"Arthur, I need to tell you something important."

He turned around, his face devoid of emotion. "What do you want, slave?"

His word stopped me cold. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. What could you possibly have to say that I'd want to hear?"

My chest tightened. What the hell? This wasn't the Arthur who had kissed me by the stream just days ago, the man who had given me his grandmother's necklace.

"Arthur, listen to me. I have something to tell you, The challenge at the engagement ceremony—it ...