Page 48 of Stripe for the Picking
TWENTY-ONE
WREN
The mate mark on Wren's shoulder pulsed with a warm, steady rhythm that seemed to sync with her heartbeat as she settled into her command station chair the following morning. She touched the bite mark gently through her blouse, marveling at how the angry red had already faded to a soft pink overnight. The healing process fascinated her—another reminder that her world had fundamentally shifted. Through their completed mate bond, she could feel Rylan's presence like a low hum in her chest, his focused determination radiating through their connection as he warmed up in the arena below.
Wren began to pull up the second round's simulation map and specifications on her holographic interface and felt a sudden wave of anticipation as she reviewed the data streams. The arena's landscape had transformed overnight—jagged cliffs now jutted at impossible angles, while cascading waterfalls created shifting mist that would obscure visibility. Floating platforms moved in complex patterns, and she could see at least three separate obstacle courses that would require split-second timing to navigate.
"Testing comms," Rylan's voice crackled through her earpiece, that familiar authoritative tone sending a pleasant shiver through her body.
"Reading you loud and clear, handsome," she replied, unable to keep the smile out of her voice.
She caught sight of her engagement ring catching the arena's lights and realized their secret wasn't much of a secret anymore. The platinum band with its shifting Nova Aurora crystal seemed to announce itself to anyone who bothered to look.
"You realize half the command center was trying to figure out if that ring on your finger is real," Rylan said, amusement threading through his words.
"Only half? Then I'm disappointed in my ring's attention-grabbing abilities."
His chuckle rumbled through the comms, and she felt his corresponding wave of affection through their bond. "Have you seen today's course layout yet?"
Wren's eyes swept across her console, taking in the holographic displays that rotated slowly to show every angle. "I'm looking at it now, and wow." She whistled low. "They really didn't want to make this easy for us, did they?"
"That's an understatement. This course is easily three times more complex than anything I've faced in previous years." His voice carried a note of grim determination. "They've definitely adjusted the difficulty based on yesterday's performance."
The scoreboard flashed beside the arena map, and Wren's chest swelled with pride seeing Rylan's name at the top with a commanding twenty-point lead. Below him, Prince Zarik's name glowed in second place, and something about the wolf shifter's position made her uncomfortable.
"Tell me more about Prince Zarik," she said, pulling up his competitor profile.
"He's an arrogant bastard with a chip on his shoulder the size of a moon." Rylan's tone turned flat and professional. "We had some... conflicts during our academy days. He couldn't handle that I consistently outperformed him, and apparently time hasn't improved his attitude."
Wren studied Zarik's statistics from yesterday's round. Impressive, but not exceptional. "His technique looks solid, but his decision-making seems impulsive. He took unnecessary risks that cost him points."
"That's Zarik—all flash and no substance. But he's dangerous when he feels cornered."
Through their bond, she sensed Rylan's underlying tension and the way his muscles coiled with barely restrained energy. Her mate was a perfectionist, and she could feel his need to not just win but dominate completely.
"Hey," she said softly. "Remember what worked yesterday. We communicate, we trust each other, and we make everyone else look like they're moving in slow motion."
"You make it sound easy."
"Because it is easy. We're perfectly synchronized, remember? You move like lightning, I think three steps ahead, and together we're absolutely unstoppable."
She felt his emotional state shift through their bond—tension easing and confidence building. The mate mark on her shoulder seemed to pulse in response to his strengthening resolve.
A movement in the observation deck caught her attention. Prime Minister Arvox stood among the Council members, his icy gaze fixed on the arena with an intensity that made her stomach twist. Unlike the other dignitaries who seemed excited about the competition, Arvox watched with the focused attention of a cunning predator sizing up his prey.
"Arvox is here again," she murmured.
"Of course he is. Probably hoping to see me fail spectacularly."
Wren's fingers tightened on her console controls. "After what happened yesterday with that massive breach, I'm not taking any chances. We need to get our evidence against him compiled and presented to the Council today."
"Agreed. But first, let's give everyone a show they'll never forget."
The arena's warning bells chimed, signaling the start of the second round in two minutes. Wren watched Rylan move into position, his tall frame radiating controlled power even from this distance. Through their bond, she felt his tiger prowling just beneath the surface, ready to unleash its full strength.
"Ready to make some magic happen again?" she asked.
"With you guiding me? I'm ready for anything."
