Page 39 of Fit for a Prince (Fit For A Crown #1)

Chapter thirty-six

I hugged Mara goodbye.

There was no guarantee that I would return alive, but I refused to speak the words goodbye so that I would have every reason to return. She spent as much time with me as she could after Atlas snuck back out, but it still didn’t feel like enough when it could have been our last moments.

Beckham followed me and my escort, acting as my attendant for the battle. It was the same role that Oren had filled when he was still with me. That was another reason I refused to die. I needed to make sure Beckham walked back with me tonight.

The sun was hanging low in the windows, but dusk had yet to paint the skies orange. The guard who guided me was quiet, which wasn’t unusual, other than the fact that he continuously side-eyed me the entire walk .

I kept my guard up, positioning myself in front of Beckham at every turn in case this was another ambush planned by the king.

Had he changed his mind and decided to kill me himself, after all?

The guard took a sharp turn that could have led to the arena, but also wasn’t the usual route. I hesitated to follow, deciding to take the turn widely so I could view what was lying in front of me.

“Cedric?” I stopped before I could step down the hall, stunned to see the youngest prince waiting with the guard at his side. Beckham stopped an inch behind me, his gasp tickling my ear.

“Hello, Diaspro.” He sounded somber, completely different from the kind prince who had walked me through the greenhouse.

He looked as if he’d aged overnight. Something in his eyes was far more serious, and his posture was rigid, his back straight and hands clasped in front of him.

“Can we speak for a moment? I promise I won’t make you late to your duel. ”

I shouldn’t.

As much as he claimed to care for me, I still had very few reasons to trust Cedric.

Plus, I had Beckham with me. If we were caught not heading straight for the arena, would they place the blame on him?

Cedric’s solemn tone tugged at my guilt, urging me to give him the closure he was likely requesting.

I shouldn’t, but I could.

I looked back at Beckham, and my heart swelled when he gave me a nod of approval.

“Very well,” I said.

“Thank you.” He motioned for a connecting hallway that gave us a bit more privacy. “I only require a moment.”

I followed him down the hall, stopping behind a brass sculpture of a phoenix that blocked us from any passing servants. The moment we were out of sight, I half expected him to go back to his normal self, but he never did.

“I assume Atlas already spoke with you?” he asked in a concise whisper.

“You knew about that?” I sputtered out. Had the escape been Cedric’s idea?

“He informed me of his plans last night,” Cedric explained. “I helped him organize the escape after he suggested it. Though, knowing you, I should have expected you not to take him up on it.”

“I don’t run from fights,” I said, narrowing my eyes.

“You should,” he said in a hushed tone, stepping closer. “You can’t die, Diaspro. Not now. ”

My heart skipped a beat. I knew Cedric was fond of me, but this felt out of character even for him. He claimed he wanted to marry me...but was it really all kindness?

Or is there another reason he wants me alive?

I felt my hackles rise. “Why can’t I die?”

“I think you know why,” he murmured, almost too quiet for me to hear it, but still loud enough to drown out my thudding heart. “Lochlan is the only one too blind to see it, but you’re still needed here.”

“Why?” I asked again, my toes curling tighter in my boots the more he dodged the question.

“There are many reasons why,” he said, his tone softening as a small touch of his old self found my gaze.

“If we’re speaking politically, there’s still the matter of your home kingdom and its Guardian.

Losing you means leaving the rest of Ivalon’s power for the Guardian to sweep up.

Then there’s also the matter of the vault. ”

“I can’t get into the vault,” I said.

“The king still believes you can.” Cedric sighed.

“At least, that’s my guess as to why he’s kept you alive as long as he has.

He wants it more than anything, and I’m hoping that’s enough to keep him from letting you die today.

I didn’t pull you aside to stop you from fighting; I knew you wouldn’t back down.

I pulled you aside to tell you that I need you to live.

I’ll do everything in my power to convince my father not to let Lochlan execute you.

I just need you to stay alive long enough for me to persuade him. ”

His focus was captivating. He looked at me like I was his greatest mission—the mountain he needed to climb, or the damsel he needed to free from the tower.

When he looked at me, I could finally see how much he cared, but it wasn’t out of love.

It was just Cedric. Cedric and his impossibly soft heart that was still lined with a shocking amount of steel.

Had the steel been there all along?

“Thank you,” I said softly. “But don’t worry too much for me. I don’t start fights that I can’t finish.”

I turned back down the hall and met up with Beckham and the guard. We resumed our walk to the arena, and soon enough I was back in the armory where I had last prepared for battle.

Beckham brought out a rack of weapons, and at least this time, there was a decent selection to choose from. I selected a broadsword and a slingshot, then had Beckham help me strap two full bags of ammo to my belt.

The broadsword was heavy, but I was stronger than the last time I’d held a weapon. It also complemented the range of my slingshot perfectly, but could still deal heavy blows if I needed to .

“Are you ready, my lady?” Beckham asked with a face that was too brave for a boy so young.

“Yes.”

I entered the arena.