Page 68 of Aria's Desire

But even as she assessed, plotted, and hunted, she kept her mind quiet, Kix’s remark fresh in her mind. She imagined a steel dome over her thoughts, blocking them from escaping.

Once she neared the section she’d seen Tirox being taken to, she pushed off hard and jumped up on top of the fifteen-foot wall, landing in a crouch. Filtering out the cheers of the crowd, she paused for a second and listened.

She knew how her demon moved, knew the sound of his body, she just needed to pinpoint it in the noise around her.

There.

Grinning, she stood and walked toe to heel, silent, zeroing in on the sound of his footsteps.

When she got close enough to see without being seen, she stopped and crouched back down, watching him fight two Gaiaeshi females and one male. He was fast and stronger than a fucking tank.

His one weakness, if you could call it that, was that he went for the direct approach when fighting, just like he did with everything else. He took the enemy down as fast and as hard as possible. That served him very well… with everyone else.

Aria waited while he finished the fight, poised to leap the second his last opponent fell.

He was a treat to watch. His movements were clean, his blows stunning in their power and ferocity, and his joy was infectious. Her demon loved a good brawl. Unfortunately for him, he was her usual sparring partner back at the complex. She knew how to get around his bulk, speed, and cripplingly powerful blows.

That direct approach of his meant he missed some of her subtler cues, couldn't prepare for them. She always won their fights, and almost always by misdirection.

The moment the person hit the sand, Aria stood, took two running steps, then pushed off the wall. He started to turn, one of his stones no doubt warning him she was coming. That meant her flying side kick landed on his meaty shoulder. The blow barely fazed him, sending him stumbling a single step sideways.

Using him like a springboard, she used her momentum to push herself into a backflip, landing lightly on the ground. They shared a grin as he turned to face her fully.

“Miss me?”

“Always,” he rumbled. “Come on then, my tricky little beauty.”

Laughing, she attacked. They sparred for a minute, playing with each other. Finally, knowing they’d be found by other contestants any moment, Aria went for the kill.

Feigning left, she waited for him to move to intercept her, then ducked right. Generally, for a larger enemy, she would attack from behind: plaster herself tight to their back and go for the face or throat. But Tirox had mating spines, as he called them, wicked spikes that ran the length of his spine. She’d be gored if she tried to do that.

So, she bypassed them.

Kicking off the wall to her right to build her momentum, she landed on his shoulders, wrapped her legs around his neck, and threw herself into a backflip. It took every bit of strength she could muster, but she heaved his massive body through the air.

He went flying then landed with a grunt on the hard-packed ground. Scrambling to get to him before he could get back up, she landed on his chest then raised a fist.

“I win,” she panted, smiling widely.

“By the Gods, I adore you,” he growled, the look on his face absolutely besotted. It quickly changed to a grimace as he reached between her legs to adjust himself in the short shorts all the fighters wore. “My cocks are so hard they ache.”

Aria bit her lip. Bending, she kissed him then whispered against his lips, “Later, my demon.”

“Mmm, yess. Many times.”

Grinning, she winked at him, and then she was off to hunt down her next target: her handsome devil.

* * *

Aria found Rellik quickly.He was nearby, leaning against the maze wall, staring in the direction she was coming from like he’d been expecting her. The moment she came into view, he pushed off the wall with a wicked grin.

“Took your time, mysarasha. I’ve been waiting,” he purred.

A little thrown by that, and the creeping sense she’d somehow become the prey here, she slowed to a stop and eyed him. He knew he’d thrown her off. His smile widened… and then he struck.

Rellik shocked the hell out of her. She’d seen him spar, and watched him practice his forms solo, but she hadn’t ever actually fought him. He moved like a fucking snake: fluid, sinuious, deadly. He used the same martial arts style she’d seen other Gaiaeshi practice, but with the enhanced speed and strength that came with a clone body. That meant he was fast as hell, blocking her strikes and simultaneously throwing out his own.

For long moments, the only sounds were their hands and forearms smacking together. It took concentrating to block his strikes, which was both surprising and impressive.

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