“But he’s not, is he?” Kate said, swallowing.“Really, I’m perfectly fine.Bruises are harmless.”
Bidan studied her.Kate always got the sense that he could see everything about her.He just had that air about him.She blew out a small sigh of relief when he let it go and said, “What would you like for your first meal?”
“Oh, I’m not really that…” she trailed off, when she saw the stern look on Bidan’s features.
With an innocent tone, he said, “Well, if you do not wish to eat, then we will have time to see Privanax.”
Why that little…
Kate narrowed her eyes but Bidan simply waited, content to let her make her decision.What was with pushy, bossy Luxirian men?
“Breakfast sounds wonderful,” she said.
* * *
Sweat and blood dripped down his body and yet Vaxa’an rasped, “Again.”
He’d taken to training three times a day to prepare for the Trials.He had half of a lunar cycle to prepare.And the Trials had been capped at five opponents.Only five could challenge a Prime Leader during the Trials because it was said that a Prime Leader should possess the strength and endurance of five warriors.An old saying, but one that they still respected.
Ever since those first two warriors had challenged him, the rest of the spots had been filled quickly.The Trials would happen in rounds.Vaxa’an would face each of his challengers, one after another.He would see to it that every single warrior would lie in a pool of their own blood by the time he was finished with them.
He was born to be the Prime Leader of his proud Luxiria.He had come from a long line of Prime Leaders, whom had all been challenged at some point during their rule and all had stepped forward victorious from the Trials.Vaxa’an would make sure that his outcome was no different.Not only would he fight for his Luxiria, his home, but he would never let harm come to his mate or offspring. If he were to lose, if he were to die, he was not sure that evenhecould ensure their safety.
Even though it had been centuries since a Prime Leader had reached the cap of five opponents, Vaxa’an simply wouldn’t fail.He refused.He would train every moment of the span if he had to, to build upon his endurance, to push his body harder.He’d been through worse during military training, he reasoned.
Lihvan and Rixavox were overseeing his training session.Rixavox nodded and summoned forward two more warriors into the pit.
They both inclined their heads, a sign of respect for their Prime Leader, before the next round began.He’d already defeated three warriors and he wanted to make quick work of these two before he called a break to the session.
The fight began.
It was short, mostly a blur of sharp claws, blue blood spatters, and searing gashes that would turn to scars with time.Vaxa’an took advantage of every opportunity he could to make contact and he did so without shame.The Trials didn’t have any rules.It had one truth: one lived, one died.In Vaxa’an’s case, five would die.
With a gouge of his claws and a bone-tingling crack, he defeated one of the warriors.Fatigue began to dull his body, slow his movements, but he pushed forward, thinking of his mate heavy with their child.He would be there to welcome their child into this world.
Vaxa’an made no sound when his opponent caught him on the upper thigh, shredding his flesh like delicate paper.Blood loss made him stagger.
But the session continued.Finally, Vaxa’an saw an opening when his opponent misstepped, allowing a brief moment for him to strike.
His opponent fell to the stone ground with a hiss when Vaxa’an made contact.
“Enough, Prime Leader,” Rixavox said quietly, approaching him.“We need to close your wounds.”
Vaxa’an gave a sharp nod, his breaths coming fast.He looked down at his thigh and saw his entire leg was covered in blood.He might have to take his morning session off tomorrow if it didn’t heal in time.The wound was deep.
Lihvan dismissed the other warriors from the training room and they all filed out until it was just the three of them left.
“Keep training like this and there will be nothing left of you for your opponents to bloody,” Lihvan commented.
Vaxa’an made a growling sound in the back of his throat.“I did not ask your opinion.”
Lihvan huffed out a breath.“You have been on edge this span.Here.”He thrust a flask at him.“You need this more than I do.”
Vaxa’an took it, tipping his head back to drink.The strong brew burned his throat and helped numb the pain radiating from his leg.He took another long pull from the flask before thrusting it back.
Lihvan shook his head and gave him a smirk.“Keep it, friend.”
Rixavox stole it from his hand and after taking a swig, he tipped the flask over Vaxa’an’s wound.
