Chapter 14

                                    

                                          
                                                                    Xander
He was leaning against a wooden post near Galan on the training grounds, just as the soldiers arrived for their daily drills. His gaze drifted over the soldiers, one by one; some he knew well, some simply by name, but his gaze was drawn to the long red hair braided securely down her back. Sylvia Aeraviel. The most rebellious, foul-mouthed female he's ever met, even more so than Megan. Despite her extraordinary beauty, those green eyes, luscious lips, sharp nose, and sun-kissed skin. Everything about her exuded primordial lust and innocence. She was the type of female that had monarchs and rulers bend before her, asking for her attention, but it was all a ruse. He was fully aware of how dangerous she was and how the tempting aroma of vanilla and almonds served as a honeyed trap. He'd known about her for years, about her power, rage, and the smile she wears when she kills, but he misjudged her true strength of will. He should have killed her, as his court had instructed; it would have saved him the headache, and he may still have done it, but for some reason, he found it more difficult than usual. Part of him did not want to kill her. Even when she disrespected and undermined him, he did not wish to kill her. He saw a real smile on her face as she looked at Emile Hill. He knew the threat to the male's life would work on her because she always had the same smile when she looked at Jasper. Whether it was love or admiration, her affection for the male was palpable, but he knew Elion Waesro was his companion. Mario Waesro had expressed his disapproval with his son's partner more times than Xander could count, but it was not his place to intervene.
"She's been quite underwhelming thus far." Galan drawled beside him, directing his attention to the commander.

"I've been told she won her fights in record time yesterday." Xander continued, and Galan grunted.
"She refuses to follow orders. Not to mention that." Galan pointed to the shirt tucked into her waistline, and Xander had to conceal a smile. That's a true rebel.
"Give her a challenge today; I'd like to see what she does with it." Xander ordered, pushing himself off the post as the troops passed by on their way to the ring. Sylvia's eyes met Xander's for a brief moment, and he swore he saw fury in those green gems, but there was something more, something he couldn't quite place. His attention wandered to the cut on her thigh, which he assumed had healed by now, prompting him to bristle inside. He lost his temper this morning and regretted it after smelling her blood, but it was necessary.
"Sylvia, you're up first." Galan issued the order, and Xander followed him to the edge of the ring. She scrunched her nose at her commander before jumping over the wooden fence. "You wanted a challenge, so I've decided to give it to you." Her lips curled up in a lupine grin, and Xander found himself admiring it despite his deepest reservations. She irritated him in more ways than one, but Gods, that mouth tormented him the entire time he was in the Strattham Mountains. Even Usunaar complimented her bravery as they waited for the others to join them in the vault. She was able to locate and acquire the damn horn for Cernunnos' sake. They have failed to find it for ages, yet it took her a few days. Only two relics remained, which is one of the reasons he chose to keep her alive. If she could discover the horn, she might be able to help locate the others.
"Are you finally joining me, Galan?" Sylvia purred, grinning maliciously, and Galan bristled. Galan has always been a dick, yet he was a capable leader. His squad consistently outperformed the rest, and after weeding out the weak, only the best remained. Which is why he assigned Sylvia to him; he wanted to test how the female would handle the challenge.
"You have to earn that right, pup." Galan drawled as he searched the packed grounds for his chosen challenger. The male's lip twisted slightly as he focused on a young male a few strides behind Xander. Xander took a brief glimpse over his shoulder, noticing the young man's short, cropped blond hair, which was tinged with pale blue at the tips and faded down the sides. The young male's deep brown eyes appeared practically dark in the morning sun as he sharpened a blade on his lap. Marcus Dixon. One of Galan's chiefs. "Marcus." Galan shouted over the commands being issued around the grounds, and the young male promptly stood at attention. Marcus is a good soldier who is obedient, if not a bit boringly so sometimes. "Into the ring." Marcus nodded and began jogging towards the ring, effortlessly vaulting the fence before taking in Sylvia across from him. Her gaze focused on the male, and a grin tugged at her lips. Has she met him yet?