Anzil (Gladiators of Krix #2) - Miranda Martin Page 0,13

your home so terrible?”

I shrug, staring at my plate. How am I supposed to answer that? “It was overpopulated. It sucked. They left.” An invisible hand tightens around my core. I stab my fork into the mush on my plate over and over. I don’t want to talk about this. “Are you from here?”

“No,” he says. “Do I look like a Krixian?”

“How the hell am I supposed to know?” I ask, giving him a harsh glare, but he’s smiling, and damn it, I can’t hold on to my anger when he smiles.

“Dominus is a Krixian,” he says. “They all look like him, more or less.”

I nod, dropping my eyes to my plate and resuming pushing the food around. A volcano rumbles in my belly, making eating the last thing on my mind. Nevaeh’s face drifts across my thoughts, an accusing look on her face. She is a sister, a fellow marine who sacrificed herself to try and save the other girls. I’m proud of her—it’s what a marine does—but I left her behind.

“Okay,” I say.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, placing his hand on top of mine, forcing me to stop playing with my food.

“Feeling cocky, are we?” I ask, narrowing my eyes and glaring.

“You’ll know when my cock is ready,” he says.

“Greetings, Primus,” Xyron interrupts, taking a seat next to Anzil.

“Go away,” Anzil says.

“How are you, Kiara?” Xyron asks, ignoring Anzil.

“Better if I wasn’t here,” I say.

The two of them quickly look around as Xyron hisses.

“Do not say such out loud,” Xyron says.

Anzil makes a barely perceptible nod to one side, so I look in the direction he indicated. One of the house guards is staring at us suspiciously. I give him a big ol’ fuck you smile, but it doesn’t change his expression.

Angry, I turn back to my meal and resume re-killing the meat with my fork. Xyron mutters something so low I don’t catch it, but Anzil taps his finger once on the table.

“I’ll take my leave,” Xyron says, rising and walking away.

“What was that?” I ask.

“What was what?” Anzil smiles as if oblivious, then changes the subject. “There will be games soon. Ductores intends to enter you. We will train more.”

“I already train a lot,” I snap.

“You do,” he agrees. “You will train more,” he says, oddly emphasizing the last word. “After the sun falls, you and I will train. Tonight.”

He grabs his plate and leaves the table without another word. I stare after his retreating form, trying to figure out what his game is. I don’t have time for it or him. Rescuing my girls then getting all of us out of here is all that matters.

ANZIL

Kiara rolls her shoulders as she walks onto the sands. One surly glance in my direction tells her opinion of my demand we train tonight. There is only one guard standing by the main gate, his face lit by the flickering torches on either side.

“Come,” I say, throwing a wooden sword towards her.

She catches it easily then swings it, testing its weight. Satisfied, she drops into a defensive crouch. Knees bent, low crouch, sword held at shoulder height, point aimed slightly up at my throat.

I stalk the ground, closing the distance, keeping my sword to one side, leaving myself open. She moves with my approach, keeping the distance and studying. Smart.

I kick the sand, and a spray of it flies up into her eyes. She reacts fast, but not fast enough, moving back. Her free hand attempts to block it, but I’m on her. I slam my sword into hers hard. I know from experience the impact will numb her arm clear to her shoulder.

“Hmmph,” she exclaims, stumbling back.

I don’t give her a break. If she’s going to be in the arena, she must be faster and stronger. I keep pressing the attack, staying inside her space, hindering her movement. She’s slowing, and she barely blocks my next blow.

Then she surprises me. As I swing in, certain I’m going to hit her head, she drops and rolls on one shoulder, tumbling away. She comes up and, fast as lightning, darts around my side. She slams the flat of her blade on my lower back.

“Ah,” I exclaim.

“Point, bitch,” she huffs.

“Good,” I say, turning to face her.

As she smiles and opens her mouth to speak, I rush her. I wrap one arm around her waist, lifting her up so her ear is next to my mouth even as her breath rushes out. I’m acutely aware of the sensation of her breasts

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