SIXTEEN
TWO DAYS LATER, Cara woke to the sound of drums, so loud that they echoed around the entire city, funneling through the terraces. So loud it sounded like they were knocking on the door of their dwelling.
Which, in a way, they were, Cara couldn’t help but think grimly, her stomach roiling from nerves and worry.
Devix was already awake. Neither had gotten much sleep the night before, but they had taken advantage of it in other ways. Devix had once told her that Luxirian warriors channeled their power from sexual release, from arousal and the intimate act of mating. Cara had spent the better part of the night fueling him, taking him into her body again and again.
Tears pricked her eyes just thinking about. Sometimes, he’d looked at her, made love to her like it would be their last time. And she hated thinking things like that, but she couldn’t help but worry that it would be.
Cara had faith in Devix’s fighting abilities. She’d seen him training, had seen his skill. But, just like he’d taught her, it only took one misstep, one single moment, one single mistake, and it could mean one’s death.
Devix couldn’t afford mistakes, not against another Luxirian warrior.
Instead of saying ‘good morning,’ which she always said to him, she said, “Tervax rixa.”
It was a running joke between them, but it felt like anything but at that moment. He’d once told her that the equivalent of ‘good morning’ in Luxirian was tervax rixa, which Devix had translated to meaning ‘fight well.’
Devix understood. Beside her in their bed, he pressed his forehead against hers. “Good morning, luxiva,” he replied.
Cara nodded, hearing what went unspoken. Licking her lips, she murmured, “I love you, Dev.”
And even though he’d never said it to her out loud, he spoke it right then. “I love you, luxiva. Always.”
It was enough to bring tears to her eyes, but she needed to be strong for him. She didn’t let them fall. She kissed him instead and then a moment later, when the drums increased in tempo, he pushed out of bed, dressing in the clothes he’d worn as a mercenary, similar to the ones he’d worn when she first saw him. Grey suede pants, a dark tunic, and a dark brown vest.
She climbed out of bed, swallowing the bile down her throat when it threatened to rise. Her hands shook, but she clenched her palms together.
Cara was nude when she went to him, when she smoothed her hands down his vest.
“I have to leave soon, luxiva,” he murmured, looking out the window, towards the rising twin suns. He met her eyes, touched his palms to her stomach.
Cara nodded. “I’ll see you at the trial.”
“I wish you would reconsider coming,” he told her honestly.
The night before, they’d argued briefly about her attendance. Apparently, Vaxa’an had announced the warrior trial to the citizens of the Golden City, as was the custom. It was a public fight that would be held in an arena inside the mountain. Anyone could attend, but no one could interfere. Considering Devix’s reputation, Cara guessed that the arena would be packed.
Devix didn’t want her to come, worried that she would be vulnerable and unprotected at the fight, when most, if not all, Luxirians would be against Devix winning. But Cara had held her ground. There was no chance in hell she wouldn’t be there.
“I would never let you go through that alone,” she told him, her voice firm. “I will be there.”
Devix knew better than to dissuade her. Again, the drums increased in tempo and he inhaled a quick breath.
“Are you ready?” she whispered.
He met her eyes, opened his blood bond. To her surprise, she didn’t sense nervousness. She felt fear, but not for himself. It was for her.
“Tev,” he said, kissing her one last time. Outside the window, a hovercraft landed on their terrace and she saw Vaxa’an standing there, waiting. The Prime Leader would escort Devix to the fight and Cara would go with Rixavox and Cecelia.
“I’ll see you later,” she murmured, intentionally not saying goodbye. Because it wasn’t a goodbye.
Devix nodded, understanding. He gave her a brief smile and her shoulders relaxed only slightly at the sight of it.
“I will see you later, female.”
* * *
The arena that the warrior trial was being held in was massive. That was Cara’s first impression. It had the look of an amphitheater, but it was inside the mountain that the Golden City was carved out of and it could only be accessed through one wide tunnel at the base.
Inside the arena, floating blue and golden orbs of light illuminated the entire fighting floor. There was a raised dais towards the back of the arena—Devix, Vaxa’an, and another unfamiliar Luxirian male she assumed was Pidixa stood there, all facing forward, hands behind their backs—and a circle of Luxirian warriors stood to block the rapidly growing crowd that all pushed for a better view. But the way that the tunnel sloped downwards would ensure that no matter where someone stood, they would have a clear view of where the fight would take place at the very bottom, like stadium seating.
It was a steep walk down to the fighting floor and Cara stuck close to Rixavox and Cecelia. It was the first time that Cara had been around so many Luxirians, but it was too crowded, too overwhelming, too loud that she hardly registered anyone. Their faces were blurs, even as they watched her walk past.
Even from this distance, she was watching Devix. He saw her as well and didn’t take his gaze off her as she slowly followed Rixavox and Cecelia down the tunnel. Luxirians parted for them, no doubt recognizing Rixavox as one of their Ambassadors, so it didn’t take long to reach the bottom. At the very base, she saw a kind of raised balcony carved into the side of the arena wall. Chiseled steps led to the entrance and Rixavox began to climb. Cecelia and Cara followed.
Older Luxirian males were spread out on the large balcony, facing forward towards the fighting floor below. No one spoke, but all turned to look at her.
And to her surprise, another human female was among them, one she recognized. The woman that had been with her in the Pit, the woman that Vaxa’an had taken after his successful fight.
Her name was Kate, she knew, but they hadn’t been properly introduced until that moment.
“Hello,” Kate murmured, coming towards her. She was dressed in a bronze, shimmering dress that brushed her ankles, a golden band wrapped around her waist. Her dark hair was tied back in a braid, and while her eyes seemed tired, they were bright with happiness. She was a new mother, after all, or so Vaxa’an had told her. “You must be Cara.”
Cara was proud that her voice was steady, despite the nerves that coursed through her body. “Yes. And you’re Kate.”
Kate nodded, reaching out to pull her into a hug. “I recognize you, from the Pit,” she whispered to her in her ear. Then she pulled back. “Vaxa’an told me you had arrived. I’m sorry I haven’t come to see you yet.”
“You just had a baby,” Cara said, attempting a small smile. Her eyes strayed back to Devix, checking on him, before they returned to the woman in front of her. “I imagine you have your hands full.”
“Quite full, yes,” Kate murmured, “but I wanted to be here today, for you. Vaxa’an had to go through a trial, when I was pregnant. I know how difficult it is having to watch, having to accept it blindly.”
“He did?” Cara asked, surprised. “Here?”
“Yes. He had to fight five warriors that day, in this very place. And I don’t remember half of it because I was so out of my mind with worry,” Kate told her, squeezing her hand in comfort. “Trust your male. That’s all you can do.”
Cara found the words comforting, surprisingly enough. If Kate had gotten through it, if Vaxa’an had been victor…it gave Cara hope.
“Thank you,” Cara murmured. “I appreciate that you came. And I’m glad to finally meet you. I wish it was under better circumstances.”
Another hand squeeze from Kate. The other woman opened her mouth to say something further, but suddenly her eyes focused on something behind her and anything that she was about to say was lost.
Cara turned to see what or who she was looking at, only to discover that it was a female. A Luxirian female that was being led up to the balcony by a warrior male.
Cara had never seen a Luxirian female before. She looked strong and was undeniably beautiful, her features perfectly symmetrical. She stood at least six inches above Cara with an hourglass figure, full breasts and even fuller hips. And she was dressed in similar fashion as Kate was: a flowing pale colored dressed with a band cinched around her small waist.
Her blue eyes found Kate first and she inclined her head in a bow. “Lavrix’an,” the female greeted. The balcony had gone strangely quiet and even before Cecelia appeared at her side, giving Cara’s forearm a gentle squeeze, Cara knew.
Kate’s eyes slid to Cara before addressing the female. “You must be Arvalla.”
“Yes,” Arvalla replied, her features formed into a serene expression, nothing betraying her feelings about the trial that was about to take place between her brother and Cara’s mate, Arvalla’s ex-lover who’d she’d betrayed by letting everyone believe that Devix had raped her. “I give you my highest congratulations on your offspring, lavrix’an. You honor us all with his birth.”
Kate’s smile was tight, but she accepted it with a simple, “Thank you. May I introduce Ambassador Rixavox’s mate, Cecelia?” Kate gestured to the woman at Cara’s side, who nodded her head in greeting. Then Kate’s eyes fell on her. “And this is Cara, Devix’s luxiva.”
When Arvalla’s blue eyes met her own, it was the first break in her otherwise unreadable expression. Her eyes widened briefly, before dropping down to her swelling stomach.
Arvalla’s throat moved with her heavy swallow. “Cara,” she repeated, bowing her head slightly in greeting. “I am honored to meet Devix’s mate.”
“Are you?” Cara couldn’t help but ask, not liking the fakeness of the moment. Cara had never been a bullshitter. She was a straight shooter. And there were a million things that Cara wanted to say to the female in front of her right then and she bit her tongue so hard that she tasted blood. “He told me what you did. And I would think you would have more humility and self-awareness than have the audacity to say that you are honored to meet me, the mate of a male that you and your brother betrayed…when all he’d done wrong was believe that he loved you.”
Cara’s hands shook with nerves and rage as Arvalla’s expression shuddered. They looked at one another for a brief moment, Cara’s gaze no doubt revealing her disgust.
She didn’t need to say anything else. Cara’s expression spoke volumes.
“I...” Arvalla started, but then trailed off. Her eyes flickered to Kate, to Cecelia, to Rixavox, who was at his mate’s side.
No one spoke.
And then Arvalla turned away, the silent warrior male at her side escorting her to the far end of the balcony.
Cara blew out a breath, still tasting blood on her tongue. Rixavox touched her shoulder, drawing her gaze.
“The Fates have blessed my brother with you, female,” he said.
Before she could reply, the beating of the drums stopped. Just as suddenly, the crowd hushed.
Cara’s stomach dropped and she leaned against the balcony, her hands coming to clench the stone of the banister, her eyes once again seeking her mate.
Devix was looking at her, had not taken his eyes off her, it seemed. He’d seen the whole interaction with Arvalla and she wondered what he thought, seeing her again after eight years.
Vaxa’an said something to him and Devix jerked his head in a nod, continuing to hold her stare. Intentionally, he opened their blood bond fully for a brief moment, allowing her to feel him.
It brought tears to her eyes, but she didn’t let them fall. She steeled her spine, opening up her own side of the connection, giving him her love, but tamping down her worry and fear so that it wouldn’t overpower the more important emotion.
He nodded his head at her, seemingly relieved.
And then he broke the connection. It felt a physical tear inside her and Cara squeezed the balcony tighter to steady herself, stifling a gasp.
Devix jumped off the dais, onto the arena floor below. Shortly after, Pidixa followed.
Rixavox came to stand at her side at the balcony, watching his brother down below. The two males walked to the center of the arena and the noise of the crowd was deafening, echoing around the mountain, both jeers and cheers alike. Cara knew who the jeers were meant for.
Devix and Pidixa faced one another in the center, both bare-chested, sans weapons.
Cara inhaled a quick breath and then let it out slowly, bracing herself for what was to come.
Without another moment’s notice, Pidixa lunged, lashing out with his claws so fast that her mind couldn’t even process the movement.
Devix dodged.
“It begins,” Rixavox murmured.
And it began with brute power.
Pidixa rushed Devix, connecting with her mate’s body so loudly that she heard the sound of flesh meeting flesh, of bone meeting bone. A rough growl echoed around the arena and Cara’s breaths came fast, her eyes tracking the speedy movements down below with an intensity that she’d never experienced. She didn’t dare even blink.
She felt panic rise when it became hard to discern Devix’s body in the tangle of limbs. A spray of dark blue blood suddenly splattered on the gritty floor and she felt like her heart was trying to beat its way out of her throat at the sight of it.
Lions, she thought suddenly. It was like watching lions fight. Intense and terrible and ugly, yet she couldn’t look away. And since no weapons were allowed during a warrior trial, one would have to kill the other with his bare hands and claws.
Finally, Devix and Pidixa sprang free. A dizzying moment of relief assaulted her when she realized the blood spray had come from Pidixa. Devix had gifted him a deep gash in his right arm that continued to drip onto the floor. And while blood coated his skin, none of it seemed to be Devix’s own.
Her relief was short-lived, however.
Because when Pidixa went in for another attack, at the last moment, he pivoted on his foot, catching Devix by surprise.
A growl erupted in Rixavox’s chest and he leaned forward against the banister. Cara watched as Pidixa raked his claws down her mate’s side, deep enough that even from a distance, she could make out every single one, all five of them, gouging into Devix’s flesh. The middle gash was the deepest of all.
A cheer roared up through the crowd when Devix slumped to one knee, the pain evident on his face. She felt dizzy as she watched the blood seep from his body.
“Get up, Dev,” she whispered, watching wide-eyed and fearful. “Please get up.”
As if he heard her, he pushed to his feet in the blink of an eye, managing to block a kick to the chest and the pummel of punches that Pidixa tried to rain down on him.
With a pained bellow, Devix managed to get a grip on Pidixa’s fist. She heard the bone crunch as he twisted his opponent’s knuckles, breaking his wrist in the process.
A roar came from Pidixa and Devix drop-kicked him almost five feet away, giving him time to rest, if only briefly. Pidixa fell, heavy, to the mountain floor.
But he pushed himself up with his good hand a moment later.
Cara was quickly learning that these Luxirians didn’t quit, that their threshold for pain was much higher than a human’s ever could be. The wound in Devix’s side alone would’ve killed a human already.
They seemed indestructible.
As if reading her thoughts, Rixavox rumbled next to her, “Pidixa is a good warrior. There is no denying it.” He turned to meet her eyes, the piercing blue so like her mate’s. “But Devix is, and always has been, better.”
Cara nibbled on her lip, nodding slightly. And even though it took every ounce of courage she had left, she returned her eyes to the gruesome scene in front of her.
Just like Kate said, she needed to trust her male. She could do nothing else.