Beast in Shining Armor (3 page)

“Of
course
it’s your fault.”  It infuriated him to remember how Belle had screwed
him over.  He never thought she’d go so far.  She’d set him up.  Even if she
didn’t like him, she’d never deliberately hurt him before.  He
wasn’t
hurt.  Obviously.  Nothing could hurt him.  But, it did piss him off.  “You
cheated.”

“That’s
preposterous.  I wasn’t the one caught embezzling.”

“If
I’d been embezzling, I wouldn’t have gotten caught.”  He felt the Beast yanking
at its leash and fought to hold it back.  It was getting more difficult to stay
in control.  It worried Avenant what might happen when the monster finally got
free and that only made him sharper.  “
You’re
the one who changed the rules
and made this into a blood sport, Belle.  So fine.  We’ll do it
your
way.
 From now on, we play the game full out.”

No
matter what she did, Avenant would triumph.  He knew that.  It really was
inevitable.  Until now, his utter certainty in the eventual outcome had kept
him sanguine about the back-and-forth nature of their encounters.  Some days
she won a skirmish and sometimes he did.  But, in the end, he knew he’d have
everything he wanted.  Avenant was a patient man.  However, being sent to jail
for eight months made him seriously reconsider his timeline for victory.

Before,
he’d been savoring the challenge.  Now he just wanted his prize.

Deep
inside, the Beast gave a low growl, its sights fixed on Belle.

Belle
scowled at him, oblivious to the danger.  “You’ve
always
played full
out!  What, I’m supposed to believe that you’ve been ruining my life all these
years because you’re such a nice guy?”

“You
have no idea what it means to have your life ruined.”  Avenant snapped, remembering
all she’d done.  Maybe he did belong at the WUB Club, because the woman drove
him insane.  “I never took away everything you had.  I never locked you in a
cage.  I never left you at the mercy of those goddamn doctors and prison guards.”

“That
wasn’t my fault!  I never intended…”

“You
fucking betrayed me!
”  Avenant roared.

“You
betrayed
me!
”  Cocoa-colored eyes suddenly glittered with suppressed
tears.  “I asked you if you were stealing that money from the treasury and you
said no.  You
lied
.  And when I figured out the truth, you had me taken
away in the night.  Right from my
bed.
  How could you do that?”

Avenant
squinted.  What the hell was she talking about?

Scarlett
leaned closer to him, looking suspicious.  “For someone who you
swear
framed you, Belle seems pretty sincere in thinking you’re guilty.”

His
attention stayed on Belle as she wiped at her cheeks.  “She’s acting.  She has
to be.”  Taking her
from
a bed was the last thing he’d ever do.

“She
doesn’t
look
like she’s acting.”

Avenant
gave his head a shake, trying to focus.  He had no idea what Belle’s game was
with this new tactic, but it didn’t matter.  At the moment, the important thing
was getting her to agree to the contest of valor.  “I have always gone easy on
you, Bella.  Do you think you’d
ever
beat me unless I allowed it?”

“Oh
my God.  Are you
really
going to try that bullshit?  Really?”

Avenant
gave an expansive shrug.  “It’s a court of law.  I’ve sworn to tell the truth.”

“You
wouldn’t know the truth if it hit you in your lying face!”

“I
also go easy on women in battle.”  Lancelot chimed in.  “Any real man does. 
They’re fragile beings, so it’s ungentlemanly to beat them
too
badly.”

Scarlett
and Belle both shot the chauvinist asshole looks of death.

“Thank
you, cousin.”  Avenant said sincerely.

“I
will agree to a contest of valor against you
and
him
and
anyone
else.”  Belle told Lancelot through clenched teeth, her temper getting the
better of her sense.  “I’ve been fighting you for the crown ever since Avenant
was sent away and I’ve been fighting him about
everything
since
kindergarten.  I’m not frightened of
either
of you assholes.”  She
jabbed a finger at the knight.  “We’ll do this no-holds-barred and we’ll see
who wins.  Alright?  We’ll just
see.
”

Lancelot
backed up a step under her fury.

Avenant
couldn’t quite control his triumphant smirk.  “Agree to it.”  He ordered
Scarlett and gestured towards the judges who looked overwhelmed by all the
pandemonium going on.  “Tell them to set up the contest.”

“Avenant,
there hasn’t been a contest of valor in a century, because they always kill
everyone.  You could get the Northlands back without all this…”

He
cut her off.  “Just agree to it, before she changes her mind.”

Letty
swore under her breath.  “
Or
you could just ask Belle on a date and not
risk your kingdom and your life.  Wouldn’t that be simpler?”

“There
isn’t a risk.”

“Yes,
there
is
.  Belle’s smart.  She could
win
.  Have you even stopped
to consider that?”

“I
know what I’m doing.”

Letty’s
eyes narrowed at his confident tone.  “Whatever horrible trick you have up your
sleeve, I’m advising you against it.  If you insist on turning this into a cut-throat
competition, it’s going to backfire.  You’ll lose Belle or the Northlands or
--most likely--
both
.”

Avenant
gave a slow smile.  “I never lose.”

Prince
Avenant has done many terrible things.  We all know that.

Yes, he
condemned the library.  And the orphanage.  And everyone’s favorite teddy bear
shop.

Yes, he
fired the entire cast of Mother Goose’s TV show, because the rhyming games
annoyed him.

Yes, he outlawed
candy.

But ladies
and gentlemen of the jury, it’s not his fault that he’s a villain.

Avenant can’t
help that he was born Bad.

Opening
Statement for the Defense-
The People of the Northlands v. Prince Avenant

Rosabella
Aria Ashman was not the most beautiful girl in the kingdom.

She
wasn’t the smartest or the most charming or the highest born.  By the time she
was six, she’d been labeled an oddball by everyone who knew her.  As an adult,
she spent most of her days with her nose buried in a book, running her small
business, or thinking up ways to improve the Northlands.  From the outside, she
was just a boring woman who needed to date more.

But
Belle
was
the only person who’d ever had the guts to stand up to the Beast. 
In the Northlands that made her a legend… And now she was going to die because
she never knew when to give in.

Since
childhood, she’d been fighting back against Avenant’s arrogance and tyranny and
effortless accomplishments.  He’d had thoroughbreds at his tenth birthday party
instead of ponies and he hadn’t let any of the other kids ride them.  He’d won
the Sophomore Spring Showcase by strolling out on stage and throwing gold coins
to the audience as his “talent.”  He’d scored exactly one point higher than her
on the college entrance exam.  One goddamn point.  And he hadn’t even
studied
for it.

That
was the part that really pissed her off.

Avenant
didn’t have to
try
.  Belle spent her whole life trying.  Sometimes it
felt like she had to work twice as hard just to keep pace.  Avenant was naturally
gifted at everything he tried.  He had the soul of a beast, but his external
façade was unbelievably gorgeous.  He was charismatic and brilliant.  When he
walked into a room, everyone took notice.  Anything he’d ever wanted was handed
to him… and, if it wasn’t, he just took it.  Greedy and mean, he ruthlessly
crushed anyone who opposed him.

He
was going to beat her.

It
was inevitable.

Belle
blew out a long breath and tried to calm her racing pulse.  Every time she had
to compete against Avenant the same doubts plagued her.  He would win and laugh
at her.  Everyone was going to see that she was a complete fraud.  She’d break
before the contest even started and surrender without a fight.  She wasn’t up
to this kind of challenge.

She
should call this off.  Pretend to break an ankle and slink home to hide.  Leave
the Northlands and never return.  There was no way she could do this.  It was
too hard.  No one could stand there, the walls of the labyrinth looming
overhead, and not be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task facing…

“Is
that it?”  Avenant adjusted his white leather gloves and studied the cavernous
entrance to the maze.  It was guarded by statues several stories tall, their
icy eyes promising death to all who entered.  “I excepted it to be bigger. 
Didn’t you expect it to be bigger?”  He gave an unimpressed sigh, blue eyes rolling
towards the gray sky.  “Well, at least this charade will be over quickly.  I
imagine I’ll have my victory by dinnertime.”

That
was all it took for Belle’s anxiety to fade.

No
matter what, she’d never surrender to this man.  She would fight until she was
dead and then come back as a ghost to fight some more.

She
slowly turned to glare up at his perfect profile.  Since he’d escaped prison,
Avenant was back to dressing like a prince.  A tacky prince.  He favored
ostentatious fashions that showed off his money and his masculine build.  This
was one of his favorite outfits, sort of a cross between a military uniform and
a frying pan.  His family’s black insignia was emblazoned on the front on his
chest plate.  Unsurprisingly, it was a vicious, fanged monster.

Even
decked out in his bedazzled gold and ivory regalia, he still looked… amazing.

White
blond hair brushed his wide shoulders.  His mouth looked like it had been
sculpted from pornographic fantasies.  He smelled fresher than fresh snow. 
From his calf-hugging boots, to his “I’m the best looking guy you’ll ever gape
at” face, to everything in between, he was just… amazing.

God,
she hated him.

How
could such a beast of a man be so beautiful?

“If
the labyrinth is too simple for you, maybe you should just wait here and give
the rest of us a head start.”  Belle suggested sweetly.  “Make it sporting.”

“Begging
for mercy already?”  He arched a brow.  “I thought we’d agreed to compete with
no quarter given.  Or are you switching up the rules, again?”

“I
thought we’d agreed there
are
no rules.  Isn’t that the way you like
play?  Victory at any cost?”

He
glanced down at her.  “It depends on the prize.”

She
snorted.  “Everything is a prize to you.  You don’t care about the welfare of
this kingdom, or all the people depending on you, or your family’s legacy.  You
don’t care about anything but yourself and
winning
.”

“My
family’s legacy
is
winning.”

Belle
hesitated, hearing the flat quality to his voice.  A lifetime of sparring with
Avenant made her the world’s leading expert in his tones and she knew her words
affected him.  For whatever reason, she instantly regretted what she’d said.  She
knew better than anyone how touchy Avenant was about his parents.

“That
came out wrong.  I meant more --like-- your royal ancestors in a general
sense…”

He
cut her off.  “It’s
fine
.  Say whatever you want.  We’re playing
hardball, remember?”

Belle
bit her lower lip.  “I’m sorry.”  She said simply.

The
old prince and princess had been merciless in the pursuit for perfection.  It
was no wonder Avenant was such a competitive jackass, given his upbringing.  Winning
really
was
his family’s legacy and they’d been determined that their
only child continue their quest for total domination of… everything.  Failure
was met with disapproval and pain.  They’d never had a kind word for anyone,
especially not their son. 
Especially
not on the rare occasions when he
lost some t-ball game.

Or
spelling bee.

Belle
knew what it was like to be a disappointment to your parents.  She felt like
she and Avenant had that in common.  Every time she tried to reach out to him,
though, he came back at her like a wounded bear.  Their entire relationship was
based on his refusal to just be nice.

Blue
eyes flicked to hers and she saw that her apology had irritated him.  “How in
the hell did someone so soft ever take over my kingdom?”  He asked
contemptuously.  “Do you really think you could ever claim the Northlands when
you can’t even argue without crumpling?”

Belle
had no idea why she bothered.

Avenant
was quiet for a beat, watching her from the corner of his eye.  When she didn’t
snap some insult back, he sighed.  “A ruler can never be perceived as weak. 
Not that you’ll
be
a ruler much longer, but it’s a lesson you should’ve
learned by now.”  He gestured for a servant to rush forward with a hot drink.  “Power
only comes from strength.”  He handed her a tankard of coffee, then reached
back to take one for himself.  “Cold, hard strength.”

“I
don’t believe that.”

“Which
is why you’ll never win this game.”

She
almost dumped her coffee on his stupid blond head.  “Why do you
care
if
you win back the kingdom?”  Belle liked ruling, but it took a lot of work to
get it right.  Avenant seemed to put all his energy into getting it
wrong
. 
“Aside from people bowing at you, what do you get out of being a prince?”

“Never
underestimate the bowing.”  He paused.  “Wait, you didn’t get rid of the
bowing, did you?  I know you want to rule with equality and Good works, but we
do
still have the bowing, right?”

“I’ve
been trying to drag this kingdom out of the dark ages and my approval rating is
quintuple
what yours was.”  Belle informed him smugly.

He
sighed.  “That’s a ‘no’ to the bowing, isn’t it?”

“I
hate you.”  She brooded for a moment.  “What are you planning to do if you
reclaim the Icen Throne?  At least, I enjoy the job.  I don’t think you do, at
all.  I don’t think I’ve ever seen you enjoy
anything.
”

“I’m
going to enjoy seeing all my loyal subjects again.”  He smirked.  “We have so
much to catch up on.”

Belle’s
eyes widened, envisioning the snows of the Northlands stained red with blood.  She
knew the Beast too well to think he’d get over his ousting without elaborate
and savage retribution.  Avenant’s present calm façade didn’t fool her one
bit.  Given the wide berth everyone else was giving him, it wasn’t fooling
anybody
. 
They were all braced for his revenge.

“
I’m
the one who overthrew you last year.”  She told him swiftly.  “If you want to
behead anyone it should be me.”

“Don’t
worry.  You’re still at the head of that line.”  Avenant arched a brow.  “No
pun intended.”

“Avenant,
I led the rebellion against you.  It was all my fault.”

“I
know.”  His voice was flat again.  “No one else in this kingdom would have the
balls to frame me.”

“Frame
you?  Really?”  Belle rolled her eyes.  “Asshole.”  Sometimes he said such
idiotic things, she didn’t even feel like arguing with him.  Especially not
when she had bigger problems.  She turned her attention back to the gigantic
maze in front of them.

It
was impossible to know for sure how big the labyrinth was because parts of it
were built into the mountains.  The hundred foot walls were constructed of
solid ice and stretched off for miles in either direction before meeting up
with jagged rock.  Its length and width and depth were a geometry problem with
too many missing variables.

Belle
had always hated geometry.

“They
say it’s impossible to get through that thing.”  She told him after a long
moment, wrapping her hands around the coffee cup for warmth.  This far north,
snow always fell.  Within hours of entering the maze it would erase any trace
that they’d been there at all.  “They say that the labyrinth is endless.”

“‘They’
say a lot of things.”

“You’re
seriously not worried about this?”  She gestured around.  “There are dozens of
other people here vying for the crown and an impenetrable labyrinth promising
certain death to everyone who enters it.  The odds don’t look good for either
of us.”

“Eight
months ago, I was sentenced to life plus a century in prison, yet here I am. 
Odds don’t matter when something’s inevitable.  And me beating these peasants
and reclaiming my crown is pretty fucking inevitable.”

She
frowned in irritation.  “We could just call off this whole thing.  You could
give up and let me stay in charge of the kingdom.  It would be the safest
option for everyone.”

Avenant
sent her an amused smile.  “I’ll certainly consider your offer.”  He drawled.

He
was
such
an asshole.

Belle
snuggled deeper in her favorite yellow coat and resigned herself to going
through with this stupid competition.  “If I die, at least I’ll die fighting
you.”  She muttered.

“That’s
the spirit.  Don’t worry.  I’ll tell how everyone how brave you were at the
end.”

An
old wizard mounted the podium set-up in front of the crowd.  He tapped the
microphone imperiously, getting ready to start the proceedings.  Half the Four
Kingdoms had gathered to watch this spectacle.  Grisly deaths were quite the
sightseeing draw, even in this remote corner of the world.  Belle was almost
pleased that the Northlands was receiving such a huge influx of tourist money.

Almost.

“Today,
we begin the first contest of valor in a century.”  The wizard said in a
rasping voice.  “Contenders for the Icen Throne have gathered here in agreement
with the ancient ways.  They will face the mysteries of the labyrinth, searching
for the most scared object in the Northlands… Excalibur.  It lies hidden within
these walls, awaiting the one who will free it.”

Avenant
shook his head in disgust.  “Such a stupid name for a sword.”

“Whoever
returns with Excalibur is destined to be our greatest ruler.”  The wizard
continued.  “Our true prince.”

“Or
princess.”  Belle called.  “Sexist jackass.”

The
corner of Avenant’s mouth quirked.

Everybody
else ignored her.  “No one alive knows who forged the blade.  No one alive
knows the scope of the tunnels and corridors before us.”  The wizard gestured
towards the impossibly high ramparts.  “They tower above the ground and circle
below, filled with unknown creatures and unknown dangers, twisting into
infinity.  Legends tell us that the labyrinth moves, forever keeping the
unworthy from what they desire.”