“So many things come together to make a great king,” Teddy continued, ignoring the whispers in the crowd. “My parents have been fortunate to have a wonderful collaborative relationship that grew out of a political marriage. But my father had the chance to choose his wife. I wanted that same honor?—”
Gasps rose from the crowd and Stella couldn’t breathe.
Teddy waited for the murmuring to lull before continuing, “But I’ve realized that the wisdom with which my father made that choice was gained through having a chance to fully become his own person in his time away from court. He had a chance to know himself outside of his role in succession. He had a chance to lose something personally—to understand how to fight for something out of love instead of just responsibility. I love my kingdom and my people, but I’ve spent my life as a symbol for them instead of a person. I feel I’d be doing Argaria a great disservice if I tried to rule without first having the chance to be a real person.”
The murmurs in the crowd had turned into full-fledged conversations.
Queen Jessamin whispered in one of Xander’s ears as Isla leanedover to whisper in the other. Stella felt their assessment. She felteveryone’sassessment.
Grimon raised his hands. “Quiet, please. We need to hear his request.” He nodded to Teddy. “Your Grace?”
Teddy cleared his throat and stood tall. “I would like the blessing of the gods to abdicate the throne to one of my very qualified siblings. They are all brilliant and capable leaders who have had the benefit of becoming their own people, without the pressure of being heir their whole lives, and it’s for that reason that I think they will make great leaders. A good leader must know their own mind. I’d like the time to learn to understand mine.”
Stella stared at Teddy’s back, breathlessly trying to comprehend his words. Her brain felt muddled and slow. He hadn’t asked for the freedom to choose his own wife. He’d asked them to let him be free in all things.
Shocked, boisterous chatter broke out around her, and Stella couldn’t even hear her own thoughts over the noise.
Katerina elbowed her. “He’s choosing you.”
Stella shook her head. “No, he’s choosinghim,” she said thickly. Because it was true. He hadn’t asked for her. He’d asked for freedom.
Grimon stood from his chair and the room instantly fell silent. Stella had always been close with the god who’d insisted on being called Uncle Grim, even though he wasn’t actually an uncle by blood. But the god of death frightened the people of Olney, always quick to fall in line when he spoke.
“We have heard your request. Would any among us object to granting it?” Grimon asked.
The entire room seemed to collectively hold their breath as the gods remained silent. Not one of them spoke.
“Well, then. Consider your abdication blessed. Theodore Davide Savero, you are a prince and a prince you’ll remain. That concludes this Gauntlet Games.”
Teddy’s relief hit Stella in the chest at the same time his shoulders relaxed. Then he promptly turned, cut through the gaping crowd, and left the silent throne room.
Stella wanted to chase him down, but the moment she turned to follow him, the crowd broke up into animated smaller groups to gossip. She ducked around a few, but the more she darted around, the more attention she drew to herself and the more whispers followed her. She turned and collided with a solid body. A firm hand clamped down on her upper arm and she stumbled.
Rett Roachelle towered over her, his rat-like face pinched in a scowl. “You must have a golden twat to get that uptight prick to abdicate.”
“Get your hands off of me. The tournament is over and the only thing preventing me from breaking your nose again is—oh wait, nothing,” Stella snapped.
Rett leaned closer to whisper in her ear. “You and I have unfinished business. I?—”
Stella looked over his shoulder to see what had stopped him so abruptly. Jeneva was standing behind him with a blade to his throat. She glanced around at the crowd, but no one seemed to notice their scuffle.
“It’s poisoned,” Jeneva said softly. “You’ll be dead before your body hits the ground, and we will be long gone. Understand?”
Rett nodded carefully.
“Good. Now apologize to the lady,” Katerina said, stepping up next to her friend.
Rett’s jaw ticked. “I’m sorry.”
Stella bit back a smirk. “Thank you for teaching this monster some manners,” she said.
Jeneva offered her a mock salute. “Happy to.” She leaned close to Rett, and he flinched, nearly cutting himself on the poisoned blade. “Now, my father would like to interrogate you, but I’ve seen enough of your antics for one lifetime. Leave Olney in the next hour. If you don’t, you’ll be arrested and questioned about your connection to the Sons of Endros and their rebellion. If you ever return, you can expect the same.” She glanced at Stella. “Any parting gifts for the man?”
Stella kneed Rett in the balls and he doubled over, then she kicked the knee she’d hurt in the tournament, and he fell to theground. “Have a great trip home and enjoy your limp, Roach. I hope it’s permanent.”
She spun and ran into the crowd, pushing out of the throne room and into the castle hallway, darting up the stairs to the guest wing. She found Teddy’s room with little trouble, but he wasn’t inside. Instead, she found Alexandra sitting in the chair by his window.
“He’s not here,” she said.
