Page 65 of Aria's Desire

Using her enhanced speed, Aria was on top of her before she’d stopped sliding, pinning her arms with her knees, fist raised. She didn’t strike, just held there and asked, loud enough to be heard over the grunts of the other fighters, “Yield?”

Urea didn’t answer, barely conscious. Standing, Aria gave her a second to come to, but when she didn’t, leaned back down and hefted her larger body over her shoulder and carried her to the tent set up for fighters to receive medical attention and recuperate.

She caught Vekai’s disheartened expression as she went and offered an apologetic smile. He’d tried, but Rellik was right. There just wasn’t likely to be anyone here who could stand against them.

It wasn’t ego, it was just true.

No matter how hard these people trained, in the end, it was just that: training. Aria and her men fought in real battles where the stakes were life and death. Not once or twice, but for years on end, against some of the fiercest beings in the universe.

Back on the field, Aria checked on her men. Tirox had already won and was grinning as he carried his opponent to the recovery tent. Kix, positioned on the far side of the field, was, unsurprisingly, playing with his prey. Rellik, situated near him, was smiling widely as he and a much larger female faced off. Aria watched him for a moment, both to assess who was winning and because he was just a pleasure to look at. Jesus, the man even looked sexy when he fought.

Sin, also positioned on that side of the field, had taken her advice… a little too well. He wasn’t striking at all, just smoothly, efficiently dodging his attacker’s strikes.

Knowing he’d hear her, she called out, “Sin, finish.”

His pointed ears twitched, and she could swear she heard his sigh from thirty feet away, but he did as she asked. He went perfectly still, waiting for his opponent to come within reach. The second he did, Sin became a blur of movement. He used the male’s momentum to sweep his legs out from under him, used that same leg to boost the guy’s body higher into the air, landed three punches to his face, and had retreated to stand calmly two feet away by the time he hit the ground.

Aria felt her brows lift, surprised, impressed, and a little irritated with his speed. Irritated, because she knew now he’d been holding back in sparring practice back at the complex… even when he fought with her.

As soon as Sin took his adversary down, Kix and Rellik quickly finished their own fights. It wasn’t until then she realized they’d been drawing them out so they were closer to Sin in case he needed them.

Aria wasn’t known for being the softest of women, but that silent show of support made her feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy and a little choked up. They knew Sin was worried. They knew she could handle him if shit went pear-shaped. And, yet, they stayed close anyway, solely to make him feel more at ease.

To anyone else, that might be interpreted as a lack of trust in her dragon. But Aria knew her men. That wasn’t how they meant it. More, she knew that wasn’t how Sin would take it.

That moment of solidarity, of seeing how they watched out for one of their own, unasked, unprompted, gave her hope that this thing—this messy, confusing, exhilarating, terrifying thing between them—might work.

Chapter 34

When it came time to join up into teams for the second round of the tournament, Aria was approached by a male she didn’t recognize. He had a stern face, cold eyes, and moved with the surety of someone who knew how to use their body.

He was extremely handsome, for all that he looked like he never smiled, and was taller than most of the males she’d seen, closer in height to the females at six foot four. He was corded with hard muscle, and when he came to a stop a couple of feet away from her, he fell into what she recognized as a parade stance.

He offered a small bow of his head. When he spoke, his gaze didn’t waver off of her, despite her men flanking her and, no doubt, watching him alertly, something most people found more than a little intimidating. He also met her eyes, something no other male here had done.

“Queen Aria. If you’re amenable, I would offer to be your partner for this round.”

He made obvious effort to sound deferential, but there was a kind of natural authority in his voice, as though he was used to commanding more than asking. Aria narrowed her eyes up at him, wondering at his motivation. He didn’t have the same vibe as the males who’d approached her hoping to woo her, so why had he sought her out?

“You don’t look the type, but it needs to be said. I’m not looking for more mates if that’s what this is.”

He looked a little startled at her bluntness, but immediately shook his head. “No. I’ve worked too hard to remain unclaimed to change that now.” Aria was instantly intrigued, but he grimaced ever so slightly as if he hadn’t actually meant to share that. Straightening his already perfect posture, he clipped, “I amXaiar Li’Aliell va Aehri. I’m the Captain of the army.”

She caught the subtle note in his voice when he saidCaptain. Glancing quickly around them, she caught more than a few sets of eyes peering in their direction. In particular, the soldiers. Looking back at Xaiar, she cocked her head.

“Just Captain?”

And there it was, that flicker in his eyes again. “It is the highest rank a male can hold.”

“Ah, I see.”

That explained a lot, including why so many of the soldiers watched him with respect instead of the female she’d been told was the General. He may not be able to hold a higher rank, but if those gazes were anything to go by, he was seen as the leader of the army.

“So, if you’re not trying to get in my pants, what’s your angle?”

His eyes, which had fallen to focus on her nose, flashed up to hers. The world’s tiniest smile curled his hard mouth, there and gone in an instant.

For some reason, in that moment he reminded her strongly of someone else.

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