Page 10 of Naga Warrior's Mate

“No threats,” Dernin said, his voice deadly calm.“Just facts.The lady isn’t interested.And you’re going to leave.Now.”

Bariv’s face contorted with rage, his massive frame tensing.The space between them crackled with potential violence, like the moment before lightning struck.

Heavy footsteps soon echoed down the corridor as a guard rounded the corner, drawn by their confrontation.“What’s going on?”

Dernin’s scales rippled with satisfaction as he caught the guard’s recognition of the human woman.

“The redhead’s off limits, Bariv,” the guard barked.“Direct orders from Fyret himself.No one touches her.”

Bariv’s filaments writhed with barely contained rage.“This isn’t over,” he growled, shouldering past Dernin.His bulk cast a shadow across the stones as he stalked away.

The guard’s boots scraped against the stone floor as he continued his patrol, leaving them alone in the torch-lit corridor.Dernin’s tongue flicked out, tasting a hint of rose—her scent.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice steady despite what had just happened.She kept her distance, those striking blue eyes assessing him with careful consideration.

“I’m Dernin.”He inclined his head, making sure to keep his movements slow and nonthreatening.His warrior training had taught him how to appear less intimidating when needed, despite his impressive height and build.

“Alaysia.”She pushed away from the wall but maintained the space between them.Her fingers twisted in her dress.

“Why did you help me?”The question carried an edge of suspicion that made his jaw clench.

“Because it was the right thing to do.”His golden eyes met hers.“And Bariv’s a piece of work who needed to be put in his place.”

She studied him for a few moments, her head tilted slightly.Something sparked between them in that moment—an understanding, perhaps, or recognition.

“You’re not like the others here,” she said, a statement rather than a question.

“Neither are you.”The words came unbidden, but they felt true.

Alaysia’s silk dress rustled as she took a small step closer to Dernin.His scales tingled at her proximity, every sense attuned to her movements.

“I watched you fight earlier,” she said, her blue eyes meeting his without fear.“The way you move...it’s different from the other fighters.More controlled.More purposeful.”

Dernin’s chest swelled with an old familiar pride.His tail shifted against the floor, maintaining perfect balance as he turned to face her fully.

“You know something about fighting?”The question came out deeper than intended, his interest piqued.

“I know enough to recognize skill when I see it.”A smile played at the corners of her mouth.“That last move, when you used your opponent’s momentum against him—that wasn’t just brute force.That was strategy.”

His jaw unclenched slightly.Most spectators only saw the violence, the blood.She had seen the art beneath it.“In true combat, strength means nothing without—”

“Alaysia!”Marcella’s voice cut through their conversation.The older woman hurried down the corridor, her practical shoes clicking against stone.“We need to go.Now.”

Alaysia’s spine straightened, though her eyes lingered on Dernin’s face.“I have to—”

“Now,” Marcella insisted, taking Alaysia’s arm.

Dernin watched them hurry away, his eyes tracking the flash of red hair until it disappeared around the corner.The scent of roses lingered in the air, teasing his senses.

The warrior in him recognized something in her—a fighter’s spirit wrapped in silk and beauty.But there was more.Something made his scales ripple with awareness and woke the protective instincts he’d thought buried under months of survival.

He needed to know more about her.About the woman who saw past the slave fighter to the warrior beneath.

Chapter 6

Dernin

SweatdrippeddownDernin’sscales on his back as he coiled his tail beneath him, joining the other fighters in the ring.The day’s matches had left him sore but satisfied.He’d dominated his opponent with a swift combination of strikes that ended the fight in minutes.The cheering still echoed in his ears, though now they waited in expectant silence.

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