing to her.”
“To her?” A snorted laugh exploded from him. “Holst, you lost to everyone today, not just me. You came in dead last. If the king had been here to see it, he might’ve revoked that fancy-ass medal of honor we gave you this summer.”
“So His Majesty won’t be showing up later?”
“No.” Christian turned away, suddenly intensely aware of the oompah band that hadn’t stopped playing since the archery competition ended. It was loud. Strident. Annoying. Not to mention off-key. It grated on his nerves.
Or maybe it was Theo’s question that rubbed him wrong.
“I’m…surprised,” Theo said quietly, with a cautious pause in the middle.
Christian plucked at his