no. No, I haven’t been in a sword fight.”
“I’m unencumbered. He’s weighted down.”
“Quick reflexes over blocking. Got it.”
Wait. He stopped to gape down at her. “Are you taking notes, actually planning to engage in a sword fight of your own?”
She lifted her chin in a mimic of him. “Perhaps I’m planning to challenge you.”
He couldn’t stop his smile. “I look forward to the day you do.”
A blush stained her cheeks.
Joachim stalked past him, his boots flinging sand in every direction, and a chorus of “boo” rang out.
Valerian resumed his journey and the chorus turned to cheers. The arena overflowed with men and women brimming with anticipation and eagerness.
The females were draped in traditional nymph robes—scarves that had been woven together with golden thread. Fine, metal links cinched the material at the waist, showcasing the shapely curves of some and the lean delicacy of others.
He would love to see Shaye draped in one of those robes.
Valerian stopped in front of Broderick. “Is all ready?”
“I’ve taken care of every detail.” Broderick grinned and wound his arm around the curvy beauty at his side. “Women and war in one day. Would only be better if I could watch the battle while having sex and eating grapes fed to me by a bevy of beauties.”
“Our definition of better differs,” Shaye muttered. “Hey! New card idea. Barbarian Mentality 101 for women stuck with a Neanderthal. It could say something simple like, ‘Got Razors’ or even ‘Ugh’?”
Valerian sometimes had no idea how to decipher her words, but this he understood. He grinned. “Broderick, my friend, you’re going to watch this little morsel for me.” He gently thrust Shaye in the warrior’s path.
She humphed.
“Guard her well and allow no one to touch her.” He paused, considered Broderick’s past liaisons and current desires, and added, “Not even yourself.”
Broderick lost all traces of amusement. “What do I do if she tries to run away?”
“She won’t.” He turned his gaze on Shaye and met her rebellious stare. “Will you?”
She buffed her fingernails. “We never agreed on a time frame.”
He expelled a hot breath. “Promise me you’ll stay here while I fight. If I’m worried about you, I won’t be able to concentrate on the sword being swung at me.”
She paled, a lovely ice queen. “So. The only thing I get out of this newest bargain is the life of my captor?”
“Contain your excitement. This isn’t a dream,” he said dryly. “Just...promise me.”
Her expression softened ever so slightly. “Fine. I promise. But after the fight...”
Satisfied, he looked to Broderick. “When I return, I want her in the same condition I’ve left her.”
“What about him?” Shaye hiked her thumb in Broderick’s direction. “Do you want him in the same condition?”
Valerian fought a grin. “Yes. Please.”
The woman at the warrior’s side pointed an accusing finger at Shaye. “You’re standing too close to my Broderick.”
Shaye rolled her eyes. “Sue me.”
Broderick puffed up his chest. “Martina is possessive of me, what can I say?”
Valerian crossed his arms over his chest. “Just make sure your Martina keeps her hands off Shaye, as well.”
“You mean I won’t get to catfight over a man I have no interest in?” Shaye twisted her fists under her eyes. “Tears. Sadness.”
“Fine,” he said in a mimic of her. “You can catfight her if you desire, but if you break her, I’ll owe Broderick another woman.”
Broderick nodded. “He would.”
Martina hissed at the warrior. “You would let someone hurt me? You wouldn’t protect me with your life?”
“Yes?” he said, looking to Valerian for help.
Shaye held up her hands, palms out. “All right. I can admit when I’m wrong, and I was wrong about the pheromone. It can’t overcome a bad personality.”
Valerian wanted to laugh. He wanted to kiss his woman again. Wanted to luxuriate in her heat and wetness as he tasted her sweetness.
She licked her lips, as if she read his thoughts. “Stop looking at me like that.”
“I can’t.” More important, he didn’t want to.
“You must. Get your head out of my pants and into the game.”
“Valerian!” A female squeal echoed behind his mate. “You’re here!”
His muscles turned to stone. Heading straight toward him? The redhead Joachim had slept with last night. On a mission, she shoved her way through the crowd.
“I came to wish you well.” She even shouldered Shaye out of the way, her focus solely on Valerian. “I just heard about the fight and wanted to cheer for you.”
He scowled at her, ready to issue a stinging rebuke. Without asking permission, she caressed his bare chest and cupped his backside. He reared back.
She chuckled. “You’re even sexier than I remembered. How about a quickie?”
He shook his head. “Our association is now and forever at an end.” He used a gentle tone, determined not to inflict unnecessary hurt. “I have a mate now.”
Her pink lips dipped into a pout. “So? I want you.”
“And I want a pony,” Shaye snapped. “We don’t always get what we want, do we?”
His first thought: What kind of pony? He would buy her an entire stable full.
She loved pink, and he remembered seeing a pink pony on his last trip through the Outer City.
His second thought: Was she jealous? He wanted her to be jealous. To long to keep him all to herself the way he longed to keep her.
“Valerian?” the redhead said. “I’m fine with you having a mate. She can join us.”
First things first. “I’ll never be willing to share my mate. With anyone.”
“Supposed mate,” Shaye interjected, her expression softening.
He frowned at her before continuing. “She’s all I want, all I need.”
Color
