Teddy shivered. He’d been around death and he knew it was an inevitability of the competition—but it still felt so soon for so many warriors to have fallen.
“You’re holding back,” Teddy said. “I know you. You never have so little to say about a fight.”
Alexandra eyed him suspiciously. “Now why would I hold back, dear brother?”
Teddy froze. He couldn’t tell if she remembered what he’d done.
A light buzz reverberated through his chest.Stella.
Teddy lifted his gaze as she stepped into the bar.
Gone was her leather armor. It had been replaced with a pale aqua dress. The light fabric dipped low, offering a glimpse of the inner curve of her breasts. It was the type of gown that would have made tongues wag in Argaria, but was nothing scandalous in Olney’s hot climate. A healthy flush colored Stella’s cheeks. Her dark hair was swept up on top of her head, and she’d tucked a crown of flowers around the pile of curls. It was jarring to see her looking so gentle when she’d looked so fierce just hours ago.
Nathan, who was sitting on a barstool next to Rosie, caught Teddy’s eye and arched a brow.
Teddy forced his gaze back to Stella, and she was staring right at him, something sad and urgent in her eyes. His mouth went dry. He should?—
“Ted.” Alexandra’s voice cut through the fog in his head.
He snapped his head around to face his sister.
Her mouth was fixed in a crooked smile. “Oh, you are so fucked. You should see your face right now. You look like you just spotted a siren in the middle of the sea and you’re ready to bash yourself on the rocks just to get close to her.”
Teddy waved a hand. “It’s just magic.”
Alexandra slouched in her chair, casually sipping her whiskey. “I don’t know. You’ve always had a bit of tension with her. Why is that?”
“Why are you holding back?” he countered.
Alexandra cocked her head, her hazel eyes thoughtful. “Have you ever had a dream that felt so real it made you distrust someone you typically trust implicitly?”
Teddy sipped his whiskey to try to steady the rapid beat of his heart. He needed this to be a passable lie, and if Alexandra heard the skip in his heart’s beat, it would only confirm whatever suspicion she already harbored.
“I can’t say I’ve had a dream that convincing, no.”
Alexandra rolled her eyes. “I suppose you do lack imagination.”
“Tell me what you saw today, Alex.”
She grinned at him—the same smile she’d always flashed him whenever he asked that question after they watched a fight, ever since she was a child.
“The Roach has a reputation as a fearsome fighter, but it was Dixon who took the beast down. Just from watching them train, I can tell the Roach has an old injury in his left leg. I’m guessing it’s his ankle, but it makes all his attacks on that side more tentative. Dixon is an accurate marksman, but he takes too long to target. Not like your girl.” She nodded toward Stella. “She hardly even needs to look. You know, Father told me that he once watched Cecilia shoot every target at the range blindfolded. I asked Stella if she could do that, and do you know what she said?” She paused for effect. “She said if you shoot from here,” Alexandra tapped her chest, “your aim will always be true.”
Teddy scowled. “That’s whimsical.”
“No. I think she’s right. It’s confidence, not whimsy. She meant if you shoot with trust in yourself, you shoot better, and she’s right. She’s blessed by the goddess of the hunt, so of course she’s a great archer, but she also doesn’t overthink it.”
“And what of her fight?” Teddy asked, trying to sound casual.
Alexandra poured herself more whiskey.
Teddy eyed the bottle. “Is that a good idea?”
“Calm down,Dad. This is a bar. Did you think I’d call for a proper tea?”
“You’re a princess. You should conduct yourself with some moderation.”
She rolled her eyes. “Life is too short for moderation. This fine whiskey is the price of your post-battle report. Now where was I?”
