don’t need an excuse to see me naked, you know. Just ask.” She gave him a slow kiss that had him leaning in with a hum of pleasure. Before they could get too hot and heavy, she took a step back, amused by the flush in his cheeks. They hadn’t reacted badly to her wings, so she had a feeling showing them everything wouldn’t raise any alarms.
She slipped her arms out of the suit and pushed it down past her hips, kicking off the comfortable boots last. Once she was naked, she summoned her dragon to the surface.
The transformation took only a few moments, after which she rested on her haunches at the edge of the lake, spined tail trailing into the cool water and wings stretched wide, flexing a bit to catch the afternoon sun on her scales. Gunther and Jacob both oohed as Teague stepped close again to brush a hand over her scales.
“Gods, Ksenia, I haven’t seen a dragon your color . . . well, ever. It’s like polished gemstone. Opals with fire trapped inside. You said you’re from the western plains, right? Near the desert? What about ‘Desert Flame’ for an arena name?”
Ksenia emitted a rumble of approval and bent down to nuzzle at Teague’s cheek.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he said, stroking her neck and still marveling with open-mouthed wonder at the color of her scales. “I’ll get your new logo and armor designed this week, and we’ll send in your official League application today. Usually the League requires proof of a year of training before they allow new recruits to officially compete, but they allow exemptions if you meet all the milestones, which you did in a day. Since you’re new, you’ll have to be satisfied with being seeded last, but how would you feel about being on the bracket for the upcoming season? The first matches in the solo tournament begin in two weeks. We’ll have time to catch you up on all the rules between now and then.”
Within moments she was her woman-shaped self again and had launched herself into his arms. “That would make me so unbelievably happy!”
“Good,” he murmured into her hair, squeezing her tight. “Because making you happy has become my number one priority.”
8
Ksenia
Ksenia didn’t bother putting on her suit again, instead opting to drape it over her shoulders as she waltzed back into the gym. Her pulse still raced with elation over the news that she would be an official champion in a matter of days and would fight her first match in only a couple weeks.
“Not so fast,” Gunther said, reaching for her elbow when she turned to head upstairs.
“Please don’t tell me there are more tests,” she said, giving him and the others an incredulous look. “Being that awesome takes a lot out of a girl. I haven’t worked that hard in a while.”
“No tests. Just maintenance, honey.” Gunther tilted his head with a wry smile toward one of the doorways near the back of the gym. “Come on.” He tugged her along behind him.
They’d shown her around first thing, but she’d only taken a cursory glance at the showers in back. There was a small sauna room attached, but just outside was another door that remained a mystery. Upon glancing inside, it looked like a place to nap more than anything. Everything else in the gym was out in the open.
When Gunther led her through the door, the room’s automatic sensors picked up their presence and the walls began to glow with mild, warm light. The sound system kicked on, filling the space with calming music. The corners were filled with potted climbing plants, and in the center of the room was a cushioned table covered in luxurious fur.
“Climb on, face down. You worked hard today, and if we want to make sure you’re in top shape to work as hard tomorrow and every day after, I need to work out some of that tension you built up from all that awesomeness.”
Ksenia couldn’t hold back a smile. “Oh. Why didn’t you say so, big guy? I’m all over getting a massage.”
She tossed her suit to him and climbed up onto the table, crawling to the center before settling with a groan and resting her face in the contoured opening at the end. Her muscles were so weary they shook, but the calming atmosphere in this little sanctuary helped put her into a slight trance. Or maybe she was just on the verge of falling