Page 70 of A Fate in Flames

He placed the weapon back into Jasila’s waiting palm.

His voice rose over the pit.“Now this…” He grinned, eyes burning with pride as he gestured to Jasila.“Thisis how you fight!”

Jasila bowed her head in acknowledgment before spinning with deadly grace.Her blades flashed as she urged the next challengers forward.

Dalkhan made his way to the exit but froze suddenly and lifted his gaze.

His eyes found mine.

Heat pulsed though me, every nerve in my body sparking under his stare.

He dragged his thumb slowly over his bottom lip before he stepped out of sight, disappearing into the shadows.

The pit still roared.Theo and Tavrik were lost in the fight below, their eyes tracking every lethal, elegant movement as Jasila danced between her opponents.She was grace and carnage combined.

Her eyes shot up, catching on Tavrik as he leaned in close before she returned to the slaughter, a new intensity in her movements.

Mira on the other hand, had long since stopped watching the pit.She was too busy gawking at Theo.Her elbows were propped against the railing, chin resting in her hands as she stared at him like he was a divine vision sent to bless her day.

I waved a hand in front of her face.She didn’t even blink.

I snorted, looking away just as the last of the gathered wandered off, their interest waning the moment their king had left.I should’ve followed their lead.Should have retreated when I had the chance.Instead, I turned back to the pit just in time to watch Jasila flip a huge male onto his backside like he was weightless.

The crowd below roared.

I may have hated her, but I couldn’t deny that I was impressed.

A warning chill crept down my spine.

Those of us who remained felt his presence immediately, a sudden hush falling over the balcony.Our heads lowered on instinct.

When I lifted mine, he wasrightnext to me, peering at the pit below with undisguised pride.

I wanted to throw myself from the balcony.

I craned my neck to look at him, still it wasn’t enough.He was so close—too close, his size overwhelming.He leaned casually against the stone, the muscles in his forearms flexing, and shifted his stance to face me.

I fixed my gaze forward, trying to ignore him even as every cell in my body vibrated with awareness of him.

He let out an amused rumble, felt rather than heard.

“Do you fight, mortal?”his voice was low, the words caressing my ear as if he’d leaned closer, though he hadn’t moved an inch.

I laughed sharply before I could stop myself. The thought of me fighting was absurd.I cleared my throat in a pathetic attempt to mask the sound.

“No.”

Theo and Tavrik stepped closer, drawn in by Dalkhan’s words and the threat that radiated from him even in stillness.

“What about yourpets?”

He was baiting them—baiting me.The trap so obvious, yet impossible to ignore.

Fear clawed at my throat.I angled my head toward them, my eyes wide, pleading for them to not say anything.

Tavrik’s jaw was set, his teeth grinding so hard I swore I could hear it.

Something dark slithered into Dalkhan’s features as he sized them up.