It already killed me that we had to have sex with other people to sate our urges.
When we found our missing mate and completed our soul bonds, I would shred anyone to pieces who tried to touch what was mine.
Devils didn’t just love our mates; we owned them. Body, spirit, and soul.
My mates were my destiny.
People like Arabella would never understand. It was pure devotion.
My gut punched with worry when I spotted Scorpius’ large frame sitting alone in the stands. On the surface, he looked bored. But even from such a distance, I could see how stiff his posture was and his occasional flinches.
Students screamed noisily around him.
He didn’t have us beside him to whisper about everything that was happening. Orion saw where I was looking, and he grimaced in agreement.
I forced myself to look away and not worry about my Protector.
He’d be okay.
It felt wrong to be preparing to compete without him beside us. We were a unit. My mates were an extension of myself.
I felt exposed without him by my side.
Lothaire swallowed a glowing blue pill and opened his mouth. His voice was broadcast loudly around the stadium, and he said, “It is my honor to kick off the first Legionnaire Games in centuries. For our first competition, the gods have a simple request for all the competitors.”
He paused.
Raised his arm and pointed to the sky. “Each competitor must climb to the top of one post. Whoever does not make it to the top loses. You have one hour. Time starts now.”
There was a second of stillness as everyone processed what he’d said.
Then the lawn erupted as competitors ran to one of the two dozen posts surrounding the field. There was more than enough for each to have their own, but an angel competitor shoved a leviathan competitor to the ground. A man from the devil legion ripped an assassin competitor off a post and said, “This one’s mine, get your own.”
The three of us ignored the crowd. We jogged to the far side of the arena away from everyone else.
Orion took the post to my right and Arabella was to my left.
I glanced back, and two angels unfurled their wings, flying upward with crazy speed. The third angel was a large dangerous looking man with two different colored eyes, and he stared at Arabella with his lips curled in disgust.
She didn’t even notice.
I cracked my knuckles and made a point of glaring at him.
His eyes flashed over to me, and he spread his wings and shot upward into the air.
Agitation made my already tense muscles ache. Uncomfortable warmth spread across my limbs, and I concentrated on keeping the fever at bay.
It was hard enough looking after my Protector and Revered.
Arabella was chaos incarnate and seemed to attract trouble everywhere she went. Having her life tied to ours was a distraction I didn’t need.
Ignoring the other competitors and students shouting encouragement, I turned to my post and focused on solving the problem.
My fingers trailed across the smooth material. It was a sturdy wood. The posts were the stalks of the mighty oak trees that grew hundreds of feet tall in the Olympus realm.
It was too broad to wrap my arms around and too smooth to rock climb up.
There was only one solution.
I focused on the enchanted metal that capped our ears and helped suppress our powers. A gift from the sun god.
Whoosh.
The metal ear caps floated upward above my head. Click. Click. Click. Shards pulled apart and formed a floating crown.
I grunted and tensed as the enchantment stopped concealing my power and the ache in my bones doubled. The sudden fever made me sweat, and my body convulsed in pain, muscles aching.
Flames exploded across every inch of my skin.
To my right, Orion’s crown also floated above his blond hair. His head was tipped back, eyes open, and he silently screamed.
My instincts went wild.
Flames multiplying.
I wanted to help my Revered, but I was one second from losing control and burning everything and everyone.
Breathing roughly through my nose, I concentrated on thinking calming thoughts. Your mates are healthy. Your mates are safe. You are in control.
Surprisingly the thoughts worked, and the fever receded quicker than it usually did.
As I was wiping sweat off my forehead, someone choked to my left.
Arabella gaped at us.
She stared at my face, and I couldn’t help but grin and flash my long, razor-sharp fangs. I waved at her mockingly, and my long black claws clicked together.
When I spoke, my voice was a monster’s growl. “Keep up, slave. Otherwise, it might hurt.” I pointedly looked up at where the posts towered above us.
She grimaced and nodded as if she had realized our predicament.
We hadn’t tested the exact bounds of the slave tattoo, but the top of the post was much further than the few hallways away she’d been when it had acted up.
“Want me to carry you, baby?” Orion’s lyrical voice tinkled, and I turned around to glare at him because he knew better than to speak so loudly.
He ignored me and kept his attention focused on Arabella.
Luckily, the other competitors were spread out far enough away that no one had seen him speak. Good thing because he looked more glorious than usual with his gold crown floating above his head.
His handsome features were somehow more stunning with razor-sharp teeth and black claws on his hands and feet. He looked deliciously dangerous.
“You’re not carrying her,” I growled with annoyance. “It’s too dangerous.”
No way would I risk my Revered falling because Arabella wanted to play the role of a weak princess that needed rescuing.
“No thanks, baby. I’m good,” Arabella said sarcastically, and I turned to her with suspicion. What was she playing at?
Then her eyes went midnight black and light-blue ice tipped the ends of her fingers in small claws. The sharp points were one third the size of ours and weren’t on her toes too, but they were still surprising.
My jaw dropped.
It was more proof of what I’d always suspected. Fae don’t have black eyes or claws.
What game was she playing at?
Before I could question her, Arabella dug her ice claws into the wood and started hauling herself upward with her toned arms. She pressed outward with her feet to generate some purchase, but most of her ascent came from her arm muscles.
After a few shaky pulls, she settled into a rhythm and climbed. Fast.
Respect unfurled in my gut. Her strength was impressive.
I shook my head to clear my ridiculous thoughts. She’s just lighter as a woman. It’s easier for her to climb, nothing to get excited about.
Nodding at Orion to make sure he was good to go, I dug my finger-and-toe claws into the posts and hauled myself up. Fast as lightning, I climbed.
It helped that Arabella was in front of me.
My competitive spirit flared up, and I decided there was no way I was losing to a woman.
So I didn’t.
When I finally pulled myself onto the top of the post, I was covered in sweat and panting from exertion. My arms were limp, and there was a sharp burning sensation stabbing my gut.
I easily ignored my exhaustion.
Balancing on my haunches, I knelt on the wide, flat circle of the post and smiled. This competition was going to be easy.
I marveled at our surroundings. We were above the clouds.
If I reached my hand out, it felt like I could touch the dark-red eclipse.