Page 26 of Stripe for the Picking (Paranormal Dating Agency #92)

TWENTY-TWO

RYLAN

" R ound two commences in one minute," the automated voice announced across the arena.

Rylan rolled his shoulders, working out the residual stiffness from his tiger's transformation as he moved into position for the round's start. The twenty-point penalty sat like acid in his gut—not because of the lost lead, but because of the familiar pattern it represented.

Every goddamn year, some technicality or suspicious ruling costs me points I rightfully earned.

His irritation only grew as he realized with crystal clarity that Arvox hadn't just orchestrated today's attack—he'd been manipulating the Trials for years.

Arvox had clearly wanted to ensure Rylan never quite achieved the decisive victory that would cement his promotion to Security High Commander and eliminate any threats to whatever twisted agenda the Prime Minister harbored.

Rylan studied the transformed landscape before him with tactical precision.

Cliffs now jutted out at treacherous angles, their surfaces slick with alien moss that would make climbing nearly impossible.

Waterfalls created shifting curtains of mist and steam designed to obscure visibility and mask potential threats.

Platforms moved in complex orbital patterns, requiring split-second timing to traverse successfully.

"This course is absolutely diabolical," Wren's voice crackled through his earpiece, carrying a note of impressed disbelief.

"I guess they wanted to level the playing field," Rylan muttered.

"Well, joke's on them. We don't play on level fields—we annihilate them entirely."

The countdown reached zero, and Rylan exploded into motion.

His enhanced reflexes carried him across the arena's opening stretch with fluid grace, but his mind kept circling back to Zarik's attack and Arvox's satisfied smile afterwards.

The sneaky bastard had tried to have him killed—or at a minimum, eliminated from competition through serious injury.

"Focus, handsome," Wren's voice cut through his dark thoughts. "I can feel your rage through our bond, and while it's incredibly sexy, we need that tactical brain of yours engaged right now."

Rylan vaulted over a collapsing platform, his boots finding purchase on stable ground just as the structure crumbled into the artificial chasm below. "How can you tell I'm distracted?"

"Because you just took the long route around that obstacle when I could have rerouted the plasma field to give you a direct path." Her tone carried gentle amusement. "Plus, our mate bond is practically vibrating with your desire to tear Arvox's throat out."

"The thought had crossed my mind."

"Right now, I need you thinking about how we're going to celebrate after we demolish this course."

The mental image of Wren spread across his bed, her skin flushed with pleasure as he worshipped every inch of her body, sent a jolt of heat through his system that cleared away the angry fog clouding his judgment.

His tiger purred with satisfaction at the promise of claiming his mate thoroughly once this competition ended.

"Much better," Wren said, her voice carrying a sultry edge that made his cock twitch despite their very public circumstances. "Now, incoming hazard at your two o'clock. I'm rerouting the energy barriers to give you a clear path to the second checkpoint."

Rylan's enhanced senses picked up the subtle shift in the arena's electromagnetic field as Wren worked her technological magic.

Where moments before a wall of crackling energy would have forced him into a time-consuming detour, now a narrow corridor opened just wide enough for his large frame to slip through.

"You're a beautiful magician," he breathed, diving through the gap with inches to spare.

"I know. Now stop flattering me and start moving faster—you've got three virtual civilians trapped in that collapsed structure ahead, and the simulation timer is running."

For the next thirty minutes, Rylan moved through the arena like a force of nature guided by divine intelligence.

Wren anticipated every threat, neutralized every trap, and created opportunities where none had existed before.

Their communication flowed seamlessly, built on absolute trust and the unbreakable connection of their completed mate bond.

When plasma cannons emerged from hidden alcoves, Wren disabled their targeting systems before they could lock onto Rylan's position.

When shifting platforms threatened to dump him into artificial lava flows, she stabilized the mechanisms long enough for him to traverse safely.

When holographic enemies materialized to test his combat skills, she highlighted their weak points.

"Final checkpoint ahead," Wren announced as Rylan scaled a near-vertical cliff face with his enhanced strength. "You're currently running twelve minutes faster than your closest competitor, despite the increased difficulty."

Rylan hauled himself over the cliff's edge and sprinted toward the finish line, his powerful legs eating up the distance with predatory grace. The scoreboard materialized in his peripheral vision as he crossed the threshold, and a fierce grin spread across his face.

First place. Again.

"Fifty-five minutes flat and seventy-seven points for the round," Wren's voice rang with pride and satisfaction. "That's a new record for most points in one round and you did it running the most challenging course in Trials history."

Rylan found her command station in the overhead gallery and met her green eyes across the distance. Even from here, he could see her triumphant smile and the way her cheeks flushed with excitement.

"Two-point lead," he said into his comms. "Not as commanding as yesterday, but we're still on top."

"And we're going to stay there. But Rylan—" Her tone shifted, becoming urgent. "Now that round two is officially over, we really need to move fast on the Arvox situation before he has time to plan another assassination attempt."

Rylan's jaw clenched as the arena's celebratory atmosphere faded into background noise. "You're right. Time to present our evidence to the Council and watch that bastard's world crumble."

"I've been looking forward to this moment for days. Let's go destroy him."

Rylan stormed out of the arena, his muscles still thrumming with the adrenaline from the second round and the lingering fury of Zarik's earlier ambush.

His tiger was restless and agitated, itching to claw its way out and hunt down the Prime Minister who had dared orchestrate an attack on him.

But he told himself to focus. There was no time for his beast to take over—not yet.

He headed straight for the locker room, stripping off his sweat-soaked uniform and stepping into the shower.

The water hissed against his skin, washing away the grime but doing nothing to soothe the tension coiled in his frame.

He scrubbed his body with quick, efficient movements, his mind racing.

They needed to act fast. Arvox was already one step ahead, and if the Council leader left the arena before they could present their evidence, it might be too late.

By the time Rylan emerged from the shower, towel slung low around his hips, he was already strategizing.

He put on fresh clothes, his movements sharp and purposeful.

The tiger inside him bristled at the delay, but logic prevailed.

He couldn't storm up to the Council leader looking like he'd just come from a brawl—no matter how much he wanted to.

Plus, he needed to give Wren time to compile their evidence into a clean, coherent presentation.

As he walked out of the locker room, his boots echoing against the polished floors, he spotted General Kael deep in conversation with the Council leader near the arena's entrance. Relief flickered through him. Good. The man hadn't left yet.

"Council Leader," Rylan called, his voice cutting through the chatter like a knife.

The Council leader turned, his expression a mix of curiosity and annoyance. "Commander Kaedor. What can I do for you?"

Rylan stopped in front of them, his posture rigid and his blue eyes burning with intensity. "I need a private meeting with you. Immediately. It's urgent."

The Council leader raised an eyebrow. "Can it wait until tomorrow? I have other matters to attend to this afternoon."

"No." Rylan's jaw tightened. "It's highly time-sensitive and critical to the security of Defense Nexus—and Nova Aurora as a whole."

General Kael stepped in, his calm demeanor a stark contrast to Rylan's simmering rage. "Give Commander Kaedor twenty minutes of your time, Council Leader. Let me walk you to the boardroom. Commander Kaedor will join us momentarily."

Rylan gave a clipped nod. "I'll be there in five minutes. I need to gather my materials."

Rylan didn't wait for a response, turning on his heel and heading for the elevators.

His mind was already running through the evidence Wren had compiled over the past few days.

He trusted her to have it ready—she was nothing if not razor-sharp and meticulous—but he needed to ensure they presented it flawlessly.

This was their best shot at taking Arvox down.

When he reached their workstations, Wren was already there, her fingers flying across her keyboard. Her dark brown hair was tied back in a messy bun, and her eyes were laser-focused on the screen. She looked up as he approached, her lips curving into a small, determined smile.

"Almost done," she said, her voice calm despite the tension in the air. "Give me three more minutes, and it'll be ready to present cleanly."

Rylan leaned against the edge of her workstation, his arms crossed over his chest. "Good. Because we can't afford any mistakes."

She shot him a look, one eyebrow arched. "When have I ever made a mistake?"

The corner of his mouth twitched. "Never. But Arvox is slippery. We need to be sharper than ever."

"We will be." Her fingers danced over the interface one last time before she leaned back, nodding in satisfaction. "Done. Let's go ruin that bastard's day."

They quickly made their way to the boardroom, the tension between them a palpable force.

When they finally arrived and entered the room, the Council leader was seated at the head of the table, his expression impassive but his eyes sharp with curiosity.

General Kael stood nearby, his stance relaxed but alert.

"What is this about, Commander Kaedor?" the Council leader asked, his tone clipped.

Rylan stepped forward, his presence commanding the room. "Prime Minister Arvox has been working with an organized hacker syndicate and orchestrated the cyber attacks on Defense Nexus these past several weeks. We have the evidence."

He gestured to Wren, who activated the holographic display on the table.

A detailed timeline appeared, highlighting the cyber attacks alongside Arvox's whereabouts and actions during the same timeframe.

Wren stepped forward, her voice crisp and authoritative as she walked them through the data points, her explanations precise and unassailable.

"The timing lines up perfectly," she finished, crossing her arms. "There's no way this is coincidence.

Arvox has been feeding critical intel to the hackers, sabotaging our defense systems for reasons we can only speculate—but we believe it's tied to his personal agenda against Commander Kaedor's leadership. "

The Council leader frowned, leaning forward to study the evidence. "This is compelling, but it's still circumstantial. Without concrete proof or a confession from Arvox himself, there's nothing we can do."

Rylan's jaw clenched, his tiger roaring in frustration. "With all due respect, Council Leader, this isn't just about politics. The safety of Nova Aurora is at stake. If we wait for absolute proof, it might be too late."

General Kael cleared his throat, stepping forward. "The evidence is strong, and the pattern is undeniable. At the very least, this warrants an investigation."

The Council leader sighed, rubbing his temples. "I'll look into it personally and consider it an open investigation. But until we have definitive proof, there's nothing more I can do."

Rylan's fists tightened at his sides, his tiger clawing at his restraint. He wanted to argue, to demand action, but he knew it would be futile. The Council operated on its own timeline, beholden to bureaucracy and protocol—things Rylan had little patience for in moments like this.

As the Council leader stood to leave, Rylan caught Wren's eye. She looked just as frustrated as he felt, her lips pressed into a thin line. When the door closed behind the Council leader, she let out a low growl of her own.

"So that's it? He's just going to 'look into it' while Arvox continues to plot?" Rylan growled, the steam from his fury practically coming out of his ears.

General Kael placed a hand on Rylan's shoulder. "We have to trust the system. Acting outside of it will only put us at risk."

Rylan stepped away, pacing the length of the room. "The system is slow, and Arvox is desperate. He's going to make a move soon—something big. We can't afford to wait."

"Then we'll be ready," Wren said, her voice unwavering. Her gaze locked with his, fierce and unyielding. "We'll stay vigilant, expose his next move, and shut him down. He's not going to win."

Rylan stopped pacing, his blue eyes blazing as he looked at her. She was his anchor, his partner, his mate. Her confidence steadied him, even when his instincts screamed for action.

"You're right," he said, his voice low but firm. "We'll be ready. And when he slips up, we'll be there to take him down."

Kael nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "That's the spirit. Now, get out of here. You've both had a long day already."

They left Defense Nexus together, the weight of the day pressing down on them.

But as they walked, Wren slipped her hand into his, her touch a quiet reminder that they were in this together.

Rylan's tiger settled slightly, soothed by her presence.

She was his calm in the chaos, his balance in the storm.

And with her by his side, he knew they could handle whatever came next.