Page 44 of Caged

“That one I got in a battle against a Bognarok. They rarely attend the games, let alone fight in the dome. This one put up a reasonable fight,” I say, putting my fingers over hers.

“And this one?” Alex asks, touching the silvered pucker which runs all the way down my side.

“This one nearly killed me, and I heal fast,” I reply. “Zigurex. They’re virtually indestructible unless you have a tritanium weapon. I didn’t.”

“They put you in the dome with a creature you couldn’t actually kill?”

“I didn’t want to kill the zigurex. Neither did it want to kill me, but they have a lot of teeth and barbs. The procurator determined I should live and here I am.”

Alex smooths her hand out over my abdomen.

“Do you remember how you got all of these?” she asks.

I can’t see her face. It’s obscured by her hair.

“I remember each and every one. It’s how I learned to become a gladiator and teach the others too,” I say, running my claws through her hair, enjoying the feel of the silky strands between my fingers. “Not all were from the dome. I gained some on the farm and in the uprising.”

Alex lifts her head, her face wet and her eyes red.

“Eregri?” I swipe my thumb over her cheek. “What is this?”

“I’m sorry, Sylas. I’m so sorry.”

“What for?”

“For what happened to you.”

“You didn’t do this to me.” I clear the other side of her face, but more water leaks out of her eyes, dripping onto my skin.

I bring my thumb to my lips. It’s salty but not unpleasant.

“But you didn’t do it to yourself,” she says, voice choked.

“And you didn’t become a slave to a disgusting Habosu because you wanted it, little feather.” I cup her head in my hands, kissing away the wetness.

“It doesn’t make it right,” Alex says. “Even if these were not the lives we chose.”

“No, it does not. But now we get to live the lives we do choose. Together,” I confirm.

Alex scrubs the back of her hand over her face.

“What are these?” I capture another drop from her eye and taste it again.

“Tears. Humans cry tears when they are unhappy.”

I rumble a hum, not quite understanding. But then three nova-days, most of which were spent plundering her sweet body, are hardly enough time for me to get to know an entirely new species.

Albeit one I will never allow out of my sight.

“Chohan in half a nova-hour,”the Cirmos’ voice crackles over the internal comm, causing my wings to flare.

“I need to get dressed,” Alex says, kissing me on the cheek.

“I’d prefer it if you stayed like this.” I run my fingers over her peaked nipples before lowering my head to suck gently on one.

“What? In the jungle? I’d get eaten to death!” Alex exclaims.

“Only by me,” I growl and she laughs.

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