Chapter 209: Eyes Everywhere

"Is it?" Zaeryn teased, shifting slightly beneath her. "Feels like we’re bonding.""W-what?" Yuna was at a loss for words. Her cheeks turned even more red.

"Yuna! Finish him or get off him!" Zelda’s voice cut through the bubble, sharp and impatient.

Yuna squeaked, scrambling off him so fast she almost tripped over her own feet. She stood up, smoothing her uniform frantically, unable to meet his eyes.

"I... I win," she mumbled to the floor, her ears burning red.

Zaeryn sat up, watching her with a genuine smile. She was lethal, but she was also impossibly cute. "Yeah," he said softy, getting to his feet and dusting himself off. "You definitely win."

Almost immediately, the buzzer blared through the Aegis Chamber, signaling the end of the session.

Zaeryn slumped back against the smart-foam barrier, chest heaving.

"Okay," he panted, looking over at Yuna.

She was calmly wiping a sheen of perspiration from her forehead. She was also winded. She collapsed next to him, lying on her back and staring up at the ceiling panels. "I take it back. You don’t just have precision. You’re tough as hell."

Yuna breathed out a sigh of relief, offering a small, tired smile as she unwrapped the protective tape from her knuckles. "I have superior hand-to-hand training, Zaeryn. That’s all."

She turned her head to him while they were still on the floor, her brown eyes serious but warm. "But in a real fight? When it actually matters? You’re better. You’re a tier 2 vitae user, so that puts you in Leia’s league, I would say you’re even slightly above her."

"I wouldn’t go that far," Zaeryn deflected, wiping his face with his forearm. He still felt like a novice fumbling with a nuke compared to these women. Leia was still leagues above him. He would need to master his powers to reach her.

"I would," she insisted softly. "I saw you with the simulations. I saw you with Leia. My combat scores are high because I have been training for nine months. You... haven’t even been here a week. With your multiple abilities? Once you master that, technique won’t matter as much."

Zaeryn looked at her, surprised by the conviction in her voice. He turned his body fully toward her, and their eyes met. A silence settled between them, comfortable, shared, and laced with that same shy electricity from the spar. They just looked into each other’s eyes, smiling, the noise of the gym fading into the background.

Zaeryn finally snapped out of it, clearing his throat and turning his head. "Thanks, Yuna. I’ll try not to let it go to my head."

Yuna stood up, dusting off her pants. "You’re welcome." She grabbed her water bottle, her cheeks still dusted with pink. "See you tomorrow?"

"Yeah."

Zaeryn got to his feet and headed for the makeshift changing area Zelda had assigned him. He stripped off the damp CQC gear and pulled on his standard uniform, adjusting the collar and checking his reflection.

It was the last class of the day. He was free.

He grabbed his data slate and stepped out into the corridor, the noise of hundreds of students filling the air. He was just planning his route to the exit maybe calling Ysmeine to ask about that mall trip she’d mentioned when a figure stepped directly into his path.

"Leaving so soon?"

Zaeryn stopped. Leaning against a pillar with casual, predatory grace was Ingrid. Her yellow hair was loose around her shoulders, framing her face, and her stormy gray eyes were locked on him with a mix of amusement and intent.

"Hey, Ingrid," Zaeryn said, a slow grin spreading across his face. "Waiting for someone?"

"Yes," she purred, pushing off the pillar and stepping into his personal space. "You."

Zaeryn’s hands found her waist naturally, bringing her closer. Her body pressed lightly against his, a familiar heat. "Looking for me? Did you miss me?"

"Yes. A lot actually," she said, her voice dropping. "And I have no shame admitting it."

"Poor you," Zaeryn teased.

Their lips met a quick, hungry seal on the conversation. When they pulled back, Zaeryn kept his hold on her. "Want to hang out for an hour or more?" he proposed. He had to meet Ysmeine soon, but he had time to kill. And the idea of killing time with Ingrid, seeing what kind of trouble they could get into, was very appealing.

"I can’t. I have a class to attend," she said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "Unlike you juniors, we have longer study hours."

"Oh, that’s a shame."

He leaned forward and captured her mouth again. It was a deep, slow slide of lips, ignoring the students passing by in the hall. Ingrid hummed against him, her fingers tightening in his uniform as she kissed him back with that familiar, possessive fire.

For a moment, the busy hallway faded. Zaeryn felt a pleasant, warm thrum in his chest the Eros Engine purring contentedly.

Ingrid pulled back first, though she didn’t go far. Her forehead rested against his, her stormy gray eyes hazy but focused.

"Okay," she breathed, patting his chest once. "That’ll do. For now."

Zaeryn watched her leave, the sway of her hips drawing his eye until she disappeared into the crowd. He shook his head, a smile lingering on his lips, and rounded the corner toward the main exit, his mind already drifting to the nap waiting for him at home.

He didn’t make it to the door.

He came to a halt as he spotted a familiar figure waiting near the archway, looking like a patch of calm amidst the stream of exiting students. Annalise wasn’t wearing the severe expression of a council member on business; she looked relaxed, her hazel eyes lighting up when she spotted him.

"Hey. Heading out?" she asked, pushing off the wall with a soft smile.

"Hey. That was the plan," Zaeryn said, slowing down. "Unless you’re here for me?"

"Yes I am. But you’re not in trouble," she assured him quickly, falling into step beside him as they walked out into the bright afternoon sun. "I am here to take you to the Citadel. High Commander’s orders."

Zaeryn groaned, tipping his head back. "Why? I haven’t even done anything... yet." He hated that place. It was full of people like Zia and Commander Thorne who looked at him like a virus.

"Daphne needs to do a check-up," Annalise explained. "Lysara wants a full workup on the new powers you acquired.... all of it."

"Right," Zaeryn muttered. "I guess you guys really do know everything now."

"We do," she confirmed simply. "At least Lysara does. She’s keeping a close eye on you. She wants to make sure you’re stable."

They reached the waiting cruiser. Before getting in, Zaeryn paused, looking at her with genuine curiosity.

"Okay, but why you?" he asked. "You’re a Council member, Annalise. Isn’t playing chauffeur a job for... literally anyone else?"

Annalise laughed, a light, musical sound that seemed out of place in the military setting. "Technically, yes," she admitted, opening the door for him. She shrugged, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "But honestly? I had nothing to do. My schedule was open, and the alternative was reviewing trade tariffs with Zia."

She flashed him a conspiratorial grin. "I figured this would be much more interesting."

"Can’t argue with that," Zaeryn smirked, climbing into the cruiser. "Let’s go see the mad scientist."