10. Sariel

10

SARIEL

I glare at Lyra, her blue eyes blazing with fury. The little nexari thinks she can talk back to me? Fucking humans.

"That is not what I want!" she snarls, her chest heaving.

I notice movement out of the corner of my eye. The other xaphan overseers are inching closer, hungry looks on their faces. They're itching to teach this insolent human a lesson. A possessive anger flares in my chest. No one gets to put her in her place but me.

I grab Lyra's arm, my fingers wrapping around her slender wrist. She tries to jerk away, but I hold firm.

"Raxis!" I bark, not taking my eyes off Lyra. "Deal with my group for me. I'll handle this one."

Raxis hesitates, his silver eyes darting between me and Lyra. I can see the disappointment on his face. Too fucking bad.

"Now," I growl.

He nods curtly and turns away, herding the other humans back to their training area. I don't miss the way his eyes linger on Lyra, a predatory gleam in them that makes my grip on her tighten.

I drag Lyra away from the prying eyes of the other overseers and candidates. She stumbles, trying to keep up with my long strides.

"Let go of me!" she hisses, still fighting against my hold.

I ignore her as I drag Lyra away from the crowd, my fingers digging into her arm. Her skin burns hot beneath my touch, matching the fire in her eyes as she glares up at me. The little human thinks she can challenge me? In front of everyone?

"I said let go of me," she hisses, trying to wrench her arm free.

I tighten my grip. "Shut up and walk."

We reach my quarters, and I shove her inside, slamming the door behind us. The sound echoes through the room, emphasizing the sudden silence.

Lyra whirls on me, her chest heaving. "How dare you manhandle me like that? I'm not some puppet for you to jerk around!"

"No?" I advance on her, backing her against the wall. "Then what are you, little nexari? A warrior? A future xaphan?" I laugh, the sound harsh and mocking. "You're nothing but a weak human playing at being something greater."

Her eyes flash dangerously. "I am not weak. I've survived every trial you've thrown at me. I-"

I step forward, her words dying on her lips as I do, and back her up against the wall. Pinning her against the wall, my wings unfurl, creating a barrier between us and the rest of the world, reminding she can't escape me.

Lyra glares up at me, defiant despite the fear I can smell on her. It's intoxicating.

"What the fuck were you thinking?" I snarl, leaning in close. "You almost got yourself killed out there. If I hadn't caught you, you'd be nothing but a smear on the ground right now."

"Why did you?" she challenges, jutting her chin out defiantly. "Why bother saving me if I'm so weak and worthless?"

The question catches me off guard. Why did I save her? I should have let her fall, should have watched another human fail like they always do. But the thought of her broken body on the ground...

I growl, frustrated by my own conflicting emotions. "Don't read too much into it, little nexari."

"You're so fucking full of it," she spits. "You care. Admit it."

I slam my hand against the wall beside her head, making her flinch. "I don't care about anything, least of all some human girl with delusions of grandeur."

But even as I say the words, I know they're a lie. I do care. And that terrifies me more than anything.

As she opens her mouth, though, I snap. "Sweet Solis, you never shut the fuck up do you."

And I do the one thing I probably shouldn't. I roughly grip the back of her head and lift her face up to me, crashing my lips down on hers to shut her up.

Lyra stills, her breath hitching in her throat as my lips press against hers. Then, she sinks into the kiss, her body softening against mine. And fuck, once I have a taste of her, I completely lose it.

I grip her tighter, pulling her into me, and she responds in kind, fisting my tunic and pulling me closer. The kiss between us is like everything else has been—a fucking fight. And neither of us are yielding.

Her teeth nip at my lower lip, drawing a growl from deep within me. I retaliate, my tongue invading her mouth, claiming her. She tastes like sweet defiance, and I can't get enough. My hands roam over her body, exploring every curve and dip, as if they have a mind of their own. Her skin is hot, burning beneath my touch, and I want more.

Lyra's not content to just take; she's fighting back, her hands clawing at my clothes, trying to get them off. The fabric of my tunic tears under her urgent tugs, exposing my chest. Her fingers trace the lines of my muscles, sending shivers down my spine.

I break the kiss, only to trail my lips down her neck, nipping and sucking at her sensitive skin. She gasps, arching into me, her hands finding their way into my hair, pulling hard. The pain is sharp, but it only spurs me on.

My hands find the hem of her shirt, and I tear it off, not bothering with the niceties of undressing. I tear off her bra, too, and the sight of her bare skin makes my cock throb with need. I dip my head, taking one of her nipples into my mouth, rolling it between my teeth.

She cries out, her body writhing against mine. Her hands are at my waist, fumbling with the fastenings of my pants. She's eager, desperate, and it matches the wild need coursing through my veins.

I kick off my boots, stepping out of my pants as she pushes them down. We're both naked now, our bodies pressed against each other, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her eyes meet mine, and there's a challenge in them, a fiery determination that sets my blood on fire.

"You're mine now, little nexari," I growl, my voice rough with desire.

Lifting her up in my arms, I grip Lyra's thighs, her legs wrapping tight around my waist. She clings to me, her eyes burning with the same fire that's consuming me. This little human is driving me insane, pushing every fucking button I have, and I can't get enough.

"Hold on," I growl, my voice rough with need. Her nails dig into my shoulders, sending a sharp, delicious pain through me. I slam her back against the wall, my hips grinding against hers, our bodies fighting for dominance.

She gasps, her breath hot on my skin. "What are you waiting for, Sariel?" she challenges, her voice a husky whisper.

A snarl rips from my throat. This fucking woman. I grip her hips, positioning her just right, and then I thrust into her, hard and deep. She cries out, her body arching against mine, her fingers digging into my skin.

Everything about this is a fight. Our bodies clash, our breaths come in ragged gasps, and our eyes lock in a battle of wills. But fuck, it feels so damn right. Her heat surrounds me, her body gripping mine like a vice, and I can't get enough.

I pound into her, each thrust harder than the last. She meets me stroke for stroke, her hips bucking against mine, her body demanding more. Her hands explore my body, her touch both tentative and bold. She runs her fingers along the underside of my wings, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine.

No one's ever touched me there. It's intimate, too fucking intimate, but with her, it feels right. I groan, my grip on her tightening, my cock pulsing inside her. She gasps, her body clenching around me, her eyes wild with need.

"Sariel," she moans, her voice a desperate plea.

"Come for me, little nexari," I demand, my voice rough with need. "Let me feel you come all over my cock."

Her body shudders, her eyes roll back, and she screams my name as she comes. Her body convulses around me, her heat pulsing, and it's enough to send me over the edge. I roar, my release crashing through me, my cock throbbing as I spill into her.

Our bodies shudder together, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. Her hands grip my shoulders, her nails digging into my skin, and I can feel her heart pounding against my chest. We cling to each other, our bodies slick with sweat, our hearts racing in sync.

This little human has just rocked my fucking world, and I don't know if I'll ever be the same.

I set Lyra down, her legs shaky as they touch the floor. She stares at me, eyes wide, mouth agape. For a moment, we just stand there, the gravity of what just happened settling over us.

Lyra snaps out of it first, scrambling to gather her clothes. She dresses quickly, fumbling with the fabric, refusing to meet my eyes. I watch her, my body still thrumming from our encounter, unable to form words.

She rushes out without a backward glance, the door slamming behind her. I let her go, knowing I should stop her, but unable to piece together what just happened. It's a moment of weakness, that's all, but I shouldn't have. My wings droop, suddenly heavy on my back.

I lean against the door, my forehead pressing against the cool wood. What the fuck did I just do?

Footsteps echo in the corridor outside. Two xaphan, their voices low but clear through the thin walls.

"We need to take out more humans in the next trial," one says. "It's too easy. They're lasting longer than expected."

"Agreed," the other replies. "I've got a plan to sabotage the equipment for a few of them. Should thin the herd nicely."

My fists clench at my sides. This is nothing new. We've always rigged the trials, ensuring humans fail. It's our duty, our right as the superior race. So why does it suddenly feel so wrong?

Lyra's determined face flashes in my mind. Her strength, her resilience. The way she fights, not just for herself, but for others. She's nothing like what I've been taught humans are.

I push away from the door, pacing the room. My duty is clear. I should be helping plan how to eliminate more humans, how to make the trials harder, more deadly. It's what I've always done.

But the thought of Lyra broken and bleeding on the ground makes my stomach churn. I can't let that happen. I won't.

I need to keep a closer eye on her during the remaining trials. To protect her, yes, but also... to understand. To figure out why she affects me this way, why she's making me question everything I thought I knew.

Humans are supposed to be weak, selfish creatures. Not worth our time or consideration. But Lyra... she's different.

I don't give a fuck about the rest of the humans. Like most of this world, they can fuck off.

But my little nexari… Fuck, I don't know if I can give her up. What I just did was dangerous — not because of the trials. No one would care that I fucked a little human.

It's the way I want to go after her, the way I'm already craving another taste, the way I swooped in and saved her today even if it was under the pretense that they can only die for an audience when I know that's not why I did…

Shit, I am fucked.