Finally, he finished up, slathering the stitches with some unguent that smelled of black walnuts and coconut oil.
“The bottom should heal within a day, but the top is rather nasty. Still, it shouldn’t be a problem, and the stitches will dissolve within a week. Until then, avoid sparring.” He handed her a jar of salve. “And put this on it twice a day.”
“That will be all.” Jax’s calm voice held a subtle undercurrent of impatience. The physician gathered his things and left.
Awkward silence bloomed between the two of them.
“So, I guess this is goodbye,” Nya muttered, struggling to sit up.
Jax came over to help. “Not by a long shot. Remember, I’m consulting with Dr. Ramova during the trials.”
“Dr. Who?”
“My colleague that we discussed this morning.”
“He’s the other shrink, right?”
Jax’s eyes grew wary. “Yes, and he’s aware of your situation.” He ran his hand along her bare leg, skirting around the bandage. “He agrees with me that it would be best if you had someone to help get you through. With the press and meeting so many males, your stress levels will already be high. You’ll need help decompressing.”
“Oh, God.” Nya pulled away, her eyes resting on her feet. “And how’s that supposed to work? I can see it now. ‘Excuse me, warriors, but I’ve got a session with my shrink. See, I’m just learning how to stomach being touched by you. Don’t worry, though. If all goes according to plan, I should be ready by the time our claiming night rolls around. But hey, don’t hold it against me if I kill you in your sleep.’ Yeah. That’ll go over, I’m sure.”
Jax took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He stepped between her knees and pulled her into his arms. “You haven’t flown off the handle in three years, so no more talk of killing anyone in their sleep. And someone touching you is getting easier. You’ve said so yourself.”
“Yes, but social touch is a helluva lot different than sexual touching, isn’t it?”
Jax’s eyes held a strange gleam. “Vtachi, this is between you and me. No one else needs to know.”
“How? I’m sure the place is already swarming with media. They’ll be filming every minute of my life, and unless I’ve heard wrong, the activities in the first and second rounds are nothing more than glorified dates designed to help Amazonian warriors find their equal.”
“You let me handle the details, all right?”
She looked away. Weird as it seemed, she wasn’t sure which would be more difficult—letting a stranger “desensitize” her to sexual touch or letting Jax do it. Seemed wrong when he had someone else that he cared about.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because you’re my responsibility.”
Her brow lowered. “No, I’m not.”
He rested his hand on either side of her hips. “Yes, you are. You still need me, Vtachi. I don’t give up, and I don’t walk away. You know that.”
She looked away. He might be able to keep his emotions out of this, but that gaping hole in her chest only eased when Jax was around. What if she started to develop feelings for him? Shit.
He touched her nose with his. “I know you’re holding back. Talk to me.”
Nya groaned. Oh hell, no. She so wasn’t going there right now. “Jax, I’ve lost a ton of blood, I’m battered and bruised, both emotionally and physically. My leg hurts like a mother. The brutal reality that I’m getting ready to choose a rovni is hitting me like a two-by-four. You’ve just informed me that you’ll be coming to Carpathia for some bizarre intensive therapy, which is supposed to help me tolerate sex. And to make matters worse, the next four hours I’ll be spending with my parents pretending that everything’s peachy when all I want to do is scream and run the other way. Can we please not do this now?”
Jax stared at her long and hard. “You’re right. Now’s not the time.” He leaned in until his lips brushed her ear. Nya’s pulse raced as his warm breath tickled her neck. “However, sweet Vtachi, there will come a time when you won’t be allowed to deflect, evade, or fly away. And then we will have this discussion; I can promise you that.”
Nya’s thumb found its way to her palm, circling the scar over and over.
Jax’s hand landed on top of hers, stilling their motion. He leaned in, his lips nudging hers in a gentle kiss.
“Relax,” he whispered in Dacian. “We got this.”
Nya’s eyes glittered with unshed tears as she looked at him. “I hate to admit it, but that last challenge threw me. I need some time.”
Jax’s deep brown eyes warmed as he squeezed her hands. His touch caused too much sensation, and she tugged her hands from his, tucking them beneath her thighs.
“Answer me one question,” she prodded as Jax took a step back.
“All right.”
“Really?” Every time she’d asked about his life, he refused to answer, explaining that it was counterproductive to spend their sessions talking about him when they were trying to get to the root of her issues.
Jax stepped forward. “Really.”
“Why go to all this trouble? I mean, you’ve got a life beyond being a weapons instructor and a shrink. Surely you’d rather spend your leave time doing something other than counseling a nutcase with a temper?”
“Nya, your self-deprecation is concerning at times.” Jax studied her for a moment like he was deciding how best to answer. “If it helps you feel less guilty, my leave extends through the summer, and I promise I’ll concentrate on my personal life after the trials.”
“Oh.” Nya’s heart sank as she remembered his female in the valley. “That’s good. That’s really good.”
Jax smiled. “I think so. I’m looking forward to it, actually. But let’s focus on you first, all right?”
She fiddled with the torn leather hanging from her leg, unaware that she’d switched to Dacian. “This female, the one you plan to spend the summer with, I hope she’s your true equal, my friend. And in her arms, I hope you find more happiness and love than you can imagine.”
Jax’s finger nudged her chin up until her gaze met his. “I’m sure I will, my little bird,” his deep voice seemed to caress the rhythmic sounds of their native tongue. “I’m sure I will. And I wish the same for you.”
Nya tried to smile, but her eyes became empty, haunted. “That’s not in the cards for me, and we both know it.”
A soft knock on the door had Nya pulling away.
Her father stood in the threshold, fiddling with something he held in his hands. “Press is taken care of. And Xari ran by the barracks and brought these for you.” He held up a hoodie and some yoga pants.
Nya took a deep breath. “She’s a lifesaver.”
“The headmistress has approved our request to go into town. Your mother made reservations for the seafood place. Xari said she’d join us.”
Nya pasted on a smile. “Sounds great.” She hopped off the table, embracing the burning sensation that lashed through her leg. Pain always centered her. And how sad was that? “Just let me get changed.”
“If you’ll excuse me.” Jax’s eyes latched on to hers. He leaned close so her father couldn’t hear, his eyes piercing hers. “I’ll be seeing you.”
“Goodbye, Jax.” Tears flooded as she turned away.
He crossed the room, shook her father’s hand, and walked out the door.
The silence became oppressive, and Nya hobbled behind a partition that served as a makeshift changing area. She shucked off her jacket.
“Jax is a worthy opponent,” her father commented as she stripped down to her cami.
She glared at the partition before donning her sweatshirt. “Yes, he is. But he’s in love with a female who lives in town, and he’s taking personal time off to be with her. So, don’t get any ideas, all right? Jax is my counselor. And a friend.” She peeked her head out, watching her father look oddly relieved.
“Then why is his name on the list?”
Nya ducked behind the p
artition again and shucked off her ruined leathers, replacing them with the yoga pants. “Rumor has it his name’s been on the list for years, but he never participates.”
This seemed to satisfy his curiosity because he didn’t say anything else. Nya limped from behind the screen and grabbed the fresh pair of socks and sneakers her father had dropped on the examining table.
“You must be hungry.”
Relief flooded her as they hit neutral ground. “I’m starving. And just so you know, Xari can pack away enough food to feed a family of four.”
Her father chuckled. “We’re in luck, then. I think tonight’s the buffet.”
She grabbed her leathers and knife, and Ike took her arm, helping her keep the weight off her leg. Together, they made their way down the open corridors to the front of the arena.
That hollow feeling pounded through her chest as they started toward the front gates. The past few weeks the sensation had grown so much she wondered if there was a black hole consuming her from the inside out.
She had hoped seeing her parents again might help, but it hadn’t.
She couldn’t help wondering if the instincts were right. Maybe she should just run while she could.
Chapter Eight
Heavy black curtains hid large arched windows lining the bedroom’s far wall. The soothing scent of jasmine and sage wafted through the air, the orange glow from the incense the only real light in the room. An enormous four-poster bed overwhelmed the space, its stacked wine-colored pillows cradling someone in comfort.
“Sir?” A deep voice, soft and cautious, muttered in the darkness.
“What is it, Stephan?” Penn rolled to his side, grabbing one of the pillows and tucking it to his chest. Days like this weren’t worth getting out of bed.
“We have news.”
Penn wearily sat up, throwing the pillow to the ground. “What’s the status?”
“The championship is tonight, and then your Ana should be back in Romania, as you predicted.”
Penn pressed his thumbs against his temples. “Do we have a confirmation on her flight?”
“If she wins, she’ll be flying commercial first class in two days. We will not be able to access her once she reaches the Scythian Capitol.”
Penn stood, grabbing the mahogany bedpost. “We have people in place to intercept her before then?”
“Yes,” Stephan muttered as he snatched a robe from the wingback chair and tossed it on the bed.
“And what of her condition?” Penn shrugged into the velvety robe before knotting the sash.
“Everything we’ve learned confirms there is no change. She still doesn’t remember.”
Penn smiled. “This is good news. When do the Carpathian Trials end?”
Stephan cleared this throat. “We don’t know.”
Penn’s expression turned deadly, and Stephan backed up, rushing over his words. “Our informant isn’t a Scythian, and they’ve locked down the consulate for this event. She’s attempting to find out as we speak.”
Penn turned his head to the side, popping his neck. “We better have the information soon, or I’ll have her skinned alive.”
Stephan shuddered. “As you wish.”
“Have you secured the area around our new home?”
Stephan swallowed. “Drones show the parcel of land to the south, a wildlife refuge, which is completely uninhabited. The rest of the area has several villages—two of the four are cooperating. The transition team is working on persuading the others. We should have the region under our control before we arrive, and then renovations start soon after.”
“Good. Now leave me.”
Stephan backed out of the room. Penn made his way to the window and pulled back the heavy, velvet curtains, wincing as overcast light streamed into the room. The large courtyard and sprawling hills beyond had been in his family for a hundred years. The Astana Fortress had been a gift from Tsar Nicholas II in gratitude for Penn’s great-grandfather’s discovery of the Scythian race. For a short time, Nicholas had wanted them to join Russia in stemming the violence in the region. But after seeing their warriors’ superior strength and intelligence, the Tsar feared they would eventually take over. He formed a secret sect of the Russian military, gave Sarkov and his men unlimited funds and a fortress, and ordered them to hunt the Scythians to extinction. Known as the Drahzda, Sarkov gave his men a standing order: no matter what, they were to see their mission through. After the Tsar was overthrown, funds for the project dried up, and Penn’s grandfather, who had taken over, reached out to the young budding Russian Mafia. Together they embezzled and stole millions, funneling them into bank accounts all over the world. The Second World War had all eyes pointed toward Germany, and it was then that Sarkov Industry was born. No one questioned a Russian corporation hiring scientists and researchers under the pretense of helping defeat Hitler. The country had sustained heavy losses, and the gains made in weapons technology overshadowed any knowledge of the Drahzda or their mission. By the time Dmitri, Penn’s father, had taken over, the Scythians were the only ones aware of the Drahzda existence.
But that was about to change.
Once his Ana was back, he could finally put his plan into place. And then he’d find the peace he once knew in Ireland.
Yes. It was only a matter of time before they entered a new era, one where Drahzda ruthlessness and Scythian strength ruled.
For the past four years, the Americans had worked closely with the Scythians to keep his Ana from him, but the experience of the Trials would unlock her mind once and for all. It grieved Penn to think of someone else touching her. But he’d make sure she was back where she belonged before any of those males took what was his.
He slowly sank back into the plush bedding, tucking a pillow beneath his head.
Nya might find it difficult at first, but eventually she would find herself Ana kneeling at his feet, where she was meant to be.
The restaurant grew quiet as Nya and Xari stepped inside. Ike nudged them forward and motioned for the hostess. The young girl’s hands shook as she grabbed four menus.
“You must be from the training facility.” She smiled a little too wide.
For years, the Allos in the valley believed the Scythian Academy was a renowned sports training facility for international athletes. Cassius made sure only a few warriors visited the town at a time, but even then, their tall frames and thick muscles made it impossible to blend in.
Ike kept his voice gentle. “That’s right. We have a reservation for four under the name Thalestris.”
“Follow me, please.” The Allos woman was a good eight inches shorter than Nya, and her thin frame looked like a stiff wind would blow her away. She wove through the tables, her heels rapidly clicking on the floor like she was trying not to run from the hounds of Hell. Nya sighed as people watched until they drew close, and then their gaze would dart away. Throughout the world, it was the same reaction. Curiosity and extreme intimidation. She suspected it was because Scythians radiated a kind of energy that left most Allos twitchy.
Ike thanked the wisp of a girl, and they took their seats. Gradually the conversation buzzed around them again. The massive jellyfish tank in the center of the restaurant was a great topic of interest—for about five minutes. Xari’s Midwest hometown held everyone’s attention for the next fifteen. Thank God for the buffet, which, mercifully, was popular among the Allos. A crowd gathered along the walls, where sneeze guards trapped mounds of endless food on heated serving trays. Nya and Xari stood on one side while Ike and Gia took the other, the Allos giving them a wide berth.
Finally, after everyone had settled at the table, the discussion turned to Carpathia. Xari seemed genuinely excited, and Nya sat back, letting her friend take the lead.
“I’d love to meet your parents sometime, Toxaris.” Nya’s mother adjusted her napkin in her lap.
Xari smiled and grabbed a breadstick. “Please, Mrs. Thalestris, call me Xari. And Mom and Dad have been on a mission in the Middle E
ast for the past twelve months. I’m not sure when they’re coming home.”
“What are their specialties?” Nya’s father leaned back in his chair, coffee cup in hand.
Xari shrugged. “Mom’s in cyber warfare; Dad’s in communications. You still head of Fourth Gen?”
Nya’s father smiled. “Yes, but Gia has taken a break from weaponry to be on the Chancellor’s council.”
“Niiiiiiiice.”
Gia smiled. “What area are you planning on specializing in?”
Xari picked up a crab leg and systematically pulled the meat from its shell. “Mom and Dad always worked as a team. Sometimes I was left with my aunt for months at a time, which stunk, but at least my parents were together. I know it sounds strange, but I always felt better knowing if something awful happened they wouldn’t die alone.”
Ike reached over and enveloped his wife’s hand with his own.
Gia cleared her throat. “So, you’re waiting until you find your rovni?”
Xari dipped her crab in butter and took a bite. “Yep. I’m not sure what I want to do yet, and so I thought I’d see what his interests are before deciding.”
Ike turned to Nya. “What about you, Pumpkin? Have you thought about what field you’d like to go into?”
“I’m interested in psychology, particularly helping those heal from warfare,” she said, picking up her wine glass.
Stunned, her parents froze.
Nya backtracked. “Eventually, though, I’d like to be an instructor.”
Her mother carefully set down her fork. “Both are ambitious and require a lot of time and travel. Why not work in linguistics? You speak ten languages, and there’s a tremendous need in counterintelligence.”
Nya ran her finger along the edge of her wine glass. “Nothing’s set in stone, of course. But if I had a choice, I’d like to look into psychology.”
Thankfully, the waiter came by with a dessert tray, and Xari’s love of all things sweet steered the conversation in a different direction.
The Scythian Trials Page 8
