Chapter 9 #2
A moment’s hesitation crept in—long enough for regret to follow.
“Doctore,” I said carefully, “if it is permitted… might it be better if I observed Jorius instead? I’m already familiar with him—”
He turned fully toward me. The change was immediate. His eyes hardened, his presence bearing down until the space itself seemed to recoil.
“You do not make suggestions. You do not negotiate. And you do not question my orders!”
His breath hit my face, and I flinched.
“Not now,” he continued. “Not ever.”
A knot formed in my throat. For a moment, the word wouldn’t come. Then I forced it out. “Understood.”
“Good.” He pointed again, this time with finality. “Move.”
I moved at once, my pulse hammering as I ran toward the far enclosure. The weight of watching eyes pressed against my back, and laughter followed. I refused to look back as I slowed a cautious distance from Kharos’s enclosure.
He stood inside the iron bars. Up close, his fur was sleek and glossy. Those green eyes fixed on me with unsettling focus. Slowly, I lifted my hand, stopping at the hot iron rather than reaching through. “Easy,” I murmured, unsure whether the word was meant for him or for myself.
He tilted his head. The motion was small, almost dismissive. His eyes dropped briefly—taking in my stance—before lifting again.
Then he turned, and my mouth fell open.
He presented his backside before lowering himself onto the sand, beginning to groom, thoroughly unimpressed.
Heat crept up my neck. No saber had ever reacted to me this way. Refusing to retreat into it, I planted my feet. I had faced worse than this. Worse than warriors’ laughter and a saber’s scrutiny. Elion had trained me. I had faced real threats before, and I wouldn’t falter now.
I reached for the gate. Before I could open it, footsteps approached behind me. Warmth bloomed at my piercing, and my skin prickled as if heat radiated from a single point between my shoulders.
“What do you think you’re doing? Move, you foolish woman. He will rip you apart.”
A large hand seized my shoulder and dragged me back. I stumbled before regaining my footing, another arm steadying me.
“This is her. The new Bondward.”
I looked up. Cassius stood before me. And behind him stood Thanor—like a shadow that needed no announcement. His arms were crossed, his expression unreadable. Up close, he was exactly as he had been at the Aedile’s villa, unsettling and impossible to ignore.
He wore very little armor. Only dark leather straps crossed his bare torso, leaving much of his bronze skin exposed.
Thick bracers encased his massive forearms, chains resting against his skin, while leather trousers and mail greaves protected his legs.
The saber tattoo inked across his chest drew me in, its eyes holding mine. My fingers curled.
“Hello, Cassius. Nice to see you again.” I deliberately avoided Thanor, pulling my hair back with tighter fingers than necessary and wiping the sweat from my brow.
“Kharos needs work today,” Cassius said, gesturing behind me. “He needs a deep muscle massage. We will focus on his flank and hind limbs. He will fight in the Maw tomorrow at midday.”
“There is a match tomorrow?”
He nodded. “The midday bout. We will prepare Kharos to the best of our ability.”
Before I could respond, his hand paused at his belt and he frowned.
“I left my satchel in my chamber. The oils we need for the massage are in there.” He stepped back, already turning, then hesitated.
His gaze swept briefly toward Gaius before returning to me.
“Observe only. I’ll be back in a moment. ”
His eyes shifted to Thanor. For the briefest moment, he looked as though he meant to say something, then thought better of it and strode away.
The silence he left behind pressed in. Thanor’s presence became impossible to ignore—the heat at my piercing didn’t relent.
I forced myself not to touch it and faced him.
He was huge, towering over me even more than Doctore.
His dark hair was drawn back at the crown, leaving only a few loose strands to fall across his heavy brows.
They softened nothing. If anything, they made him seem even more intimidating.
I cleared my throat. “I’m Valentina. I’ll be observing today, but I was told to assist where needed.”
He took his time. His gaze slid over me in a slow sweep, recognition flickered before it was carefully smoothed away.
“You are the Praetor’s whore.”
For a beat, I had no words. How dare he.
“I am no man’s whore,” I spat.
Surprise flickered across his features before it settled into a harsh mask.
“Don’t do anything foolish. Do not step inside this enclosure if you value your life.”
That was it. No greeting. No apology. I forced myself not to bristle. Whatever satisfaction he might gain from rattling me, I refused to give it to him.
“Thank you for your wise words. I’d rather not make enemies on my first day, so perhaps it would be better if we keep our distance.”
“You won’t make an enemy of me,” he said, noting my balled fists. “If you do as you’re told.”
He strode past me without another word, close enough that the air stirred against my arm. My hand lifted unconsciously, trying to contain the sensation where my piercing pulsed traitorously in response to his proximity.
He reached for a pair of one-handed axes resting on an inner rack and secured them to his belt with practiced ease. Without looking back, he walked toward the wooden training poles at the far end of the courtyard.
Kharos lifted his head and followed him wherever he went. So did I. My attention lingered on his broad shoulders. I’d swallowed rules all morning and bent where required. But being reduced to the roles of a foolish woman and a whore pushed against my restraint. And I snapped.
“So this is the legendary Ringbreaker of Caelora,” I sneered, the words slipping out before I could stop them. “Your manners are lacking for a champion.”
His steps faltered, enough to show he’d heard. But he didn’t turn. Didn’t look back. For a heartbeat, I wondered if he would respond at all.
He kept walking, his boots striking the packed earth as he crossed to the training poles, as if my words hadn’t been worth the effort of acknowledgment. The dismissal stung far more than a rebuke would have. Kharos regarded me closely, curiosity flickering in his expression.
Fine . Manners and respect clearly had to be earned here. My actions would have to speak for me. A slow breath left me as I forced my temper back under control, wondering—not for the first time—what madness made me feel drawn to that bastard.
A monster without manners. He was in the right place. A man meant to be caged, preferably far away and at a respectable distance from me.
I clasped my hands loosely before me, my gaze fixed on the enclosure as if patience alone might summon Cassius faster.
The sounds of steel striking wood filled the grounds alongside growls and the roar of sabers.
My fingers itched to work, to grow familiar with Kharos, but I couldn’t shake Thanor’s warning.
Would Kharos really kill me if I entered his space? Before impulse tempted me to find out, Cassius returned. His satchel hung over one shoulder, and he was slightly out of breath.
“I apologize for keeping you,” he said, already moving past me. “Let us begin. I had a word with Doctore and he has approved you approaching Kharos.”
He paused before the iron bars, gathering his silver-streaked hair into a tie at the nape of his neck. His worn Bondward leathers creaked as he rested a hand against the bars. Large green eyes shifted to him.
“Kharos, this is Valentina,” he said calmly. “She will be working alongside me today.”
Kharos regarded me again, his posture tense.
“Do not worry about Vayren. He’s not a kind man. All he does is train. I’ve barely spoken a few words with him myself.”
“I’m not worried,” I replied, keeping my tone even, betraying none of the irritation simmering beneath.
“Good. Try entering the enclosure. We’ll see how Kharos reacts to your proximity. But tread carefully. I wasn’t allowed inside for two whole weeks. He trusts no one. At the slightest tensing of his shoulders get out immediately.”
His words didn’t exactly inspire confidence. But it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t back down. Once he opened the gate, I slipped inside and approached Kharos with measured confidence. My stance widened, shoulders set as I faced him.
He rose slowly, a low tension rippling through him. His formidable height dwarfed me as he stalked closer. I swallowed, a bead of sweat tracing my neck.
He stopped directly before me, lowering his massive head. Then his jaws parted, revealing teeth the size of my hand.
Heat washed over my face as his breath spilled across my skin, rank and hot. My knees nearly gave.
This was it.
For a moment I nearly retreated—Thanor’s warning flaring in my mind. Cassius hurried closer, ready to intervene. But what could he possibly do if this beast decided he would have me? Nothing. No one could stand against his magnificence.
Instead of shrinking from the fear, I accepted it. And surrendered it to him. I stared straight at him. Without wavering. Without flinching.
He tensed, confusion flickering through his posture before lowering his muzzle to my neck. He sniffed once, then gave a low growl and turned away, settling beside the bars to bask in the sunlight.
“What…” Cassius faltered, standing before me with raised brows.
A thrill stirred in me. “He seems to accept me?” I faced Cassius with a bright smile.
“He does… strange. It took me forever to even be able to come near him. You must have a way with sabers.” He studied me, something brightening his expression. “You truly are Elion’s niece through and through.”
I ducked my head beneath the praise and cleared my throat. “Thank you, Cassius. That means a lot.”