Chapter 17
Seventeen
ZAKAI
We watched for a little while as the men clashed over and over. Uttin was strong and steady, but Einar was intense and got the better of him several times. Each time, Uttin learned from his mistake and tried again. It was fascinating to watch.
At one point, they both removed their tunics. I enjoyed seeing Uttin’s muscles sparkling with sweat, bunching and shifting as he moved. Simon had to poke me in the side at one point because I couldn’t look away.
“You’re going to start drooling,” he commented with a snicker.
I flipped him off, refusing to drag my gaze away from Uttin.
He dropped low suddenly, and I sucked in a breath as he swept out his leg and knocked Einar off his feet, sitting on his chest as he swung toward Einar’s jaw.
Matthew let out a startled noise, and Uttin’s fist froze bare inches from Einar’s face.
He pulled back and rose to his feet, offering his hand to Einar, who slapped it away and stood on his own.
He grumbled something under his breath and Uttin nodded, allowing Einar to walk away.
Einar headed straight for Matthew, taking his wrist and pulling him away.
I watched in confusion until Simon explained, “Einar doesn’t like when Matthew is upset.
Matthew can only stay out here until it starts to upset him before Einar will take him away to calm down.
I assume he’ll be back later to pick up this lesson.
I’m going to go see my bondmate. Have fun! ”
He wiggled his fingers, then slipped through the crowd to where his bondmate was glowering. It surprised me that Simon would be with such a grump. I didn’t think it was part of his personality to put up with that. But whenever I was around, Simon’s bondmate was scowling, and I had no clue why.
“Tavi,” Uttin said as he came up to my side.
I turned to face him, grinning at the sweaty expanse of muscle right in front of me.
“Hello, handsome,” I purred.
“Zakai not cold?” he asked, amusement in his eyes.
I was cold, but also not. My toes were frozen, and my cheeks felt stiff from the temperature, but watching Uttin practice had been titillating and warmed my core considerably.
“Uttin warm me?” I queried, biting my lip.
Uttin grinned at me. “Soon.”
Sticking my lip out in a pout, I edged closer without pressing myself up against his sweaty skin. I liked it when we were naked in bed together, but I couldn’t say I wanted to rub my clothes against him and get them dirty.
A barbarian with long braids and a smirk on his face clapped Uttin on the shoulder, his words slow like he was used to speaking around tributes. “Einar will be gone a while. Go see to your tribute.”
“He’s not a tribute,” Uttin grumbled, and a part of me felt I had to be imagining the disappointment on his face. Did he wish I was?
Why did that thought give me butterflies?
The man looked curious about the distinction, but Uttin didn’t stick around to explain. He pulled me away from the group, rubbing his hands up and down my arms to keep me warm. I was considering ignoring the sweat to cuddle against him when he spoke again.
“You go tent,” he demanded with a frown. “You cold.”
I made a face at him. “You warm.”
He huffed a small laugh, shaking his head. “I train. You rest.”
Well, that sounded like no fun. Simon was busy with his barbarian, and I wanted attention from mine.
I stuck out my lip in a pout, looking up at him through my lashes, a move Abdul said would convince any enemy to give me what I wanted.
I watched as Uttin wavered, his expression softening as his hand came up to gently caress my cheek.
He said a word I didn't recognize, but it was said with such exasperated affection, my heart skipped a beat.
He sighed and capitulated, making me grin as he nodded until he told me what we’d be doing. “Fine. We train. Cloak off, tavi.”
I backtracked, shaking my head rapidly, but he grabbed me by the front of my tunic and pulled me closer, tugging the ties holding the cloak together and yanking it off me. I would have been turned on by that move if he hadn’t exposed me to the wind and cold.
“Asshole! Give me that back!”
“In my tongue, tavi,” he called back with a smirk. “Want warm? Keep moving.”
I ran after him, trying to grab my cloak back, but whenever my fingertips brushed it, he yanked it away again, grinning.
The rest of the barbarians who’d gathered started shouting encouragements I only half understood, but I recognized a few that were meant for me and were supportive.
Things that Uttin would say to me before he started rewarding me with sex.
“Keep going!”
“You can do it!”
In my own language, Simon shouted, “Ignore the cloak! Go for the asshole instead!”
Snickering, I took his advice, taking Uttin off guard as I twisted and tackled him. I was aware I only pulled it off because he wasn’t expecting it, but I took immense satisfaction when he let out an oomph as he hit the ground with me on top of him.
“Up! Before he—” Simon began, but Uttin got the advantage before he could finish, rolling to put me beneath him with my arms pinned like he did when we were in bed together.
I didn’t get a chance to make a suggestive comment or even feel the cold on my back before he yanked me back onto my feet, taking a few steps back and beckoning me with a smug smirk.
“Come on, Tavi. Come get me.”
It became a game of me attempting to tackle him and Uttin dodging me or pushing me away.
Every once in a while, he’d correct me, nudging me into a better position before stepping back and beckoning me again.
Usually when he did that, I tried to take him off guard before he could fully get into position, but he didn’t seem to mind my cheating.
He just laughed and bearhugged me until my bones squeaked and I had to beg him to release me.
It was the most fun I’d had in a long while, and no one made snide comments or shamed me for not getting the best of my barbarian, no matter how many times he won.
The teasing shouts all seemed to be directed at Uttin, while the encouragement was all for me.
I could get used to this kind of treatment.
UTTIN
I wasn’t sure if Zakai was even aware we were training.
He enjoyed the play, doing what he could to knock me down, and laughing all the while.
I figured with his bratty disposition, he would take offense if I trained him as I would a new fighter.
He didn’t take it well when he didn’t learn things correctly the first time.
His language skills said as much, and only when I took Simon’s advice did he truly start learning.
He needed the lessons to be fun to wish to continue.
After he managed to knock me on my back by tripping us both, I helped him up again and said, “Your turn.”
His frown was full of suspicion when he asked, “My turn?”
I lunged at him, and he only escaped being tackled by the skin of his teeth.
If he had been wearing my cloak, I would have grabbed him easily.
He yelped and took off, racing away from me, but I was faster than he was and dodged in front of him, capturing him in a big hug and twisting to dump him onto the ground.
I came with him so he wouldn’t be embarrassed, catching my weight on my hands to not crush him underneath me.
“Cold!” he protested with a wince. Before now, whenever he fell, he’d landed on top of me or I yanked him up quickly, protecting him from the snow beneath our feet. With all the training, I didn’t feel the cold anymore, but Zakai was unused to the snow. He didn’t like lying upon it.
“Don’t let me win, then,” I grinned.
I heard Simon call out a translation and Zakai’s eyes widened in outrage.
He pushed me until I moved off of him, jumping to his feet and running again.
Chuckling to myself, I chased him, snagging the back of his tunic to pull him back to me.
He twisted using one of the moves I’d shown him when he was chasing me, causing me to lose my grip, and his expression was elated when he danced a few steps away.
“Ha! I win—eep!”
I snatched him again before he could get too boastful, this time carrying him toward a tall pile of snow deep enough to submerge him if I were feeling cruel.
He scrambled in my arms, trying to get away, and when that didn’t work, he clung to me to the point where his nails dug into my skin, eyes wide and horrified.
I held him out over the pile with a grin.
“No!” he cried, tightening his grip and grimacing as he braced himself for the cold.
I didn't actually let go. I pulled him back against my chest, cradling him like a babe. He peeked one eye open, wrinkling his nose at my raised eyebrow and the smug smile still pulling at my lips.
“Mean,” he muttered, clinging a little tighter to my neck.
I hummed, setting him on his feet on the packed snow where he was safe.
He didn’t immediately release me, keeping his body pressed against mine like he was soaking in my warmth.
My heart twisted again in my chest, and I found myself holding him tighter, trying to soak in as much of his presence as I could before I was forced to let him go.
Einar returned, allowing me to set those thoughts aside to return to my training.
And despite the cold, Zakai remained close, sticking near the fire with Simon as he watched me try to keep up with Einar’s aggressive movements.
With him watching, I was more determined to stand my ground and not embarrass myself.
It didn’t make it much easier to combat Einar, who trained daily like his life depended on it, but I managed to keep my feet more than I had before, and when we were finally finished, Orthorr, who had joined at one point, gave me a proud smile and a nod.
Zakai appeared in front of me, giving me that pretty pout that made me want to kiss him senseless. “I’m cold. Warm me?”
Chuckling, I nodded and jerked my chin in the direction of my tent. “Let’s go.”
He beamed at my easy agreement, leading the way with a skip in his step.
I watched him with a soft smile, trying to memorize every aspect of his presence while I could.
True beauty wasn’t just on the outside, though Zakai was easily the most beautiful person I’d ever seen.
No, his spirit matched his smile, and I was beginning to think I would never get enough of him.