Page 81 of Commanding Flame and Shield
“One for one,” Alec muttered under his breath, amusement lacing the words.
A low breathless laugh, and accusing smirk broke from Aren. Alvara returned the smile, but her eyes didn’t leave their mark. I realized then, with a twist of my stomach…she truly was the most lethal if she could last this long on her feet against The Commander. His second, indeed. The draw to serve and protect her more palpable than ever. Not that she needed any help in that ring.
Aren kicked, and she deflected. He swung his great arm, and she twisted into a grab that tossed him past her. Aren staggered and caught his balance in a heartbeat. Next, she advanced, using her elbow again in her lunge, but he was ready this time. He grabbed her arm and yanked her with such force that she fell to her knees. She rolled and was on her feet in an instant. Alvara sprinted the three swift strides forward and threw herself around his body like it was a pole, spinning upside down to lock her legs around his neck and toss him forward with her momentum. Aren’s body toppled, and my eyes went wide as she straddled him.
The victory was short lived, as he tossed her in a long flip onto her back. She landed hard, and I felt the impact shudder through my ribs. A memory, or sympathy, I wasn’t sure. But then he was on her, his huge mass straddling her hips. She threw her arms forward, but Aren was faster, and he pinned her hands by her head. She tried to twist away, but his weight was fully settled, crushing her to the mat. My stomach twisted in silent rage, seeing him looming over her like that. Seeing her pinned to the ground as an attacker would have to claim her. A warning growl rumbled in my chest of its own volition.
In an instant of blur, and a roar, she bucked her hips against him, her strong legs shoving his weight over his wrists, and simultaneously yanked her hands down to her sides, turning her face from the impact of his body as he face planted. Another blur of motion as she elbowed his braced arm, feet still planted, and threw her weight to the side. They rolled. And then Alvara was on top of him, lunging forward. I heard, more than saw, the hiss of the blade slide out of its sheath, and then it was pressed against his neck.
A wry smile twisted her lips, and my own heart hammered with her victory. Aren narrowed his eyes for a moment, and then that grin broadened.
“Pinned ya.” Alvara said, tone childish, and mocking. She pulled the blade from his neck, and he boomed laugh after rolling laugh.
Once he caught his breath, Aren said, “Good form.”
“I thought you’d like that.” In a graceful move, she had risen, palm outstretched to help Aren to his feet. He accepted her hand.
“You know, I didn’t come armed. I think that’s cheating.”
“You laid no ground rules.”
“Fine. Rematch tomorrow. No weapons.”
“If you want to get your ass kicked two days in a row and get pinned by myteeth, that’s fine by me.” She licked along the front of them, down to the tip of her drawn canine.
A breathless chuckle. “Don’t get cocky now. Best two out of three?”
“Hell no. I get New York. You get Ivy Springs.”
“Come on!”
“Don’t be a sore loser.”
“You brought a knife.”
“Ialwayshave a knife.”
“A little unfair.”
“Don’t blame me, because you came without a weapon. Proper preparation prevents poor performance.”
Aren tousled her hair, messing it out of the bun, and she shrieked and giggled. “Asshole!”
The sound of her laughter was a warm fire on a snowy night. She elbowed him in the ribs, and he boomed again as she freed her hair from the bun, elastic snapping. The bear returned his grin to me, finally looking satiated, and waved me into the ring.
“Alright, August. Again!”
Alvara sauntered over to her collection of belongings, pulling that black t-shirt over her head, and shook out her hair. I drug my eyes from her bruising face, tracing the soft curve of her swollen, bloody lips. With a breath, I turned back to the Commander. His already healing mouth twisted into an eager grin. I thought for a moment about the way Alvara spun their momentum. The way she threw his substantial weight against him—never electively taking him on directly.
Well. Here goes nothing.
* * *
Alvara healedmy cuts and bruises as Alec healed Aren’s. She had already stitched her own mouth back together with her magic and was happily crooning taunts to Aren about their coming rematch. Close enough to feel the warmth from her fingers, I focused on my breathing. Held it steady. But her warm scent saturated the air, and the stirring in my chest was involuntary. She wiggled her fingers back and forward, tapping on invisible keys, and the cuts and scrapes simply...healed shut. Bruises lifted. Something in the closeness of her filled me with warmth, my mouth going a little dry. Her eyes never left the wounds she sealed, her focus unwavering even under Aren’s taunts.
“How did you…” I trailed off, not entirely sure I wanted to know the answer to the question. Not sure if I wanted to know why herinclination for violence,as Aren had called it so long ago, had been so necessary after her ascension. But she read it on me—either my face or my mind. A soft smile tugged at her mouth, but her eyes held those shadows I sometimes caught within them.
“After...the end. Of my mortal life. I was so angry—livid, I suppose, because that anger kept me from dropping into the darkness—that I had been helpless. That he died protecting me, and I had been...so...so helpless. I decided never again.” She shrugged, as though the tale was self-explanatory. I tried not to think too hard about the fact that she almost never said Michael’s name, though he was still so much a part of her.
