This afternoon’s training contained an increased element of tension. Grunts and groans joined the smack of bodies slamming together. Jahul seemed intent on pushing them to their limit and it showed in the sweat gleaming on everyone’s faces, the shirts sticking to heaving chests.

They’d been singled out one by one for sessions which included non-stop switching of partners and sparring to keep them sharp and on edge. Thoughts of Lissi derailed Rydak through most of it and he’d made mistake after mistake all evening. Like now. He bit off a snarl of irritation as the sticky coils of Bane’s webbing trapped his left arm to his torso.

Restricted from movement, Rydak jerked about but Bane restrained him with another loop. This one captured his other arm and pinned it behind him. With little effort, the Ceraton had him completely bound and immobile.

Smug satisfaction gleamed in the Ceraton’s black eyes but Rydak maintained his stoicism. It wasn’t unusual in his matches against Bane to find himself in a similar situation. He just needed to remain calm and think his way through. A process made increasingly difficult due to a blonde beauty playing havoc with his concentration.

Jahul walked by the others finishing their matches to stop and observe him and Bane. Noticing his predicament, a glimmer of humor brightened his Team Lead’s blue eyes.

Trying to regain his equilibrium, Rydak reviewed several scenarios to free himself then hit on the perfect solution. A slow grin twisted his lips and Bane blinked at the rare sign of humor, losing his arrogance. Rydak focused on the thick latticework of white around his waist and wiggled one of his hands free. He twisted about pretending to struggle as he managed to loosen his glove from the fingers on his left hand.

To distract Bane while he used his hip to peel the leather down further, Rydak asked, “Remind me which is stronger, the black or the white?”

Ceratons produced two types of the ultra strong threads from the glands on their wrists. They secreted the thick fibers naturally and used them in combat as a defense mechanism. While Rydak had never had the opportunity to meet another like his teammate, he knew Bane had mastered the art of webbing.

Bane’s eyes narrowed as if trying to figure out where Rydak was going with his questioning. “I only use the white in practice. The black has thorny spikes imbedded in the threading.”

Thorns sharp enough to puncture flesh if one found himself wrapped in the innocent looking lacework. Rydak’s glove slid off, caught up between his leg and Bane’s ropelike web. Using the tip of his pointer finger and thumb, Rydak rubbed at the strands as he reached with his gift. He kept his gaze on Bane the entire time and felt the moment he connected. A tiny pathway opened into Bane’s thoughts and emotions.

Controlling his empathic abilities in this manner required fierce concentration as Rydak worked to cipher through the information flowing to him at a rapid pace. Beads of sweat popped on his forehead. This wasn’t accidental contact. It didn’t have the jagged bite of invasive outside energy but he’d still suffer later for the showmanship.

“We can’t stand here all day,” Bane taunted. “No way to get out this time. Do you forfeit, Rydak?”

There. He had what he needed. Rydak reversed the flow of data and sent Bane’s own feelings of triumph and pride back at him with ruthless efficiency. He slammed the arrogant emotions back at a speed not meant to be processed by a mind ill equipped to handle such.

Years later and Rydak still ran into issues depending on who he touched and how long the contact lasted. Bane wouldn’t stand a chance.

The result was instantaneous. As predicted, Bane jerked, body going stiff. White lines in his black pupils flared bright. Then Bane roared snatching his arms back as if in pain. He pressed the heels of his hands to his head, causing the fine filaments connecting him to Rydak to snap.

“Fuck, Rydak!” Bane stumbled back, color leeching from his tanned face as he dropped to one knee. “Turn it off. I forfeit.”

Bane gagged and choked as he dropped onto his hands and knees on the floor and heaved.

Rydak couldn’t turn it off per se. Now that he no longer had contact with the fibrous threads, the influx of emotions Rydak had shoved into Bane’s head would gradually wear off on their own.

Slow clapping sounded. Rydak pushed away the loose webbing at his hips which fell about his feet and reached down for his fallen glove.

“Well done.” Jahul studied him in a new light. Rydak ignored the heat rising at the back of his neck. “I don’t think I expected that.”

More clapping from the rest of Team Three, who had all come to a stop to watch the intense one-on-one. Then a distinct grumble disturbed the applause. V’hor. “No one should think they can go against Rydak and walk away unscathed. He has access to your every thought at the touch of his fingertips.”

Rydak finished smoothing the leather up over the curve of his wrist. His brow arched in amusement as he glanced up to answer Vee directly. “It’s important to know everything about your opponent. Thinking you have the upper hand and can defeat them easily is foolish. Always be prepared to lose and grateful when you win.”

At the forefront of every mission, Rydak kept in mind the dangerous nature of his job and the very real possibility he might not survive to return home.

“Fucker.” Bane sank back to his haunches, elbows braced on his knees still visibly trembling. He lifted his head to offer Rydak a chagrin look. “Is that what you go through?”

Only a small fraction. Rydak’s intent wasn’t to incapacitate his teammate. “Some.”

“Try it with me. I don’t think your trick would work.” The declaration shifted Rydak’s focus. He angled his head to the side as Vee pushed off the wall where he’d been leaning and sauntered forward. Low hanging drawstring pants swayed about the Serpine’s bare feet and his shirtless torso flexed as he fisted one hand into the palm of the other. “If you can.”

It wasn’t a matter of if he could or not. Sending emotions back at someone was only one of the newer things Rydak had discovered in his efforts to define and learn everything about his gift. Leaving the answer to Jahul, Rydak tipped his chin toward his Team Lead.

Jahul slanted V’hor an amused glance. “Are you sure you want to, Vee? Rydak is more than what you see.”

With half an ear listening to them, Rydak stretched and mentally checked himself for any lingering issues after what he’d done to Bane. So far a minor ache at the base of his head, the precursor to a major headache but not the full avalanche of pain he usually received. The backlash probably wouldn’t be as hard as long as he avoided any accidental contact with Vee.

“Fine but ten minutes only. Then play time’s over.” Jahul waved at the rest of Team Three. “We watch and no more asking Rydak to perform tricks.”

“I like when he does tricks.”

The new low voiced growl had Rydak spinning around to face the door as Arak from Team One meandered in. The half-Argoran shifter grinned, flashing his fangs while Kyele from Team Two strolled in behind him, flipping a knife in one hand. Kyele’s dark green eyes lit with interest as both men joined the rest of Rydak’s team by the wall to watch.

Rydak drew himself up straight and waited.

“Vee, keep it under control,” Jahul cautioned as a last direction.

The phrasing was odd with a slight emphasis on the word control but then everyone faded back to lean against the wall giving them plenty of space and Rydak had no more time to worry about hidden meanings.

Vee offered Jahul a sharp nod. His eyes sharpened to diamond points and he launched himself at Rydak. The offensive charge came without warning or prep. Rydak ducked and rolled, his spread knees sliding across the tiled floor. He bounced back on his feet, fists flying to block Vee’s attack as he glided up on Rydak from behind.

V’hor’s advantage came from speed. The Serpine moved with an economy of motions, always slithering and twisting away. The coiling movements were ingrained, aiding in his fighting ability which made Vee not only a dangerous opponent but a deadly one as well.

Since Rydak wanted to avoid any contact with his exposed face, he had to rely on his legs and feet for punishing kicks. Of course, knowing this, Vee tried to exploit his weakness, using sharp jabs and strikes aimed for Rydak’s chin and jaw.

The room grew silent, not a twitch from anyone as he and Vee whirled, spun and made the most of the open floor. The smack and thump of body parts connecting resonated. Air breezed by Rydak’s face from a particularly close punch from the smirking V’hor.

Observations would be offered later from the others. Critiques and recommended improvements on what to do or not do. Using a spinning kick, Rydak’s booted foot slammed into V’hor’s chest and knocked him across the room. He didn’t stay down for long. With a rush of forward momentum, the Serpine came flying back, his green eyes taking on a surreal glow.

Assessing what he remembered about Vee, Rydak kept his gaze shifted to the side, not making direct eye contact. If Vee chose, he could put an opponent under a trance using his hypnotic gaze. Letting that happened meant the match was as good as over.

Rydak couldn’t avoid the charge though and the weight of Vee’s body slamming into him drove them both to the floor. Pain lanced down his back from impact and his breath shuddered. Then Rydak kicked out and rolled away, his elbow jabbing Vee in the face as he freed himself.

Each time, V’hor dove for his feet and attempted to pull him back to ground level. A quick shuffle and step helped Rydak get clear. Vee changed tactics and began to circle Rydak dipping low into a crouch to catch his gaze.

Rydak jerked away, eyes closed. Vee realized his efforts weren’t working and chuckled until Rydak lashed out with his leg and swept Vee’s feet out from under him. The Serpine crashed to the floor and began to trill and hiss, no longer amused.

Breathing easy, Rydak backed up and widened his stance, prepared for anything. But he should have known better then to assume. It violated his own rule of thumb. Vee came to his feet on a sway, an eerie glint in his diamond-shaped green eyes. Unease stirred inside his chest and a shiver rolled down Rydak’s back. In a blink, the tempo shifted from good natured combat to something with a dark undertone.

Vee rocked side to side, toes digging into the light blue mat for purchase. Rydak risked a glance up and wished he hadn’t. Vee came at him, arms whipping side to side in a flurry. The strikes sent Rydak backing up on the defensive as he raised his guard to protect his torso and face from the blows.

It wasn’t the precision attack which had him adjusting though, it was the flared hood which had eased from the other man’s shoulder slits during the rapid-fire approach. The vivid green pearlescent flesh formed a wide cowl about Vee’s head. If that wasn’t enough to halt the match, the blank stare in V’hor’s green eyes warned Rydak he was in danger.

“V’hor!” Jahul shouted from the sidelines.

The Serpine never broke his form, staring at Rydak as his body took sinuous steps to close the gap between them. For the first time, a note of unease pricked Rydak’s conscious. V’hor never reverted to his other half and tended to work hard at hiding the part of himself which caused terror in others.

With good reason. In this state, he was venomous, the toxin he excreted able to kill in seconds.

“Enough, Vee! Control yourself. Now.”

None of Jahul’s shouted commands got through to his teammate as he launched himself in the air toward Rydak, hissing ominously. Heart rate increasing, Rydak waited until the final minute to duck and leap to the side. Muscles strained from the uncoordinated dive to get out of the way.

Vee slammed into the wall Rydak had been against moments before. Jahul raced over to kneel at V’hors side. “V’hor?”

A loose groan and a snarled mutter. Rydak stayed back in case Vee wasn’t firmly aware of his actions yet.

“Come on, man,” Jahul prodded. “You’re scaring us. Are you back?”

“I think so.” Vee pushed up into a crouch and shoved a hand through his hair. The crash seemed to have shaken off his trance state. The cowl folded down, sheathed once more in the shoulder slits, the skin smooth and unblemished. “I forfeit, Rydak.”

Rydak wiped at the sheen of sweat on his forehead with a relieved sigh. “Accepted.” 

“He doesn’t even have that fancy hair out of place,” Bane complained and burst forward.

Chuckles slipped out from everyone and the anxious moment dissolved.

Jahul helped Vee up, laughing at Banes comment. “You could learn something from Rydak. All of you.”

With utmost seriousness, Khane spoke at last. “I know I did. Don’t fuck with Rydak...or Vee.”

This had the whole room laughing and Rydak allowed his lips to curve up. It paid to remain steady in combat but sometimes it was alright to release. The others broke off to talk all at once, recounting what they’d witnessed and analyzing it.

Jahul grabbed Vee about the shoulders and pressed their foreheads together. Rydak didn’t intend to listen but their low-voiced conversation reached his ears.

“Control. That’s the key, V’hor. Do you understand?”

Vee nodded, though his expression bordered on sullen.

“How long before she summons you?”

Jahul’s question caused Vee to stiffen. Who would summon his teammate?

“She’s given me five years. Maybe longer. She doesn’t want her honor questioned.” Vee’s mutter held a trace of anger encased in steel.

“Your matire can not force you to do anything. We each are who we decide to be. Nothing is set in stone.”

Jahul’s statement pulled the last of the tension from V’hor and he straightened, separating their temples. “You are right.”

“I’m always right.” Jahul grinned and squeezed V’hor’s shoulders before turning and meeting Rydak’s gaze head on. “If I can’t help, Rydak will watch for you. Won’t you, Rydak?”

He had no idea what secrets they shared but nodded. He’d do anything for these men. Plus, the dark look in Jahul’s eyes stressed the importance of the commitment he was asking from Rydak. This wasn’t a lighthearted jest. “I’ll watch you, Vee. Never worry.” 

V’hor’s dark scowl faded to be replaced with an all too amused smirk. “I will spar with you anytime, Rydak.”

***

Lissi grinned as her maman stretched up to pat her brother’s cheek. “We will be back later. Thanks for agreeing to feed the kippi, Torkel.”

Kippi were the red furred creatures in the penned area which provided milk to the farm. Not waiting for a response, Shaya then left with her Chosen. The two were enjoying a night out at the eating establishment Santagos.

Torkel looped an arm about Lissi’s neck and dragged her back into the house once their parents drove off. Laughing, Lissi struggled and then resorted to tickles along Torkel’s ribs. He grunted and dropped his arms.

“What do you want, Lissi?”

She pasted what she hoped was an innocent expression on her face as she danced out of reach and stood by the sink across the kitchen from her brother. “What do you mean?”

“You could have fed the kippi as you’ve done before. Instead I get a vid-message from you after a training session. You wanted me here for a reason and it wasn’t the kippi.”

Only Torkel could read her so well. Lissi shrugged and hitched her hips to the side. “I like being around my brother and you have been busy.”

True. Lately Torkel hadn’t been able to come by for the visits he usually squeezed in to see their maman. She knew his Unit stayed busy. Rydak’s conversations too were brief or rushed when she commed him. But Lissi had personal reasons for wanting him here.

Doubt covered Torkel’s face. “What are you up to?”

She gave in. He’d eventually figure it out. “I want to know how to get through to Rydak. He keeps me at a distance as a friend.”

He turned to leave. “No.”

Lissi grabbed the back of Torkel’s shirt and leaned up on her toes. His lips quirked in amusement as he spun around and slipped easily out of her grasp but she didn’t let that stop her. Lissi stepped in front of him so he couldn’t get past. “Just explain, Tor. Please. You know I have feelings for him and I need to understand him.”

Torkel sighed then lifted her at the waist and set her aside as if she weighed nothing. Lissi contemplated jumping on his back if he tried to leave.

Finally, he blew out a breath. “You know of his family.”

“Yes.” Prestigious. The Jaards. Every Enotian knew of them.

“They have been gifted. Each generation possesses abilities. Rydak has the gift of empathy.”

Lissi cocked her head to the side, a frown creasing her brow. That wasn’t bad. She’d imagined something worse with the way he kept pulling away from her. “More details, Tor. What exactly does this mean?”

“It’s slightly twisted in him. Rydak gets the emotions of those he touches and sometimes...most times can read thoughts with physical contact.”

Her chest seized. Rydak could read her mind? Did he know every lust filled idea she’d had about him? Heat burned her face but she couldn’t ask her brother that. “How—how does he do it?”

“Touch. As long as he wears the leather gloves and avoids skin to skin contact it’s fine.”

“But...” She tried to piece her thoughts together. They’d kissed. “How do I know if he read my mind?”

Torkel shook his head. “You’d know. The effects leave him critically ill.”

Ill. She’d never seen him ill or sick and they’d kissed a few times now. They’d done more than that. She flushed again. She’d stroked his chest, touched him in private places.

Torkel must have read her expression because he groaned and folded his arms over his chest. “Is there something more you want to tell me, Lissi?”

Absolutely not. This was shameful enough without him knowing further details. She shook her head no. “Everything is fine.”

He stared long enough to cause her to fidget. “Lissi, I only want the best for you-”

“I think Rydak could be the best thing for me.” She poured every bit of sincerity and belief into her words because it was the truth. “I feel a connection with him. Always have. None of the males at the Career Academy really interested me. The few who did, I compared them all to Rydak. He’s what I want. Only him, Tor-Tor. I love him.”

Torkel sighed and nodded at a chair. “Sit.”

Lissi sat and clenched her fingers together.

“How do you know this isn’t something else? Love is a fairly strong word to use.”

Lissi had expected the question. Her brother was right. What she felt for Rydak was strong. She pressed a hand to her heart and leaned forward. “I wish there was more to tell you. He’s such a part of me that I can’t tell you when the connection began. It’s there and if I went my separate way, years later I’d still have this hole in my heart. For him. Only for him, Tor.”

He stared long and hard before dropping his arms to his side. “I believe you.”

And just with his words and easy agreement Lissi relaxed. Her brother understood her better than anyone else. They weren’t just siblings. He was her closest friend and one she never hesitated to go to. Even in this where she exposed her heart, he supported her.

Lissi crossed the room and hugged him. “I love you so much.”

He rested his chin atop her head and his thick brawny arms curved about her waist. “Same. I won’t stand in your way. If Rydak falls for you, he will be a very lucky Chosen. If he breaks your heart, I will kill him.”

Not saying anything, Lissi smiled and squeezed Torkel until he groaned. “Enough. Walk with me. I haven’t enjoyed the farm in too long to count.”

Walking hand in hand they spent the rest of the day as they’d done in her childhood, taking paths still worn through from their younger footprints, laughing at the antics of the animals and sharing fond memories.

Best brother ever.