“I don’t blame you for Knoss.” Belle sounded surprised. “You’re the one who saved me from him, Avenant.” She shook her head. “If anyone’s to blame, it was me. I was the one who said we should trust him. I didn’t expect that asshole to be a villain.”
“Of course you didn’t. You’re Good all the way through.” Avenant found her softness endearing, but it did leave her vulnerable to the monsters of the world. “I’m the only man you’ve ever noticed is a villain.”
Belle’s eyes flicked to his. “You’re the only man I’ve ever notice, at all.”
Avenant’s brain experienced a full system shutdown. That happened every time she said something even remotely flirtatious. He lost the ability to think and became a gaping moron.
Belle didn’t seem to mind. She gave him a small grin. “Listen, we can do anything, so long as we’re working together.” She nodded earnestly. “I’m really starting to believe that. I’m not worried about any more minotuars trying to kill us or the labyrinth swallowing us up. As bad as things are, we’re going to okay so long as we stick together.”
Avenant automatically hid how deeply her words touched him… Although, he wasn’t quite sure anymore why he should hide it. Belle had just said something amazing to him. Wouldn’t it make more sense to say something nice back to her?
His father wouldn’t have thought so. Vincent would’ve said it was weakness to even consider this “openness” thing. But, what had that bastard ever done right in his whole life? Nothing. What had being cold and rigid gotten him? Certainly not happiness. Avenant didn’t want this father’s miserable life in an empty castle.
He wanted Belle.
Shit, had he been completely wrongheaded about this whole “strength” thing?
Belle was oblivious to his silent revelation. “And I know we’ll stop whoever’s murdering the other contestants.” She concluded confidently.
“I still say it’s probably Lancelot.” Avenant muttered, trying to rally his scattered thoughts.
“How could it be Lancelot? Knoss beat him to a pulp earlier. Hardly the actions of two people on the same nefarious team. And then there was the weird smell on the bridge….”
“Lancelot smells.” Avenant agreed with a nod.
“That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
Avenant shrugged. Lancelot’s armor-y stench was the last thing he wanted to talk about. “Anyway, the point is, I didn’t mean to get you into this mess.” He continued, wanting to get the conversation back on track. “The contest of valor was my idea and it sucked.” He paused, remembering the incredible feel of her body against his… and how she said they could be friends… and every smile she’d shined his way. “Well, not all of it sucked. A lot of it was mind-blowingly successful and turned out to be the best plan I ever had.” He admitted. “But, I’m sorry about dragging you through the parts with the river and the fireballs and the dead bodies.”
“Thanks. That’s really touching.”
“The stories skimmed over a lot of the messier aspects of the labyrinth,” he finished, ignoring her dry interruption, “so I apologize for not anticipating how rough it would be on you.”
There.
It had been like swallowing straight pins, but he’d been very open. Belle would see that he was trying to be nice and appreciate his sharingness or whatever. Avenant let out a relieved breath, pleased with himself for struggling through that horrible ordeal. He didn’t have to be like his father. If he could prove that to her, she’d…
“What stories?” Belle asked, interrupting his silent back-patting and latching onto his slip.
Fuck.
That would be the one part of his speech that she paid attention to. The woman and her high IQ drove him insane.
“I grew-up hearing stories about my ancestors and Adam was one of the perennial favorites.” Avenant chose his words carefully. “Drunken lunatics are great object lessons in the perils of Bad behavior.”
Brown eyes narrowed. “Wait, how much did you know about this labyrinth before we came in?”
He hesitated. “Not much. I knew Adam had built it and,” he cleared his throat, “I knew some stuff about the sword.”
“What stuff about the sword?”
Damn it, she was going to keep pushing. Why couldn’t she see he was trying? Why did Belle have to rip everything down and leave him totally exposed? Why couldn’t she just realize the truth without him having to be so… truthful?
“Avenant?” She prompted in a serious tone.”
“I don’t want to lose.” He heard himself say.
“Neither do I, dummy.”
“No, I mean I can’t lose. I’m trying to be what you need. But, if I lose, you’re not going to want me and I can’t let you go.”
Belle frowned at him in confusion. “Avenant, finding the sword isn’t going to affect my feelings for you.”
“It will.” When he had Excalibur, she’d look at him and just… know. He had to believe that.
“No, it won’t.” Belle gave her head a mystified shake. “We play this game, going back-and-forth, but it’s just a game. Winning has nothing to do with our relationship. The only thing I care about is how you feel.”
“How I feel?” He squinted at her, trying to understand what she meant by that lunacy. “How I feel about you, you mean?”
“Yes! What else?”
“But, you know how I feel.” Everyone knew how he felt. It was the worst kept secret in the Four Kingdoms. Why were they even talking about something so obvious? Was this some kind of trick? Did she want him to say it out loud so she could laugh at him?
“No, I really don’t know how you feel. Am I important to you or just…?” Her voice trailed off, her eyes falling on something over his shoulder. “Oh.” She whispered.
Avenant turned and saw the sword.
The chamber had been obviously been carved to designate the end of the quest. Huge goddesses surrounded the room, holding laurels and trumpets. At the center sat ceremonial black rock with a blade suck halfway in, just like an illustration from a storybook. The grip was made of gold and decorated in raised snowflakes. The pommel was studded with a cabochon sapphire the size of golf ball. A shaft of light glinted off the polished steel, highlighting the engraved word “Excalibur.” It was a weapon fit for a prince.
Avenant stared at it, a sinking feeling in his gut.
“I didn’t expect it to be so beautiful.” Belle said quietly. But, she didn’t lunge for the sword.
Neither did Avenant. He didn’t have to. He was about to win. This was the moment… Except, it didn’t seem like would be winning, at all.
Belle tore her eyes away from the sword and looked up at him. “So now what?” She asked.
Avenant cleared his throat. “I don’t know.”
All the times he’d pictured his victory, he hadn’t envisioned the moment quite like this. He thought he’d feel triumphant. He thought he’d relish the look on Belle’s face as he claimed the sword and she realized he was a worthy. Instead, he felt like he was about to fail the only test that mattered.
From out of nowhere, he thought of Knoss’ final words.
You won’t win, because you’re too afraid of losing.
“Well, wanna play rock-paper-scissors for it?” Belle suggested lightly, but he heard the tension in her voice. She didn’t know what to do either. Neither one of them wanted to give in… But, one of them was going to have to.
And it was going to be him.
“Shit.” Avenant whispered in defeat. All this work. All the effort. All the planning. Finally, he’d reached the end and he couldn’t go through with it.
He was going to surrender first. He suddenly knew it was inevitable. Beating Belle wasn’t the answer. That stupid minotaur had actually been right. There was only way to really win and it was through losing. If he ripped that sword right out from under her, Belle would never be his.
Avenant pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed with extreme frustratio
n. “You’re not going to be able to pull the sword free.”
Belle blinked at him. “What?”
Avenant took a deep breath and started tearing down all his walls. “Whoever frees Excalibur gets the kingdom. Adam set it up as a test, right?”
“Riiiiight.” She drew out the word, watching him with deep suspicion.
“So would one of my ancestors really create a test that lets some other family rule? Adam was a drunken lunatic, but he wasn’t stupid.” He lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Excalibur is enspelled.”
Belle’s lips parting in outrage. “You’re saying the contest of valor is rigged? You’ve been cheating this whole time?”
“No!” Avenant instantly denied. Then, he paused to consider it. “Well… sort of.”
“Sort of?”
“I was sort of cheating.” He allowed. “Adam wanted to ensure his line would always retain control, so he created a failsafe. The sword will only come loose for someone with royal blood.”
“So that’s why you’ve been so smug since we got in here.” She shook her head. “I knew you were up to something.”
“I wasn’t smug. I was confident.”
“Because, you’re the only person with royal blood who could complete this maze? What about Lancelot?”
“You really think that moron’s going to get this far?” Avenant rolled his eyes. “Please.”
“You’re unbelievable.” Belle brooded for a long moment. “If your plan was to use this failsafe to your advantage, why are you telling me about it? Why don’t you just walk over there and win?”
“The whole point of this contest is to protect the family.” He shrugged. “And you’re my family, Belle.”
She studied him from the corner of her eye and made a face. “That’s the only possible answer that could’ve gotten you out of the doghouse.”
Despite everything, his mouth curved.
“Don’t look so pleased with yourself. You still haven’t won this damn thing.”
“I don’t care about winning the sword. I care about winning you.” Avenant told her honestly. Being open was like ripping of a bandage. Once you got going, you might as well get it all over with fast. “I thought if I won the game, you’d surrender. But, that’s not what I want, anymore.”
“It’s not?”
“No.” He scraped a hand through his hair and made his choice. There was no choice. Belle was only prize he’d ever cared about winning. “Fuck it. You can have the Icen Throne.” He decided. “I forfeit.”
Belle’s eyes went wide. “What?” She sputtered. “No! Avenant, no. The kingdom’s always been yours. I’ve only been fighting you for it to… fight you for it. It’s just part of the game.”
“The game’s over. I’ll pull the sword free and you can claim it, Belle.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do.” Avenant was after something far more important and he could only have victory if he was unafraid of losing. Unafraid of being laughed at. Unafraid of emotions. The further he went beyond the walls, the easier it got to say the words. “I’m sorry I let this get so far. I just wanted to win, so you’d see I wasn’t weak.”
She squinted at that logic. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
“I know.” It sounded nuts even to him, now that he stopped to think about it. His idiot father had been dead for years and he was still screwing up his life. “Getting a sword might prove that I’m strong, but I don’t think it’s what you want. You need to see I can be more than strong. That I can be worthy.” He took a deep breath. “So, I’ll surrender everything --the Northlands, my pride, this whole fucking contest-- if I can just have you.”
Belle stepped closer to him, looking dazed. “You’ll surrender the game?” She whispered. “I’m really that important to you?”
How could she even ask that? “There’s nothing I wouldn’t surrender for you, Belle. You’re the most important part of me. Every thought in my head is about you.”
Chocolate eyes glistened with tears. “Really?”
“Really.” Avenant touched her cheek. “I am insanely in love with you, you idiot.”
A huge grin spread across her face. “You love me?”
“Of course.” It shocked him that she needed to hear the words. Three vision-impaired mice could’ve seen that he was head over heels for this woman. “I don’t remember a day of my life when I haven’t loved you. You shared your crayons with me in kindergarten and I was a goner.”
Belle swallowed. “Okay.” She announced and stopped directly in front of him. “You win.”
Avenant’s brows drew together at the unexpected response to his declaration. “I’m not trying to win. I just told you that.”
“Well, I’m declaring you the winner, anyway. Now that I think about it, whichever of us surrendered first was bound to win. Now, you get to hold it over my head forever that you took the leap of faith before I did.”
Avenant’s heart rate increased. That actually sounded promising.
“Of course, there’s one little problem with your romantic plan.” She pointed out, ruining the moment. “If I got the sword, wouldn’t you be Prince of the Northlands, anyway?”
“Only if we were married.” He focused on securing total victory. “Speaking of which, I want to get married.”
“That’s a coincidence.” Brown eyes sparkled. “To me or to my new kingdom?”
“The Northlands has nothing to do with this.” He groused, even though he knew she wasn’t serious. “I just gave you that kingdom, didn’t I? If that’s what I wanted, I just keep it.”
“See? Already you’re holding it over my head.”
He ignored her teasing and pressed onward. “I know you don’t love me back. I’m not asking for the impossible. Nobody would ever want a Beast. But, if you’ll marry me, I can make you happy. I promise.”
“Hang on.” Belle stopped smiling. “I wouldn’t marry someone I didn’t love.” She seemed confused by the very idea. She must have seen his disappointment, because she frowned. “What are you talking about, Avenant? Do you honestly not understand how I feel about you? I think I’ve been telling you since the fourth grade spelling bee.”
“But, I can change.” He assured her desperately. “You said yourself we could be friends, now. If you would just give me a chance…” Avenant stopped mid-word, the Beast’s instincts firing up. “Someone’s coming.”
Belle’s head whipped around to the chamber’s entrance. “Great. Perfect timing.” She blew out an irritated breath. “Just kill whoever it is, because I want to continue…” She trailed off when Lancelot appeared. “Crap.” She muttered, her gaze fixed on the gun. “I didn’t expect that asshole to be a villain, either.”
Chapter Nineteen
Monkey: I’m not saying that Prince Avenant was the one who bumped him off.
Folks were always chasing Weasel, so it coulda been anybody who wanted to shut him up.
But, that night, Weasel and me were at the Mulberry Bush Saloon and I thought it was all in fun.
Then, a couple of bullets came through the front window and POP! goes Weasel.
Defense: Objection! Your honor, we’ve established that Prince Avenant has an alibi for that whole evening.
He didn’t even know this Weasel person or any of his gangster friends.
Why is my client being blamed for every crime in the kingdom? Is this a trial or a witch hunt?
Testimony of Mr. Monkey- The People of the Northlands vs. Prince Avenant
Eight Months Ago
Life plus a century.
When the wizard had slammed his gavel down and delivered Avenant’s sentence, Belle’s stomach had dropped to her shoes. She’d never thought it would be so harsh. It wasn’t what she wanted, at all.
“Wait!” She’d surged to her feet, disregarding the gaping onlookers. “That isn’t right. Avenant isn’t really a criminal. Well, technically he is, but he shouldn’t have to spend the rest of his life in jail for it. He can be rehab
ilitated. He can be saved.”
Avenant had turned to stare at her, his expression unreadable. They had him handcuffed, a magic inhibitor on his ankle so he couldn’t use his powers to freeze them all. Not that he’d done that, even when he’d had the chance. When Belle showed up in his castle with her rebels, he could have attacked her. He could have struck her down and won. Instead, he’d slowly held up his hands. Rather than harm her, he’d let her arrest him.
She had no idea why, but she knew it was important.
“Avenant deserves a second chance.” Belle had told the judge, even as he ordered her to be quiet. She couldn’t stop. She was the one who’d set this into motion and, now that she had her victory, it felt worse than defeat. “Maybe he could do community service or something, instead.” She’d suggested desperately. “Avenant could learn to be a better ruler. He just needs some help.”
“If we let him out, he’ll only come after the kingdom, again.” Lancelot had snapped from his seat in the front row. “This is the only way to keep the Northlands safe. We even gave him a trial, which is more than most Bad folk get. He’s guilty and he deserves to rot in a cell like any other monster.”
Belle had ignored him. “Sending Avenant to prison forever is such a waste. He’s so smart. So gifted. If he tried, he could be real prince. I know he could.”
“He’s Bad.” Lancelot had proclaimed righteously. “No one Bad could ever lead a kingdom. These lands must be kept safe for the Good people of the Northlands. As their new prince, I will…”
“Rosabella Aria Ashman is in charge of the kingdom, now.” The wizard had interrupted. “She was the one who dethroned the Beast. She now takes his crown, under the law.”
“I don’t want to be ruler.” Belle had shaken her head. “Hang on. That’s not what this was about. I just wanted to beat him.”
Avenant’s jaw had ticked.
“What?” Lancelot had been stunned by the judge’s proclamation. “That’s impossible! I’m the prince, now. Everyone knows that!” The wizard started rattling off legalese to justify his decision, but Avenant’s cousin wasn’t listening. “I am next in line to be prince, not some woman. I’ll fight this in every court in the land!”
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