He’d always admired Nathan’s ease with women, but a prince could never get away with casually suggesting a foursome.
Despite the fact that Teddy knew from their bond that Stella hadbeen up late, she looked fresh as ever. Her cheeks were rosy, and her hair was braided into a crown around her head. She wore fine leather armor, including a Novumi vest that held eight blades, and a dagger strapped to her right thigh. Her bow and quiver of arrows were slung over her arm with the practiced ease of someone who shot daily.
“You’re very dressed up to watch a bloodbath,” Stella said, eyeing Nathan’s vest.
Nathan smoothed his hand over his embroidery again. “Thank you, Stella. I’m dressed to catch any swooning ladies of the court that might need a hero a little farther from the action.”
She laughed and patted his shoulder. “Happy hunting. It was good to see you. It’s been too long.”
Nathan watched her go and whistled low when she was out of earshot. “Can’t believe you’re upset about being bonded to someone with such a fine ass.Fuck me. I don’t care how much she irritates you. You can’t deny she looks great in that leather armor.”
Teddy had been trying very hard not to notice. “Truth be told, this is the first time I’ve seen her out of a dress.”
“Hopefully not the last,” Nathan said, still distractedly eyeing her backside as she bent to tighten the laces of her boot.
Nathan’s admiration filled Teddy with something akin to protective jealousy. That wasn’t right. He did not care who stared at Stella McKay’s ass. They werefriendsand Nathan had always been a bit of a rake.
“I have no interest in seeing her out of a dress,” Teddy grumbled. “She is just a temporary problem that I’ll solve once I win this tournament.”
Nathan smiled and clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Good to see you looking so confident.” He nodded toward the platform at the end of the center walkway where competitors were gathering. “Looks like you better get ready. I’ll see you after.”
Nathan retreated toward the tent entrance. He paused and turned back. “Ted,” he said, the humor suddenly gone from his face. “Be careful out there. This thing is always hard to watch, but I don’t want to see you?—”
“I will. All will be well.”
Teddy didn’t feel as confident as he sounded, but that was nothing new. It was the same false bravado he brought to everything in his life.
Before Nathan could say anything else, Teddy turned away from him and walked toward the other competitors.
Outside of the main tent, where the binding ceremony had taken place the day before, there was a small dais, upon which two priestesses in red robes stood, their heads bowed in silent prayer. The competitors gathered in a semicircle around the dais and Teddy took up a spot on the back edge where he could see all the combatants and both entrances to the room.
Fire bloomed bright on the dais and a hush came over the group. The flame receded, revealing the god of war.
There was a hesitation in the crowd. A beat too late, several heads bowed, and others touched their fingers to their hearts and forehead in a salute of reverence to the god.
Endros frowned at the display. “Welcome competitors. Thank you for the truly tepid greeting. Fortunately for you all, I’m not offended.”
The crowd shifted, clearly uncertain whether to believe the god.
“You have been weighed and found worthy of the Gauntlet Games by me, your godly gamemaker.” Endros locked eyes with Teddy as he continued to speak. “Welcome to your first challenge. A reminder of the rules: at any time during the active challenges, competitors can interfere with or take out their competition, but if you do not complete the required task, you will be eliminated from the Games.”
The group of competitors exchanged glances, and Teddy’s gaze drifted to Stella. She stood at the back of the group on the opposite side from him.
“The first event will be only twenty minutes and will take place in its entirety within Olney Arena,” Endros continued.
Teddy wasn’t relieved by that news at all. The Gauntlet Games usually ran one or two weeks depending on how complex the challenges were and how much time was given. Some events took placeinside the arena that had been constructed behind Olney Castle, but some of the more complicated tasks took place around the two kingdoms and the crowd would be given certain times to come back and witness the end of a specific event. In between the excitement, the town enjoyed wild parties, storytelling performances, and a street fair in the town square where local and foreign vendors sold their wares.
Endros was either trying to start this year’s Games off with a shorter, more violent challenge to get the crowd excited, or he planned to keep the whole Games quick and deadly and it would be over in a matter of days.
“The first task requires a partner, and since it is the wisdom challenge, I should remind you to choose your partner wisely as this is a challenge that requires you to know them and yourself.” Endros’s words sounded like a threat. “Magic, which includes both elemental summoning and spellwork, is banned from the first challenge. Any contestant using it will be immediately eliminated. Remember, I am always watching and I don’t miss anything. Do not think to cheat, or you will pay a high price.”
With that, the god nodded to his priestesses and retreated to his place of honor in the stands.
The competitors dispersed into whispers, quickly pairing up as if they’d all been expecting to have to choose an ally. Teddy should have expected it. It happened often in the wisdom challenge, usually with regard to choosing an adversary to compete against. Stella would be an obvious choice since he was confident that her ire didn’t extend to actually wanting to kill him.
Teddy made a beeline for her as she shoved several more pins into her crown braid, trying to tame her unruly curls.
He leaned in, keeping his voice low. “Don’t let them get you down. Whatever this task is, you know that people will want to make an example of you because of who you are and?—”
