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Reid hated that look. He’d been receiving it since he was a child from both Alex and Toren.

“Perhaps I should not have agreed to train Allie,” he did admit.

When Alex cleared his throat, Alex picked up his mug and finished the ale inside. Raising his mug for more, he waited until it was filled, and drank again.

Still, Alex said nothing.

“And I may have waited to show Allie such carnal pleasures as—”

“Reid, these are our hosts.”

His brother’s tone set Reid on edge. He drank again, and this time, he did not attempt to make excuses.

When the man next to Alex leaned over and raised his mug for a toast, Alex complied. Their discussion ceased, thankfully, until the meal was over. Alex nodded toward the hall’s entrance. And with a final glance at Allie, whom he’d indulged himself in looking at throughout the meal despite Alex’s repeated warnings, he followed his brother out.

“Not here.”

This was precisely why he’d not mentioned it earlier.

As they descended the stairs to the ground floor, Alex’s expression turned increasingly grim. The moment they were outside the castle doors, his brother turned on him. “You taunt our hosts, threaten our alliance with de Sowlis, and smile about both,” he said.

Darkness had descended, and the courtyard was mostly empty.

“I did nothing, brother, you and Toren did not do before me. I care for her.”

I love her.

He started to walk away from the keep, but Alex followed him. “You’ve been warned away in no uncertain terms.”

“And if you had been warned away from Clara? By anyone other than the lady herself? You would have done what? Given up?” He did not back down despite the tick in his brother’s jaw.

“I would not have tossed decorum in the face of my hosts. And if you’d heeded such tenets of common courtesy, Lady Gillian would not have such strong feeling against you.”

“I apologize,” he said. His tone was becoming belligerent, but he found he didn’t much care. “If only I were as perfect as you, Lady Gillian would have fallen at my feet.”

“Reid, this is not about me.”

“No, this is about us. Would it have been so difficult for you to be happy for me? Glad that I found someone who makes me better than I am?”

“I am happy for you,” Alex said, pulling him to a stop. “But you have to be smarter about how—”

“Like you. What you mean to say is that I should be more like you.” He loved his brother, hated fighting with him. But he said the words anyway.

“Calm down, Reid.”

Words assured to make him anything but calm.

“Why are you here, Alex?” he snapped. “Tell me the real reason.” His hands shook at his sides as rage built up within him.

Alex ground his teeth together, his jaw tightening. Reid had managed to shake his brother’s composure. Good.

“Say it, Alex. Say it,” he taunted.

“Reid—”

“You are here because you don’t trust me.”

“That is not true.”