“I was paying attention.”
“Yes, you were paying attention. To Domhnall.”
Her lips tightened into a line. “It doesn’t matter. Do it again.”
Ronan adjusted his grip on his sword, noting Kordislaen making his way over.
He lunged again, and this time she was ready, even close to gaining the upper hand in their fight when Domhnall’s voice came from beside them.
“You’ve made a lot of progress, Clía.”
Ronan ignored him and continued to push forward toward her. He swung, expecting the clang of his blade against hers, but he met no resistance. Her sword clattered from her hand,forcing him to stumble to the side to keep his weapon from hitting her. He saw Kordislaen shake his head in disappointment.
Ronan turned his frustration onto the newest member of their conversation. “It’s dangerous to distract someone when they’re training.”
Domhnall stood only a couple of feet away. Thankfully, he had the sense to look apologetic. “I apologize. I wasn’t thinking. I was taking a break to get some water.”
“And now you’ve done that. Do you have another reason for interrupting our practice?”
Domhnall raised his brow at his friend in question.Why are you acting like this?
Ronan scowled; he didn’t know why.
The prince turned back to Clía. “Are you coming to dinner tonight? I haven’t seen you there the past week.”
“Ronan and I have been adding in extra training sessions in the evenings,” she explained, her tone casual, as if she hadn’t been caught staring at Domhnall only minutes before.
“I see. Well, I hope to see you in the mess hall sometime soon. I would hate to lose the friendship we had.”
She blinked rapidly, brow furrowing in confusion. “Me too.”
“Wonderful.” Domhnall flashed her a disarming smile, one Ronan had seen him show many lords, ladies, and lísoirs before. It was his go-to weapon when he needed to charm someone. “I’ll see you soon.”
Clía stared after him as he walked off.
“I can’t believe you want to bind yourself to that man for the rest of your life,” Ronan muttered. Kordislaen was gone, having moved on to other daltas.
“Domhnall is a good man.”
“He’s a manipulative bastard.”
She sent him a sharp look. “I thought you two were friends.”
“He’s like a brother to me,” Ronan agreed. “Which is why I can say that. I have seen the best and worst of that man. Andthat”—he nodded to Domhnall’s retreating form—“is the worst. You do realize he only came over to talk to you while Kordislaen was watching?”
Clía cursed. “Kordislaen sawthat?”
“Domhnall showed up the moment Kordislaen’s attention was on us. I’m sure you can imagine why.” Heat grew in Ronan as he explained. He used to admire Domhnall’s tactics, but now he could only see Clía’s fallen expression.
“He knew,” she said, her frustration seeming to turn on a new target. “He kept telling me I didn’t belong here, and now he’s trying to set me up to fail. Prove that he’s right.”
Ronan remembered his time with Domhnall in Suanriogh. “Your reputation isn’t the only one at stake. Imagine how it would make him look if you succeeded here and showed he had no basis for breaking the betrothal? Imagine he got sent back to the palace andyouwere allowed to stay.” He laughed, but it was empty. “And instead of playing by the rules and succeeding by his own merit, he’s sabotaging your progress.”
“Of course, it’s how the Lochlainns work. If he had it his way, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed until Kordislaen kicked me out.”
Ronan let himself ask the question that had bothered him since Clía first looked Domhnall’s way. “Why do you let Domhnall have this power over you? When you see him, you change.It’s like you get so preoccupied with him that you forget everything.”
She took a deep breath. “Every time I see him, I’m overwhelmed with nerves. My thoughts get too loud, and suddenly I’m overthinking everything and it’s safest to juststop. All of this started to show him my potential, but when the moment comes that he can actually see me? I freeze.”
