Page 9 of The Marked Princess

“But she's a girl, she's just going to get in the way,” the first boy protested.

Someone else snorted. “She doesn't look much like a girl, the way she's always running around in breeches like a stable hand.”

“And have you seen her arm? It's super creepy.”

Josselyn's cheeks burned as the voices clamored in agreement, and she pressed herself against the wall, wishing she could disappear inside it. A familiar voice rose over the others, silencing them.

“I'd suggest you spend less time ogling the princess, and more time practicing your sword fighting, McLeod.”

“What are you trying to say, gypsy freak?”

“I'm saying you're rot at sword fighting, what do you think I'm saying?”

“I think you're saying you want me to beat your ass.”

There was a round of shouts and whistles, as the other voices encouraged them, pushing for a fight. Josselyn winced at the sound of a fist meeting flesh, followed by the sounds of people scrabbling and scraping in the dirt.

“Princess Josseyln, what are you doing out here?”

She jumped, letting out a startled yelp, as General Weston walked up behind her. His eyebrows lowered as he heard the sounds of fighting coming from the other side of the wall. He strode ahead of her and entered the training grounds, his deep voice booming through the arena.

“What is going on here? Trainees are prohibited from fighting outside of approved bouts.”

Josselyn crept in behind him, forcing herself to lift her chin and straighten her shoulders as though she possessed all the confidence in the world. Her eyes fell on Alex where he stood, panting and bloodied, beside Henry McLeod, a large, muscular boy who was at least fifty pounds heavier than him. His eyes met hers, and he flushed, dropping his gaze to the toes of his boots.

“Grey, McLeod, either of you care to explain yourselves?” The general looked back and forth between the two boys, his face etched in stern disapproval. When neither one spoke up, he shook his head and pointed to the exit.

“You're both banned from training for a month. Now get out of my arena.”

McLeod stalked out first, and he stumbled a bit when he saw Josselyn standing just inside the doorway. A guilty flush crept up his neck and he bowed his head.

“Your Highness.”

She narrowed her eyes before dipping her own head in acknowledgment.

“McLeod.”

He swallowed and hurried out. Alex followed, studiously avoiding eye contact. As he passed her, she reached out, her fingertips brushing against his bare arm. He hesitated, his gaze shifting to the spot where her fingers rested on his skin. She pulled her hand back, her face heating at her own audacity.

“Thank you.”

Her voice came out in a whisper, and at first she wasn't sure if he'd even heard her, but after a brief pause, he replied, “It was nothing.”

He started to walk out but stopped at the last moment. He looked over his shoulder at her, his expression as serious as always.

“Kick their asses, Your Highness. Show them what a real swordsman looks like.”

With that, he was gone, and she was left staring after him, her heart beating a strange rhythm inside her chest.

Chapter Six

A knock at the door brought Josselyn back to the present, and she tucked the memory away, a reminder of her girlish infatuation of the boy who'd believed in her.

“Come in.”

The boy-turned-man himself entered the room, bowing his head in her direction before addressing her in the stiff, formal tones he had adopted when he became her personal guard.

“Prince Stefan awaits your presence in the gardens, if you still wish to accompany him?”