Page 39 of Legend

“I did not expect to see you again so soon.” I managed to keep my voice steady, even as my heart pounded.

She whirled on me, her eyes flashing fury. “Well, are you going to answer me?”

She’d come in on a whirlwind of rage and caught me off-guard, and I had little memory of what she’d asked me. Luckily, she had no intention of letting me answer.

Fiona flung one arm wide. “Did I hear correctly, or was the envoy from Earth, the captain sent to assess how the exchange of humans is progressing, the man who will determine my future here, barely on the planet for an hour before you beat him up?”

I bristled at this accusation. Not that I would not have relished beating him. Not after the way he’d stood so close to Fiona, eyeing her like she was something to be devoured. But I had not laid a hand on the man. “I did not touch the captain.”

She barked out a derisive laugh. “Then how did he end up with a bruised face?”

I flinched but fought to keep my expression measured. I had enjoyed seeing the human smack the incline wall, but now the moment of triumph felt hollow and small. “I showed him thegauntlet in the School of Battle and offered to run it with him. He fell.”

Her eyes became slits. She did not believe me. I did not blame her. That was hardly the entire story. “You thought the tour of the academy should include him testing out the apparatus that humbles most Blades? I’m surprised you didn’t send him through the maze.”

I clenched my jaw to keep from responding. What could I say? Her anger was justified, not that I would admit that. If I confessed that I had relished seeing the human struggle, that I had savored his sweat and strain, then I would have to admit why, and that I could not do.

The gauntlet was a punishment for him knowing you, touching you, invading your space like you would never allow me. The bruise was his payment for being someone you do not reject and despise.

“I treated him as if he were a Drexian,” I finally said. “I am sorry if that was wrong.”

Fiona crossed her arms over her chest and loudly expelled a breath. “So, mistakes were made?”

I did not answer that. As we stood staring at each other, her gaze drifted to my bare chest, as if she had just noticed that I was not fully dressed. She bit her bottom lip and jerked her gaze away. “Are you going to put on a shirt?”

“You did interrupt me,” I reminded her.

She pressed her lips together as if biting back a response, but I sensed she would not continue talking until I dressed.

I did not rush as I slipped my arms through the sleeves of my shirt. “Who is he to you?”

Her eyes widened. “What?”

“You heard the question, Captain. It is evident that you know this human. How well?”

She spluttered for a few moments, pink splotches coloring her cheeks. “We were stationed on the same base before I left to come to the Academy.”

I buttoned my shirt, never taking my gaze from her. “I have been stationed with many warriors. I have shared close quarters with many of them, but none have ever stood as close to me as he was to you.”

“I am not involved with the captain.”

That had not been what I had asked, but I did not challenge her. It was clear that there had been something between her and the human. “I will have to take your word that whatever was between you is over.”

“I do not lie.” She practically spit the words at me.

“Then I will be honest with you. I do not trust the captain. I do not believe he is here to give a fair assessment of the human integration at the academy. I think he is here because of you.”

Fiona was silent, but concern flitted across her eyes. She did not disagree with me. Not enough to argue.

“But his arrival changes nothing,” I husked, stepping closer to her. “The terms of our wager have not changed.”

She drew in a quick breath, as she tipped her head to hold my gaze. “I never said it did. I don’t welch on deals.”

I gave a single nod. “Good. I will expect to see you tonight.”

Fiona released an exasperated sigh and flounced from my quarters with almost as much outrage as when she’d arrived.

What are you doing, Vyk?

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