Page 14 of Daring the Drakarn Warrior Lord
I didn't recognize them by name, but I'd seen them in the training yards. Novice warriors, probably not much older than Eden, but still twice my size and armed with natural weapons I'd never possess.
My human flesh felt more exposed than ever.
"Eden, go home, now." My voice came out flat, commanding. Military.
"Yes, little softscale, go home," the purple one said, his voice a mockery of mine. His fangs gleamed in the light.
The red one flared his wings, the membrane throwing our shadows against the wall. "Run, little girl."
"Do it, Eden." I didn't take my eyes off them, but I was relieved to hear Eden's retreating footsteps. The sound faded quickly, swallowed by the stone corridors. Good. She didn't need to see this idiocy.
The purple one took a step closer, his claws clicking against the stone floor. "Look at this, Vareth. The human thinks she can stand against us."
"Pathetic," Vareth agreed. His tail lashed behind him like an angry cat's. "No scales, no claws, no wings. What are you going to do, soft thing? Bleed on us?"
They circled me slowly, testing, looking for weakness. This wasn't random harassment. This was calculated intimidation, designed to make me feel small and helpless. It might have worked if I hadn't spent the last eight months learning to survive in a world that wanted me dead.
"The Skalanth begins soon," the purple one continued, his voice taking on the tone of someone reciting scripture. "A time for true warriors to prove their worth. To bring honor to Scalvaris through strength and skill."
"Not like the cowards who hide behind their mates," Vareth added, his gaze raking over me with obvious disgust. "Real warriors earn their place through blood and victory."
"But the Warrior Lord's pet knows nothing of honor," Vareth said.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. This again. As if I hadn't heard it a hundred times before.
The accusation was tired and completely predictable. Darrokar's human mate, too weak to fight, too soft to belong, corrupting their perfect warrior society with my mere existence. I didn't give a single damn about their opinions, but apparently, they hadn't gotten the message.
"Challenge us," the purple one said, stepping closer. His breath was hot against my face, carrying the scent of smoke and sulfur. "Prove you belong here. Show us this honor you claim to possess."
"Unless you're too frightened," Vareth added with a sneer. "Too weak. Toohuman."
My hand tightened on my blade's hilt, but I didn't draw it. They wanted me to make the first move, to give them justification for what they planned to do anyway.
In Scalvaris, attacking an opponent unprovoked carried serious consequences, especially when that opponent was mated to the Warrior Lord. But if I drew first, if I made it a formal challenge, all bets were off.
And while I'd had months of practice, while I could hold my own against some of the Drakarn in training, two on one against warriors who'd been fighting since they could walk were not odds I was willing to chance. I wasn't suicidal.
The sound of running footsteps echoed through the corridor, human feet pounding against stone. Multiple sets, moving fast and with purpose. Relief flooded through me, followed immediately by worry. If my people got involved, this could escalate beyond anyone's control.
"What the fuck do you weasels want?" Vega demanded.
So much for diplomacy.
Lexa and Hawk flanked Vega, all armed and ready for violence. The dynamic in the corridor shifted instantly. Two on one had become two on four, and while the Drakarn still hadphysical advantages, we had numbers and the kind of desperate fury that came from months of suppressed frustration.
"Back off," Hawk said. "Now."
Lexa said nothing, but the knife in her hand caught the light, and her stance spoke of someone who knew how to use it.
The purple one's wings flared wider, a display of dominance that might have been impressive if he wasn't outnumbered. "Four soft things instead of one. How terrifying."
"Test us and find out," Vega said, her voice deadly calm. She'd positioned herself slightly ahead of the others, ready to take the first hit if it came to that. "I'm betting Darrokar won't be pleased if he finds out you've been harassing his mate."
And with Vega and Hawk there, add in Zarvash and Khorlar. Three males no Drakarn would want to cross.
That gave them pause. The red one's tail stopped lashing, and I saw calculation flicker across his features. They might be young and stupid, but they weren't completely insane.
"Retreat to your mate," the purple one said, backing toward the ceiling. "The Skalanth will show everyone what real strength looks like."
