A Mate for the Senator (Brion Brides 9)(4)

Xaven laughed.

The sound was deep and rich and melodic. Eleya had rarely heard someone laugh so... honestly. Most people she knew used laughter as a weapon like everything else. Given, those days she primarily dealt with politicians and generals. A sense of humor was a rare sight. Xaven's laugh told her that the captain was truly amused.

"Exactly," the warrior said, lifting his cup to toast her. "I don't know where it comes from. I met some of my old tutors when I was there. They haven't changed a bit and I remember them telling me that natural skill was only a part of a warrior's strength."

"That," Eleya replied, smiling to him, surprising them both. "Yes, I remember. My spear master used to tell me that he was constantly surprised by the arrogance of young warriors. In other species, it's sometimes hard to tell who the true champions are. All Brions look powerful to the union    , for example.

"But we have the valor squares. It's not like they're unnoticeable. They're designed for the opposite. In any situation, the person who has more crystals than you is bound to be better, or so the logic goes at least."

Xaven's eyes flashed with an idea he didn't voice yet. Eleya noted that, but didn't comment. She was intrigued despite her better judgment. Her gerion was unlike anyone she'd ever met before. It was refreshing, if not anything else.

"It seems elementary math is hard for our species," Xaven said, chuckling. "After all, even Diego Grothan has been challenged. That should say all you need you to know about Brions."

Eleya laughed, noticing how smoothly she had adopted the real laughter from him.

The joke had been a good one, after all. Diego Grothan was the most feared general in the history of Brions. It had taken the Galactic union     years to figure out that grothan wasn't his real name, but a title bestowed upon all young warriors, meaning "undefeated". He was the only one to never lose the title. It was an incredible feat, considering Diego kept his name by never losing a single fight, no matter how big or small.

"You have more valor squares than I do," Xaven pointed out then, bringing Eleya out of her musings.

She'd been staring at him, she noticed. With such a short period of time, she had learned every inch of the warrior's handsome face. If she had a gift for drawing, Eleya was pretty sure she could sketch him perfectly from memory.

"Naturally," the High Senator said. "I was a general. I fought many wars and I have more experience than you. We are the same age, I believe, but a general sees considerably more action."

"I have an idea," Xaven said, leaning forward and setting his cup on the table.

"That is the most ominous thing I've heard today," Eleya replied. "Go on."

Xaven chuckled.

"I want to duel you," he said. "I want to see how I would fare against you."

There it was. The reason why Eleya liked him so much even though she tried to keep the distance between them as big as possible, preferably insurmountable.

Xaven had as little care for propriety as she did. Life on Briolina went by under the flag of strict rules and regulations and customs. She of all people knew how very slowly their species changed, if ever.

The captain's proposition was preposterous. She should have denied him outright, sent him away again, but she didn't. Eleya wasn't entirely sure if she could, either. The Senate didn't rule like other worlds in the union     were ruled. They led. And only people who allowed that could be led.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I want to make a wager," Xaven said. "On myself. I only ever bet on myself."

Eleya supposed that was fair. She wasn't in the habit of trusting anyone else but herself either. So far everything she'd found out about him was proof that they were made for each other.

She wondered if fate was right this time. She wondered if it was too late.

"And what would you get if you win?" she went on.#p#分页标题#e#

"A kiss," Xaven said. "For starters."

Eleya eyed him coldly.

"You don't have to blackmail me," she stated, a bit hurt. "I know what the fated bond implies. And I don't find you unsuitable for me. It's coming. But not because you think we need to tick off some boxes."

Xaven's expression didn't falter for a moment.

"Is that why you think I want this?" he asked, taking a step closer to her and pulling Eleya into his strong arms. "For propriety's sake? To prove to some unseen force that we are the real thing."

The captain shook his head.

"I know your life has treated you badly, but I do not know why you're playing the fool with me. I know you're smarter than this. Everyone knows.

"I want you because I want you."

Eleya wished she knew what it was about. Not having all the answers wasn't how she liked to live her life. She stared at the captain, judging him wordlessly.

It would have been so easy to throw herself at him exactly the way she'd sworn not to. In theory, Xaven matched her in every way. He was as headstrong as she was, determined, powerful... not to mention gorgeous. It wasn't a necessity, but it sure helped. Eleya wasn't going to deny she'd had a harder time falling asleep than usual when Xaven was away at the academy.

She'd stayed awake, imagining what it would feel like to have a warm body sleeping next to her through the night. And still be there in the morning, hers and hers alone.

The nagging little doubt held her back. There were people on Briolina who enjoyed puzzles and riddles, but Eleya wasn't one of them. Her interactions with others got considerably more careful when she couldn't figure them out and Xaven was one such.

The bond was blinding her, that was the problem. Usually Eleya could zoom right in to the aspect that she had an issue with.

"I believe you," she said. "I just don't know if I want to play a game with something so important."

Xaven smiled at her. The sincerity of emotion caught Eleya off guard.

"You of all people should know that the bonds are nothing but a game," he said. "You take two hearts, set them on a board of life and see how they fare. And blindly, we jump into it, open ourselves up to another person in a way no one else in the galaxy understands. We do it, hoping that we win the ultimate prize, risking everything for it. How is it not a game?"

That was all true. Eleya hesitated, but Xaven knew her too well. Being a public figure came with the obvious drawbacks. The captain knew that as an ex-general, she couldn't back down from a challenge like that.

"Very well," the High Senator said, unable to keep the smile off her face.

That always happened when she was faced with the rare opportunity to practice what she loved most.

"For a kiss?" Xaven asked, the flame of desire surging skywards in his eyes.

"For starters," Eleya promised.





4





Xaven





The battle hormones were burning in his veins, mixing deliciously with the desire.

Xaven watched Eleya prepare for their duel. They had both agreed to not wearing armors, playing the game for first blood. At some point, the captain wanted a real duel as well. He didn't think Eleya would mind it at all, despite it coming with the threat of real wounds.

She was a Brion, from toe to tip, and Xaven couldn't have been more excited to spend his life by her side.

The High Senator was adjusting the belt of her training gear. It was a dark green skin-tight outfit, a short dress with deep slits on either side. Eleya wore tight black pants underneath, looking every bit the warrior she was. Her boots were low and obviously fit her perfectly. The long dark hair was tied up in a tight bun now, all distractions taken out of the way.

Xaven loved it.

Some females in the Brion armies felt that the rough golden armors didn't allow for much femininity. So they found ways to compensate. Wearing their long hair loosely was one method, training in clothes that were uncomfortable in favor of practicality was another.

Eleya did none of that. She was naturally beautiful, exuding an aura of grace and power like a warrior goddess. Xaven appreciated the fact that she didn't even consider putting on a show for him.

She'd come to win and that made her sexier to him than if she'd fought stark naked.

Well, perhaps not then.

The mental image jumped before his mind's eye so fast Xaven knew he couldn't live long without touching her the way he wanted to. Every bit of his mind, body and soul called out for her, for the true union    .#p#分页标题#e#

"What's my prize?" Eleya asked, coming closer to him and resting her spear against the floor.

She didn't look concerned at all. Xaven wondered if that was a bad sign.

"What would you like?" he asked. "Anything that's in my power to give is yours."

"Exactly," Eleya replied. "You are very free with your heart, your possessions and your position. I want something else."

"I am your gerion," the captain noted, his deep voice carrying the edge of burning lust. "I dare you to find something I wouldn't want to give to you."

"Done," Eleya said, smiling softly. "If I win, you stop all this blackmail nonsense. Our bond will progress naturally, moving to the next step when we're ready and not a moment sooner. I will not start scheduling fate because you want to fuck me."

Xaven groaned. Just hearing that word from Eleya's pretty pink lips, spoken with a passion burning in her sharp eyes... it made him harder than he could ever remember being. The High Senator's eyes dropped to the bulge in his pants, smirking victoriously before she raised her eyes to him again.