Page 14

Dernin

Dernin winced as Alaysia dabbed at the gash above his eye. The infirmary’s dim lighting faintly illuminated her face as she concentrated, working on his wound.

His tail curled slightly closer to where she stood. “I won’t lose.” He grabbed her free hand, interlocking his fingers with hers. “I promise you.”

The instant their hands interlocked, lightning coursed through his veins. His breath caught in his chest as ancient magic surged within him—the sacred mate bond awakening with devastating clarity. The world tilted on its axis as everything clicked into place. Her. It had always been her.

He looked down at their interlocked hands. Her small hand fit perfectly in his larger one, like two pieces of a cosmic puzzle finally united. The bond hummed between them, singing through his blood with a primal recognition that shook him to his core.

His mate. Here. In danger.

Every protective instinct he possessed roared to life. His tail coiled restlessly as he fought the urge to wrap her in his arms and never let go.

“Dernin?” Her voice was soft, uncertain.

He realized he’d been staring. Carefully, he released her hand, though everything in him protested the loss of contact.

“Thank you,” he managed, his voice rougher than intended. “For helping me with my wounds.”

She nodded, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear. “I just don’t like seeing you hurt.”

The simple admission made his heart clench.

Dernin’s scales seemed to pulse with awareness as Alaysia’s fingers traced along his ribs, wrapping a bandage with careful precision. The mate bond continued to thrum between them, making her every touch electric to him. His tail twitched, coiling and uncoiling as he fought to maintain control.

“These need to be tight,” she murmured, leaning closer. Her rose scent flooded his senses. “Tell me if it hurts.”

“Nothing hurts when you’re touching me.” The words slipped out before he could stop them.

A blush crept across her cheeks. “Don’t try to charm me, warrior. I’ve seen what happens in that ring.”

His jaw tightened at the reminder. The thought of Bariv or any other fighter claiming her made his blood boil. She was his mate—his to protect and his to cherish. The primal need to shield her from harm nearly overwhelmed him.

“No one’s going to touch you,” he blurted out. His voice dropped lower, rougher. “Not Bariv. Not Fyret. No one.”

She paused in her ministrations. Her eyes met his. “You say that like you mean it,” she responded, her voice tinged with confusion.

“I do.” His hand covered hers where it rested on his bandaged ribs.

The truth burned in his throat—that she was his destined mate, that every fiber of his being existed to protect her. But he couldn’t tell her, not here, not when they were both trapped. She needed to trust him first, to choose him of her own free will.

“There.” She secured the last bandage. “That should hold.”

His tail curled around her feet. “Thank you again.”

She smiled—a real smile that lit up her whole face—and his heart clenched. He’d fight through a thousand matches just to keep that smile safe.

Alaysia settled beside him on the narrow cot, close enough that her thigh brushed against his scales. The contact sent sparks through his entire body. His tail curled protectively around the cot’s base, creating a barrier between them and the rest of the infirmary.

“So, tell me about the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen in Nirum,” she suddenly said, her blue eyes sparkling with interest.

“Well, this one time my squad mate tried to impress a female by showing off his climbing skills.” Dernin’s lips quirked. “He got stuck halfway up the crystal spires and dangled there for hours.”

Her laugh was musical. “Please tell me someone rescued him eventually.”

“Eventually. After we’d all had a good laugh.” He shifted closer, drawn to her warmth. “Your turn. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done?”

“I once convinced three guards they were being haunted by spirits.” She grinned mischievously. “All it took was some string, a few cups, and perfect timing.”

“Clever and beautiful. Dangerous combination.” The words slipped out.

A fighter limped into the infirmary, eyeing them curiously. Dernin’s golden eyes narrowed, his tail tightening its protective circle. The fighter quickly found somewhere else to be.

Alaysia’s cheeks flushed pink. “Dangerous, hmm? You’re not so safe yourself, warrior.”

“Only to those who deserve it.” His voice dropped lower as he leaned in. “Never to you.”

Another fighter entered, this one sporting a black eye. One look at Dernin’s territorial posture and he retreated without a word.

“My fierce protector,” she teased, but her eyes were soft. “Though I notice nobody dares come near when you’re around.”

“Good.” His scales rippled with satisfaction. “Let them stay away from you.”

“But what if I want them to come near me?”

His heart thundered at her words. “Then they’ll never get within ten feet of you.”

She bit her lip, looking up at him through her lashes. “Just ten feet?”

“Five?” He grinned, showing sharp teeth. “One?”

Her laugh echoed through the infirmary, drawing more curious looks that Dernin quickly discouraged with a glare. His tail twitched with pleasure at making her happy, even as his protective instincts screamed to whisk her away somewhere private. Somewhere safe.

But for now, this moment was enough—her smile, her warmth beside him, and the growing trust between them.

Alaysia soon shifted on the cot, her warmth pulling away from his scales. “I should go before someone gets suspicious.”

Dernin’s tail tightened instinctively around the cot’s base. Every primal instinct in him screamed to keep her by his side, to protect what was his. The mate bond thrummed stronger beneath his skin, demanding he tell her the truth.

“Wait—” he started, but the words died in his throat as she took his hand in both of hers.

Her soft lips pressed against his battle-scarred knuckles, sending a jolt of electricity through his entire body. His scales tingled with awareness, his muscles tensing at the intimate gesture.

Time stopped. His heart beat erratically in his chest. The mate bond surged between them, stronger than ever, screaming at him to claim her, to mark her as his own.

But before he could move, before he could tell her what she truly meant to him, she was gone. Her red hair disappeared around the corner, leaving nothing but the ghost of her kiss on his skin and the lingering scent of roses.

Dernin’s tail lashed in frustration. His fingers curled into fists, the spot where she’d kissed him burning like a brand. The warrior in him wanted to chase after her, to catch her and explain everything. To tell her she was his mate, his destiny, his everything.

But he couldn’t. Not yet. Not while Bariv and Fyret lurked like vultures. He had to win first. Had to ensure her safety before he could reveal the truth.

His chest tightened as he stared at the empty doorway where she’d vanished. Soon. Soon he would tell her everything. Soon she would know she belonged to him, just as completely as he belonged to her.

For now, though, he had a tournament to win and a mate to protect.

Dernin eased himself off the cot, his ribs protesting with each movement.

The mate bond still sang through his blood, making even the pain seem distant and unimportant compared to thoughts of Alaysia.

Her scent lingered on his scales where she’d touched him and kissed him, driving his protective instincts wild.

“Watch yourself, snake,” a passing fighter muttered, shouldering past him in the narrow corridor.

Dernin’s tail whipped out, catching the fighter’s ankle. The man stumbled, catching himself against the wall. “My apologies,” Dernin said, his voice low and dangerous. “My tail has a mind of its own sometimes.”

The fighter scurried away, leaving Dernin to make his way to the barracks undisturbed. His thoughts drifted back to Alaysia—her soft hands on his wounds, her musical laugh, the press of her lips against his knuckles. His mate. The word echoed in his mind like a prayer.

The barracks were mercifully quiet when he arrived. He coiled his tail beneath him on his sleeping mat, letting his eyes drift closed.

Tomorrow he would be one step closer to winning her freedom. But tonight, he could rest easy knowing he’d finally found what he’d been searching for his entire life.

Sleep claimed him swiftly, and his dreams were filled with flowing red hair and the scent of roses.