Page 76 of A Touch of Treachery (Section 47 #3)
She gestured at the maze below. “The training dome might be located in House Battis territory, but the agreement between all the major Erzton Houses states that the obstacle course is neutral ground where anyone can train, even Hammers from other Houses.”
Hammers were the elite warriors of the Erzton who got their name from the lunarium war hammers they wielded, and they were just as deadly as their reputation suggested.
“Is that why there are so many cameras?” Vesper pointed at the ceiling. “So the Hammers from the other Houses can record their training sessions?”
Several wires dangled from the domed ceiling, and each one held a black camera that looked like an oversize, rotund spider. Long seams of black solar wiring studded with bulbs also dangled from the ceiling, but there were far more cameras than lights hanging over the maze.
Asterin nodded. “Yes. All the Hammers from the Erzton Houses, including House Collier, train here several times a year. The technicians are always working on new tricks, traps, and biodomes, and they make the obstacles and the environments as challenging as possible.”
In other words, the maze was far more dangerous than the pretty, placid garden it appeared to be. Wonderful.
I eyed the closest camera, which was focused on the three of us.
Two red dots on the front burned bright and steady, making the camera look even more like a spider.
My lips curled back with disgust. As a Regal lord, I’d been a target of the Imperium gossipcasts for years, and I despised being filmed, even for something as helpful as training.
The cameras might ostensibly be here so that the Hammers could record and review their training, but I was betting the House Battis leaders also got a copy of the footage.
A clever way to spy on your enemies and make sure you knew exactly how capable they were, along with their tactics, tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses.
All those cameras would soon be trained on Vesper and me, which filled me with unease.
Asterin had assured us that we were safe on Sygnustern, and her stepfather and mother, Lord Aldrich and Lady Verona Collier, had given us their protection as the leaders of House Collier.
But thanks to the Erzton gossipcasts, Callus Holloway had to know Vesper and I were on Sygnustern.
I wouldn’t put it past Holloway to get one of his spies in the Erzton to send him the footage of our training session so he could figure out the best way to capture and contain us.
“This is a bad idea,” I grumbled again, still eyeing the cameras.
“It will be good for us to do a different kind of training,” Vesper said, stepping over to me. “Stretch our horizons, make us think outside the box, and all that other fun stuff.”
I gently brushed Vesper’s dark brown hair back over her left shoulder, and the russet highlights in her locks shimmered in the soft golden cast by the overhead bulbs.
Then I skimmed my fingertips along her collarbone, enjoying the warmth of her skin through her tempered-silk clothes, which automatically adjusted to her body heat, along with the surrounding environment.
Vesper was wearing a dark blue jacket, a tactical shirt, and cargo pants with knee-high black boots, just like I was, and the Arrow uniform hugged her curves in all the right places.
I would much rather do some private training with you. Just like we did in the shower this morning. I think we both proved how flexible we are.
I sent the telepathic thought to Vesper, who shivered and leaned into my touch. A blush pinkened her pale cheeks, and the silver flecks in her dark blue eyes glimmered with desire. The same emotion rippled along the velvety ribbon of her in my mind, and my inner monster rumbled with satisfaction.
Look on the bright side , Vesper replied. It’s a huge maze, which means we could always find a quiet spot for your private training.
It’s a date.
The blush on her cheeks intensified, and her soft laughter rang through my mind.
Asterin snorted and rolled her silver eyes.
Then she shook her head, making her long black ponytail slap against her shoulders.
“I might not be able to hear your telepathic conversation, but I know exactly what you’re talking about.
The two of you are here to improve your truebond connection.
Not to have sexy times in the maze. Got it? ”
Vesper and I looked at each other, then shrugged in unison.
Asterin slapped her hands on her hips, wrinkling her dark gray coveralls. “You two are impossible ,” she muttered. “It’s like dealing with two lovestruck teenagers. Follow me. If you can keep your hands off each other long enough.”
She narrowed her eyes at us, then spun around and stalked away.
Vesper and I looked at each other again. I waggled my eyebrows in a suggestive manner, and peals of laughter erupted from her lips. Answering chuckles rumbled out of my own throat.
Together we trailed after Asterin, still laughing as we moved deeper into the facility.