Juno’s staring at me, eyebrows raised. “Are you all right?”
“Of course.” I stop wiping my brow and pretend I was trying to fix my freshly shorn hair. It’s probably sticking up every which way. Oh well.
Juno harrumphs, and I half turn away to surreptitiously fan myself. All this sultry heat is making me thirsty. It’s just the summer-hot suns, right? That’s what’s making my insides boil.
Aurus stares broodily across the arena, a sweat-soaked god of a king. Either he’s unhappy, or he has resting prick-face. He looks about half a second away from shouting, “This is Sparta!” and push-kicking someone into a pit.
I raise a hand, and a strong jet of perfume washes over me: a rich, floral scent as thick as honey. I angle my head down and sniff my armpit. The smell is coming from me. It’s sweet and strong, hitting my system like a shot of whiskey. My stomach does a languid flip.
Armor creaks at the end of the hall. One of the guards has pulled his helmet off. His blunt, blue face is slick. His eyes are inky black. He raises his head, and sniffs the air.
When he lowers his head, he’s looking straight at me.
I take a step back, my skin crawling under the Alpha’s gaze. It’s like someone put a thousand fragrant flowers into the stuffy space, or baked a hundred cinnamon rolls. The scent is delicious and enticing. I straighten, willing myself to stop smelling up the place, but it’s too late. I smell like an apple pie, and the Alpha guard wants to take a bite out of me.
“Kim.” Juno whirls to me, eyes wide. Her lips move but I don’t hear a sound. The Alpha behind her has tossed aside his helmet and is racing towards us. Towards me.
“Look out!” I shout, and push Juno aside. She stumbles against the back wall, out of the soldier’s path. He’s charging like a linebacker, darkness in his eyes.
“No,” Juno cries, but it’s too late. The Alpha is several strides away from me, and once he grabs me, it will all be over.
My legs take off before I know what I’m doing. I sprint two, three feettowardsthe Alpha—and leap. My hand comes down on his armored shoulder at just the right moment and I fly over him, twisting in a flip.
A second, and it’s over. I’m back on my feet, staring at the charging Alpha’s back. His weapon is in my hand. Somehow, I snatched it from its sheath as he was rushing me. As I was flipping over his head.
Holy shit! I know Jiu Jitsu!
Beside me, Juno’s frozen. Her mouth hangs open.
Armor creaks behind me. The second Alpha is sniffing the air.
I drop into a crouch, my weapon raised.
“Kim,” Juno whispers. Her temples are damp. “They can scent you and they’re going into rut. You must run.”
“You go first,” I whisper back, and she shakes her head.
With a roar, the second soldier charges. The first has stripped off his breastplate and crouched down. Now he can move more easily.
Both guards go still at the same time, sighting me, sizing me up. I scoot back from Juno to draw them away from her, until my back is braced against the railing.
There’s nowhere to go.
The guards charge.
Juno shouts my name.
I grab the top of the railing and swing myself up to balance at the top. My filmy robe threatens to tangle my feet, but I jerk it up to my knees.
“Stay back,” I order. The Alphas slow down but keep slinking forward. I rise, my jaw clenched as I hold up my robe, using my other arm for balance. “Don’t come any closer.”
Juno has her hand over her mouth.
The Alphas have noticed each other and stopped. They growl, both apparently sensing a rival.
“Juno, get away. Get help,” I whisper. “Please.”
She whimpers but presses against the wall, inching towards the door. At least she’ll be safe.
