Yes, everyone knew that Jax was amazing. Between his lineage, incredible mind, and physical strength, most female warriors thought he would make an excellent rovni.
But when Nya looked at him she only saw a threat. Her senses heightened when he was around, and her body tingled at his touch. She’d never physically bested him in the arena, and his hyper-intelligence about the human psyche put her on edge. She didn’t like anyone messing with her head. Like this morning. How the hell did he get so close to the truth?
She hated to admit it, but Jax was right. A part of her longed for someone who understood her completely. Someone who knew of her past and yet respected her anyway. A true equal.
Snowball’s chance in hell of finding it, though.
Jax stopped and waited for her to catch up.
A breeze drifted across her face, pulling a few strands of hair over her lips. Nya tucked them back in her hood and started closing the distance between them.
Most equals settled for friendship and intimacy, which hopefully developed into love. But rarely, equals became something more, something almost sacred—and they developed an Intima bond. It was the most profound connection that allowed mates to form a sixth sense about their partner.
Personally, Nya thought the Intima bond was a wagonload of horseshit. Only Scythian Empaths had the ability to feel another’s emotions or pain. Besides, intimacy in any form scared the hell out of her.
Jax stopped in a clearing, waiting for her, his eyes not leaving hers as she drew near.
“Need a break?” Nya smirked. Scythians could run for miles without stopping, and they both knew it.
He chuckled. “If it makes you feel better, we’ll go with that.” His eyes lost their humorous spark. “Listen, tonight when you enter the arena, you’ll have two choices: win the challenge and earn your right to choose a rovni or lose and hope your mother lets you stay for the Claiming Season. Win or lose, your life’s about to change.”
“I know.” She started to turn away, but he stepped closer.
“Vtachi.” His eyes warmed as his large palm cupped her face. “You have to trust me on this. You’re ready. No more running.”
Nya jerked from his touch and squared her shoulders. Honestly, the only thing that had kept her at the Academy these past few weeks was knowing that if she took off, Jax would hunt her down. And then she would forfeit her chance of winning the championships, which would leave her saddled with a male she didn’t know. Worse, one of her mother’s choosing.
And didn’t that make a female want to stand and fight?
Even if she didn’t want what she was fighting for.
Chapter Two
Cassius stepped from her desk and stood in front of the window. The dawn’s early light filtered through the dense woods surrounding the arena, barracks, and guest quarters, but her eyes stayed on the road leading into the compound. They’d been gone for two days. Two. Days.
She hoped to hell Jax knew what he was doing.
Anya Thalestris, or Nya as her friends called her, hadn’t run since her first year, but if she tried it again, there wouldn’t be much anyone could do. She’d be at the mercy of the council. And the only thing keeping them from taking a more aggressive approach to getting the information they needed was the fact that Nya’s father, Ike, was a direct descendant of the first Amazonian queen, Otrera, and the first Scythian leader, Ares.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that Ike and the Madame Executive Chancellor had been friends since their Trials, even if that friendship was shrouded in scandal.
A knock sounded at the door.
Cassius turned from the window. “Come in.”
“I thought I heard you in here. What is it that has you up so early the day of the championship?” Silver hair gleamed in the morning light as a middle-aged warrior stepped through the threshold, closing the door behind him.
“Good morning, Cyrus. Coffee?”
“I’d love some.”
Cassius walked to the coffee pot and flipped a switch. “Championship days always start early. The contestants’ families were arriving at three this morning.”
Cyrus grunted. “We have people in place for that.”
“Yes, but with Anya participating, the media is already here, and we’re expecting a record turnout.”
He crossed the room and sat in a plush chair, which faced an oversized mahogany desk. “They’ll hound her, you know.”
The robust scent of Arabica beans permeated the air, and Cassius opened a sideboard and pulled out two mugs. “Already taken care of. I’ve forbidden the media to approach any of the females participating until the championships are over.”
She poured the coffee and set the pot back in its place. “Heard from Jax yet?”
Cyrus shook his head. “No. But he knows what he’s doing. They’ll be back.”
“When are Ike and Gia Thalestris due?” Steam rose from the mugs as she picked them up and crossed the room.
“Sometime this afternoon. Thanks.” Cyrus took the coffee cup. “I spoke with Ike yesterday. He’s coming straight from Carpathia, Gia’s flying in from Ireland. They’re scheduled to land within an hour of each other, so we’re sending just one car.”
“Good.” She took a seat behind her desk. “That gives us a little time. If Jax doesn’t show before they arrive, we’ll have some explaining to do.”
Cyrus took a sip. “Whether they’re back or not, Ike will demand to know what you were thinking letting them go off together in the first place.”
Cassius wrapped her hands around her mug. “I’ve got it covered.”
He sat back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. “These past four years I’ve watched Anya Thalestris go from a sullen terrified young female to an extraordinary warrior. Just doesn’t seem fair that she still suffers from the shock of what happened so long ago. Why we decided to involve vahna in matters of war is beyond me. It just isn’t right.”
Cassius raised a brow. “Her father commanded the operation, and Gia is one of the best in her field. They knew the risks. Yet, they thought they could both protect her and still help the Society.”
His gaze fell to the window. “Then they thought wrong, didn’t they?”
Sweat trickled down Nya’s back as she kept Jax’s steady pace, eating up the miles that distanced them from the compound. She normally took two strides for every one of his to accommodate his long legs, but today she let the gap between them stretch. With the upcoming championship, her mind wandered to places she’d rather not go.
Places like Ireland.
Nya’s family had moved every few years until she turned ten. Even though she had lived in various parts of the world, when her parents took an assignment in Ireland, she couldn’t have been happier. Lush didn’t begin to describe the place. She missed the vibrant green, the people in the village.
But most of all, she missed Penn.
They hadn’t been there a month before she met him. Penn, no more than twelve or thirteen, stood on a step-ladder, washing storefront windows. It was apparent he lived in poverty. His sunken eyes held such hopeless misery; she wanted to protect him, even then. When her mother suggested they invite him over to play, Nya readily agreed. That afternoon, somewhere between sketching the meadow together and playing tag, she and Penn became the best of friends.
Accepting—Penn was the definition of the word. Scythians were mentally and physically stronger than Allos, and so Nya could think circles around him, out run and jump him easily. Most boys his age would resent it, but Penn didn’t care. His gentle spirit and artist’s heart never envied her abilities. Through their youth, he encouraged her, listened to her, even when she said something silly. He was the epitome of a true friend.
A few years passed with Penn coming to their house in the afternoon. They were thick as thieves. He started calling her by her full name, Anya, and after a while he shortened it to Ana, loving that only he called her that.
Eventually, Penn confessed that his mother had taken him
in the dead of night and fled from an abusive father. Nya swore she wouldn’t tell a soul. When Penn showed up one afternoon, ashen-faced and scared, mumbling that he might have to go because his father had found them, Nya took him to an abandoned cottage she’d discovered on the edge of their property, right next to the creek. Even though it was nothing more than a one-room shack, Penn loved it. They spent weeks repairing the walls and thatched roof so that he would have a place to hide. Nya even fixed the crude fireplace to protect him against Ireland’s harsh winters. They planted wild vines around the small dwelling, so it was almost impossible to see from the road.
As autumn grew colder, Penn waited at their fort every day after school for her. She always came, if only for a few minutes just to say hello.
That was the last time in her life she remembered feeling whole.
A hawk screeched overhead, and Jax slowed, finally stopping at a small stream. Sunlight filtered through the fir trees, streaking across the forest like shards of hope, and Nya unzipped her hoodie and took the cub from her jacket.
“You remember this place?” he asked.
She nodded. “You brought me here after I needed some alone time.”
Jax smiled. “If by ‘alone time’ you mean after you went missing and I was called back from a mission to find you, then yes, this is the place.”
Nya bent down and swirled her fingers in the clear, icy water. “I wasn’t missing. And I still think it’s pretty sad the other instructors couldn’t track a twenty-year-old a few miles away.”
“It wasn’t their responsibility.”
“It wasn’t yours either.”
His eyes locked on her. “Yes, Vtachi. It was.”
Subtle heat rippled through her, like sunshine passing through water. She set the cub down by the stream; the poor thing desperately lapped as its front paws sank into fresh silt.
“Hungry?” Jax asked.
Nya shrugged as she stood, watching the cub settle on its haunches. “Not really.”
“Suit yourself.” He pulled out a breakfast bar, peeled back the wrapper and took a bite before throwing a bit of it on the ground.
The cub pounced.
“Here.” He tossed another bar to Nya, grinning as her hand shot up and she caught it reflexively. “Keep it for later.”
She put the bar in her pocket.
“So.” The shrink voice was back. “We should discuss the championships.”
Nya tensed. “Don’t start. I still don’t see what’s so wrong with wanting to stay single. Scythian males do it all the time.”
His voice became soft. “Males can't carry the future in a womb. And you more than anyone, sweet Nya, need a rovni.”
She scowled. “Bullshit. I’ve dreaded being forced to find a mate for years, Jax. Years. And I’ve got news for you. I’m more than a walking uterus. I speak ten languages, and I am just as good as you when it comes to hand-to-hand combat. I can contribute to future generations in a lot of ways. Why do I need to be a broodmare too?”
Understanding deepened his dark eyes. “That’s fear talking.”
“No, Jax. That’s me talking. It’s how I feel.”
He stood for a moment, taking in her words, his gaze darting to the thumb rubbing her palm. “Tell me about your scar.”
She dropped her hands to her side. “You’ve heard this story a hundred times. I cut my palm on a rock when I was a kid.”
“You were with Penn.”
She pulled her jacket’s hood over her head and shoved her hands in her pockets. “I never said I was with Penn.”
“You never said you weren’t.”
Frustrated, Nya scowled. She hadn’t told Jax about Penn, but after she’d gone missing her first year, dear old mom was happy to fill in the blanks. “Why do you always bring him up? He was a village boy. The leader of our compound didn’t like me hanging around him, and so I never saw him again.”
“Why would your Suveran care if you were hanging out with an Allos boy?”
Nya looked away. “I don’t know. I guess for the same reason you keep bringing him up. Why is Penn such a big deal?”
His expression turned serious, intense. “I believe your relationship with him is the root of several issues.”
“Like what?”
“Like your aggression, your need to keep people at bay, and your fear of males, for example.”
Nya scoffed. “You’re delusional. And I’m not afraid of males.”
“You’re afraid of intimacy.”
Nya met his eyes. “Just because I don’t jump into bed with everyone that looks my way doesn’t mean I’m scared to have sex.”
“There’s more to intimacy than sex, Vtachi.”
“I know that,” she snapped. “Why am I a freak because I don’t want what everyone thinks I should? Whatever happened to individuality?”
He stepped closer. “Individuality is too broad a term for this discussion. And I’ve never used the word freak.”
Nya held her ground, refusing to step back. “That’s just semantics, and you know it. Tell me. Why am I the only warrior who has a shrink? I don’t see you bugging Xari about her hair or Myrina about her obnoxious need to put everyone down. And what about Rissa’s obsession with stupid Allos erotica novels? Why not help her see that all those hot and steamy men with their I-have-to-have-you-now are just bullshit. Personally, out of all of us, Rissa’s the one I worry about most. Why not get in her head and leave me alone?”
“You’re deflecting again.”
“And you’re annoying the shit out of me.”
Jax crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. “Have you heard of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?”
She crossed her arms, mirroring him. “No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten me.”
Jax smiled. “It states that all humans, including Scythians, need certain things to thrive. Food, shelter, and clothing are the first level, as they are required for survival. But the needs get more complex the further up you go, and each one must be mastered before we achieve the next on the list.”
Her eyes fell on the small puma. “What’s at the top? Some internal utopia, I’m sure.”
“Self-actualization, actually. Utopia in any form is an impossibility.”
Despite her frustration, Nya smiled. She and Jax often verbally sparred about if it were possible to create a perfect society. According to Jax, if it were obtained it wouldn’t last long.
“What’s so great about self-actualization?”
He bent down and petted the cub. “It’s where one meets their full potential so they may thrive and live life to the fullest.”
Nya frowned. “What’s your point, Jax?”
“I’m merely making an observation.”
“Which is what, exactly?” Her voice trailed away as he stepped closer.
“Simply put, your needs aren’t being met. And until they are, you’ll never reach your full potential, which would be one of the world’s greatest tragedies.”
She scoffed, trying to make light of the subject. “Yeah ... me not meeting my potential is right up there with Stalin, the Christian Crusades, and World War II. And just what are these needs that I’m woefully neglecting?”
Jax kept his eyes on her as he switched to Dacian.
“A restful night’s sleep, little bird. A sense of belonging. Safety in your environment to express yourself honestly and freely. A healthy self-esteem that anchors you, allowing you to see how truly rare and valuable you are. And most of all, love.” He ran his finger along her jaw. “All humans, especially Scythians, need love.”
Nya took her hands from her pockets, her thumb once again polishing her palm.
She hadn’t got a good night’s sleep in years, her frequent nightmares wreaking havoc with her mind. Her experience with Penn left her feeling like an outsider with her own kind, much less his. Her self-esteem swirled the bowl about half the time. And, while part of her secretly yearned for it, in her heart Nya knew she’d never be loved. She didn’
t deserve it.
How the hell did Jax know?
“Why, after all this time, are you just now getting around to telling me this?”
Jax cupped her face with both his hands, and she flinched.
He kept her gaze. “We’ve been busy working on other things.”
Yeah. Like her no-touch policy and the fact that she had a helluva temper.
His expression became that unreadable mask that always made her leery. Nya shifted her weight, trying to back up, but Jax wouldn’t allow it.
“No more pulling away. You’ve made such progress over the past few years. But we’re out of time.” His nose grazed against hers as he tilted his head. He paused for a moment, soaking in her reaction before he leaned in, brushing his lips against hers in a soft, chaste kiss.
Her breath caught.
His voice deepened as he kept her gaze. “Vtachi, the secret you carry is slowly killing you. It haunts your dreams. It keeps you from embracing your future. But I can help you get past this pain. I can make sure your needs are met. Trust me, Vtachi. Trust and let go.”
She whimpered as his warm breath tickled her face. His long fingers circled the back of her neck, and heat followed his touch. Her blood raced with strange new feelings, and Nya placed her hands on his chest, trying to understand what was happening between them.
He brought her head to his chest, resting her cheek on his heart. They stood there, his fingertips making gentle patterns on her back while she marveled at the feel of his touch, the warmth of his skin. It had been forever since she’d allowed anyone to come near her, much less hold her in their arms.
Actually, she couldn’t remember anyone ever holding her like this.
She trembled as she leaned back and looked at him. “Why?” Was all she managed to say.
Jax’s coffee brown eyes grew tender. “The next few weeks are going to be trying. You’ve learned to control the impulse to fight when touched, but there are still issues that need to be worked out. I’ve spoken with the Chancellor, and we’ve found a way to help you through.”
Her heart dropped. “So, this is another form of therapy?”
Jax smiled. “In a manner of speaking. We will work on touch desensitization, but I still would like to get to the root of the problem before you declare your mate.”
The Scythian Trials Page 2
