“I know it sucks,” he told me, “but at least no one knows about this but us. Tonight, when you say goodbye to her, consider yourself lucky that you got away with it and pray that you’ll be blessed with two women in your lifetime.”
“I can’t marry Tamara.”
“You can’t marry Devina either. If you do it’s going to be the loneliest marriage in the world with the two of you being on different sides of the border.”
“But if we could find a way…”
My brother leaned in and with a hand around my neck he spoke in a no-bullshit tone. “You think her country is going to let her go? And even if they did, are you naïve enough to think King Jeremiah will be okay with you claiming her without a fight? There are ten million men who would feel cheated and once it gets out how you met, bottles and letters from this side will litter their side.”
He let go of me and I pulled back with deep frown lines on my forehead.
“You have to stop dreaming like a fucking school boy.”
I hated that he was right.
Walking next to him, my head was in chaos and I just followed along as he retrieved the glasses for Devina’s disguise in the lost and found area and helped me pick out a new t-shirt at one of the vendors.
When we got back to the VIP area, Devina was in the shade with a bottle of water in her hands so I figured she’d told my mom what really happened.
When she saw me, she smiled, but it faltered when I didn’t smile back.
She was so beautiful. Even though she was dressed as a boy, I could still see the extraordinary woman who had called my name when she came in my arms earlier.
If only I could knock down the border wall and claim her for mine, I would. Seeing her be so close and yet out of my reach was fucking painful.
Frederick said, “How about you stay with Starr and the others and then I’ll keep an eye on the little rascal? We’ll meet up with you all later.”
I was unable to respond but watched as my brother gestured for Devina to come with him. She looked at me over her shoulder with confusion but followed Frederick out of the VIP area. My hands folded into fists and I wished I could have gone into the arena and smacked someone around. Anything but this awful feeling of being powerless.
“Are you okay, son?” My dad patted my shoulder.
“Yes.” I forced the word out and moved away. I didn’t need him to pity me like Frederick had.
The two fights were endless. I sat next to Wilma and watched large warriors fight for her.
“Who do you think I should choose of the two?”
“Only one will win. It’s not your choice.”
“I know, but I meantifI was to choose between them.”
“They are both great warriors.”
“But don’t you think Ruben is more handsome?”
I stared at her. “You’re going to choose a man on his looks?”
“And his charm.”
“What about his strength, personality, or his intelligence?”
“Oh, Tyton, why do you have to be in such a bad mood? You’re ruining my day.”
I looked away, feeling the unfairness of it all pressing me down. I’d found a woman to love and because of politics I couldn’t have her.
“If you hated protecting Devina so much, you could have just said it. It’s not my fault you had to miss out on some of the fights. Mom told me Devina had heat stroke.”
“I fucking told you it was a bad idea to bring her,” I sneered low. It was childish, but I couldn’t stand everyone being so happy around me when my happiness had just been torn from me. “Excuse me.” Getting out of my chair, I walked off, needing to get away from the bride-to-be and her happy entourage.
