Servants loaded trays of citrus fruits and muffins onto a table in the center corridor, but from the looks of it, no one had touched the food. It was hard to blame them with first-challenge nerves descending.
Teddy hoped he’d be early, but as he strode down the center walkway of the tent, almost all of his fellow combatants were already there, lacing up boots and outfitting themselves with weapons in their individual curtained rooms.
He had slept terribly. The training from Cecilia and Rainer had been helpful, but it was clear by the anxiousness that he and Stella volleyed back and forth as he was trying to get to sleep that they were hopeless with any intense emotions.
His muscles were stiff from sparring with Jalen the previous afternoon and an ache tore up his side as he reached to open the curtain of the same small alcove where he’d suited up for the opening ceremony. He glanced at his name emblazoned in gold on the small wooden placard hanging from the hook outside the room, and then looked down the row of curtained rooms for Stella.
He wanted to get a good look at how everyone was outfitted considering they had no idea what to expect from the challenge, but before he could walk down the hall, someone grabbed his arm.
Teddy turned, his dagger already in hand, and came face to face with Nathan Aiger.
Teddy was so relieved to see his best friend that he sheathed his dagger and threw his arms around him. When he pulled back, Nathan smoothed his linen vest and tugged down his shirt sleeves. It was bold of him to not wear a tunic like most of the men at court, but Nathan was always saying how women noticed when you stood out.
Teddy looked at the flowery embroidery on the vest. He would pass on the latest fashions unless Grace told him otherwise.
“I thought you weren’t arriving until next week, Nate?”
“Easy there. I know you missed me,” Nathan said. “When I heard that you were competing in the Gauntlet Games, I thought it was surely gossip. I am the reckless, charming friend. Teddy Savero doesn’t do things like enter himself into deadly competitions with a bunch of warriors who’d love an excuse to stab him. I had to see it for myself. And here you are, ready to risk life and limb for—” He frowned. “What, exactly?”
Teddy glanced around the room but found no one within earshot. “It’s a very long story, but I stupidly went to the Temple of Desiree, hoping she would heart-bond me and Grace.”
Nathan stared at him with wide eyes. “I swear I come late tooneOlney trip and you finally get fun and make havoc for the first time ever.”
Teddy punched him in the arm. “Fuck you. I’ve always been fun.”
Nathan eyed him warily. “Looking very official in the princely gear.” He gestured to Teddy’s heavy armor.
“Official but awfully hot for the climate here,” Teddy said. He was already sweating through his clothes beneath the heavy metal breastplate.
“Yes, but the ladies will love it,” Nathan said. “I take it you didn’t get the bond from Desiree?”
Teddy ran a hand through his hair and lowered his voice. “Oh, I did. Just not to the right woman.”
Nathan clicked his tongue. “Are you suggesting that Goddess Desiree doesn’t know what she’s talking about? Some might consider that blasphemy.”
“No, I’m saying the goddess was bored and decided to bond me to Stella for entertainment.”
Nathan’s face contorted with shock before breaking into a wide smile. He laughed so loudly and suddenly that Teddy jumped. “You’re kidding. Gods, that’s funny. What did Gracie have to say?”
“Not much. She was busy getting bonded to Stella’s boyfriend.”
Nathan doubled over laughing. “I can’t believe I missed this. So you’re bonded to Stella, and her boyfriend?—”
“The prince of Olney.”
Nathan’s eyes went comically wide. “Arden Teripin is her boyfriend? She and Gracie swapped princes. So you’re connected to your nemesis? How is she?”
Teddy opened his mouth to speak, but Stella appeared beyond Nathan’s shoulder.
“Sheis standing right behind you, Nathan Aiger,” Stella said with a smirk.
Nathan spun and bent to kiss her hand with exaggerated reverence. “Lady McKay, lovely as always.”
Stella smiled indulgently at him. “It’s been a while, Nathan. Good to see you haven’t given up on flirting with every woman you come across. Sadly, your efforts are in vain. Have you not heard? My heart is spoken for by one man and chained to another. I’m not sure I can handle a third.”
Nathan waggled his eyebrows. “Well, we don’t know until we try, do we, love?”
Stella laughed, and the bond in Teddy’s chest clenched at the sound. Whatever that feeling was, it was entirely unwelcome.
