by M. R. Polish
“Did you see that school of fish? They won’t ever be the same,” Brady teased.
She playfully punched his shoulder. “Hey, I didn’t mean to.”
He held his arms up and laughed at her.
“Surrendering to the female, you definitely know how to choose your fights well.” A tall man with the same blue-and-red-scaled patches and tattoo as Coron and Darvin walked in the room. “I am Commander Jarion.” One of the first things Karis noticed was that he didn’t have the same accent as Darvin or Coron, his was more warm and inviting.
Karis relaxed. There was something about the way he presented himself that made her feel at ease. She glanced at Brady and noticed that he too was no longer tense, and he even had a small smile that played at the corner of his mouth.
“I’m Brady, and this is Karis.”
Jarion squinted and folded his arms. “I know who are. I even knew your parents before they left Aridam.”
And just like that, all the ease left the room and Brady stiffened.
“Relax, we were friends. Your dad was a good man and did well to protect his family.”
“I have a hard time thinking my parents came from somewhere other than Earth.”
“I can imagine. Things will never be the same now that you know. You have family who will be anxious to meet you since you were away in a different world for so long.”
Brady’s muscles flinched, and Karis knew he was uncomfortable. “So this armor you’re going to fit him with, does it really block certain kinetic pulses?”
Jarion smirked but took the hint and dropped the family talk. “Yes. It can help so no one can instantly stop a heartbeat or take over one’s spirit or body.”
“People can do that?” Brady looked at Karis. “Can you do that?”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
“Not many can do it, but we must be prepared for whatever we may encounter.”
Brady nodded. “Fair enough.”
“What about me?” Karis held her hands together behind her back.
“You? Coron didn’t say to fit you with anything.”
“Well, I will be fighting, so I either fight with or without armor.” She never even blinked, but stared at the commander directly in the eyes.
“I guess we’ll get you fitted too then.”
A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. It was a small victory on her part, but she remained calm so he wouldn’t change his mind. She noticed Brady frown, though he never spoke up.
Jarion tossed them each a sheer silver-lined vest. “Put these on.”
Karis and Brady did as Jarion told them. Immediately the vests changed, shrinking and lengthening to fit their torsos. “Whoa.” Brady ran his hands down the silky fabric that fit him snugly. He twisted and bent over. The fabric moved with him, not restrictive at all. Looking at Karis, he whistled. “Dang girl, I thought that little nighty was hot.”
She shot him a stern look to shut up. “Shush.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I just call it like I see it.”
Jarion cleared his throat, reminding them that they weren’t alone. “You only have to wear these when in battle. Don’t leave the fortress without them. They are now fitted to your body and are ready to use.”
Brady grinned. “Tight.”
Jarion cocked his head. “No, it should fit close to your body, but not so tight that you can’t move.”
Karis couldn’t help but laugh. “Brady has a different dialect. I think he meant it in a good way.”
“Ah, I see. Well then, in that case, I assume you approve.”
Brady straightened his shoulders. “I’m ready, bring it on.”
Jarion clapped his hands together and a loud echo filled the training room. “We’ve been training for a little more than a week, it’s time to dig in even more.”
Brady grumbled. Karis placed a hand over her mouth to help stifle a laugh. He shot her a playful glare and stood up from his sitting position on the marbled floor. “Oh, grand master, what do we get to learn today?”
Jarion didn’t look amused by Brady’s sarcasm. “Shields.”
Karis thought back to when she was younger with her father. He was trying to teach her how to do that and a vague yet familiar strength pulled from her core, provoking that inner power.
She let the feeling intensify and build until her insides felt like they would burst. A shudder coursed through her body. Euphoric colors radiated out from her torso in a transparent bubble. The colorful rays bounced off her like a prism from a diamond and as far as she pushed out with her energy, the prism would go the same distance.
“Karis?” Brady approached her slowly. “Are you okay?”
“You can’t see it?” She twirled in the same spot where she stood.
Jarion folded his arms and gave a knowing smile. “She remembered how to make a shield. Impressive.”
Brady quickened his pace but was forced back once he rushed into her shield. “What the hell?”
Karis pushed out further, wanting to see how far she could go. She watched as the wall of her shield reached Jarion. He took a step back, then another. He raised a brow at her. “What are you doing?”
She gave one more shove and Jarion flew backwards, landing on his side. He was up with his sword drawn in one swift motion. Karis could feel herself getting weak but didn’t back down. He swung and sliced into her shield, causing her to release her hold on it. She watched as it fell around her like a million tiny diamonds crashing to the floor.
Jarion slid his sword back in place. “That was well done. Now,” he turned to Brady, “it’s your turn.”
Brady tilted his head back and groaned. “Seriously? Isn’t there a boot camp or something first?”
Jarion gave a hearty laugh. “I’m not sure I understand what boot camp is, but I can assure you that you’ll learn without new boots.”
Brady dropped his shoulders. “Never mind. Let’s just do it.”
“How can you expect to guard yourself against an attack if you don’t even try?” Karis slumped down to the floor of the training room.
“If you would quit teasing me, I might think clearer.” Brady flashed his white teeth at her in a playful smile.
She picked up her water and chucked it at him. He ducked, missing the water completely. “I do not tease!”
He raised a brow. “Oh really? For the last couple weeks on the island and now here in this underwater world, you’ve done nothing but tease me.”
She stood up to face him straight on. “I have not.”
“What about the other day when you kissed me? What was that?”
She blushed. “I didn’t kiss you, it was the other way around.”
“I suppose you think it was me who’s been wearing those short little things to bed too?”
She clenched her fists. “Brady, you are exasperating. I don’t ask you to come to bed with me.”
He moved in closer to her, clearly enjoying her anger as he baited her. “You don’t kick me out either.” He was close enough for his breath to tickle the side of her face. She could smell the mint from the leaves he chewed on earlier.
He raised his hand to stroke her cheek. “Will you kick me out tonight?”
“Ahem.”
They both turned to catch a glimpse of Coron standing barely a couple feet away. His long ponytail hung over his shoulder. “I thought you two wanted to keep things low. A public display isn’t exactly keeping it discrete.”
Karis blushed deeper and backed up away from Brady. “Sorry. We were just…”
Coron waved his hand and smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He looked almost sad as he glanced at Karis. “It’s all right. Love finds you, not the other way around.”
“But we aren’t in love, it was just…” Karis stuttered. What could she say? She didn’t love him. Did she? He surely didn’t love her.
“Training. That’s all we were doing.” Brady interceded. Karis gave him a grateful look and mout
hed a thank you.
Coron drew out his sword that rested at his hip. It was silver with swirls intricately engraved into the handle and blade – the same swirls that matched his tattoo. “I think it’s time to boost your training.” He took a step back with one foot and raised his weapon. His skin glistened as he moved. The ruby patches in his skin grew deeper in color.
Brady held his arms up. “Whoa. I don’t do swords. Fists, yes. Guns, maybe. Definitely no swords.”
“Here, the swords have more than just a sharp edge. They hold the wielder’s power.”
Karis stepped back even more, not taking her eyes from Coron. “Brady, now would be a good time to take it seriously and practice your defense.”
He frowned at her but stopped when he noticed her wide eyes. He snapped his head back to Coron. The sword began to glow with a blue light, and the designs looked as if they bled a deep crimson.
“Yeah, definitely not swords,” he repeated under his breath.
His muscles tensed as Coron swung his sword, letting a streak of blue energy flow from it. The flow of energy hit Brady in the chest. He concentrated on keeping a mental shield around his body as the energy pounded his torso.
“Coron, stop. He’s not ready,” Karis begged and ran to Brady. She reached out to touch his arm, but the current of power zapped her fingers before she could make contact.
Brady clenched his jaw and shut his eyes tightly. A small groan sounded from his throat as the energy wore down his defense.
Karis ran to Coron. “Please stop.”
Coron lowered his sword.
Karis pushed past to Brady. “Are you okay?” She ran her hands over his arms.
He nodded but winced at the same time. “Yeah. That was intense. I could feel the strangest things, like thousands of ants running across my skin. It hurt, but I knew it could be worse. I pictured a shield like Jarion told us to do.”
“You did good.” Coron stepped forward. “Not many can do as well as you for their first time.”
Karis dropped her hands to her side. “I was so worried.”
Brady gave her a devilish grin. “You were worried about me?”
“Don’t read into it.” She rolled her eyes. “I just didn't want you to get hurt before the war actually started.”
“Mm-hum.”
“Okay, you two.” Coron sheathed his sword.
Karis looked away. A small blushed crept up her cheeks.
Coron nodded toward her. “Alright, Princess, it’s your turn.”
Karis choked on air; her eyes widened. “Me?”
Brady folded his arms across his chest with a smug look covering his face. “I don’t think he means me, Princess.”
Karis shot him a look that told him to shut up, squaring her shoulders and holding her head high. She flung her braid over her shoulder to keep her hair out of the way. “Fine, Coron, I’m ready.”
Both men raised their brows at her acceptance. Brady stepped forward. “It’s not easy and even though it didn’t get through, it hurt like hell. I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“She wants to fight, so she will have to train. She’s been away from her people and our kind for so long that her senses and powers are under-used, almost dormant. We need to awaken them in her as well as in you.”
Karis swallowed and held her breath. Brady turned to her. “You can do it, just focus on the shield.” She nodded, but her eyes never left Coron.
Coron pulled out his sword. The same azure hues radiated from it just like before with Brady. All of her muscles tensed up as she pictured a shield that emanated from her core. Brady stepped back out of the way, but he was ready to step in front of Karis and take the impact from the energy if she could no longer withstand it.
Coron was faster this time, not giving Karis a moment to plan her defense. The blue streak of energy sliced through the air, cutting a path directly to her. The impact was harsh, making her stumble backwards.
Brady reached out to catch her, but she found her footing. Karis pushed back against the energy, determined to overcome the attack. She moved slowly at first, every movement causing agonizing pain that she had to push through. Lifting her hands with her palms out, a green force field appeared around her. Coron’s power recoiled, sending it straight back to him. It happened so fast and unexpectedly that he didn’t have time to block it, and it sent him spiraling backward.
Coron laid on the floor laughing. “Well done, Princess.”
Brady rushed over to Karis. “That was incredible. Are you okay?”
She stood there trembling. “Yes, I think so. It all happened so fast.” She walked over to Coron and offered her hand to help him up. “I'm so sorry.”
“Do not be sorry. We did not know what powers would awaken, but you impressed even me.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“My pleasure. Now I believe you both are ready to train with Jarion more thoroughly.”
Karis fell back onto her bed. “That was exhausting. I never knew using my powers would be so hard.”
Brady landed next to her, his arms stretched out. “You're telling me. I've trained a lot but nothing to this extent.”
“Ya, and Jarion wasn’t exactly taking it easy on us either.”
Brady chortled. “I know. You totally projected your thoughts today in training.”
She sat up quickly. “I did not.”
“Oh but you did. It was actually pretty freaking cool. At first I was a little confused as to why I could hear your voice inside my head when you weren’t talking, but then I caught on.”
“You’re serious, aren’t you?”
He laced his fingers together and cradled his head on his entwined hands. “Very. As I recall you were about to send him flying through the room with your shield when Coron came in and ended the training for day.”
“I can’t believe I did that! That is incredible. I never knew I could do that.” Another thought raced through her mind and her hand went to her mouth as she gasped. “You don’t think Jarion heard my thoughts do you? I wonder if I projected them to everyone.” She buried her face in her hands. “I hope I didn’t. That would be so humiliating.”
“I don’t think you did. Jarion never gave a clue that he heard anyway.”
“I'm thinking a hot shower then bed. This was just too much for one day.”
He rolled over onto his side, propping his head up with his hand. “Together?”
“Brady,” she chastised.
“See, I told you that you were a tease.” He rolled back over and let out a deep breath. “Fine, but you better go now before I change my mind and join you. I'm a man and can only stay abstinent for so long.”
She giggled and jumped off the bed, quickly grabbing her things and heading to the bathing room. The hot water felt heavenly as it pounded against her tender skin. Every muscle in her body ached from days of training with Jarion. She could imagine how sore Brady must be. He hadn't picked up on the full shield yet, which made his training even harder. The news about Brady hearing her thoughts excited and made her nervous at the same time.
She closed her eyes and thought of him. It seemed so erotic to picture his well-muscled body as she stood naked. They were both adults, so why did she hesitate when it came to being with him? She’d never been with a man before. Maybe that was her distress? She imagined him next to her, how he would look as the water ran down his skin. A deep burning ached in her core.
“Ugh, this is insane.” Karis shut the water off and grabbed a towel. Hastily, she pulled her nightgown over her head. “Of course,” she muttered under her breath. The gown was just as short, if not shorter, than the ones she’d wore over the last week. It was made of a light pink material that was soft to the touch and sparkled. “Do Perditian women not wear modest clothing to bed?”
“It wouldn’t be as fun and very restrictive.”
Karis spun around and gasped. Quickly, she tried to cover herself with her arms. “Get out!”
Brady c
huckled but didn’t budge. Instead, he sauntered toward her. “I don’t know what happened, but one minute I was in bed, and the next I had this amazing but extremely sexy image of you in the shower.” His voice was low and husky.
She quivered under his stare. Heat filled her body as she gazed down his bare chest and to the waist of his jeans. Her mouth went dry, and she fought to say something—anything.
He reached out and slid his hand through her damp hair to the back of her neck. “You projected your thoughts.”
She couldn’t have. Could she? Her mouth hung open, daring her to speak. “I… uh…”
“I like seeing you flustered.”
She’d have to be more careful with her thoughts—especially around other people. At least, until she could get it under control.
He pressed his body closer. She could feel him along every inch of her skin. Heat radiated off him and soaked into her soul, making her flushed.
Brady leaned in. “I’ve wanted to kiss you again since that night outside.” He brushed his lips across hers before she could protest.
His tongue met hers in a tantalizing dance that left her craving more. He tasted like raisins and coffee. Her knees shook as he wrapped his other arm around her middle and pressed her closer. There was little between them, and her nightgown was so thin that she felt her flesh heat up against his.
An unfamiliar but urgent need filled her. Her mind sifted through the uncharted feelings that churned within her. She didn’t know what she wanted, but she wanted it right now.
He deepened the kiss, and she heard a groan. The sensual sound mixed with a second one; though she wasn’t sure who made the noise, it left her needing more—to give more. All she could think of was Brady. She ran her hands up his chest and over his shoulders.
He left her mouth and feathered kisses down her neck, lightly kissing the hollow of her throat. She let out a whimper. Everything he did felt amazing. She let him lead, showing her the way.
She kissed the crook of his neck, but it wasn’t enough. She wanted to touch him everywhere. He sucked in a breath, and for a moment she was afraid that she’d done something wrong. Karis backed away, embarrassed.
