Waking Dream [Tales of the Citadel 23] by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

done, Wiyra. My first day, Tero dropped me in two minutes.”
    She drank the water and wiped the sweat off her face. “How long has it been?”
    Tero peered at the chronometer on the wall. “Forty-five minutes? It was quite a dance. Thank you. I rarely get to do more than warm up.”
    She snickered and groaned as she sat on the floor of the workout space. “Well, thank you for taking it easy on me.”
    “Oh, I didn’t. You took all hits I could swing. Your body seems designed to spread the impact away from the strike point.” He squatted down next to her. “I would be happy to continue your training when you are at the base.”
    She grinned. “That would be fun.”
    Burin cleared his throat. “I am sure that you two are sharing a moment, but Tero, I am willing to try taking you down if you keep making moves on my partner.”
    Tero sighed regretfully, “So, it’s like that?”
    Wiyra chuckled, “No, it isn’t like that. Not yet. But it will be.”
    Burin’s posture toward Tero relaxed.
    “Well, partner, help me get my ass off the floor so I can waddle back to my room for a shower. I need to catalogue my growing bruises for posterity.” She held out her hand imperiously, and Burin helped pull her to her feet.
    Tero grinned, “I can have some knives brought in for next time but not until you are in full body armour.”
    She snorted. “Healer or not, if you think to best me with short blades, think again.”
    Burin nodded. “I have seen her in action. You had best be wearing body armour as well, Tero.”
    Tero nodded. “I stand warned.”
    Burin walked slowly so that her bruised limbs could keep up. “You did very well.”
    “So you said. However, I think my bruised ass would beg to differ. It is feeling very chatty at the moment.” Wiyra groaned and headed toward the stairs that suddenly seemed endless.
    He chuckled. “We have a lift.”
    He stroked the column that ran through the centre of the stairs and a doorway opened. “For occasions such as this.”
    She grumbled and stomped past him.
    He pressed the floor number, and they were silently whisked to their floor. She muttered to herself and palmed open her door.
    Peeling her way out of the suit was awkward, but she stumbled naked into the lav and stood under the hot spray with a sigh of relief. Once her muscles were loose, she used the coldest water she could stand to reduce the bruising.
    With her limbs shaking but a slightly improved ease of movement, she took a look in the mirror and admired the bruises on her ribcage and thighs. She twisted and admired the blackish blue on her shoulder blade, her twisting pattern of veins deep beneath her skin made the tissue stand out in reverse on the bruise itself.
    She grimaced and headed back into the bedroom, seeking something else to wear that wasn’t coated in sweat.
    The wardrobe yielded a generic bodysuit and deep amethyst robes. The suit was a close-enough fit, and she enjoyed twirling with the robes on, watching the fabric flare and twist as she spun. Of course, then, she turned the wrong way and limped over to the bed.
    She looked across the room and saw the com unit. Groaning, she dragged herself over and keyed in the code for the Kwinto platform.
    Seeing her cousin’s face and then speaking to her grandfather made her feel better. He laughed at her explanation of the testing she had just undergone. “I am surprised that he got the better of you, dumpling.”
    “He is very good.”
    “And your new partner, how is he?” The calculating gleam in Vecho’s eyes was unmistakable.
    “He is very concerned for my wellbeing but equally willing to watch me get my ass handed to me, so he will let me stand on my own without hovering. I think we will work very well together.” She smiled and wrinkled her nose at him.
    “I think so too. I have the list of baby names your great-grandmother left for you, I mean, just in case.”
    She laughed. “Let’s let me learn his full name before we go on planning