Page 222 of Gladiators of the Vagabond Boxset

Whoever that male was, the Rummicaron was nothing like the ones I’d seen around the palace or the ones I’d run into when I lived with Kimar and her mate.

This one was really a shark, fitting, since his head looked like one, including the huge mouth with rows upon rows of razor-sharp teeth.

Flat, black eyes—nothing like the vibrant slate gray ones Sunder sported—focused on me.

My knees were shaking beneath my skirt at that look, my palms going clammy, and my spine itching with the urge to press it against the nearest wall.

This guy, whoever he was, was far more dangerous than any of the guards I’d met so far, even compared to the Kertinal male who ran this place and who’d given me a terrifying interview when I first arrived.

Sheer stubbornness was the only thing that kept me from moving, that, and the two little ones standing right behind me. I didn’t know how to greet this guy, or what he wanted, but in his sharp suit, he looked like he belonged on Wall Street. Not a wolf, but a shark, showing his true colors.

As soon as the male looked away from me, my eyes darted to Sunder.

He didn’t seem too impressed, still standing near the wall, his posture relaxed and his gaze taking in everything.

I thought I saw his wings flare a little, twitch, as if he were suppressing some kind of instinct, but other than that, he seemed unmoved. He almost looked like a stone statue.

Not until the newcomer said his parting words did I see a change in Sunder, but then it was only from the corner of my eye, since I didn’t dare appear as if I wasn’t giving that shark all my attention.

It was definitely a shiver that went through his wings, his hands turning into fists that he quickly released again.

I should be filled with absolute dread at the prospect of this shark taking any kind of interest in me.

I didn’t even know where I’d gotten the guts to say something that came close to turning him down.

What I was feeling was nothing like that; all my fear of this stranger faded at the thought that Sunder didn’t want this guy near me.

Man, I was really acting like a schoolgirl with a crush.

Come to think of it, I hadn’t felt—or acted—like this when I actually was a teen.

The moment the male and his two intimidating Xurtal guards had left, Uron unglued himself from his spot on the bench.

“Shit, do you think he knew? Sunder, what do I do?” he asked, a panicked tone to his voice that I’d never heard with a Rummicaron before.

Like the shark in the suit a moment ago, any of the species I’d met had been so cool, emotionless.

Sunder crossed his arms over his wide chest and stared down at the male with a look that would make any misbehaving child squirm.

“I suggest you do as Carator ordered. You realize who he is, right?” he rumbled in his deep voice, staring at Uron until the male really was squirming, shuffling from one foot to the other.

“Then what? Or’tal is going to take one look at me and…

” he said, but he didn’t finish his sentence, shrugging helplessly.

I was almost feeling sorry for the male; Uron hadn’t been bad as a guard, he’d kept to himself.

Not like Sunder’s predecessor, Morkan, who had been cruel and mean, always berating the boys, hindering any kind of training more than helping it.

Maybe Sunder was feeling bad for the guy too, because I saw how his posture softened.

He tilted his head, and I caught a slightly exasperated look he sent my way.

Then he seemed to shift into what could only be called mentor mode, leaning toward the male and grasping him by one shoulder.

“Listen, you’ve got a drug problem. Carator doesn’t tolerate that, and you know you shouldn’t let those drugs rule your life.

If you want to get through this, you never touch Roka again. ”

Uron pulled a deeply chagrined face, unhappy with this answer.

Then his bloodshot black eyes flicked in my direction, and he realized he had an audience.

I was watching, but so were Amar and Jett, and Jett was pulling a face that was very clearly disgusted.

He was just old and wise enough to understand they were talking about drugs and that his dad didn’t like them.

The Rummicaron let out an impressive, angry snarl, displaying rows of sharp teeth in his shark-like mouth.

Behind me, Amar flinched, and I immediately reached for him.

Jett was startled enough to shift into his battle-form, his wings flaring wide to make him look bigger.

I thought he would lash out at Sunder, angry at the hand he'd been dealt, but he only gave the big Tarkan an angry look and deflated.

I could only describe his exit from the courtyard as watching a dog retreat with its tail between its legs.

That would have been the end of it, as far as I was concerned.

I had known Uron for several weeks now, but despite the twinge of sympathy, I didn’t feel like I owed him any further head space.

Sunder seemed to feel differently, because just as Uron opened the door, he called out, “Get your act together now, Uron. Or die. That’s probably what you’ll be hearing from Or’tal, too. ”

The door slammed shut behind the guard with a final-sounding thud.