Page 85 of Warrior's Captive
Focus.
Silence.
She whirled, and her kick connected with strong hands. Tai’ri, clothed in black and silent as a shadow, threw her onto her back.
She scissored to her feet, engaged.
He wasn’t nearly as harsh as Banujani. He pulled his attacks at the last moment, fingers skimming her body where Banujani would have let the blow connect. Where it was a fight with the female guard, with Tai’ri it was a . . . dance.
But it had been a long day and no matter how her blood fired her limbs, those same limbs were on the brink of collapse. Banujani was right; her endurancewaspoor—and she had other plans for tonight. Though it occurred to her she could have gone about this in a less disheveled way.
“Enough,” Tai’ri said, voice deep and quiet in the night.
Vivian halted, panting, drawing in great gulps of air into her lungs. “You’re home.”
His mouth quirked in a smile. “I’m home.” He took her hand and drew her inside. “You’re tired, should be resting.” His fingers brushed her face, leaving heat where he touched her, and he turned to the inset fridge.
Tai’ri poured them one of his post workout smoothies he prepared in batches. “I wanted to wait up for you. I wanted to ask you about the marks.”
He leaned back against the counter, sipping his drink, and stared at her. “Ask.”
“Today while I was training, it was as if I slipped into a trance. I’m a raw beginner, but . . . it didn’t feel like it. The moves felt familiar, as if I’d done them many times before.”
“Good.”
She watched him, narrowing her eyes. “I don’t know much about your people’s medtech with these tattoos, and your Inkmaster’s seem to be priests or something, but can the marks transfer data? Memory?”
He considered her. “We aren’t fully bonded. Threads are there.”
That didn’t really answer the question. She waited.
“Yes,” he said finally, “that’s one of the possible benefits. Doesn’t always happen like that, but it can. Interesting.”
“I’m getting stronger. Faster.” She tilted her head, looked up at him through her lashes. “I landed a blow on Banujani today.”
He lifted a brow, eyes glinting.
“Come on, you know that means something. Banujani isruthless.”
“If she underestimated you enough that you were allowed to hit her, she won’t make that mistake again.”
Vivian grimaced. “Well, I guess my bruises would be lonely without company.”
He set his drink down and then lifted her up into his arms, striding to the couch. He sat, cradling her in his lap.
“Let me see,” he demanded. “She shouldn’t be so hard on you. You’re a beginner.”
She nuzzled his neck with her nose, inhaling his unique scent, then pressed a kiss against his skin.
Tai’ri stilled. “What did Vykhan want? Why was he here?” His voice was slightly hoarse.
“Hmm. He just said I was on the first step to Silence. Then he left.”
She’d been exhausted, but resting in his arms renewed her energy. Energy, and the desire that simmered in her blood, growing stronger asshegrew stronger.
Strong enough to hold her own against that darkness he kept hidden. Strong enough to be his bonded mate. completely.
She shifted, turning to straddle his lap and looked into his half wary, half slumberous gaze. Her hands rose, tangling in the hair at his nape.
