The Bond of a life time

9. Let the games begin

Aiden was right the moment we got back Aiden and I were too busy to even glance at the other, the morning set off without a hitch, everyone laughing and enjoying themselves.

The banquets were laid out with exquisite food so mouth-watering I mentally kick myself I don't get a chance to do any of this with Aiden.

The three-legged races are over and the winners are decorated with gold medallions with an engraved picture of a couple running with their inner legs tied together, placed around their necks by aria.

I have overseen the water games and the chittle chase they release a load of chittle's and the team that catches the most placing them in their team's pen wins.

We are finally nearing the end with the coracle race this is the biggest event across the land, Some couples train all year round to win, I position myself in the judge's box and sit on my throne-like, high back chair.

As grateful as I am to finally have a moment to sit down, I find myself more unsettled, I am missing out on this grand event. "Hello little bundle"

As if my mood couldn't get worse, now I have to deal with this, I chose to ignore him watching as the last of the couples gather to their stations.

The horn blows loud indicating the beginning of the game and they are off I watch each couple strategically work together building their little round boats each with different materials and techniques.

"Are you going to ignore me this whole time? Because if you are, I don't mind, I am fine with talking"

I continue to watch the couple's, and ignore him, "That Roxy friend of yours is hot as hell, and man she has a temper on her, woooh I bet if you could get through that icy barrier she would be wild in the..."

"Can you not talk about my friend like that" I say stopping his direction of conversation.

He smiles, if you don't want to discuss your sexy friend then what shall we discuss?" he asks bubbly.

"I would rather not discuss any topic with you"

"Well, I can always go back to talking about your friend, heaven knows I could do that all day, her ass alone is noteworthy for at least a day" he grins knowing full well he's pissing me off.

"Why are you here?" I ask

"I already told you I was here to help you like I said I would"

"And I told you I am not interested"

"I gave my word, and I will follow that through, I don't care if you give me clean up, I want to help you."

"Bryce, we have all the help we need, if you insist, I can ask if aria and Jonathan have something for you"

"No, when you go back to Negalia I am going with you,"

"When will you get that I have said I don't need you?"

"I won't because I know you will need me and I promise you I won't give up, let me fulfill my promise and then ill leave, nice and easy" he hums.

I hear the splashes of feet pounding through the water as the couples that have finished theirs and are now putting them in the water, two couples are neck and neck now in the coracles, paddling up the stream towards me at the finish line.

Couple 21 sinks around the bend, and couple 6, tip over knocking into the sinking coracle, giving 5 other couples a chance to take the lead, couple 6 flip their boat back over as the husband pushes his wife back in the boat, couple 13 pass them quickly and that's when I notice.