Chapter 165

“I should probably know more about boxing,” I murmur to Rafe, at my side, as we get out of the car to the flashes and the shouts of the paparazzi.

My handsome brother laughs warmly down at me, offering his arm. “Yes, you probably should,” he murmurs. “Considering who you’re mated to. What do you know?”

I give him a tiny frown and a shrug as the rest of our family and friends climb out of the limo. “You know, all the basics.”

His grin deepens. “Which are?”

“Punch punch. Jab jab.” I give him a blissful Princess smile, making him laugh. “The one who knocks the other over the most wins!”

“A bit more complicated than that,” he says, looking around as the last of our party emerges from the car and offering his arm. “But sure, those are the basics. Ready?”

“Ready!” I say, grinning at him and wrapping a hand around his proffered elbow. This is all very deliberate, of course. My family talked it through earlier and decided that I should enter the stadium on Rafe’s arm while the paparazzi take their pictures, as everyone knows he’s my brother and that we’re close. No use stoking the media fire by going in on Ben’s arm or something.

The photographers lining the red carpet shout our names as we walk in. I hear my name more than I’m used to – people usually call for mom and dad and Rafe much more than they do me. But this time there are a thousand questions for me – asking if I’m Luca’s mate, if we’re in love, if I’m pregnant with his child. I burst out laughing at this one, and Rafe laughs with me, but neither of us say anything.

Instead, our whole party moves smoothly inside, giving little smiles and waves when necessary. When we get in there’s a group of security there who begin to escort us to the Royal Box, but I drop Rafe’s arm and turn back to Daphne, who walked in with Ben. “So?” I say, grinning at both of them as we’re swept along pretty quickly. “Did you enjoy your first red carpet experience?”

“Of course,” Daphne says, grinning and flicking her hair back over her shoulders. “I was born for the spotlight.” Her voice is mock smug, and she lifts her chin haughtily, but we both burst out laughing when our eyes meet.

“You were, Daph!” I say, laughing and looping my arm with hers.

She grins, shaking her head at me. “It’s all a bit of a dream, isn’t it, Ari? But I’m having so much fun. And I’m so glad we’re friends.”

I smile at Daphne, nodding my agreement as I give her arm a little squeeze, pleased to be here with her too. I glance back over my shoulder next to check on the rest of my loved ones, pleased also to see my parents looking so happy, and Markie and Juniper looking around with excitement.

Yes, I think, nodding to myself. It’s going to be a very good night.

When we get up to the box, there are already a few people there – my grandpa Henry, of course, alongside some close family friends and some of dad’s government associates whom he invited to join us. All people I’ve known my whole life. When enter the box Ben heads to the bar with Rafe and Jesse, but I tug Daphne forward so that we can get a look of the stadium. I stop to give my grandpa a kiss on the cheek before I dart to the low wall at the front edge of the box, eager to see out view of the ring.

A big cheer goes out when Daphne and I appear within sight of the public already gathered in the stadium and she gasps a little, taking a step back. “What do we do?” she asks, her eyes wide.

“Just say hi,” I say, shrugging and giving a little wave around, which elicits a bigger cheer. Daphne hesitates but then likewise waves, and the crowd cheers again, though I’m not sure they know who she is. But it doesn’t seem to matter – the crowds are ready to celebrate tonight, and they embrace Daphne as one of us. Which, of course, she is.

I smile around at the gigantic stadium, at the crowds already beginning to fill it. We’re at the top of the first level of the stadium, our box jutting out just a little bit, but there’s really not that much distance at all between the low wall before us and the seats below – so close that it wouldn’t be hard, really, for someone to jump up here. Of course, we have security to stop anyone from climbing up – but honestly, it’s never been much of a problem.

In front of us, and a little below, is the ring, and a swell of excitement goes through me as I see it. The lights are already on it, reflecting off the white canvas so brightly that it almost glows.

“You ready for this?” Jesse asks, coming to stand next to me. He presses a glass of white wine into my hands and passes what looks like a gin and tonic to Daphne. “Reports came in this morning – apparently your boy is going to have one hell of a fight.”

“He is?” I ask, my eyes going wide. I pass my drink back to Jesse for a moment and slip my jacket from my shoulders, suddenly feeling warmer, probably from the anxiety his words produced.

“Yup,” Jesse says, nodding to me seriously. “The Atalaxians have apparently brought one hell of a fighter.”

I don’t really know what that means, but it can’t be good. I take my drink back from Jesse and squeeze it between my palms.

“Don’t let that rattle you, Ari,” Rafe says, and I turn to see him on Daphne’s other side, looking at me seriously. “Luca’s one hell of a fighter – he’s the champ for a reason, nobody in Moon Valley can touch him in the boxing ring -”

“Although Rafe can beat him at wrestling and other forms of hand-to-hand stuff,” Jesse says, gesturing to my brother and then pressing his hand delicately to his chest, “and I, obviously, beat him in all trials of wit.”

Daphne and I burst out laughing at this, but Rafe just ignores him. “And despite what Luca’s uncle thinks,” Rafe continues, drawing my gaze back to him, “being at the Academy all semester only made Luca better. He’s strong as hell now, and faster than he’s ever been. I think his odds are good.”

I bite my lip with anxiety, glancing back towards Jesse, wondering if Rafe is just saying that to me to make me feel better. But Jesse gives me a serious nod, letting me know that it’s true and he agrees with Rafe.

I open my mouth to ask more questions, to try to learn how the scoring works, but suddenly I hear my dad call my name, and we all turn to him.

Dad stands against the low wall at the edge of the box about ten feet away, his arms crossed, glaring at me. My mom is pressed innocently to his side, smiling prettily like butter can’t melt in her mouth. I grin too, taking up mom’s patented defense, as dad’s eyes deliberately move over me, up and down, and he cocks a clearly displeased eyebrow at my dress. Then he snaps his fingers once and points to the ground in front of him, his command clear.

“Come on, Rafe!” I say cheerfully, grabbing my brother’s arm and tugging him over.

“No way!” he hisses, digging his heels in. “He wants you, Ariel – he’s probably wondering where the other half of your dress is –“

“Daphne made this dress,” I inform my brother sharply, raising my eyebrows at him, trying to make him feel guilty.

It works, and Rafe’s mouth drops open, and he glances back towards Daphne, who is laughing, watching us with a bit of glee as Jesse steps closer to her side. “It’s a beautiful dress,” Rafe says, shaking his head like he didn’t mean it like that. “Dad’s just not going to –“

“Ariel!” Dad barks, pulling both of our attention to him. “Rafe! Over here! Now!”

“Seeee,” I say, tugging on my brother’s arm again. “He wants you too!”

Rafe sighs, and hangs his head, and accompanies me to have a quick chat with our glowering father and beaming mother.

As we step away, Jesse steps closer to Daphne, taking a sip of his whiskey. “What do you think, will Dominic Sinclair just make Ariel wear his suit coat all night to cover her up? Or will he banish you for dressing the Princess as the brazen hussy she is inside?”

Daphne laughs and turns towards him, smacking him on the arm. “Ariel looks beautiful, and I don’t think Mr. Sinclair really cares,” she says, grinning up into Jesse’s smirking face. “I think he just likes to keep his kids on their toes.”

“Look at you,” Jesse murmurs, one corner of his lips turning up, “calling the King mister, calling the Crown Prince and the Princess kids. Getting awfully comfortable with the royals, are we?”

Daphne just huffs a laugh and leans closer, narrowing her eyes. “Getting a little jealous, are we? I mean, even Luca’s Gran probably knows who I am at this point,” she grins and tosses her hair back over her shoulder. “Can’t say the same for you.”

Jesse bursts out laughing at this, his head tilting back, and Daphne laughs too, delighting a bit to see him do it. It’s always very satisfying to break Jesse Sinclair out of his playful, sarcastic persona – to surprise him, and see him genuinely laugh, to get more than a wry quip or a joke on top of a joke.

Yes, stopping Jesse Sinclair in his tracks…it’s more satisfying than Daphne knew it would be.

When he brings his head back up, Jesse gives Daphne a sunny smile and shakes his head. “It’s a shame you have to go home after the fight,” he says, and the happiness with which he says makes Daphne realize that it’s not just conversation, or a compliment. That he really means it. “Anything we can do to make you stay? You could bring your mom to the palace for Midwinter.”

“Not to your house?” Daphen asks, tilting her head.

Jesse gives her a slow smile. “You want to come spend Midwinter at my house, Daphne?”