Page 6 of Awestruck (Starstruck Love Stories #4)

I blame Reid for the suffocating sensation that constantly follows me.

Even if I wanted to take a trip into the city, I doubt he would allow it.

He would say it is too dangerous until we know more about Grimstad’s supporters, but if I could talk to some of my people and understand their needs, I would have a better knowledge of what I need to do going forward into this election.

I cannot get that from inside these walls.

Spotting my brothers among the palace guards, I find a seat on a wrought-iron bench to watch the sparring.

Hex, as always, makes fighting look easy and has barely broken a sweat as he boxes with a fellow guard.

His footsteps light and his body quick to move, he seems to float over the dirt as he dodges, punches, and kicks.

Neither he nor his opponent are hitting hard enough to injure, but their skill is evident.

Particularly Hex’s. I do not think I have seen him lose a fight in years.

Sander is much the same, though he has always had a quieter style, keeping to defense until he finds the right moment to strike.

Most often, he manages to take his opponents down in only a few offensive moves.

Where Hex’s skills and confidence are immediately obvious, people tend to underestimate Sander when they first meet him.

In truth, I have no idea which of them is the better fighter because they made a pact years ago to never go up against each other. Heaven help anyone who chooses to take them both on.

A thought sparks to life as I watch my brothers defeat their opponents almost at the same time, eliciting applause from their observers.

Reid would never approve of a trip into town, and I would be foolish to go on my own.

But I happen to know two incredibly skilled fighters who could keep me safe and would likely agree to my reasoning.

I need to know what the people want from me, and that is not something I can learn from inside a castle.

Freya:

I need a favor.

Hex:

Oi, San, did I read that right?

Sander:

Maybe she meant flavor?

Hex:

Passionfruit. Superior to all other flavors.

Sander:

Depends on the context. Lemon is more versatile.

Hex:

She didn’t ask for versatile.

Sander:

She didn’t ask for the best, either.

Freya:

You are both imbeciles. Will you help me or not?

Neither of my brothers answers the question, but I do not have to wait long before there is a knock at the secret door behind the bookshelf in my room. At least they are not so dimwitted as to ignore my request.

I purposefully waited until Reid was replaced by the night guard before texting my brothers, but I am still cautious when I open the bookcase to let Hex and Sander into my room from one of the secret passages connecting the rooms in the family wing.

“Keep your voices down,” I warn them.

“Why?” Hex asks in a dramatically loud whisper.

Because I am certain Reid has managed to befriend the entire palace guard and many of the other staff as well, which means I cannot trust the night guard to be discreet if he hears anything we say.

I would say I am surprised everyone likes Reid as well as they do, but he is closely related to Derek Riley.

Universal likeability must be a family trait.

“It is late,” I say, instead of the real reason.

Hex and Sander glance at each other, their matching faces suddenly masked as they have a silent conversation between them. In general, they are far more expressive than I allow myself, so these moments when they hide their thoughts from anyone but themselves always unnerve me.

“So, what is this once-in-a-lifetime favor?” Sander asks, folding his arms as his features soften into his usual warm smile.

Hex flops onto my couch. “I am all too eager to hear what you think counts as a favor, Fringe.”

“Will you take your feet off the cushion?” I sit on the couch as soon as he does as I ask. “You do not have to turn this into something bigger than it is.”

Chuckling, Sander sits in the armchair across from us. “You never ask for help,” he argues. “Which makes this a big deal.”

I suppose he has a point. “First, you must promise not to tell anyone about this.”

Hex frowns. “Sure, but—”

“Not even your friend, El. Mr. Reid cannot know about this.”

That intrigues them, and they both sit up.

“This is getting more and more interesting,” Hex says, his smile growing. “Is our perfect sister finally breaking a rule?”

“I never thought I’d see the day,” Sander says and lifts his eyebrows high. “I think we need to commemorate this somehow.”

“Turn it into a national holiday?” Hex suggests. “Though I’m not sure Mum would approve, unless we get her drunk like she was at Mormor’s eightieth birthday.”

“We could commission a monument to honor the day.”

“A statue! It can have all three of us and—”

“Will you shut up?” I say with a sigh. “I have changed my mind.”

The twins groan, and Hex grabs my hand as he says, “No, we’re sorry. We’ll be serious.”

“Is that even possible?” I ask.

Sander chuckles. “Only when we try really hard. What is this favor, Freya?”

Now I feel foolish, and I wish I had not gotten so excited about the possibility. “I…” I might as well tell them, or they will never leave it alone. “I want to go into Invem.”

The silence that follows my admission sits thick and heavy in the air, and I hold my breath as I wait for their reactions.

“Oh, that was the end?” Hex says, lifting an eyebrow. “I thought there would be more…well, more.”

Rolling my eyes, I slouch in my seat and hug one of the many throw pillows. “I am not allowed out of the castle without an escort.”

“So take Elliot with you,” Sander says with a shrug. “That’s his job.”

“His job is to keep me safe,” I grumble. “Mum and Gregor believe the city is too dangerous for me, and there is little chance he will go against orders.”

Sander meets Hex’s gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Have you asked him to take you?”

“Of course,” I say, covering the lie with a scoff. “I am not so foolish as to go behind his back when he is so dedicated to his position.”

Hex snickers and tosses a pillow at me, hitting me in the face.

“You didn’t ask him,” he guesses. “If you had, he would not have let us anywhere near you because he would have known you would do this. The man’s smarter than you think, Fringe.

Smarter than you, I’d wager.” Before I can feel the sting of his opinion, he continues speaking.

“Okay, so you want to go into Invem. And do what?”

I had not gotten that far in my thinking, particularly because it took all my courage to ask my brothers to come hear my plan. “I suppose I want to talk to people,” I say, though my uncertainty will not help my brothers think I am more intelligent than Elliot. “Without them knowing who I am.”

“Why?” both twins ask at the same time.

I sigh. “Because I need to know how the Candoran people really feel about the monarchy and my upcoming rule, and they would never tell the crown princess the truth, now would they? They have been rallying in the streets, but their grievances are unclear.”

“They definitely wouldn’t talk to you,” Sander agrees, scratching his chin. “But how are you supposed to blend in?” He waves a hand at me, gesturing from my head to my toe. “You have only ever looked and acted like a princess.”

“Unlike the two of you,” I grumble back.

“It’s a good thing Sander and I don’t act like princesses,” Hex says.

I throw the pillow back at him, and he catches it with ease. “You know what I mean.”

“Just pretend to be one of your American friends.”

I consider that, though I am uncertain if that would work. My male friends would be impossible to emulate, but the women would be no easier. Bonnie is too glamorous and constantly in the public eye, so her life is not much different from mine. She even has a bodyguard.

Kasey is…the opposite of me. She wears her husband’s clothes and rarely puts on makeup and does not care what anyone thinks of her. And Carissa has only been my friend for a couple of months, so I have not had the chance to spend much time with her.

I have not spent much time with any of my friends of late. This election has made it impossible.

“I will have to put on a disguise,” I decide, hoping that will be enough.

“What do you expect us to do?” Sander asks. His expression is wary, and I am certain he will take the most to convince. Hex is usually up for anything that makes his life more interesting, but I will not be able to make this plan work if one of them is skeptical.

“I was hoping one of you would take Mr. Reid’s place while the other ensures he does not find out what we are doing,” I say and wince.

Hex laughs, shaking his head, and Sander’s frown deepens. “You want us to lie to Elliot?” Sander asks. He sounds almost hurt.

“You want us to turn into bodyguards?” Hex adds, still full of amusement. “Seems like a lot of faith to put into a couple of imbeciles.”

I sigh and rub my temples. If I did not love these two with all my heart, they would drive me crazy. I can only hope they mature sooner than later. “You are the best fighters and the best shots this country has ever seen.”

“Well,” Hex says, tilting his head and smiling proudly. “We’re not as good as—”

“If you try to tell me you are not as good as Elliot Reid, I will know you are lying,” I snap. “There is no way he is both more intelligent than me and stronger than the two of you. He can be a lot of things, but perfect is not one of them.”

To my irritation, my brothers share a smirk as if my comment was something to laugh at. “You really hate him, don’t you?” Sander asks. “Why?”

Because he is bold, confident, and does not fear crossing me.

Because he has thus far proven himself to be skilled at his job and therefore has not given me any good reasons to dismiss him.

I say none of this aloud—my brothers would have ready arguments for why those traits should be praised rather than condemned.

“Will you help me understand the Candoran people or not?” I ask, folding my arms as I stare them down.

Sharing one last look, the twins nod.

“Thank you.”

“I’ll go into the city with you,” Sander decides. “Hex is probably better at distracting Elliot, if the need comes up.”

I am grateful he made the decision instead of leaving it up to me. Either of my brothers would be a good choice to protect me, but I would insult one by choosing the other. Even if no insult was taken, they would pretend otherwise because as much as they support me, they delight in tormenting me.

“If you really plan to be in disguise,” Hex says, hopping up and moving to my closet, “this is going to take some time. So we should probably get started.”