Chapter Seventeen

My fingers flexed against the leather of my gloves as I adjusted the strap on the back of my hand. The leather was soft and cool beneath my hands, reminding me of home. It had been a long time since anyone had allowed me to wear this sort of thing. The only other time I'd ever worn it was a few years back during my first and last combat in my pack, I'd emerged in second place following Judy.

"These gloves are so cool, don't you think ?" Paige turned to me, an excited glimmer in her eyes. "Who knew leather could be this comfortable?"

"It's imperial leather," I told her, pointing at the intricate silver engravings. "My father told me the capital produces the leather themselves, it's as hard as steel but feels like silk."

A loud snort from behind us drew our attention, turning our heads toward the source of the noise. Cora had an eyebrow raised and her arms were crossed as she stared us down. "Everyone's at the arena already and you two are here discussing leather?"

Paige made a chok