Flynn doesn’t interact with Jocasta beyond common courtesies, and I learn that he’s known her since before she could walk, which isn’t promising for what Jocasta has in mind. It’s like she said, no one comes near her, and he and Kato seem more interested in impressing the children than impressing the princesses. They haul the heaviest rocks, tease the boys, show them fighting moves, and encourage them to join the army when they’re older. They’re strong, handsome, and fun, and the boys worship them.
If Jocasta almost never looks at Flynn, and Kaia looks too much at Kato, the men don’t seem to notice. What I notice is that I end up the hub of this great big wheel, and without me, all the spokes would go flying. It’s as bad inside the castle as it is out. If Griffin isn’t around, everyone defers to me. Me! How in the Underworld did that happen? Now, I have to organize, direct, plan, and practically throw certain people together. Gods! I hate responsibility.
Two days before the realm dinner, the children march ahead of us on the way back to the main gate, singing a bawdy song Kato really shouldn’t have taught them. Kaia is turning kalaberry red, and Jocasta is pretending not to hear.
I casually slide my foot to the side and trip her.
Jocasta lets out an oath I’m surprised she even knows and then glares up at me from the ground, her cheeks flushed pink and a dark curl bouncing over one eye. Perfect.
“Oh, no! You tripped on a root.” I crouch down and poke her leg. “You twisted your ankle.”
“No, I—”
“You can’t walk,” I cut her off. “Flynn, you’ll have to carry her.”
Jocasta snaps her mouth shut, her sapphire eyes shooting blue fire. Flynn bends down and scoops her up. She links her arms around his neck, blushing furiously.
Ha! That was easy enough. I grab Kato and pull him ahead.
“Don’t hold hands with me. If Griffin sees, he’ll have me dismembered.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m not holding your hand. I’m dragging you away.”
“Why?”
“I’ll explain when you’re older.”
He grins. “Don’t get your hopes up. She shouldn’t, either.”
“Why? She’s beautiful.”
“Beauty isn’t the problem. It’s rank.”
“I’m a nobody from the circus, and Griffin still wants me.”
Kato scoffs. “A nobody?”
“You look like Adonis,” I say, rolling right over his skepticism. “I’m surprised it’s not you she wants.”
“I’m saving myself for Kaia,” he answers with a perfectly straight face.
I snort a laugh.
“Jocasta is good,” Kato says. “Flynn is good.”
“And you’re not?”
His broad shoulders lift in a shrug. “Flynn carried her home after she fell out of a tree when she was six or seven. There’s no competing with that.”
No, I suppose not.
“How’s the sleeping?” he asks.
“I miss you patting my head.” I mean to sound flippant, but I don’t.
He glances at me, suddenly serious. “Nightmares?”
I shake my head.
“Because you’re sleeping with Griffin?”
“I am not sleeping with Griffin! I’m sleeping in his room.” In his tunic. In his bed… “It’s completely different.”
Kato’s eyebrows creep up. “I see.”
He drags the word out. It’s annoying, so I shove him, but he doesn’t even react. No playful tussle. No quick grappling. No fun.
Frustrated, I cry, “I’m not made of glass!”
His arm shoots out. He pushes me, and I careen off to the side, nearly falling over.
Kato gives me a significant look. “I’ll wrestle you to the ground when you can handle it.”
Scowling, I glance back at Flynn and Jocasta as I stumble onto the path again. She’s stiff, and he’s staring straight ahead. “What’s wrong with those two? They could at least try.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” Kato says.
“Why?”
He gives my hair an affectionate ruffle. “Because I’m wondering the same thing about you.”
*
I should have known Griffin wouldn’t wait forever. After dinner, and a long time going over all our strategies to win support at the realm dinner, he doesn’t leave me outside the bedroom as usual. He follows me in, shutting the door with a decisive click.
“What are you doing?” I back up, keeping an eye on him.