Chapter 13

M ateo's hands trembled as he pulled on his dark-green pants. Many counted on him. His little sister Floriana, his father, Gareth's sister Poppy… He shouldered the hope of all Sublanders. Now he had the beautiful yet devious Avalynn Stromm to worry about. What was she up to?

He tucked in his long-sleeved black shirt. Would she try to tempt him again? Her face and beautiful smile flashed through his mind. As much as he fancied her figure under that dress… that dress. He shook his head, clearing the Avalynn cobwebs—he had a job to do.

In the washroom, he threaded his black belt through the loops and focused on the prey. The Shadowblood Fox, not Avalynn Stromm. Nothing else mattered, not even Lady Verona's and Rhyka's lies about his parents. He pictured the fox in his mind's eye. Sharp claws, dark beady eyes, a strong small body. Catching the creature would be a challenge, but he'd hunted fox before. This one should be no different.

His boots laced, he returned to the main room but stopped dead in his tracks. A white envelope rested on the floor. Now what? He scooped it up and pulled out the simple black-inked parchment. Protect Princess Avalynn. What in thunderation? He jerked his door open and studied the corridor. Nobody. More games—he was so sick of games!

Stepping back into his room, he crushed the note, chunked it against the wall, and then kicked it under the bed. Protect her? Not a chance. In order to succeed for his family and the Sublands, he needed to protect himself first. Not her, not anybody else. She was on her own.

He slammed his fists against the mattress. Focus. No distractions today. With a steady breath, he surveyed the forsaken bedchamber. Since he might not return, he started shoving his stuff inside his bag. With everything in, the last two items sat on the table near his bed. He added the black scarf his mother made for him. But his touch lingered on the cross. His father, Manny, whittled it. But what if he hadn't? What if… He pushed it aside. Don't believe their lies.

He held the cross close. He reminded himself of his father's words. "Faith is a warrior." He kissed the wooden cross, then slipped it deep into his pocket and patted it. "I am a warrior. The prize is mine."

A knock at the door and Maid Nia entered with an air of formality. "Good morning." She scanned the room and noticed his bag. "Your things are packed. Very good. Your bag will be gathered later and placed for safekeeping until after the hunt. Now, I will escort you to the receiving room for your breakfast, your hunt satchel, and your weapon of choice."

He clutched his dagger sheathed at his waist. His father gave it to him when he was young, and he never hunted without it. "I already have my weapon."

With pursed lips, she shook her head. "That is not the custom. Every hunter must choose one from those provided. Weapons from outside the palace are forbidden."

He raised a brow. He had to use one provided by the Stromms? What a load of dung. They probably had a special weapon for the Sublands. One that was faulty and poorly made. "Someone should have mentioned the weapons rule."

"My sincerest apologies." Maid Nia lowered her head. "It is a long custom of the Summit Range Hunt. As a newcomer, I should have mentioned it to you."

Another day at Stromm Palace, another Stromm rule change. Would they want his pants next? "That's fine." He added his dagger to his bag. "What will be my choices?"

"Dagger. Spear. Bow. Now, please." She beckoned him forward. "We have a strict schedule."

Maid Nia led him out of his wing, through the palace, and into the receiving room. Mateo found the room's setup different from before. Guards in full gear lined the room. Tables were set up in the middle. One table contained a spread of fruit and bread. Another had five packed satchels. On the final table nested rows of weapons. Hawkeyed and resolute, Master Kragar guarded the weapons table, axe on his shoulder and at the ready.

Maid Nia faced Mateo. "This is where I leave you. All the blessings of the Sun, Moon, and Stars."

"Thank you."

Now, what was next? He had no idea until Avalynn and the other hunters strolled in. Avoiding eye contact with the princess, he followed their lead and served himself a plate of food. He sat away from them, eyes down, and ate quickly. She didn't matter. Her fake alliance wasn't going to work out for her.

When finished, he moved to the table with the satchels. Along with the other hunters, he grabbed one. It was fashioned from rough wool and didn't weigh much. He resisted opening it for inspection, he could do that later. Swinging the bag over his shoulder, he snuck a glance at Avalynn. Her nose in the air, chin up, and eyes down. He huffed. Ice princess mode. He could not afford the distraction.

At the weapons selection, she picked a bow and arrow set. She slid them into the quiver at her back. No surprise there. He'd heard of her archery skills. Selene chose a spear, as did Eiric and Finnian.

Mateo reached for a dagger and sheathed it at his waist. He would fashion a spear while in the forest—two weapons for one. A privileged highborn wouldn't think of such a thing. In Mateo's mind, it would be their ultimate downfall.

A hush fell over the assembled hunters, and Master Kragar started chanting… Uh-uh…ohhh! He lowered his axe. He tapped it in his hand while pacing throughout the group. Uh-uh…ohhh!. He planted his feet, raised the axe's flat side, and slammed it atop his head. Ayyy! His eyes widened. Ayyy! He slammed his head two more times, a drop of blood coming from his scalp. "Now! The moment you have all been waiting for—the hunt!" A wicked glint sparkled in his mad eye. "I will escort you to the far end of the garden. There you will line up and their Majesties, the High King and High Queen will see you off."

He took his place before them and grunted. He perched the blood-stained axe on his shoulder. "We march to the send-off." More drops of blood oozed from his hairline, but he didn't seem to notice. He stroked his lengthy red beard. "Let us go, then. To the hunt!"