“I can assure you, you’re in the lead.” Kieran beamed at me, and I laughed. He may be a draken, but he acted like a giant puppy most of the time.
“Why don’t we get some proper training with your knives? If you’re free, that is. I’ve found a good workout is the best way to bleed off the emotions.”
I didn’t know if he meant metaphorically or physically, but it wasn’t a bad idea. My daggers were still sheathed against my thighs.
“Knives it is."
Kieran nodded and led me on a long walk through the fortress.
EIGHT
On the walk to the training rooms, Kieran took the time to answer my questions about the fortress, and drakens in general. His answers were non-judgmental, and he treated me with respect. Was it sad how easy it was to earn my trust, or did it speak to how horrifically I’d been treated in my life? I didn’t feel like examining it too closely.
“If you think you can mate with human women, why aren’t you out there...building your species again?”
Kieran paused, choosing his next words carefully.
“The biological need to raise young, to find our mate...it’s overwhelming, Wren. It’s so strong it keeps us from ending our own torment in this mountain, do you understand?”
“Maybe. It... wasn’t ideal where I grew up, but it was at least better than being dead. Or at least, most days I figured it was. As long as you’re still alive I suppose there’s hope it may get better.”
Kieran nodded. “Exactly."
I hated thinking about the breeding house.
“Will Ronan be training with us?” Kieran nodded.
“He is never far from me; he is actually much more skilled with knives than I am. The sword is more my strength.”
That made sense: Kieran was larger, whereas knives would better suit Ronan’s smaller frame.
“Are you...related to him?”
Kieran snorted, the sound echoing loudly off the stone walls.
“No, we are not related. As I said, the biological need to find a mate is overwhelming. Finding others helps to quell our baser urges. There is a reason him and I are allowed more freedom with you than the others.”
My face went red at his implication, even as I was intrigued at the thought of two men together. How did that work, exactly? Was it pleasurable for both? It had never occurred to me that something like that was even possible.
Kieran shot me a heated glance, as if he knew exactly where my mind had gone. Mercifully, he said nothing. It wasn’t much longer until we arrived in a large stone room, only half the size of the arena. Ronan was already there, lighting the torches along the wall with the one he carried. He walked to the far wall and inspected a few of the weapons that hung there.
“Usually, this time of day is when I train, but you are more than welcome to take part.”
I lifted my head in thanks and allowed him to lead me to the wall.
“We’ll do knives of course, but you’ll want something with a bit longer reach eventually. A knife won’t help you against something like the Skolex! Anything look good?”
My eyes traveled over the shining metals, the blades and jewels glittering in the torch light. I tried to focus, but all I could see in the reflections was Benedict’s dark blood, flowing down into the sandpit as he faced the Skolex alone. I studied my own reflection from the blades, thinking. Benedict was a walking contradiction: one moment, rude as hell, and then the next sacrificing his body for his own people. It was clear he wasn’t uncaring; he just didn’t care for me.
“Well?”
I sighed and considered. There were traditional long swords, a few short daggers, and some blades in between. I truly had no idea where to start. “What do you recommend?”
Ronan wrinkled his face, deep in thought. “Honestly, we should gauge your strengths and weaknesses before deciding.” I nodded; that made sense. “So, what—"
“Start running.”
Ronan slid into his draken form, lunging at me with his claws and teeth. I didn’t have time to shriek, I just ran as anger and adrenaline fueled my speed. I praised the gods I’d picked a short dress today and had the foresight to wear the breeches as well. Kieran’s booming laugh echoed throughout the room, and I swore loudly. For the next fifteen minutes Ronan chased me around the room, running me ragged until I couldn’t breathe, and my legs gave out. I tumbled to the ground as Ronan pounced on me playfully.
“Mercy! I beg for mercy!” I joked, raising my arms to shield myself. As he fell on me, he scrambled to pull in his claws and teeth, and in a split second he was back in his human form, pressing me into the dirt floor. Ronan’s gold eyes bore into mine, glowing in the dim lighting of the training room. He shifted, and I felt something hard poking into my thigh. My eyes widened in realization right as he leaned down to kiss me.
Ronan tasted like spiced honey, and heat flowed all along my body as he deepened the kiss. It was darker than Kieran’s; more demanding and instinctual, but just as satisfying. He pushed himself against me, trying to claim my entire mouth. I felt his fangs slide out from his gums, and I stiffened.
“Ronan, easy.”
Kieran approached us carefully in his draken form. Ronan grabbed me by my
