off. Although after our talk last night, perhaps my words meant something to him after all.
“Concentrate,” Arne, my new chief, calls from the side of the ring, snapping my focus back to the task at hand.
Closing my eyes, I try to focus on my strength, planning my movements as I remember Eldrin’s lessons. He taught me ways to defend myself, even with my human strength, but with my opponent, it’s like trying to move a brick wall. Focus, Clarissa, I chide myself, visualising the movement in my thoughts, and a second before I go to move, something shifts in my head. It’s almost like I’ve been pushing against a bubble in my mind, and all of a sudden, I slip through it. Opening my eyes, and with a speed I didn’t know I possessed, I drop to the ground, using my weight to drag my attacker with me, before swinging my right leg out in the process so he topples to the ground. Utilising his momentum, I spin so I’m on top of him, pinning him to the ground and baring my teeth as I snarl in his face.
Silence greets me, the whole action taking less than a second as my opponent blinks up at me in shock before a grin spreads across his face. Suddenly remembering where we are and that I’m not in danger, my cheeks flush and I climb off my sparring partner, smiling back at him as I offer a hand to help him to his feet.
“Clarissa,” Tor calls, immediately appearing at my side, glaring at my partner, his eyes darkening as he takes a threatening step towards him.
“Hey, Tor,” I call, slapping a hand on his chest to get his attention. “Enough.” I don’t have enough energy to deal with another alpha today.
He instantly looks down at me, his expression heating as his eyes roam over my face. “You did well.” His pride is obvious in his tone, and even though I failed the previous attempts, he seems oblivious, focusing only on the positive.
The bond warms in my chest, and a smile spreads across my face. I feel high off his praise. He pulls me into his embrace, and I revel in his touch. The need to touch, to be close, is strong, and I know it will wear off, but for now, I give into the urge. That feeling grows, and I know my other mate is getting closer without having to look. It’s intense and almost too much, their bonds wrestling for space inside me. Closing my eyes, I cling to Tor’s chest as I steady my breathing and try to focus, the overwhelming impression of them filling my mind.
Feeling my panic, Vaeril pauses, and after a few seconds, I feel him pulling back from me. Not physically, but it’s like his presence in my mind withdraws a little. He’s still there, I can still feel him, still sense his emotions and general whereabouts, but I feel like I can breathe again. Slowly, I sense him start to move towards me, and soon enough, his body heat radiates against my back. Fighting the urge to push into him and purr like a cat, I settle for leaning my head back against his chest and looking up at him.
“Mate.” The amusement in his voice tells me that he picked up on my inner thoughts, and there is a fondness in his gaze as he places his hands on my shoulders. “Well done.” Pressed between two of my mates, I’m reminded of last night when my fae instincts were riding me, and all of those images push into my head. My cheeks flush. Thankfully, that instinct disappeared after I completed my bond with Tor. I’m still attracted to them and have…urges, but they are my usual ones rather than a supernatural need to form the connection. Sensing the direction my thoughts are going down, Vaeril stiffens slightly behind me, and I open my mouth to say something. However, detecting the same thing, Tor has other ideas and chuckles low in his throat, moving closer and pushing me up against Vaeril’s firm body. With a gasp, my hands come up and brace against Tor’s chest, my body alight with sensation as I’m held between my two mates. Above me, the two of them seem to be locked in a staring match. Tor’s gaze is challenging, and I know what he’s trying to do. He’s been open to the fact he’s willing to ‘share’ me if it