Page 43 of Fit for a King

The last time I checked, I wasn’t supposed to think. But when the prince asked you a question, the one thing you didn’t do was ignore him.

“It’s a lot of people, talking about⁠—”

“Boring things.”

“I wouldn’t know, sir.”

“No?” Gabriel brought his glass to his lips and took a sip. “Tell me, Bennett, what do you do for fun?”

I gazed around the room, looking for Baxter, knowing that if he caught me standing here chatting it up with the prince, he’d have my hide. Even if it was Gabriel who’d instigated it.

“I… I don’t really do anything. I’m too busy working.”

Gabriel turned to look at me, a frown pulling between his brows. “For my brother?”

“For whoever’s employment I’m under, yes.”

“Well, that won’t do. You need to tell him to give you some time off.”

I snorted at that. The idea of telling the king anything was preposterous. “I don’t think so.”

“Why?” Gabriel glanced at me over the rim of his glass. “He’s not that much of a monster.”

“Oh, no.” I shook my head and then turned to look in the direction of the king, my heart squeezing when I saw him laugh—actually laugh—at something the prince just said. “He’s not a monster at all.”

If Gabriel noticed the way my voice changed, he didn’t say anything.

“What do you think of Prince de la Vega?” he asked.

There was no way he could possibly think I was going to answer that. But when I thought he’d leave and let me go on my way, Gabriel just stood there waiting.

“He’s, um, got a big…personality. And sword.”

Gabriel chuckled. “Noticing his sword now, are we?”

“It was kind of hard to miss.”

Gabriel looked over to his brother and Prince de la Vega and nodded. “That it was.” Then he drained the rest of his champagne in one long swallow. He placed the empty glass back on my tray and inclined his head. “Thank you for the drink and the interesting conversation.”

“Of course, Your Highness. Anytime.”

Gabriel narrowed his eyes slightly, and something about the way he ran them over my face made my breath catch. “I’ll remember that. Have a good night, Bennett.”

As he walked away from me, my gaze followed his every step, and when I caught myself, I quickly looked back to Nicholas to see that he’d moved over to the dining table to take his seat at the head of it, with the prince to his right.

Dinner was about to be served, and as the King and Prince of Valoria took their seats, I couldn’t help but look between the two, something niggling at the back of my brain.

No.

No, it can’t be…can it?

I quickly shoved the ludicrous thought of the twins’ switching places out of my mind as the dinner bell was rung, and made my way back down to the kitchens. I had a long night ahead of myself, and the last thing I needed was to get caught up in wishful thinking.

14

NICHOLAS

THE BALL HAD gone better than I’d expected. Gabriel had played my part with frightening precision, restraining the outgoing side of himself and giving off nothing more than polite interest. It was impressive to watch. Other than Baxter’s knowing, and only because he’d gotten us both ready, I had no doubt we’d pulled off the switch.