The Finale by Leigh Walker

Author:Leigh Walker [Walker, Leigh]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: CMG Publishing
Published: 2018-05-24T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The Prince From The North

I kept digging my nails into my palms so I wouldn’t fall asleep. The cameras were right next to us, and I couldn’t very well get caught snoring on film. I was already in enough trouble.

Still, I struggled to pay attention. “It’s imperative that you accept the serving dish from the left. Keep your hands in your lap, if that helps you. The point is, do not interrupt the flow of the dinner service. The dining room maids will have a fit.” Ms. Blakely droned on and on, and I desperately wished I were back in the hotel bed with Dallas. That wouldn’t be boring…

We were interrupted by a knock on the door. Tariq poked his head inside. “I’m so sorry to interrupt. However, His Royal Highness Austin Black has a break in his schedule. He’d like to meet the contestants.”

“Of course!” Ms. Blakely looked excited for us. “Go ahead, ladies. Class dismissed.”

Camera crew in tow, we quickly followed Tariq down the hall. Burning with curiosity to meet Dallas’s younger brother, I found that my pace almost outstripped the royal emissary’s. “Where are we meeting him?” I asked, a bit breathlessly.

“In the gardens. His Highness has requested to inspect each of you out in the sunlight.”

“Inspect us? Why?” Tamara asked, looking perplexed.

“He said he wants to get a good look at the ‘crazy human girls’—his words, not mine—who would marry his brother.” Tariq coughed. “His Highness has his own way of doing things, as you’ll see shortly.”

“Yay?” Blake said as we followed him outside to the courtyard.

The three of us stopped dead in our tracks when we saw the man who must have been the younger prince. He was in the center of the courtyard, shirtless, performing combat training with a sentinel. His large muscles rippled, the sun glinting off his pale skin, as he went on the attack.

“Yay.” Blake fanned herself.

Austin and the sentinel were sparring, each wielding a long stick exactly like the one I’d seen Eve practice with. The prince twirled his stick, then lunged at the sentinel. Their weapons cracked together fiercely. Sweat poured down Austin’s chiseled physique. Like Dallas, he was tall and strapping; his skin glistened in the sunlight. But Austin was slightly shorter than his brother and perhaps more powerfully built. I cursed myself for not seeing Dallas’s chest while I had the chance, back in our hotel room. Then I would’ve been able to properly compare them.…

Tamara wrinkled her nose. “Seems a bit rabid, doesn’t he?”

“Maybe a bit. Hmm, today’s gotten more interesting.” Blake seemed positively cheerful. “I do love a good fight.”

Austin grunted and ducked as the soldier swung at his head. Crouching on the ground, Austin surprised the guard by suddenly pressing his weapon into his chest, heart center. “Gotcha.”

The sentinel cursed and threw down his stick.

“You have to anticipate this move, Timmy. It’s your undoing when you think you have the upper hand. I would’ve skewered you if this were a real fight.” Austin got up, wiped his hands on his trousers, and shook his opponent’s hand.

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