Page 15 of Royally Arranged

People assume a lot about my family. When talking about which of my brothers is the most deadly, Costello is the one they usually bet on. And if they don’t bet on my older brother, they throw in for Kain. They liked to call himpassionate. A nicer word for irrational.

No one ever remembers that I’ve had the same teachers as them. The exact same lessons in weapons, self-defense, even some light MMA. The only difference between us was that I’d always done my best tostay out of trouble. That didn’t mean I was weak or lazy. It meant I was smart.

Smart people know how to win when the odds are against them.

Richard’s grip fell away the second I jabbed my knee into his balls. Catching his jacket, I clawed it tight and ducked low. With a great heave, I leveraged him up into the air. I wished I could see how that looked—me balancing this huge ox of a man on my back.

He rolled down the steps that led to the grass below, staring at the sky in surprise as he fought to draw in air. I’d knocked the wind out of him.

“Look out!” Nova screamed.

I spun just in time to take Larchmont’s knuckles to my mouth. It was a solid hit that filled my taste buds with the flavor of warm copper. He was leering like he was fucking proud he’d sucker punched me, like he couldn’twaitto do it again.

Adrenaline cascaded through my body. It numbed any pain or sense of danger. Larch saw the fury in my face, but he wasn’t quick enough to decide what to do about it. I had an idea that he was used to hitting men who couldn’t fight back.

“Come on!” I laughed. “Let’s fucking go!” I snatched the collar of his shirt before he could backpedal out of reach. Stitches ripped; the sound was gratifying. My fist crunching into his nose was even better.

He went spinning away from me, half bent over as he clutched at his face. I stayed where I was so I could catch my breath. And because I needed to keep an eye on Richard. Glancing back, I saw the big man was standing now, his hands at his sides like he was a linebacker ready to make a tackle. He’d have to ascend the steps, which would at least give me time to react.

“You think you’re better than me,” Larchmont said, wheezing.

I turned enough to eyeball him in disbelief. “Excuse me?”

He wiped his nose and stared at the red stains. His glare was full of accusations I didn’t understand. “You’re not special, you just got lucky. You didn’t have to work for anything. Not you, not your dad. You’re all just fucking lucky your moms banged the right men.”

“Stand up,” I spit. Blood came out with my saliva. The sight of it made me laugh—a hard bark that turned Larchmont’s scowl into an uncertain frown. He didn’t know what I would do next. I wasn’t sure I knew, either. “I’m ready for another round. I didn’t quite break your nose, huh? Another solid hit should do it, let’s see if I’m asluckyas you say.” My foot slid forward; Larch backed up on shaky legs. “Fight me!” I shouted. “Come the fuck on, let’s keep going!”

“Thorne!” my father roared. He was standing in the archway of the side door, his lips pulled back over his snarl. Nowthatwas an expression I was familiar with. Dad’s disappointment tasted like undiluted nostalgia. “What the hell is going on here?”

“He’s insane,” Larch said, retreating to my father’s side.

“Insane?” I laughed. “I thought I was the ‘funny one.’ Sounds like you’re sore you couldn’t hold your own against me.” I shot a look at Richard. “Neither of you could. Attack me together, might increase your chances.”

Larchmont sniffed loudly, drawing attention to his bloody nose. “You better get your kid under control, old man.”

Rage swelled hotly in my guts. “He doesn’t fucking control me.”

“Hawthorne,” Maverick said. “You aren’t behaving appropriately. It’s embarrassing.”

That pulled me up short. “These two chuckle-fucks come out here and throw some cheap punches, and you’re worried that I’membarrassing you?”

Richard had made it up the steps, but he was staying at a distance. His expression was only slightly more neutral than Dad’s. As for Larchmont, his smugness could have been scraped off his face and served up on toast. “People will think you’re a violent fool,” Maverick said.

“I don’t care what anyone thinks about me.” I wished my words would make him flinch. But my father showed no sign of being affected.

Someone else did, though.

Nova’s frown spread over her face like a warning. It left me cold and unbalanced. That wasn’t the reaction I’d been looking for.

“Maybe you should tell him that his actions matter to his future subjects,” Larchmont scoffed, his red-tinted teeth showing.

There—I spotted guilt in my father’s eyes. “What the hell is he talking about?” I asked.

“If you’d stayed inside to talk, like I told you to, you’d know,” he said.

“I’m listening now. Ears wide open.” Was it possible to feel more adrenaline than I had while fighting for my life?

The guilt was replaced by stoniness. “This country won’t accept you sitting on the throne if you act like a wild animal,” Maverick said coolly.

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