The question pounded in his skull as he walked toward the command center, his panther desperate to hunt down their mate instead of facing another day of political theater. Somehow, he had to keep Jade from discovering the announcement, and had to find a way to build their connection while maintaining this charade with Sera.
And all the while, time was running out.
NINE
JADE
The humid morning air seemed to carry the weight of last night's encounter as Jade walked beside Brenn and Talia toward the training grounds. Her skin still burned with phantom heat from Raikar's touch, and the strange ache in her chest had persisted through a sleepless night. Every nerve ending felt hyperaware, as if his kiss had awakened something primal within her that refused to quiet.
Focus,she commanded herself, adjusting her training clothes.You're here to learn, not to pine after your impossibly attractive boss who kisses like he could consume your soul.
The kiss itself hadn't been disastrous—quite the opposite. It had been the most intense, wild, perfect kiss of her life, igniting a hunger she'd never experienced. But the fact that it was with her superior made it completely inappropriate, no matter how her traitorous body responded to the memory.
"General Raikar informed me this morning that you requested training against our panther forms," Talia announced, her tone carrying its usual edge of skepticism.
Jade's steps faltered slightly. He'd remembered. More than that, he'd actually followed through on her request, which sentan unexpected warmth spreading through her chest despite her resolve to maintain professional distance.
"Yes," Jade replied, lifting her chin with determination. "If I'm going to be here for a while helping with patrols and missions, I should know how to handle any threat—including panthers."
Brenn's warm green eyes lit up with admiration. "That's incredibly brave. Most humans would be terrified of facing one of us in shifted form."
"She's either brave or foolish," Talia muttered, but Jade caught the hint of respect flickering in her green gaze. "We'll see which one soon enough."
The training grounds buzzed with activity as other warriors went through their morning routines. The humid air wrapped around them like a living thing, carrying the scents of jungle flowers and something wild that spoke to a part of Jade she was still discovering.
This feels right,she realized with surprise.Like I was always meant to be here.
"I'll shift first," Talia continued, rolling her shoulders with predatory grace. "Brenn will stay human and demonstrate the defensive and offensive techniques. Then you'll replicate what you see."
Jade nodded, her pulse quickening with anticipation rather than fear. She'd never faced anything like this—had never imagined she'd be preparing to fight a panther. But something deep in her bones hummed with readiness, as if this challenge was exactly what she'd been waiting for.
Talia stepped back and removed her clothes without ceremony, her athletic frame tensing with controlled power. "Try not to embarrass yourself, Earth girl."
Then she shifted.
The transformation was breathtaking and terrifying in equal measure. Talia's human form dissolved into flowing muscle and midnight fur, her unique copper striping catching the alien sunlight. Where a woman had stood moments before, now crouched a magnificent panther—sleek, deadly, and absolutely stunning.
Jade's heart thundered against her ribs, but not with fear. With exhilaration.
"Beautiful," she breathed, earning a surprised look from Brenn.
"Most people say 'terrifying' first," Brenn observed with a small smile.
"She is that too." Jade's brown eyes tracked every ripple of muscle as Talia's panther prowled in a circle. "But the power, the grace—it's incredible."
Brenn moved closer to her sister's shifted form, her movements fluid and confident. "Watch carefully. These techniques were developed by General Raikar himself, refined through years of combat experience."
Of course they were. Even here, even now, everything circled back to the man who'd branded her with his kiss.
Brenn demonstrated a series of defensive maneuvers—how to read a panther's attack patterns, how to use their momentum against them, how to strike at vulnerable points without getting close enough to be mauled. Talia's panther cooperated with practiced ease, their movements a deadly dance that spoke of countless hours of training together.
"Your turn," Brenn called, stepping back.
Jade approached Talia's panther form with measured steps, her mind cataloging every detail. The way the powerful hindquarters coiled before a spring. The slight shift of weight that telegraphed direction. The intelligent gleam in those bright green eyes that promised this wouldn't be easy.
Good,Jade thought with fierce satisfaction.I don't want easy.
The first lunge came faster than expected, but Jade was ready. Years of martial arts training kicked in as she sidestepped, using the panther's momentum to deflect rather than absorb the impact. But Talia was far more aggressive with Jade than she'd been with Brenn, pressing the attack with relentless intensity.
