Beginning of Chapter 39

Rue

In Louise, there was a pit meant for battle. An arena used for a class that the seven emperors would occasionally participate in, with training provided by an old general of a forgotten time. The class ran throughout the day, famous for its afternoon slot in which Espers would battle openly with their gifts. But the first lesson, occurring at an ungodly hour and meant for warmups and simple training, was known to be a quiet and easy enough elective.

Perfect for the occasional beginner Guide looking for privacy.

The pit resembled a colosseum with tiered steps and pillars that extended towards the sky. Railings ran along its circumference for spectators, and the press of heat swallowed the space, smelling thickly of Alpha musk and pungent sweat. It was the first time Rue had ventured into the arena, feet shuffling upon dusty grounds, clad in mildly armoured attire. A bag was slung over her shoulder, and her body had been drenched in scent blockers.

Coach Garrett was a Planet 2 alien of stone and magma, an ex-general that Rue guessed to be under Levi's rule. He eyed her once over with a sneer, body made of solid reflective metal, and eyes boiling with the fire of his people. She knew what he saw, a scrawny short little Alpha that would surely quit within the day. And a strange choice for the emperors' consort based on the smell on her skin. But physical training class was a necessity for Guides, and Rue had yet to complete that requirement.

"I'm a new student, my name's Rue." She threw out that bone, the bag tossed to the side. "Signed up last night." Coach nodded, eyes meandering over her body. And Rue stood taller, waiting for his diagnosis.

"I'll have to do a health check on you," he muttered, tablet pulled out. "See if your fitness is up to standard—"

"That won't be necessary."

The voice that swooped in was like the sweetest poison. And the face that appeared even more so, regal and deadly. She hadn't seen him in a while, but Altair was just as infuriatingly gorgeous, lips curved into an angry pout, body clad in blood-drenched dark sleek suited armour, hair a new shade of blonde, eyes a sharp pink, always a colour-changing chameleon. He spat on the ground with a hiss, swivelling to glare at her. A snarl twisted from beautiful, full lips.

"It's fucking 5 AM and a combat class, why the fuck did you sign up for this one?"

"So, you're my babysitter," Rue muttered back with a smile.

She had to face it; the truth was she still had a nasty crush on all seven men despite the shit they did. Her heart roared with newfound fervour for an Alpha who'd she'd already tasted once. And with her eyes on Altair who was always the object of her fixation, white smiles and a beacon of charm, her mind had to spin dangerously to uncharted waters.

Altair, pressed between her thighs, hands consuming her waist, lips sucking her clit with the cutest winded moans until she was dizzy with pleasure. He fucked her like he was meeting God. That thought fluttered to the forefront of her mind like a virus.

It seemed that he'd tasted those dreams because his cheeks grew pink, an odd look glazing over dilating pupils. And he smiled, eyes forming moons, mood greatly improved. Rue squinted at him and folded her arms before he could tease her for it.

"Where's your twin?"

"Valentino's fucking himself with one of his tentacles," the aphrodite rolled his eyes, tongue pressed to the corner of his mouth, a sultry flutter of his lashes. Liar. She snorted, and Altair sniffed, a yawn rippling through him. "Darling, there's a baby punching class for Guides in the afternoon. We prepared for that one. This one's nasty."

"I love ruining your plans."

He smiled, hip cocked out, head tilted, earrings tinkling. She noted now that the armour glistened with a million tiny scales, skin-like to muscle-strapped thighs, hugging a toned tiny waist and bunching too tight around the swell of his cock. "And why the fuck is Halcyon wearing a goddamn ball gag to war like a slut?"

The mask. Rue choked. Halcyon, God, he'd looked adorable that morning, huddled all cold and sad on the ground. She'd tried to put up a strong front, but his eyes were sometimes her weakness. And Halcyon had been sweetly apologetic and perfectly crazy. "He's at war?"

"Just a quick mission with the others," Altair said, feathers parted, all white like an angel's. "It's hot, I'll admit that," He placed two fingers to his lips, a V-shape formed, tongue out. "Looks like some fucked up BDSM. But you know he's stubborn. And if he's keeping that shit on, he's not going to be able to lick your feet."

"Who said I enjoyed having my feet licked?"

"Or your clit," Altair raised a finger before she could speak, "and my big fat cock." He turned on his heels before she could bark a retort, stealing the tablet from Coach Garett. "I'll do the check, Coach." He ran it up and down her body with a scowl. "Look at this, Rue," he whispered, feathers raised like a shield, hiding her from her new teacher. The device blazed a startling blue. "F for female. These things that read muscle? They dig deep in for details. Reads body structure and biology, unlike some of those quick fix health scanners at the hospital. But those are a gamble, you never know when you'll meet a bad one." He tapped at the device, killing the data then yawned. "You need to let us know if you decide to join a random goddamn class."

"I'm lucky you're here then," Rue pointed out. "Besides I know that Coach is on Levi's payroll. And the rest of the students in this class are half asleep." Or at least they seemed to be, shuffling around. But they huddled closer with Altair's appearance, eyes darting over to the emperor, surely looking for a chance to speak to him. Rue scowled. Altair was drawing in the attention.

"Coach's no pushover," Altair hissed. "He's a decorated man, why else would we take his class? Fuck, he's seen some of us in diapers. We can't just shut him up." This had her faltering, concern reaching her eyes.

"Shit—"

"I'm just fucking with you," Altair waved his hand. "We've still got him by the balls, we've got the whole fucking world by the balls, except you."

"Got no balls."

"That's why you can be such a bitch, like me." He turned, feathers closing shut to sink to his knees. The tablet was handed over to the coach and Rue glowered at his back. "Rue's all yours, Coach."

Coach Garett squinted at the panel. "Fairly decent stamina, average strength, but low on everything else." That had Altair gasping for the comedy, and Rue ignored him to look at Coach. That little shit. "You're here for beginner combat?"

"Yes, sir."

Coach squinted at her. "What have you got?"

"Self-defence basics with the bots at gym, ran it up to hard," Rue answered. "But nothing else."

"So, the monsters?"

"Not something I can handle."

"Glad that you know your place," Coach Garett nodded, and clapped his hands. "Warmed up?"

"Two laps around the dormitory."

"Enough," he said, decently pleased. "Altair," Coach nudged a chin towards her. "You're well-versed in those beasts. Help him." The aphrodite feigned a groan, a whine twisting from his lips. But he began tugging at his armour, unzipping it from the front to reveal a bare, naked chest, nipples pink and muscles flexed. Rue looked away with a curse at the nudist.

"Shouldn't I learn with some of those mannequins?" Rue said, eyes darting to the wooden structures at the edge of the field. "I'm not good at weapons Coach." Altair snorted.

God, Altair was fucking gorgeous, the sun swathing him in a glow that had his skin all dewy and shimmery. The light kissed down the mouth-watering expanse, cinching his waist. To be fair, she'd seen a fair amount of nudity from the seven. But dusted sexily, and backdropped to the sun? It still had her winded for the trail of hair down from his belly to his waistband.

But she was alarmed when he reached for a knife at a stand, pulling it free from its sheathe. The blade hissed blue and immediately she understood. It was made with technology that prevented damage, the metal melting into a liquid the moment a single drop of blood was drawn. But bruises were fair game.

"It's not fucking fair," she hissed at Altair. Coach Garett remained silent; a large panel of floating blue numbers now pulled up. It seemed to be recording their movements, swivelling to face them as they moved. "I can't fight you."

"Why not?"

"You're strong as fuck."