Once in a Dragon Moon - Ophelia Bell Page 0,31

the kind of team-oriented games that the champions represent. We just have fucking silt vipers and long days of patrols, and . . .”

She cut herself off with a grimace. Fuck, she’d probably said too much.

“Anyway, I’m sorry for not telling the truth. I will. I just need to be absolutely sure I can trust you.”

The pained expression on his face sliced to her heart. “Honey, you can trust us. If it isn’t bad, why hide?”

“Please, just be patient with me. I need more time.”

“This is why you’re holding back your dragon mark, isn’t it? Honestly, I’ve never known a dragon who was quite so self-disciplined with that. I’m always hearing about other dragons accidentally marking their mates without realizing it. But you . . . you’re so unrestrained with us when we make love, yet have never slipped up on that count.”

“My clan teaches our young control from an early age. It’s how we survive.”

When she didn’t say more, he sighed and nodded. “I’m dying to hear all about it, but I won’t pry. I trust you, honey. Just know that you can trust us too.”

“I do,” she said, gazing up into his eyes, her heart aching with how earnestly he gazed back. She stretched up and pressed a kiss to his lips, savoring the way his beard tickled her chin.

“I love you and I trust you. When I win, I’ll tell you the truth, I promise. Now I need my sleep. Will you stay with me tonight and just hold me?”

“I would love nothing more.”

12

Gunther

Gunther barely slept that night, mulling over all Ksenia had said—which wasn’t much, but it was more than she’d offered before. He had to tell Jake and Teague, and would, if only to confirm the suspicions they already had. But until then he’d be happy to hold her, to enjoy the anticipation of tomorrow’s fight and her hopeful certainty that she would emerge victorious.

He just couldn’t shake the sense that not knowing everything put them at a severe disadvantage, and that it would bite them on the ass if they weren’t careful. Yet he had no idea how to guard against a negative outcome if he didn’t have all the details.

By morning he’d resolved to be nothing but encouraging and optimistic, and made sure to drill it into Jake and Teague to do the same. Ksenia didn’t need their misgivings bringing down her enthusiasm.

In the arena locker room later, she was resplendent in her new armor, a brilliant, shimmering bronze with cascades of iridescent fire that flared when the lights hit it just so. Teague had it crafted in the same style as her own leathers, and it fit her like a glove.

Her black hair was pulled back in the sleek ponytail she liked to wear, and she’d donned dramatic makeup for the event. She looked every bit a warrior princess, which made Gunther wonder if she was holding back some secret tie to royalty.

It was killing him not knowing the truth and having to imagine the possibilities, but when he’d shared her small confession with his partners, they’d seemed more relieved than upset. Having some small measure of the truth was better than nothing, he supposed.

“Well, this is it,” Ksenia said, pausing before them where they would part ways. She’d wait for the announcer to call her name, and the three of them would head up to the arena’s stands to their seats to watch. All the trainers shared a box near the floor, a tier lower than the rest of the crowd.

“You’re going to be amazing,” Gunther said, pulling her into a hug.

Then it was Jake’s turn to offer encouragement, and Gunther braced himself for his friend’s misgivings to emerge again, but all Jake said was, “Midnight Star won’t know what hit her. C’mere.”

He embraced her hard, then passed her off to Teague, who murmured, “Kick ass out there, honey. We love you.” Then Teague kissed her and they parted, leaving her standing at the bottom of the ramp, waiting to head up.

“She’ll need rest after this, so I’m instituting a no nookie rule the night before a match,” Jake said as they made their way to their seats. “It’s a stuffed bracket, so they’ve scheduled matches every other day until quarterfinals. Her next one will be in three days.”

Gunther appreciated Jacob not even hinting at the fact she could lose, but Teague had to open his mouth. “We should consider what to do if she doesn’t. Win, I mean.”

Gunther grunted and