Page 59 of Naga Warrior's Mate

Chapter 30

Alaysia

Alaysia’sheadthrobbedasconsciousness returned.Cold stone pressed against her cheek, and the musty scent of underground tunnels filled her nostrils.Her eyes fluttered open to dim torchlight filtering through iron bars.

“Dernin?”She pushed herself up, relief washing over her as she spotted his scales gleaming in the low light.He lay sprawled across the floor of their cell, already stirring.

“I’m here.”His tail coiled around her as he sat up.“Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, taking in their surroundings.“Just a headache.”

The cell was barely large enough for Dernin’s massive frame, with rough stone walls on three sides and iron bars at the front.“This looks like...”

“The holding cells.Where they first brought me.”Dernin’s fists clenched at his sides.“Fyret must be furious that I won instead of his champion.”

Dernin tested the bars, his muscles straining, but they held firm.

A chill ran down Alaysia’s spine as another possibility occurred to her.“What if...what if they found out about our plan?”She lowered her voice to barely a whisper.“About the message we sent?”

Dernin’s golden eyes widened slightly.“We were careful.”But Alaysia noticed the hint of uncertainty in his eyes.“We just need to hold out two more days.”

“If they don’t already know.”Alaysia wrung her hands in her lap, her mind racing through possible explanations.Had someone overheard them?Had their message carrier betrayed them?Or was this simply Fyret’s wounded pride seeking revenge?

“Even if they do know, help is still coming,” Dernin reassured her.

But Alaysia couldn’t shake the dread settling in her stomach.Something about this felt wrong—more calculated than a simple angry response to losing a fight.Fyret wasn’t the type to act purely on emotion.There had to be more to it.

Heavy footsteps approached from down the corridor.The iron door soon creaked open with a metallic groan.Alaysia’s heart pounded harder as Fyret’s tall frame blocked the dim torchlight from the corridor.Bariv loomed beside him, his filaments squirming with anticipation.

“My dear champions.”Fyret’s silk-smooth voice sent chills down Alaysia’s spine.“Did you really think I wouldn’t find out?”

Dernin’s tail tightened around her waist.“Find out what?”

“I have eyes and ears all over Jorvla.”Fyret’s rings clinked against the cell bars.“Word travels fast about escape plans from my fighting ring.”

Alaysia kept her face carefully blank, though her mind raced.How much did he know?Had someone seen them with the messenger?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dernin said flatly.

Bariv’s fist shot forward, connecting with Dernin’s face.The crack echoed off the stone walls.“Wrong answer.”

Blood trickled from Dernin’s split lip, but he remained silent.His golden scales gleamed in the torchlight as he straightened, positioning himself between Alaysia and their captors.

“Come now,” Fyret purred.“Make this easier on yourselves.Tell me about your little plan.”

“The only plan I had was to win your tournament,” Dernin replied.“Which I did, fairly, despite your interference.”

Another blow from Bariv landed on Dernin’s ribs.Alaysia bit her tongue to keep from crying out, her nails digging into her palms.She couldn’t give them anything to work with, couldn’t let them see her panic.She’d learned long ago that showing weakness only made things worse.

“Interesting theory.”Fyret’s eyes narrowed.“But I know there’s more.My sources are never wrong.”

“Your sources?”Alaysia found her voice, keeping it steady despite her racing pulse.“The same ones who helped you drug Dernin’s wine?”

“Clever girl.But cleverness won’t save you from what’s coming if you don’t start talking.”

Fyret leaned closer to Dernin’s face.“We know the Niri warriors are coming.And what a coincidence—we have our very own Niri warrior right here.”

Alaysia’s breath stuck in her throat.Her fingers found Dernin’s tail, still wrapped protectively around her waist, seeking reassurance from his warmth.

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