“We can discuss that after we win the race,” Danica said confidently. “But. . . I don’t foresee myself telling the two of you to leave.”
“Good.” Arden grinned, but before they could sweep around the floor more, Phi stepped up and interrupted them.
“He’s going on stage. Time for the pomp and circumstance.” Phi took Danica’s hand from Arden’s and led the both of them toward an area where the other racers stood.
“There’s more teams than the list you gave me,” Danica murmured, her eyes taking in the people gathering.
“You’re right.” Phi’s brow wrinkled as he studied them. “There are far more than there should be.”
“Your father’s doing?” Arden asked, frowning.
“It has to be. Let’s see what he has to say.”
It wasn’t long before the King himself stepped on stage and flared himself large, as if he were a rooster trying to assert his dominance. In his intricate attire, it only made him look like a peacock with too many fake feathers. The cameras around the room came in close, and it was one of the first times Danica noticed them. Had they been watching her and Arden dance? Had they recorded every moment of it?
“How appropriate that I’m this month’s Race Games chancellor when my very own son will be participating and it’s the Blood Rite,” the King began, but though he’d claimed Phi, he didn’t even look his way. “This Race Game, there are more teams that came forward to race, and after a long deliberation, I’ve decided to allow them entrance. Instead of the normal ten teams, there will be a grand total of sixteen teams.” A murmur went through the crowd at the change in rules.
“More people to go after us,” Phi whispered so low, Danica almost didn’t catch it, though he was speaking into her ear.
“You’ve seen the teams on the screens. I won’t waste time introducing them. The race will begin tomorrow evening. Get ready to watch the race of a lifetime and prepare to pick those you’d like to sponsor. All participation is encouraged.”
“Isn’t he supposed to announce each team?” Arden asked, watching as the King turned and stepped away toward his waiting vacant woman.
“It’s beneath him.” Phi shook his head. “We can leave now if you’d like.”
“Shouldn’t we mingle to get sponsors?” Danica asked, glancing around the room. There were a lot of rich people here. Surely one of them would dare to sponsor them.
“Sponsors will send gifts during the race. We don’t need any. We wouldn’t be able to trust them anyways,” Phi replied, holding out his hand for Danica to step down off the stage. “Besides, my father would have already threatened anyone away from sponsoring us.”
“Then why is that man looking at us like he’d like to talk to us?” Danica asked, pointing toward a man wearing a canary yellow suit. He stood out in the crowd with the flamboyant color, but it was his face that struck Danica. Something about him felt. . . larger than any one man should be, though his stature was not so large in itself.
Phi scowled the same as Arden when the man came walking over to them.
“Good evening, Your Majesty. Good evening, Arden.”
“Theo,” Phi nodded politely, but there was a tightness in the word. “To what do we owe this pleasure?”
“I heard the Crown Prince was racing, and I had to come see for myself. You know I’ve held an interest in the Games for many years—”
“Yes, because you think they’re corrupt.”
Theo’s eyes flashed. “Are you going to stand there and tell me they’re not corrupt when your very team is under threat by more than just the race?”
“How did you—”
Theo held up his hand to cut off Arden, which only seemed to piss him off more, but strangely, Arden didn’t continue speaking. Theo focused on Danica where she stood studying him closely. “And you must be Danica Dyers. I must say, when I looked up your statistics, I was pleasantly surprised. You’re talented.”
“Are you a racer?” Danica asked. He wasn’t human. He couldn’t be, not when he felt so other, but she couldn’t tell what he was just by looking at him.
Theo laughed. “The day that I race is the day I plan on taking the whole empire down.” It was such a profound statement, and yet, he spoke it as if it were nothing more than talking about the weather. “No, I won’t be racing, but I will be watching. Specifically, I’ll be watching your team.”
“Maybe you can sponsor us,” Danica said, and Phi groaned just as Arden tried to tell her ‘no’.
“She doesn’t mean that,” Phi said and Danica looked at him strangely.
Theo seemed amused by Phi and Arden’s reactions, but he kept his eyes on Danica. “You are intriguing, Danica Dyers. Very brave despite knowing I’m something other.”
“In my experience, asking is the first step. If you say no, no harm done. If you say yes, then we enter a mutually beneficial transaction.”
“And how would sponsoring you benefit me?”
It was Danica’s turn to grin. “Phi is the prince, and if he wins, he’ll be the King. Someone so powerful remembering you once helped him could be beneficial. Arden is a business man. You seem like you’re interested in doing business. If we win, well, that seems like a good connection to make.”
“And what would benefit me with you?” Theo tilted his head. “I find I’m far more interested in what you have to offer, Ms. Dyers.”
Arden and Phi both tensed, but Danica didn’t waver. “If that’s your way of asking me on a date, then I’ll have to decline. However, I’m a great mechanic. If I win the race, you can come into my shop, and I’ll build you a car worthy of someone like yourself. But you can’t backstab us. You have to be helping us in a way that would stand up to my morals, not yours.”
Theo’s eyes flashed. “Clever girl. So, so clever. You’ve picked me out and decided so many things. I would have liked to taste you, but I can see the way these two look at you.” Theo glanced at them. “Be careful letting that knowledge show, boys. No use putting the lovely Ms. Dyers in more danger.”
A tray came around and offered drinks. Danica took one and held it out to Arden to smell. She felt like she needed a sip of something a little harder than the water she drank prior. When Arden nodded his head, she went to lift the glass to her lips, but Theo took it from her.
“Ah, ah.” He took a sniff of the drink and shook his head. “Kelpie tears.”
Arden tensed, his eyes widening. “Fuck! That would have—”
“Killed her, yes.” Danica tensed. “No worries, darling. When you’re racing and have need of me, look up to the skies. You have my support.” And then, Theo tossed back the drink that would have killed her like it was a shot. He shivered at the taste of it, licked his lips, and then winked at Danica. “Take care, Team Vamp. I’ll be watching on the big screen.”
Then he was walking away, the crowd parting around his canary suit as if he was someone they all feared.