Xari’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I should probably thank you. If it wasn’t for your dear old ancestor, Ares, deciding that he wanted Otrera always at his side, we might still be stuck in an all-female village on the outskirts of the Black Sea.”
According to legend, once the males claimed a female they didn’t want to let her go, demanding the Amazons become their wives. The females were ready to battle over the issue, but Otrera offered a compromise, for she and Ares had formed an Intima bond. The females would stay if they were treated as true equals.
Ares demanded monogamy as a concession.
“Yeah. Lucky us.” Sarcasm dripped from Nya’s tone. She looked over her shoulder at the cameras still pointed their way. Thunder rumbled in the distance. “At least they’re not following us.”
“Well, that’s something, isn’t it?” Xari looked at the sky. “I had hoped the rain would hold off. Hey, you bringing your sword tonight?”
Nya rubbed her temple. “No. Bow.”
“You sure? The challenge is in the arena, not the woods.”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. If I need a sword, I’ll take one from one of the weaker contestants. If we head to the woods, I’ll have my bow. Either way, I’ll win.”
“Ah, that’s the Ny I know and love.” Xari grinned.
Trees dipped and swayed as the wind picked up speed, and they quickened their steps.
They rounded the bend, and Nya stopped when she saw Jax pacing at the crossroads that led to her cabin.
“You had three minutes left before I came for you, Vtachi.” His usually calm voice held a tinge of annoyance.
Her eyes narrowed. “I really hate it when you call me that.”
“Then quit trying to fly away.”
Her fingernails dug into her palms, but she kept her temper in check and started past him.
His hand caught her wrist as she passed by. He dipped his thumb between her fingers, soothing the little grooves her nails had left. His deep brown eyes grew intense as he leaned in, his lips touching her ear. “Quit worrying so much. We got this.”
Nya froze as he pressed his thumb into the scar marring her palm.
“I’ll see you tonight.” His voice grew husky as he let her go and walked away.
Wide-eyed, Xari waited until he was out of earshot before speaking. “What was that about? And if he’s part of the challenge, we’re as good as toast.”
The drizzle became a steady rain, washing muddy rivulets across the newly graveled road.
“We’re not toast. And you shouldn’t let him mess with your head.”
Xari bristled. “I’m not.”
Nya ducked under the last cabin’s overhang and stomped her feet on the welcome mat. “Sure you are.”
She opened the door. Worn leather furniture sat in front of a large screen television, just above the fireplace. A refrigerator stood in one corner, in the other a microwave stand. Other than that, the place was bare. She shuffled her feet out of her boots and set her soaked jacket on a hook by the door. “Like right now. I can see your pulse trying to jump out of your neck, and your hands are trembling. What is it about him that makes you freak out?”
“I’ll admit, I’m a little intimidated. He said some things in our first year ... well, let’s just say I didn’t like it.” Xari tossed her jacket on the floor, next to her shoes.
“He’s full of shit, and we both know it.” Nya started across the living room.
Xari smiled as they passed the bathrooms and custodial closet. The place was set up like army barracks. No privacy. Multiple showers and toilet stalls in one area, while bunks cordoned off another. Putting warriors that sparred in such close quarters often meant a few skirmishes off the field. Nya didn’t care. She enjoyed kicking the other females’ asses.
Which, of course, made Myrina and her crew hate Nya that much more.
As soon as they opened the door to the bunkroom, she knew she was in trouble. All six of her cabin mates stood shoulder-to-shoulder like they were ready to pounce.
This couldn’t be good.
“So,” Myrina was the first to speak. “Tell us. Is Jax as good between the sheets as he is in the arena?”
“Don’t you have someone else to hate on?” Nya slammed her shoulder into Myrina, forcing her way through. She went to the corner of the room, where she and Xari had hung sheets around their bunks to create the illusion of privacy. As soon as Nya scooted back the curtain, she froze. On top of the standard issue blanket and pillow sat a little blue box.
“We brought you a gift.” Myrina’s sickeningly sweet voice rang over the giggles. “It’s obviously too early, but we thought we’d save you the trouble of going to the infirmary. So you can check. You know, after you lose. When I send back potential candidates for the Claiming Season, they’ll be wondering if you're carrying another warrior’s vahna.”
“Wow. It took you two days to come up with this, didn’t it?” Nya smiled, although her eyes were nothing but chips of blue ice.
Myrina tilted her head, her eyes to the ceiling. “On second thought, I’m sure it won’t matter. No male of worth would be willing to fight for you in the first place.”
“Shut up, Myrina.” Xari pushed the girl back. “You’re just jealous. Jax wouldn’t look at you twice, much less want you in that way.”
Myrina threw her wild, curly red hair over one shoulder. “I can’t believe you're defending an instructor’s suka.”
A collective intake of breath let Myrina know that calling Nya the Dacian equivalent of a whore was going too far.
Xari started for her, but Nya put her hand on her friend’s shoulder.
“Fighting in the barracks means no weapon in the next contest. Myrina’s not worth losing your sword. Not tonight.”
As soon as she brought up the championship, reality smothered any interest in Myrina’s drama, and everyone started toward their bunks to get ready.
Nya tossed the pregnancy test in the trash like it didn’t affect her, but inside she was seething. Damn Jax. He should’ve let her go hunting alone. And if she were honest, she shouldn’t have volunteered to track the stupid mountain lion in the first place.
None of that mattered now. The damage was done. Everyone thought she and Jax had been in the woods having wild carnal sex, which was ridiculous. Anyone who knew her understood she could barely stand a handshake, much less full on body contact.
Proving yet again that irony did exist.
She grabbed her shower caddie and headed down the hall. The room buzzed as soon as she closed the door. She didn’t give a shit what they were saying, but her parents would. She hadn’t spoken to either of them in eighteen months, and the last thing she needed was for them to hear that she’d been on a two-day romp in the woods with the weapons instructor.
Wouldn’t that just prove her father right?
She stripped, turned on the shower and jumped in, not waiting for hot water to make its way through the pipes. Icy spray pelted her skin, and Nya shivered as she grabbed the soap.
Maybe her father wouldn’t mind so much this time. At least she’d been with a Scythian. The last time she’d been caught, she was with Penn.
Moonlight arced over meadow as she snuck away from their home. She crouched low as she ran across the field and headed toward their fort. As soon as she opened the door, Penn pulled her into his arms and kicked the door closed with his foot. She leaned back, searching his eyes.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered, running his thumb down her cheek. He slid his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head in his palm, and then he kissed her.
Heat rushed through her as he shuffled them closer to the small cot that lay near the fireplace. His lips nipped and nuzzled in a flurry of soft caresses as he gently lay her down. In a confused haze of new sensations, Nya found herself on the cot in a tangle of blanket and limbs. Penn’s warm breath brushed across her face, his tender eyes never leaving hers as he unbuttoned her shirt and ran his palm down her ba
re side.
“My Ana.” His voice became husky. “I love that I’m the only one who calls you that.” He slid his palm across her torso, finding the snap of her jeans. “And after tonight, you’ll be mine forever.”
Nya froze as reality splashed over her like ice water. This was so wrong. She didn’t love Penn, not the way he needed. Her father was right. This would destroy him.
“Penn ... no.”
He pulled his hand away. “I’m sorry, Ana. I shouldn’t have pushed you. We can wait if that’s what you need.”
The door burst open, and Ike took up the entire threshold, his gaze raking over her disheveled state.
Nya sprang to her feet. Her breath caught as she looked into his eyes, so disappointed and worried.
“Penn texted me and needed to talk.” She rushed to explain. “This was the only time we could meet.”
“Since when have you needed to unbutton your shirt to talk?”
Mortified, Nya’s fingers shook as she fumbled, trying to shove the bits of round plastic back through their holes.
Penn started forward, but she stepped in front of him, making sure he was out of her father’s reach.
Ike’s voice rumbled in Dacian. “Even now, the protection you offer makes him feel weak.”
Tears rolled down Nya’s cheeks as she glanced at the surly young man behind her. “I know.”
“What’s he saying?” Penn’s voice became hard, bitter. “He doesn’t think I’m good enough, is that it?”
Nya’s father kept her gaze, his eyes full of pity. “Already his feelings for you make him desperate. And desperate men do foolish things. You must let him go, Pumpkin. He’s no longer the boy who was your friend.”
Sorrow ached through her. She closed her eyes and forced the words from her lips. “Penn, I’m sorry. I can’t love you. Not the way you want me to.” Before he could respond, she bolted to her father. He wrapped her in his arms, and they shuffled out the door.
“Ana!” Penn’s voice screeched across the meadow. “When I come for you, your father won’t be able to stop me. You’re mine, and you always will be!”
Steam cascaded around her as tears stung Nya’s throat. That night had gone wrong in so many ways. She should have stopped Penn as soon as he took her into his arms—should have tried to explain that she’d snuck out because she was worried about him. She’d never wanted more than friendship from him, and yet that night the feeling that someone wanted her, needed her, swayed her decisions more than anything.
At least, Penn survived. It would have been so easy for her father to have gone back and killed him with his bare hands. In their Society, no one would have thought a thing of it. Penn had openly challenged a warrior when he threatened to take her away. Yet, Ike never even looked back—he kept his arms around his nata and took her home.
Nya always suspected her father regretted leaving Penn alive. What bothered her most was she didn’t know why.
Chapter Five
Jax grumbled as he wove his Ducati through the cars and shuttle buses cluttering the road. Scythians had been arriving for hours, some coming from as far away as Canada and Mexico. Everyone wanted to see the top female warriors compete.
On edge, he parked his motorcycle by the arena. He scanned the gathering crowd. Dammit. Security wasn’t tight enough.
If what he suspected was true, Sarkov, the leader of their enemy the Drahzda, would be getting desperate. But who would be stupid enough to go into an arena full of Scythians?
A deranged, sick bastard, that’s who.
The thought almost sent Jax into a tailspin, but he took a few deep breaths and headed toward the contestants’ entrance. The visitors milling around gave him a wide berth.
Cyrus smiled. “Evening, Jax. Before you ask, she hasn’t come to the stadium yet.”
If Nya had taken off again, he’d spend however long it took to hunt her down, the council be damned.
Blond hair wove through the masses as Xari sprinted across the compound.
“Where in the hell is Nya?”
She backed away, stammering over her words. “She ... she said she needed a minute.”
“One job, Toxaris,” Jax furiously rumbled in Dacian as he stepped toward her. “Your one job was to get her to the stadium on time. This will not go well for you if she doesn’t show. I can promise you that.”
Nya stood in the barracks and looked around, wondering why she felt nothing. This was the only place she’d ever thought of as home, and yet she didn’t have any remorse about leaving. Surely, she should be a little nostalgic, or maybe melancholy ... or something?
It was times like this she knew that disconnected, empty feeling wasn’t healthy. She was tired of not getting a decent night’s sleep. Tired of constantly feeling like she was missing part of her life and tired of being an emotional zombie.
She slipped her long-sleeved shirt over her tight-fitting camisole before taking the leather pants out of her footlocker. She told Xari she needed a minute, but there was another reason she waited until she was alone to dress. If Xari stayed, she would have seen that Nya planned on bringing extra protection with her.
And who needed that kind of drama?
She tucked the shirt into her pants and put on a belt. Next came bracings around her palms and wrists, followed by a leather jacket that fit her like a glove.
Nya reached into her footlocker and pulled out a few knives. The first was a large hunting blade sheathed in leather, and she tucked it at the small of her back. Next, she attached a black Velcro band that housed her favorite serrated blade under her pants just below the knee. But the smallest and sharpest was already hidden in a pocket attached to her inseam. The design was one of her own; the thin knife’s blade followed the curve of her inner leg while the handle tucked neatly at the juncture of her hip and thigh. She had worked for hours getting the handle just right before sewing the sheath next to the zipper of her leathers. Most females in the compound chose to wear tight, light clothing, swearing that it gave them the edge of speed and endurance. But not Nya. Leather had saved her ass too many times to count. And while her pants fit, the thick material was enough to cover a multitude of sins—like knives and stones. She didn’t need specialized clothing, anyway. She got her speed by training with weights. She worked on endurance by fighting through sweat and pain. The past year every practice ended with some part of her either bruised or bloody. And still, it all came down to tonight. Scythians weren’t given second chances. If she didn’t win, her future would be in the hands of dear old mom.
Nya clutched the outside of her left hidden pocket, just below the rise of her hip, making sure the handful of dirt hadn’t spilled. No helping the rain. If she had to resort to using it, she’d have to admit bringing it into the stadium instead of reasoning that she had grabbed it from the ground. The other hidden pocket on the right held several round stones.
If they discovered either, it would be considered contraband. While it would not disqualify Nya from the competition, her primary weapon, her bow, would be confiscated as punishment for not following the rules.
A siren wailed through the compound, signaling the Trials were starting in fifteen minutes. Nya took the quiver hanging by her bunk and looped the strap over her shoulder, the worn leather easily finding its place across her chest. She grabbed the modern composite bow, specially tailored for her, and took off at a full sprint. The arena’s front gates remained open, and Scythians poured in, slowing her down. She growled as she wove through the crowd, veering right where the contestants’ entrance lay.
Her stomach dropped as soon as she saw Jax pacing in front of the archway. He ran his hand through his hair, searching the crowd. His eyes narrowed to slits as they landed on her.
She swallowed and jogged the rest of the way.
“Late. Tonight of all nights, why are you late?” He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the side.
“I’ve been late before. That’s nothing new.”
Jax’s large palms
landed on her shoulders, forcing her to face him. “What are you up to, Vtachi?”
“I took too long in the shower. You can ask Xari.”
“I’m sure you did. The question is, why?”
Nya’s frustration grew. “Really, Jax? Must we go into my subconscious motivation on long showers? As you’ve pointed out, I’m late. So, get on with it. My parents are here.”
For once, his emotions bled through his expression, making his handsome features menacing. “Which is even more puzzling, isn’t it? It’s the championship, and yet you chose to be late.” His hands made his way to the small of her back, and Nya’s shoulders dropped.
He pulled the knife from its hidden place. “You know the rules. Only one weapon.”
Nya took a calm breath and brought her eyes to his, struggling to keep her expression blank. “Can’t blame a female for trying.”
Jax studied her for a moment. She shifted under the weight of his gaze.
“You were counting on waiting until the last minute so you wouldn’t be searched, which isn’t like you. And why hide contraband in such a ridiculously obvious place? What are you up to?”
She shrugged. The ten-minute warning blared overhead. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I’d hoped the enforcers would’ve let me pass because Cassius would be pissed if I were late. You done?”
“Not by a longshot.”
“Jax, I have to go.”
He glanced down at her feet, noting the shift in weight. He dropped to one knee, then gripped her left ankle. Edging his fingers around the rim of her boot, he huffed before snaking them up her pant leg and wrapping them around her upper calf.
Nya’s breath caught as heat trailed his touch.
Jax shook his head as he ripped off the Velcro strap. “I’m disappointed.”
The Scythian Trials Page 4
