time alone, and unfortunately for our good man here, She chose the Cavalier.” He flashed a phony frown. “Poor Caesar, passed over for a man half his size. You must feel humiliated.”
“She didn’t choose you either,” Caesar said.
“And yet I’m completely content. This is my second win, after all.” Kaleo nestled up beside Caesar. “But you have only just won your first challenge, this late in the tournament no less. Even the Artist has won before you.” He winked at Tobias. “And to think, you finally win, and still you’re jilted. The Regal, such a large, strapping man, though I imagine you feel quite small now.”
Tobias turned to Caesar, scowling. “Ignore him. He plays with your mind.”
“Oh, fuck you,” Caesar grumbled.
“Let our little Zander have his time with Her Holiness, it’s of no consequence to me.” Kaleo eyed Caesar up and down. “You, on the other hand.” He shook his head. “Enjoy your days in this tournament, as I fear they’re numbered.”
Kaleo slapped Caesar on the back and sauntered away, leaving the Lord pouting like a child. Tobias raised an eyebrow. “You see what he’s doing, yes?”
“Go to hell.”
With a grunt, Caesar trudged off, abandoning Tobias, his allies, and fucking Flynn. Soon after, Raphael headed their way, his bandages gone and gruesome stitches exposed.
“Raphael!” Flynn opened his arms wide. “The man with nine lives! You look absolutely wretched.”
Raphael cringed as he sat down, and the men swarmed him, examining the bite. “You may have almost left this life, but on a positive note, you’ll have the most impressive scar of us all,” Orion said.
“God, you can literally see its entire mouth,” Flynn added.
Stitches and scars were the last things on Tobias’s mind; Raphael had returned, and thus Leila must be free. As discreetly as he could, he slipped away, the chatter fading behind him as he eagerly barged into Leila’s tent.
Leila drew her blade and spun toward him, and he threw his hands overhead in surrender.
“Tobias…” She exhaled, dropping her blade.
“Apologies, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
She situated the blade in its sheath. “You’re awfully bold, charging in here without warning.”
“It’s difficult, you know… Being so close to you, but not being able to so much as look in your direction. Not being able to touch you.”
Her cheeks flushed. “We’re alone now.”
“But they’re just outside.”
“Where’s your boldness now?”
Tobias smiled, ambling toward her as she fidgeted with her dress. Taking her hand, he glided his fingers up to her wrist, then gently tugged her forward. “Come here.” He chuckled.
Leila staggered into his chest, giggling as she wrapped him in her arms. “I found your little gift.”
“Did you now?” He dragged his hands up her neck to her cheeks, all the while studying her eyes, her hair—which looked different today, the sides pulled into two braids that met at the back of her crown. Did she do that for me? He grinned.
Leila furrowed her brow. “What?”
“Nothing.” He wove his fingers through her long, dark locks. “I like your hair.”
“Oh God, that.” Her cheeks went pink. “The servant girls, they held me hostage. Tried to do something different. You can ignore it.”
Tobias drew her closer, smiling against her lips. “I will do no such thing.”
He reveled in her inviting laughter, then kissed her sweetly, deeply, lingering on her lips as if the opportunity might never present itself again. There was a soft intensity to the experience; the way her body curved into his, the way their hands fit together, was ripe with newness and comfort, with pleasure and ease. A calm swept through him, rendering the world around them insignificant.
Until a rustling sounded outside, and they spun toward the noise.
Seconds passed, but nothing happened. Tobias sighed. “This probably isn’t the smartest idea.”
“Right. We could be discovered at any moment.”
They were quiet for a moment longer, but Tobias soon found distraction in Leila’s warm body pressed to his. Up close, he could see the flecks of bronze in her eyes, looking more like fire than amber gold. The outside noise faded from his mind, and he guided her chin toward him, falling right back into their kiss.
“Tobias.”
“What?”
“I thought this wasn’t the smartest idea.”
“It isn’t.” He kissed her again. “It’s very, very stupid.” Another. “But I’m still going to kiss you.”
Giggling, she buried her face into the side of his neck. No, come back. He took her chin and brought her lips back to his. “You know, you should’ve never allowed me to kiss you in the first place,” he said. “I fear I’ve become