Nox’s unexpected kiss sent an electric current through Rayne, which left her toes tingling. Among other things. And when she yielded and let him feel she wanted it, too, Nox pulled her tight and deepened the kiss.
So much exploded in Rayne’s brain, in her heart, and in the audience—A barrage of cheer, hoots, and “Get it, your majesties!” It left her blushing when Nox separated their kiss by an inch. He stared down at her with his heart wide open, thumb gently grazing her face, and Rayne wished they were alone.
When she licked the spicy taste of him from her lips, Nox watched her do it, and his sparkling black eyes said he wished they were alone, too.
“Ahem.”
They both turned to see Caedes standing there on the beach, hands on his hips. He wagged a finger between them, saying, “I’m very confused.”
The breeze picked up, carrying with it the unpleasant smell of the whalesharks—
Nox laughed, stepped back, and, at Rayne’s confused glance, said, “The smell is me. Forgive me for spoiling the moment, but I did just tear a massive predator apart with my bare hands.”
Finding the entire event ridiculous, Rayne laughed until the dwarf flew over in his mechsuit. He said, “Caedes, we’ve kept Lord Cinderken waiting long enough, don’t you think?”
Caedes, known for his taciturn nature, nodded to the announcer and waved for Nox to follow him to the cave entrance. With the same hand he used to destroy a man-eating monster—the same hand with her tattered ribbon—Nox raised Rayne’s fingers to his lips and kissed them.
A maelstrom of emotions swirled inside Rayne and some of her darker thoughts made her blush.
Nox smirked as if he knew. “See you in the winner’s circle.”
Rayne could barely hear Caedes’ chuff for the uproar of the crowd.
“Yes, citizens of the outer worlds. We’re getting this real time. Someone notify King Elect Iuo his new film will need an epilogue.” The dwarf was talented in changing his tone from the gentle romantic overture to a booming sports announcer. “Racers, given the exceptional status of today’s competition, the Lord of Odds switched the scoring from ‘first to finish all three rounds’ to ‘first to finish the last round.’ For those in the audience, please adjust your bets accordingly. Last call. Last call. You have sixty seconds before the betting windows close. Good fortune to you and to the competitors.”
Finished with his announcement, the dwarf looked over at Rayne with a genuine smile. “You’re a welcome performance. Were you hired by one of the VIPS?”
Once more wishing for Lucy’s demure talents, Rayne smiled and said, “Something like that.”
He shrugged, and the suit shrugged with him. “Who knew these races were missing drama and romance?” A horn sounded, and he returned to his duties. “Windows closed for final bets. Competitors, the audience will count you down once more.”
The flying onlookers yelled, accompanied by the thundering chorus of the coliseum.
“Ready.
“Set.
“Go!”
Nox, Caedes, and the other racers bolted into the pitch black cave. Rayne didn’t like it. Cinderken had dropped a good deal of credits on Caedes, and she couldn’t imagine he’d lose without a fight.
“We can go in now. You’ll want to see this,” the dwarf said as if he’d heard her thoughts. His face was even extra warm.
Rayne couldn’t open her wings here as they’d give her away. So with help from her designated flying Icarus, Rayne followed him and the other onlookers into the cave. In a tunnel above the cavern, they were high enough to view the entire race. Stalagmites reached for their stalactites above in a maze of razor wire, mines, and fire traps—
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
Poof!
An Icarus’ shriek ricocheted in the cavern below.
Off mic, the dwarf shouted, “Medics!”
Rayne searched the maze until she saw Nox flitting around a column of rock. Caedes zipped through, focused on one path she could clearly see from this vantage point, but Nox couldn’t see from his position. There were several clearer paths winding through. In the Verses, there wasn’t much to imply Nox would know the cave as well as Korac or, in this case, Caedes. However, after thousands of years, the maze’s shape had changed, making it unfamiliar to him—
There!
Nox found a path and adjusted his densifier in a motion the onlookers wouldn’t recognize. He rocketed through them now, dodging a wall of flames and catching up to Caedes. Rayne tightened her fists and shook them. Go, go, go!
“You’re very convincing.”
Rayne was used to living in a box. This was too many people for her, a lot of attention. The dwarf announcer meant well, but it felt like an intrusion on her… Whatever Rayne could call the stuff happening between her and Nox. Out of hand, she said, “It comes with the territory.”
The announcer chuffed, as if he didn’t believe Rayne. She glanced over at him to find a knowing smile on his face, but he kindly left it at that—
The onlookers gasped.
Rayne focused on the race once more to find Nox’s pinion snagged in razor wire, with Caedes pulling ahead. Their heart pounded in big gulping beats. She brought her fist to her mouth and prayed to Elden, “Please let him win.”
Someone behind her shouted, “Caedes will win! Everyone, Caedes is winning!”
Nox must’ve heard because he wrenched hard enough to pull out a tuft of feathers and speared forward. She saw his lips move and felt the curse. The glance he shot at his ribboned fist as he dialed the densifiers down once more made Rayne’s heart sing.
“Go, Nox. Kiss me in that winner’s circle.”
Rayne swore she muttered it quietly enough, but the dwarf gave a single chuckle beside her.
Right.
Left.
Two more lefts.
Oh, Elden, they’re tied. Across the cave, the two competitors with so much history shared a look before stalactites separated them. Rayne held her breath as Nox bolted into the clearing at labyrinth’s end.
One second before Caedes.
“Can you take me down?” Rayne signaled for the Icarus holding her, but he shook his head.
The dwarf said only to Rayne, “Lord Cinderken would like you to reunite in the winner’s circle back at the coliseum. The racers will meet us there.” To the games, he announced, “King Nox defeated the reigning champion, Caedes! All competitors are invited to celebrate after such a spirited game. Congrats to all!”
As she glimpsed Nox and Caedes talking below, the Icarus holding Rayne pulled her away. What was the likelihood of that loyal soldier not snitching on them to Tameka? Rayne bit her lip and wondered why, truly, she wanted to keep their mission a secret.
Originally, she’d told herself it was to keep everyone living their lives in peace and safety until Rayne would need them for the final confrontation. But if she looked at it hard enough—Rayne kept herself away because she’d become accustomed to Nox’s isolated and intimate company, and they would judge her for it.
They flew over the coliseum, and all those people were happy to see Rayne and Nox together. Maybe her concerns were less founded than she feared.
Nox was already in the center of the ring when the Icarus set her down. Rayne wasted no time running across the field—at two percent speed—toward this wonderful and worthy Icarus with his heart and arms open.
Nox swooped Rayne up and kissed her with a twirl. Multiple kisses, light kisses, deep kisses. The brush of his tongue—
The ground shook, and columns rattled with the standing ovation.
They stopped kissing, and Nox pressed his mouth to her ear to say, “Caedes agreed to keep quiet for two weeks. I took care of it.”
As she held him and stared out at the crowd, Rayne didn’t want to keep quiet anymore—
Another vibration distracted her. It was coming from his chest and his throat. “Uhm, Nox?” Her voice sounded silly, even to her, as she asked, “What’s happening?”
“I think I’m purring.”
Still in his arms, Rayne pulled back to search his face. “You mean you don’t know?”
Nox shrugged in his own confusion. “I’ve never done it before.”
Rayne laughed and kissed him again.
“Callahan.”
They broke their kiss for her to peer at Caedes outside the winner’s circle. Not known for being the most expressive, it wasn’t a surprise to see no disappointment or approval on his face. But for everything he’d done for the Shadow, she said, “You’ve been upgraded to ‘Rayne.’”
Caedes smirked, and it eased some of Rayne’s concerns. He said, “Are you two ready to meet your new owner? There’s no way Cinderken will let you leave here without an exclusive rights deal.”
Rayne frowned. “Are you heading up with us?”
At the incredulous shake of Caedes’ head, Nox said against her ear, “He was undercover about the vaccine protests. It seems the Shadow is trailing us. We set back the Shadow’s investigation with this victory.”
“I’m sorry,” Rayne offered.
Caedes nodded, eying their embrace before gazing up at the Overseer.
Nox let her go and chafed her arms, asking, “Are you ready?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Because Rayne knew two things. They’d get what they needed out of this ‘Lord of Odds,’ and Rayne was done letting shit come between her and Nox. This was the happiest she’d felt in a long time, and nothing was taking it away from Rayne.