Page 49 of Naga Warrior's Mate

His words painted pictures in her mind, replacing her fears with dreams of possibilities.For these precious moments, she wasn’t a prize to be earned—she was a woman planning her future with the Naga she loved.

Her fingers traced the elaborate jewels adorning her neck, a painful reminder that nothing she wore truly belonged to her in this place.Her gaze drifted up to Dernin, standing tall and powerful before her, and her heart ached to give him something meaningful before his fight.

“I wish I had something of mine to give you,” she whispered.“For luck.”

Dernin’s tail shifted closer to her.“You don’t need to—”

“Wait.”An idea sparked in her mind.She reached up, her fingers finding a section of her red hair near the nape of her neck, hidden beneath the elaborate styling.“This, at least, is mine to give.”

She pulled small scissors from the wooden dresser drawer.With a quick snip, she cut free a lock of her flame-colored hair.

“Here.”She wound the silken strands around his wrist, knotting and tying them securely.The red gleamed against his golden scales.“So you’ll remember what you’re fighting for.”

Dernin touched the makeshift bracelet with reverent fingers.“As if I could forget.”

The door creaked open and Marcella’s head poked in.“Guards are coming this way on their rounds.”Her eyes darted between them.“If you don’t want to be caught...”

“Just a moment,” Alaysia pleaded, turning back to Dernin.Her heart hammered in her chest as she reached up to touch his face.

He leaned down and captured her lips in a fierce kiss that left her breathless.When they parted, she pressed her forehead to his chest again.

“I’ll win.”His voice held the same unwavering certainty she’d come to rely on.“I promise.”

“Go,” Marcella hissed from the doorway.

Dernin squeezed Alaysia’s hand once more before slipping away, his movements fluid despite his size.As he disappeared through the door, Alaysia’s fingers went to her lips, still tingling from his kiss.

The lock of hair around his wrist might not have been much, but it was hers to give—perhaps the only thing that had ever truly belonged to her.She prayed it would be enough to bring him luck in the fight ahead.

Marcella dabbed a final touch of shimmer to Alaysia’s cheekbones.The familiar scent of rose water lingered in the air of the small preparation room.

“There.”Marcella stepped back, examining her work.“You look absolutely perfect.”

Alaysia studied her reflection one last time.The silk dress hugged her curves, its golden fabric making her red hair stand out even brighter down her back.One section remained slightly shorter where she’d cut the lock for Dernin.The memory of tying it around his wrist brought warmth to her chest.

“You seem different,” Marcella observed, adjusting a fold in the dress.“More...settled.”

“I am.”

“Well, whatever the reason is, it suits you.”Marcella helped her stand.“Now come on.They’ll be expecting you in the viewing box shortly.”

Chapter 25

Dernin

Thearenapulsedwiththe crowd’s cheers as Dernin and Bariv stood on opposite sides of the fighting ring.Spotlights swept across them while Fyret worked the spectators into a frenzy.

“Our reigning champion, the unstoppable Bariv!”Fyret’s voice boomed.

Bariv raised his arms, drinking in the adulation.His filaments rippled in a display of dominance that made Dernin’s scales itch with disgust.

“And the challenger—the unknown fighter who’s fought his way to the top—Dernin!”

Dernin kept his posture straight and proud, channeling every bit of his warrior training.He gave a single, dignified nod to the crowd while his tail coiled with a burning rage.The sight of Fyret’s smug expression made his stomach turn.

“This is what you’ve all been waiting for!”Fyret proclaimed.“The match to determine our champion!”

“Prepare to lose, snake,” Bariv sneered across the ring.

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