Page 38 of Naga Warrior's Mate

Dernin

SleepeludedDerninashis mind churned over Fyret’s scheming.The thin mat beneath him offered little comfort against the cold stone floor.With a quiet huff, he pushed himself up.

The corridors stretched dark and empty, lit only by scattered torches that cast shadows on the stone walls.Dernin slithered silently through them, his warrior training serving him well as he avoided the guards’ usual patrol routes.

“This tournament is rigged,” he muttered under his breath, his tail lashing in frustration.“Everything here is corrupt.”

His golden scales reflected the dim torchlight as he moved past another empty checkpoint.

A soft whisper cut through the silence.“Psst!Dernin!”

He whirled around, his muscles tensed for a fight, only to find Marcella emerging from the shadows.

“Someone’s here to see you and Alaysia,” she whispered.

Dernin’s brow furrowed.“At this hour?”

“Follow me.”Marcella turned and headed down a narrow passage.

They wound through the underground maze until they reached the familiar alcove.Alaysia was already there, her red hair catching the light from a single torch.Her presence made his heart skip, but he forced himself to focus on the situation at hand.

“What’s going on?”he asked, positioning himself between the entrance and Alaysia out of instinct.

“Marcella wouldn’t tell me, either,” Alaysia said, crossing her arms.“She just said we needed to come here.”

“Just wait here,” Marcella said to them.

Marcella’s footsteps faded into the darkness, leaving Dernin and Alaysia alone in the dim alcove.His tail coiled protectively around the space where they stood, creating a barrier between them and any potential threats.

Alaysia shifted in the small space.“Who could possibly be here to see us?”

Dernin tasted the air for any hint of danger.Finding none, he allowed himself to relax slightly.The familiar scent of roses filled his senses.His mate’s presence both soothed and ignited him.

“We’ll know soon enough,” he said in a low voice.“Stay close to me.”

She moved nearer to him, and his muscles tensed at her proximity.Every protective instinct in his body screamed at him to wrap her in his arms and shield her from the world.But he held back, knowing she wasn’t ready for such intimacy.

“At least the guards rarely check this section,” Alaysia said, brushing a strand of red hair from her face.

Dernin nodded.“The underground’s layout works to our advantage sometimes.”

“You seem tense,” she observed, studying his face.

If only she knew how her mere presence affected him, how every fiber within him recognized her as his mate.The urge to tell her burned in his throat, but he swallowed it down.Now wasn’t the time, not with everything else at stake.

“Just staying alert,” he replied, shifting his weight to better position himself between her and the entrance.“Old warrior habits.”

She smiled, and his heart clenched.“Those habits might save our lives one day.”

“They already have,” he said softly, remembering countless fights in the ring where thoughts of protecting her had pushed him beyond his limits.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the corridor and Dernin’s muscles tightened, ready to strike.A cloaked figure emerged from the shadows, moving with a familiar grace that made his scales tingle with recognition.The scent hit him before the hood fell back—sand, steel, and the distinct aroma of Niri leather.

“Kress?”His old patrol partner stood before them, wearing his warrior’s uniform beneath the cloak.

“It really is you!”Kress’s green eyes widened.“When we got the message, I volunteered to verify it myself.”

Dernin shifted closer to Alaysia, his protective instincts still on high alert despite recognizing his old friend.“You got our message then?”

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