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Hays laughed at that. “Good luck.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it,” Aiden said confidently.
“We’ll see.” Jagger winked at her and strutted past them as if the heavy armor weighed nothing.
Aiden tensed against her side, and she thought he’d go after Jagger.
“Let’s suit up,” Kingston said gruffly, tilting his head to the side.
Aiden directed her after Kingston.
“Good luck,” Mercedes called.
“Thank you,” Chalisa and Aiden said together.
Alaric and Kingston were both in the equipment room, and before Chalisa knew it, she was padded up and stuffed into armor, wearing a padded helmet.
“I can hardly move,” she complained to Kingston. She’d worn armor for her training, but it hadn’t been lined with padding.
He shrugged. “You’ll be safe. You’ll do the joust and sword fight against Captain Lemuel first and then take off the armor for target shooting, archery, and hand to hand combat. Then you’ll get back in the armor and switch opponents.”
He started tugging her toward the stables. Aiden was right there, holding his own armor. He grinned at her stiff-legged walk.
“Prince Alaric?” he asked. “Can you carry my armor?”
“Sure.” Prince Alaric took Aiden’s armor.
Aiden turned to Chalisa and swept her off the ground and against his chest. “You make even bulky armor look good.”
“You realize that just negated every compliment you’ve ever given me.” Chalisa couldn’t even wrap her arms around him, but it was touching that he’d carry her all suited up.
“Not a chance. I’ve never given such sincere compliments as I have to you.” He lowered his voice, leaned in, and whispered in her ear, “Because you are the most genuine, kind, and exquisite woman in the world.”
Chalisa wanted to tease with him more. She really wanted to be out of this armor and in his arms, all alone, in their suite. That’s what she’d focus on throughout this tough day. The reward of kissing him tonight.
He carried her easily to the stables and helped her swing up onto her horse, Jersey. The horse was trained to joust with a smaller person on his back. At least that was what Kingston had told her. Settled into the saddle, the armor didn’t feel as cumbersome.
“All right, love.” Aiden grinned up at her. “Time to destroy Captain Lemuel. Then I can give you a kiss to celebrate.”
“Can you kiss me even if I lose?”
He chuckled at that. “I think that can be arranged.”
“Now I have all the motivation I need.”
“That’s right.”
Kingston solemnly placed Jersey’s reins in Aiden’s outstretched hand. Aiden nodded to him and guided Chalisa out of the stables and toward the back entrance of the stadium. Kingston walked on the other side of the horse. Alaric, Stuart, and Wes flanked them.
It would’ve been an impressive procession of tough, accomplished, handsome, and brave men, if Chalisa had been perched on the horse wearing a beautiful dress. But no, she was in padded armor and probably looked absolutely ridiculous, despite Aiden’s kind words.
Aiden. She glanced down at him, and he gave her a reassuring smile. “You’re going to be brilliant.”
Her nerves settled …
… until they passed through the portal underneath the stadium’s grandstands and she heard the rumble of many voices and saw the shadows and forms of a packed stadium through the bleachers. Everyone in Magna apparently had nothing better to do today than watch her be humiliated and beaten at every event. She tasted bile and clung to the saddle horn with her gloved hands.
Alaric set Aiden’s armor to the side, and they proceeded into the stadium.
