I was a di Aetes. I didn’t want or need anyone to save me. I would save myself.

The tattoos on Ahiga’s face wrinkled as he gave me a grin. “I met someone else like you once before. I think you two were cut from the same cloth.” He crossed his arms. “I think I’ll enjoy seeing you let loose.”

I smiled, but I couldn’t feel it. “I can’t let loose. Not here.” I longed for a time and place when I could have a chance to really learn and push myself. To find a partner that could push me to grow. But that wasn’t here. That wasn’t today. That wasn’t Santiago.

Chapter Twenty-Five

I stepped down from the treadmill and stretched my arms.

Ahiga walked over and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Come on. Santiago is already down there warming up.”

I walked to the front of the balcony and leaned over the railing to see him below stretching, getting ready for our fight.

“Don’t you chicken out on me!” he yelled up.

I shook my head at his taunt. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Without overthinking it, I ran toward the stairs. When I hit the edge of the first one, I jumped and tucked my body. I twisted halfway down, spotting my landing. My feet hit the floor, and I breathed a full breath for the first time since Declan had shown up in my apartment.

No. Longer.

I’d been hiding and afraid my whole life, but the worst had already happened. SpaceTech had found me. They had complete control over my life and were using me in their game against the Aunare. So how much hiding did I really have to do?

I wasn’t about to go around spilling my guts, but maybe Ahiga was right. Maybe I could let loose just a little bit.

I smiled—a real smile—as I approached the ring. There were maybe four or five guys who’d been working downstairs that were now quietly watching me approach Santiago. I looked behind me to see Ahiga coming down the stairs. A few guys were leaning over the railing watching.

Ahiga gave me a wide-eyed look that said what was that, and I shrugged.

Maybe my acrobatic trick was a little showy—okay, a lot showy—but it’d been fun.

“You’re freaking me out with that smile,” Santiago said. “And what the hell was that move? You took the entire staircase in one go?”

I kicked off my shoes and shoved my doubled-up socks into them. I hoped my feet would hold up while I sparred. The skin was a little thin, but they’d held up fine while I was running. So I figured this should be okay. “My version of a warm-up.” I slid between the ropes. “You ready?”