Page 67 of Aria's Desire

“Aria,” he repeated, returning her smile for the first time.

Stopping at the edge of the field, he offered his arm for her to clasp. Understanding there was weight behind the gesture, she took it.

“I greatly look forward to training with you. It was an honor to fight at your side.” With that, he moved away to speak with a small group of soldiers nearby.

Awareness had her pulse jumping a moment before a deep voice whispered in her ear, “Bewitching another male?”

Turning, she gazed up at Sin with a smirk. Tirox had started this game, asking her if she’d bewitched anyone that day, but the rest of her men had quickly picked up on it. Now, it was a regular question from all four of them.

“Bewitch? No. Impress? Apparently so. That was the Captain of the army. He’s going to back us. How about you? Capture any females’ hearts?”

His eyes sharpened on her face. “Yet to be seen.” He looked nervous all of a sudden. “I am told I should ask a female on a… day to show my interest.”

She felt her face screw up. “A day? Wait, what female?”

He cocked his head like he was listening to something then grimaced and corrected, “Date. Would you go on a date with me?”

Her heart stopped then kicked hard against her chest and set to hammering. He was asking her on a date. Sin was asking her on a date?

How the hell does he know…

Realization had her seeking Tirox and Kix. Spotting them standing with Rellik a short distance away, she caught the encouraging expressions on their faces and almost laughed. Apparently, her mates weren’t willing to wait for her to ask Sin and Rellik on dates herself and had taken matters into their own hands.

Facing Sin again, she softened at the tension in his body as he awaited her answer. She swallowed past her own nervousness and smiled up at him. “Yes. I would very much like to go on a date with you.”

He let out a breath like he’d been holding it and a slow grin, the happiest she’d ever seen on him, spread across his face. Aria was left feeling a little stunned at that smile, and humbled that she was the cause.

“This eve,” he whispered, his grin changing to something both predatory and almost boyishly excited.

Aria just nodded silently, her heart beating too fast to speak around.

* * *

The field was transformedfor the third round. There were obstacle courses, hidey holes, and a small maze, made of wooden walls, set up. This was the free for all, where all the remaining contestants were pitted against one another. Winner was the last person standing.

Addressing her men, waiting around her for someone to come and position them on their designated starting points, she murmured, “Don’t take it easy on me. I damn sure won’t be taking it easy on any of you.”

Kix bent to nuzzle her neck and murmured, “I welcome the challenge, my song. Let us see if you’ve learned to quiet that loud mind of yours.”

Twisting to give him a look, she argued, “I’m not loud.”

He just straightened with a smile and hummed noncommittally.

Even more determined to win after that little comment, Aria mentally assessed her men,quietly.

Sin and Rellik were both wild cards. Sin, because he’d been holding himself back and had the newfound ability to grow wings. Rellik, because, while she’d seen him train, she knew the least about his past experience. So far as she knew, he didn’t have any extra sensory perceptions to give him an advantage, but he was eerily good at reading people, which meant he’d be able to anticipate her moves.

Tirox would be a challenge, because he could feel the vibrations of anyone approaching and had all his little whisper stones to warn him of danger. Kix was telepathic which… was going to be hard to work around, particularly if he meant that comment about her being loud.

When they were guided away, she watched them go, wondering which of them would be the victor at the end.

She couldn’t wait to find out.

Chapter 35

The second the horn blew, Aria took off running. She took down the half a dozen Gaiaeshi she came across, but she wasn’t seeking them out. No, she had a specific target in mind.

Tuning into her little passenger, the semi-sentient stone Tirox had gifted her, she listened to the messages it sent her and let her animalistic side rise to the fore. Using her enhanced senses and speed, she flew through the obstacle course.

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