The hairs on the back of his neck rose at the prince’s calm but commanding voice. “Scout.”
“Just Scout?” The name sounded like honey on his tongue. “No titles?”
“Scout Avery.” Scout’s mouth went dry. “No titles, your highness.”
The prince shook his head. “You don’t have to add that on every time.”
“I’m sorry,” Scout said, resisting the urge to tackyourhighnesson the end of it again.
The prince smiled.
Scout’s heart nearly stopped.
The prince smiledat him.
“Killian!”
The king’s shrill voice tore through the air like a knife. The crowd had fallen into a state of shocked silence. No one dared to even breathe as the king stormed over to the prince and the lowly omega who had snuck his way onto the stage.
“What is this?” the king roared, spit flying. “Who are you?”
Scout suddenly felt very small. He wanted to sink into the floor. The king —the king —was standing right in front of him, screaming. Scout felt every sap of courage drain from his body.
“Speak!” the king snapped.
“My name is Scout Avery,” he said quickly. His legs were shaking.
“Scout Avery?” the king boomed. The way he said his name was completely unlike the way the prince had said it. The king made it sound like a curse, like a flag of shame being waved in front of all these people. Scout shrunk back.
The king’s face was red with fury. He looked like he was going to explode. “Who let this filth in here? Where are the guards!?”
The words hit Scout like a slap in the face. He almost wished the king would have struck him physically instead.
What was he thinking? Did he really think the king wouldn’t react this way?
Scout stumbled back. All his courage and nerve snapped. He wanted to run, to get as far away from all this as possible.
His body trembled like a leaf as the king roared for his guards. Scout took a shaky step back, but his knee buckled under the mental pressure. He lurched, and in a split second, he was certain he would fall.
But Scout never hit the floor.
