Bab 37: Chapter 37: The Heart of Gold Challenge, Part 1

Rath could barely keep his eyes open. The downside to having an ardent, addictive lover was that sleep seemed negligible right up until he walked around in an exhausted daze the next day. He was old enough to know better, but where Tress was concerned, he seemed to have no sense at all.

He jerked, nearly toppling, as someone walked by him close enough to slam into his shoulder. Rath didn't even bother looking; he could smell Jessa's cloying perfume.

The other competitors had already set out on their challenges, the royals saved for last, as always. Rath felt like a griffon in a fighting ring.