"Aunt Elysa," Ari started.
She held up her hand. "You will respect your mate and say no more. She trusts us to do the right thing, as should you."
"She's my mate, Auntie El," he whispered.
"Which is why we're going to enjoy this, Ari. Now go grab a seat so you can watch your mate. I have a feeling your unit brothers will be here soon."
"Sonofabitch!"
Ari turned like he was about to head to the door, then swung back to kiss Brie. "Don't get permanently maimed, okay?"
"I'll do my best," she compromised.
Her dad and Doran both kissed her cheek. "I've got a hundred on you, baby girl," her dad called back as he walked away.
Once the room was empty, Elysa turned to her. "Parameters?"
Brie bent at the waist to stretch her legs. "I know you're shifters so our strength and speed will be wildly different." She stood up straight. "How would you adjust your abilities when fighting a new warrior amongst you?"
Elysa had her arms crossed over her chest. She began tapping her finger on her forearm. "For the cubs, you mean?"
Brie grimaced at the term. "Would you equate a human's strength and speed to that of a cub?"
Elysa nodded. "Absolutely."
"Even the men?"
The tall warrior burst into laughter. "Especially the men. My girls can out-perform the unit warriors any day of the week, and they know it."
"Why aren't you unit warriors then?" she asked curiously.
"Why tie ourselves to that political headache? We answer to no man."
"That's so cool."
Elysa uncrossed her arms and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'll hold back, but will adjust to your capabilities."
"I
'm counting on it," she said, her insides shaking in excitement.
"Look at you. Poor baby girl has never had a good sparring session," Elysa murmured in sympathy.
"You have no idea! The guys back home either come at me like I need to be put down or they pull their punches. I can't get a square fight out of any of them."
"Let's go see what you can do," Elysa held up her arm, inviting her to walk outside.
Once through the front door, her mouth dropped. The squires had set up seating, and it looked like a mini arena.
"Kick her ass, NinjaGaiden!" Meryn yelled.
Elysa chuckled. "The men probably think she's cute." She paused and tilted her head. "But she's the most dangerous one here, and with Eliana's Daughters present, that's saying something."
They stepped into the ring that someone had burned into the lawn. "Rules?" she asked.
"Nothing that would cause permanent harm. No unnecessary violence. If you're down, I won't continue. Good?"
"Perfect."