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As much as it pained me, I pulled away and he released me. “I don’t think I’d be able to stop myself,” I whispered.
“Me either.” His voice rumbled from his chest. “But it’s all I can think about.” He swept the pad of his finger over my bottom lip, and my breath caught. “To feel my lips against yours. Totouch and taste every inch of you. To finally take what belongs to me.”
My legs trembled, and my core began to ache with what I wanted him to take. I was tired of waiting. “Let’s go find a way for you to finally claim me, shadow.”
Ryker and I were both highly motivated and determined to stop the threat of the Glaev. I didn’t give a shit about the council or the other Worthy. They could try to take me from my mate and regret it. The Glaev was the real threat. It had already killed hundreds just as a warning, cut off an entire pass, and encircled a small town. Ryker updated me on the recent Glaev outbreak as we went down to the dining hall to meet up with Nikan and Malina for a bite to eat.
“Ryker,” I said to him as he was finishing off his eggs next to me.
He looked up from his fork, sliding it into his mouth and slowly pulling it out, groaning at the delectable taste. I never knew that eating eggs could be so damn sexy.
“I…um… I mean, do you know where the book is? You said you ‘sort of knew’.”
“I do,” he said, straightening in his seat.
“What book?Thebook?” Malina asked from across the table as she plopped a berry in her mouth.
Ryker nodded.
“What does ‘sort of’ mean?” Nikan asked, with genuine curiosity in his voice rather than the bite I’d expected. Hopefully, our conversation earlier had some effect on him.
“At the time, I wasn’t sure. But I know for certain now.” He reached into my lap and took my hand in his, resting on my thigh.
“Well, where?” I demanded.
Ryker chuckled. “Finish your food, little gem, and I’ll take you to it.” I gave his hand a squeeze and I finished off my toast and sausage, washing it down with juice.
Once we had eaten enough, Ryker led us out of the palace through the front entrance and down the gravel walkway that lead to the city. Nikan grumbled something about the cold temperatures, but I didn’t pay much attention to him. Ryker and I walked side by side, our hands occasionally stealing subtle touches. I would notice him glance at me from the corner of his eye. When I looked at him from the corner of mine, the side of his mouth twitched up.
About halfway down the path, Ryker veered right and continued down another path around the mountain base. We came around the bend to a massive area filled with small buildings and sparring rings and training centers. Ryker left to speak with someone at one of the barracks. There were so many people, wielders of all kinds practicing with their abilities or weapons.
Water wielders whipped the translucent fluid through the air as fire wielders counterattacked with their flames, snuffing it out in a spray of steam. Terbis manipulators flung large rocks as air wielders shifted the wind around them to deflect. I had never seen so many wielders in one place, all using their abilities to train with one another as we passed between the different rings of fighters.
I wanted to jump into one of those rings, transfer the weight of my problems and channel it into aggression. Glancing behind me at Malina who gave me a look that told me she did too. We hadn’t had a good spar in a while, not with anyoneworthwhile anyway. And Malina battled just as many internal demons—though you would never know it, she hid it behind a mask of a perky personality.
Malina and I stopped in front of one of the sparring arenas and watched a match between two warriors, an air wielder and a water wielder. They were using decently advanced maneuvers, pushing against each other with their elements clashing in a most ungraceful way. Sure, they were strong, but they lacked strategy and tactic, relying on force alone to take down their opponent.
“Awe, they’re so cute. I’d give them ten minutes tops with a Roav.” Malina mocked quietly next to me, arms crossed, studying the match.
“Eight,” I countered. I leaned in closer and whispered, “They’re clumsy.”
We both giggled.
“Five,” Nikan snickered, coming up behind us to watch.
“Are you willing to back that up?” Malina taunted.
“Two jobs,” he offered.
“Three.”
Nikan contemplated for a moment. “Deal.” A wicked grin crossed Malina’s face. “But you might want to ask permission before you single-handedly pummel a couple of Noavo warriors.”
“I see no problem with this.” A broad male in fighting leathers approached with Ryker.
He had shaggy hair like Ryker, but was more muscular and slightly taller. His amber eyes glinted while sizing up Malina and I noticed a scar running down the side of his chin. Mavris and a red-haired female followed them as they approached.
Ryker came to stand next to me. “Kya, this is Hakoa, chief of the Noavo Warriors. This is the central location of Oryn’s forces, mainly used for training. Most of the warriors are stationedelsewhere in the Nation.” He faced the general. “Hakoa, this is Malina, Nikan, and Kya, Worthy by Kleio and my mate.”
