How was it that Micah could make pouring syrup look so sexy? Any other dragon-kind would find Micah’s lathering of his waffles with syrup gross, but I found his peculiar taste with foods interesting, and it made me smile.

Rylan cleared his throat. The sound of it bounced off the walls of the dining hall. “Micah, that’s disgusting.”

“It’s delicious.” Micah put down his bottle and cut into his waffles.

“Dragons are supposed to hate sweet foods.”

Which was a bummer, because I was human and loved them. It was difficult to find sweetened desserts anywhere in Constanria, not even in Raynea, the city. The princes’ building and the councils, however, were filled with it, and I let myself gorge on desserts while working. I tried to not let how it affected my girth get to me.

“Did something happen between you two last night?” Kael asked.

“Uh…” I bit into my bread. “Why do you ask?”

“Because you can’t stop ogling Micah.”

Micah was more focused on his waffles than me.

“No,” I lied.

Gaius had his gaze fixed on his food. Every so often, he’d glance up and give me a death glare. I paid him little mind.

“I kissed Sera yesterday,” Micah said, shoving more waffles into his mouth. “So now we’re even.”

Kael set his cup down abruptly, and the glass chipped. “You what?”

“You started it.”

A maid served me the plate of waffles I requested. I reached over and took Micah’s bottle of syrup and began pouring it over my dish as well. I didn’t put on as much as Micah did, however. Even that was too much for me.

“Sera,” Kael said to me from across the table, “who’s the better kisser?”

My breath hitched but I tried not to show it. “Um… I don’t know.”

“You have to know. One of us has to be better. Say it’s me so that I can flaunt it in Micah’s face.”

“I honestly couldn’t tell.” Both instances had caught me by surprise, and my mind had been swirling too much for me to ponder a proper rating for both brothers.

Kael tossed a charcoaled piece of meat into the air and caught it with his mouth. Chewing, he said, “I’ve thought of an idea to make you more open to this game. And for me to win.”

“Your ideas are always stupid,” Micah muttered.

“This one’s good. Sera’s worried we might toss her aside once this game is over. So what if I don’t?”

“Meaning?” I asked. I probably shouldn’t be eating this many starches for breakfast, but it all tasted so good. Plus, staying up so late last night had made me exhausted. Carbohydrates were the best fuel for the mind.

I picked up some jam and spread more over my piece of bread. Forget having me as the head of the Intelligence Council—give the position to the person who invented bread, because whoever did was a genius.

Kael threw another piece of food into the air. It went so high up that it reached halfway toward the tall ceiling of the dining hall. I thought he’d miss and it’d drop on the ground, but he caught it with his mouth. “I’ve decided. If I win, I’ll let you marry me.”

I dropped my spreading knife. “What?” That had to be the worst marriage proposal of the decade. And it came from a prince. Didn’t princes often ride their damsels off into the sunset with a stallion, before kneeling in a knightly fashion to propose? They weren’t known for playing with their food while doing so.

Micah raised his fork, mid-chew. “See? Stupid.”

Gaius snorted. “Can’t believe you’re even considering marrying the minx.” He picked up some overly crisped pieces of inca belly and munched on them.

“How is it stupid?” Kael asked.

“As if she’d pick you.” Micah shared a look with me that made my stomach uneasy. A half-smile curved up the side of his lips.

Rylan charcoaled a cut of his steak by burning it with his fingertips. “We still haven’t decided who Sera wants.”

“Wait,” I said. “Since when did this become something we had to ‘decide’ on?”

Rylan looked at me with a gaze that could make any woman melt. “When all of us started taking an interest.”

“You’re going to have to pick a favorite eventually,” Kael said.

I shrugged, trying to hide my blush. “I already told you who he was. Frederick’s my favorite.”

“Frederick?” Rylan asked, his face tightening.

“Don’t worry.” Kael waved his hand. “Frederick’s not interested in women. Plus, he can’t compare to us.”

I raised a brow. “Egoistic much? Frederick’s easy to talk to.”

“You’re not someone who likes easy,” Kael said. “Well, you can’t marry Rylan. He’s crown prince and has to secure our royal line and all that.”

Rylan shook his head. “That isn’t true. It might be best if I marry a noble girl, but Mother wasn’t exactly of high status when Father wedded her.”

“She was still a noble.” Kael pointed at Rylan with his fork.

“Are the lot of you done?” Gaius said. “I’m getting sick just hearing this.”

As if on cue, a servant walked in with a full plate of meat. She placed it in front of Gaius. “Your Highness,” she said. “The head cook asked me to serve this to you. Ingor meat. He was quite insistent that this get to your table, and he tried a new, special blend with the seasoning. He asked around and found out you liked it ground up, so he prepared it like that. He hasn’t shown this new recipe to anyone else yet. He’s eager to know what you think.”

Gaius stared down at his plate, looking a little at loss for words.

The servant continued, “He couldn’t stop talking about how you treated him yesterday, Your Highness.”

“I…” Gaius seared his dish. Gaius forked a helping of ground meat and placed it into his mouth. “Tell the cook I said thank you, and it’s delicious.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The servant bowed and scampered off.

The whole dining hall fell into silence.

“Have you hit your head on something?” Kael said. “You’re sounding very unlike you.”

Gaius shrugged. “Don’t know.” He peered at me, this time not with a death glare, but something else.

Not certain how to respond, I just smiled. He didn’t return the smile, instead sniffing and reverting his attention to his food. And he was back to normal. What was I expecting?

“We have to go to the training grounds again today,” Kael said. “I still haven’t paid Gaius back for what he did to me.”

Gaius rolled his eyes. “You lost. Fair and square.”

“Not fair at all. You bound me with soul magic. How does that even make it a proper duel?”

Rylan said, “As long as those in the cafeteria’s balcony didn’t notice, Gaius was within his right. There shouldn’t be rules when it comes to combat. You should know that the best, Kael. In the battlefield, anything goes.”

Kael groaned and looked at me. “Sera, you have to come and watch us again. I need you to see me pulverize Gaius.”

“Just make sure you do,” I replied, and took the last bite of my meal. I couldn’t believe I’d actually finished all that. I sat back and sighed. A food coma was taking over my mind, and it didn’t help that I hadn’t gotten enough sleep last night.

“So,” Kael continued, “you still haven’t told us who you’d pick, Sera.”

“What?” I said, jolting my head up.

“You have to. You can’t have us dangling in anticipation like that.” A sly grin split his face. “Tell us which of us brothers you’d like to marry.”

My heart stopped. “Which one?” They were all equal levels of gorgeous and intriguing. Rylan had a calm and collected disposition that made him feel sturdy—someone to lean on. Micah carried himself with mystery, but was actually sweet on the inside. Kael? Kael was just fun. Every woman needed some fun in their lives. And Gaius was handsome. Yeah—just that. I couldn’t find any other redeeming qualities about him.

“I can’t decide,” I said.

Gaius wiped the last of the seasoning off with his final scoop of ingor meat. His plate looked as good as new by the time he’d finished. How good did that cook make it? “Well, that wouldn’t be the first… that someone couldn’t pick.”

Josephine. I knew Micah had hidden more about her from me. She seemed like a wound the brothers had stitched up long ago. I didn’t have it in me to pry it open.

Kael leaned into his chair. “Sera thinks it’s me. She just doesn’t want to hurt any of your feelings.”

“Don’t put words into my mouth,” I said.

The conversation diverted to other topics—Gisiroth’s orders, battle tactics, more intricacies about soul magic. I listened to their discussions, which often morphed into light bickering.

I liked being a part of their group. It felt like being in a huge family. I probably didn’t deserve any of this warmth, but I was happy to take it. Watching the four brothers was probably one of the most eventful things in the world. And most of all, it felt comfortable. I probably shouldn’t be feeling this sense of belonging and enjoyment, but those emotions took over anyway, and they sucked me in.

With the princes, I didn’t have to cover myself. I could have my gloves off and be free.

“Who’s taking Sera to the council?” Micah said.

I checked my watch. I was late. I muttered a curse. The princes had distracted me so much I hadn’t kept track of the time. Smoothing a hand over my hair, I pushed myself to my feet and grabbed my satchel. “I have to go. Like, now.”

“Why don’t we all take her?” Kael suggested. “Together.” His lip curled up a bit too much at the mention of that, and I wasn’t quite sure what he was insinuating.

“No,” I snapped, gripping the strap of my bag. “If the council sees more than one prince, much less three of you, swooping along just to send me to work, I’ll have huge trouble.” I shot a pleading glance to Rylan. “Can you take me, please?”

“Him?” Micah said, scooping a second dish from the spread we had in front of us. The men could eat. “He fetched you the last time.”

I couldn’t look at Kael or Micah without thinking about their kisses, which threw my insides out of order. “Let’s make it consistent. I’m sorry, Rylan, I know you’re busy—”

The legs of his chair creaked as he slid to a stand. “I’ll take you.” He wore a haughty grin as he strode over. He walked past me, but not before grabbing my hand and pulling me toward him.

“Not fair!” Kael said.

“Shut it, Kael,” Gaius snapped.

“You’re just jealous you don’t stand a chance.”

I let myself get tugged along by Rylan, and tried to keep up with his long, graceful strides.

* * *

The day at the council went on without any bumps. Frederick had gone on with his usual questions about the princes, and I managed to smoothly dodge every single one of them. There was gossip, but mostly, more people warmed up to me, perhaps wanting to get some of the glory of being associated to the princes.

Rylan had indeed told Tindyll that our arrangement was of a work-related nature, although it was starting to seem less so. That had calmed a lot of the tension in the council and, in fact, made its members view me more favorably.

Everything was going well. It almost seemed like bliss. I was still tired from overworking myself and trying to bite off more than I could chew, but I’d learned how to deal with that kind of stress. It was a constant companion I could get along with.

After the council meeting was over, Rylan came to pick me up, to watch the brothers spar again in the training grounds.

I sat on one of the benches there and was flipping through a report.

“Kael, do you know you can be quite heavy?” I said to him.

He was starting to get a habit of lying on my lap. The first instances had made me want to squeal, but my body eventually protested to his weight, which made my legs fall asleep on me.

I moved my report, so I could look down at him. A cheeky grin and electrifying blue eyes greeted me. His white hair splayed out from behind him, framing his gorgeous face. “Heavily interested in you, that is.”

I quickly moved the report back, to cover my view of him. Too much of a good thing could be bad. Especially for my heart.

“You’re starting to get clingy,” Gaius said, sitting next to me. He’d stopped his insults, which actually made me warier of him. Why was he acting so strangely?

“Am I?” Kael asked.

“It’s not pretty,” Gaius said.

I actually thought it was, but I wouldn’t say that out loud.

As I read through my work, I took glances at Rylan and Micah, who were sparring in the middle of the arena. They’d been going at it for a good ten minutes. They had decided to make it a bit of a tournament, and for the silliest reason. Kael had suggested the winner could steal another kiss from me, which I pretended to object to. Gaius had been brought in by default, though I believed neither of us wanted to spend any time kissing each other. The thought made me want to puke.

It felt like they were fighting with more tricks than the first time I’d watched them. Rylan tripped Micah up, but Micah recovered quickly. A crackle of fire and electricity blitzed around them, making their figures hard to follow. How were they so fast?

Kael slapped my report away.

“Hey!” I said. “I was reading that.”

He sat up. Finally, I thought. “I’d rather you talk to me instead.” He narrowed his eyes at me and leaned closer. “Let me take you to someplace nice after this. The view is gorgeous. Then we can forget about the others, and it’ll just be you and me. I’d even let you take a look at my dragon.” He swung his hand to the back of my neck and drew me in.

“I have work to do.” As usual. Something thwacked Kael across the head and sent him sprawling across the ground.

Kael let out a yell and made an impressive maneuver to lift himself to his feet. “Who did that?”

It was Rylan. Kael stormed toward Rylan, but the crown prince ignored him. “You’re up next,” he said to Gaius.

“You lost?” Gaius asked.

“Micah managed to flank me from the right. I’ll get him back.”

“When’s my turn?” Kael asked, rubbing his temple.

Gaius stood up, and Rylan took his place. Rylan glanced at Kael. “Be patient.”

As Gaius stepped to take up position, Micah studied his brother. Gaius still hadn’t apologized to Micah for his “bastard” comment. Now that I knew their history, this duel seemed to have greater stakes than the silly prize of stealing a kiss from me.

They circled each other. Gaius drew his axe, while Micah gave his dagger and short sword a light spin.

“Gaius always beats Micah,” Rylan said. “Gaius and Kael have always been the better fighters.” He leaned forward and rested his chin on his fist, studying the match. “I tell myself it’s all right. Micah and I often have a tighter rein over our emotions and thoughts. Then again, Gaius’s knowledge of soul magic and its workings is unparalleled, even with Micah’s memory.”

Kael strode up to me, and then he was back on my lap. “I think—”

“Which is surprising in itself,” Rylan cut in.

“Asshole,” Kael said.

I set my report down, getting too distracted by the fight.

They both had their wings out and were clashing in the skies. There wasn’t the brotherly camaraderie I’d sensed from the other fights. Instead, the tension of enemies and anger sparked between them.

I was actually worried that they might hurt each other, and wondered if they should call off the match.

I tried my best to follow. Gaius, like Rylan said, seemed to have the upper hand. Micah was edging the arena and was almost getting knocked off.

And then Micah let out a roar that startled me. His crimson hair whipped in the wind, despite how humid it could be in Raynea, and he lunged with all his might. He kicked Gaius in the stomach and pressed his half-brother down. They both fell toward the ground in a blur. They jostled, and a huge yell of pain shot to my ears. I saw blood spraying from Gaius’s arm.

My breath hitched and I abruptly stood up. “Gaius!”

“It’s all right,” Rylan said, pulling me back down. “He’ll heal quickly.”

Micah emerged the victor. He had his sword and dagger in a crisscross around Gaius’s neck. He was pinning Gaius down with his knee. He smirked, stood up, then twirled his weapons before sheathing them.

Micah strolled toward us, all smiles. He wore the confidence of a man who’d just proven himself. I was proud of him. It felt like Gaius was part of his demons, and overcoming the brother who shot him down countless times meant a lot to him. But he didn’t have to make Gaius bleed…

“Good job,” I said.

“You bloody won,” Kael said, grinning. “Hey, Gaius! Micah beat your ass.” Kael turned to Micah. “Does that mean if I beat you next, I’ll win Gaius by default?”

“It doesn’t work like that,” Rylan said.

The tournament went by simple rules. They’d all take turns at each other. Two strikes and they were out. So far, only Rylan and Gaius had lost.

Micah hooked an arm around me and rubbed me on my head, messing up my hair. “Thanks, Sera.”

“For what?” I said.

“Making me want to win.”

“You didn’t need me as a reason.”

“Yes, but it helped.”

“My baby brother’s grown up,” Rylan said with a bemused grin.

“Yeah,” Micah said.

We were spending so much time congratulating Micah that I hadn’t realized how left out Gaius was. From the corner of my eye, I spotted him picking up his axe, which had been thrown aside during the fall. He stared at his weapon, then glared at me. He didn’t seem bothered by the large gash on the side of his shoulder, even though it was trickling with blood.

An ache shot through my chest.

“Gaius?” Kael shouted. “What are you doing? Come sit down.”

Perhaps I really was stealing his brothers away. Maybe all that tension between me and him had painted him as a villain, and now everyone was happy that he’d been defeated.

Gaius lifted his axe and tucked it away. It always impressed me how fluidly he could handle his large weapon. He sucked in a deep breath, then spread out his wings.

He took to the skies.

“Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” Kael said. “Guess he’s not playing anymore.”

Gaius continued to lift himself into the air, then flew off, until he was nothing but a speck in the blue sky.

“He’s upset,” I said.

“Being a sore loser,” Micah added.

I frowned. “Try and understand.”

“Since when were you on his side?” Kael asked. He stood up and drew his daggers. They made a slicing sound and reflected the bright glow from the sun. “My turn.” He walked to the center of the arena. “Better be ready for my kiss, Sera-kit.”

Micah trailed after his brother, still basking in the afterglow of defeating Gaius.

“Micah’s going to get his bum kicked,” Rylan said, chuckling to himself. “Only Gaius can beat Kael, and that’s with the help of soul magic.”

“Kael’s that good?” I asked.

“He’s a master of all weapons and anything combative. He’s a bit light in the head, but I have to give him that.”

“So…”

“He’s going to win. I’m going to lose, too, as much as I hate that.”

“Why’d you agree to the challenge?”

“A bit of motivation is good for a fight. Plus, I was hoping Gaius might win, and then nothing would happen. Guess he’s not helping with that.” Rylan turned to me, wearing a smoldering grin. “Shame, because I wanted those lips to be just mine.”

I tried to brush his comment off with laughter, but it sounded more awkward than humorous.

Just as Rylan had said, Micah found himself on his back and with Kael’s boot on his chest in just a few minutes. Kael winked at me.

And this time I laughed. Genuinely.

Who was I kidding? Watching the brothers fight over me was good fun. It was more than a girl could ask for.

I winked back at Kael, and that seemed to spur him on. He pointed his dagger at Rylan to taunt him.

“Wish me luck,” Rylan said.

I raised a brow. “Would that help?”

“No.”

Micah got to his feet and swept the dirt off his behind. He was wearing a scowl. I guessed the confidence from defeating Gaius had worn off quickly.

Anticipation built up in me for the next kiss, but my mind kept flitting back to Gaius and the way he’d flown off. A need to apologize rose in me. But he’d been mean all this while. Didn’t he deserve this?

I tried not to think about Gaius and redirected my attention to Kael’s tomfoolery, but to no avail.