Page 89 of Caged

I turn with a snarl, but the corridor is filled with shadow soldiers and Habosu.

We are surrounded.

“The thing is”—Medius taps the side of his head and his face flickers from the form he’s using to the one he was hatched with—“I can always find you. I will always find you.”

I push Alex behind me, into my wings, which will offer her some protection.

“Or maybe, I’ll always find you, Medius,” I reply.

“Why don’t we talk?” he suggests, gesturing to the open door to his box.

“What do we have to talk about?” I bristle. “You’re putting me in the dome to die, for entertainment and credits.”

“My plans are fluid. We can talk about your life, that of your mate, and your unborn young perhaps?” He jerks his head and the shadow soldiers advance.

I step into the box, Alex at my side, as I don’t want to risk her.

The box is one of the largest in the dome. A vast window looks out over the games, which today appear to be beast related,given there’s three vesso, the huge eating machines, all teeth and guts, currently terrorizing those who thought they could take on the dome and win.

“Sylas.” The procurator is seated within a vast sunken area, giving the best view. “You have returned.” He lifts a jeweled goblet to me.

It’s then my memory completely clicks into place.

The shadow soldiers are his personal guard. The procurator knew all about where I came from. He’s working with the Zavaro.

“Procurator.” I give him the gladiator bow, my eyes not leaving him.

“You can drop the sword,” Medius says. “If you want your mate to remain unharmed.”

I fling the weapon across the room, and it shatters the selection of expensive intoxicating liquor on the bar and buries itself in the wall behind. For a nova-second or two, the only sound is the sword vibrating and the dripping of liquid into the plush flooring.

“Dropped it,” I say.

Under my wing, Alex snorts.

Medius’s face twists, losing much of its sham nature and instead his jaw protrudes with crooked teeth as his eyes blaze red.

“Your memory has returned, I presume,” Medius rasps.

“It has, all save what happened to my ship and my contacts.” I take a step towards him, and he backs away. “And why this place is filled with Gryn when I couldn’t find them.”

The jaw widens into a foul smile.

“The mystery of the Gryn. Have you ever wondered why so many apex predators in this galaxy have gone missing?”

While I’m not going to admit anything to Medius, my thoughts go to the shape-shifting Sarkarnii, as predatory as the Gryn and yet just as scarce.

“If the Zavaro are involved, I’d say you’re attempting to eliminate any species which would be a threat to you,” I reply.

“Ah, you finally remembered.” Medius sighs. “Almost correctly. We found elimination tends not to go unnoticed by those who might oppose it. Instead we decided, along with a few other like-minded species, that harnessing you would be preferable. After all, why not make credits from you? Ending a species is so boring. Making it rare and selling the remnants to the highest bidder is far more interesting.”

“Selling the Gryn to places like this?” Alex shoves her way in front of me. “This fucking place is abhorrent.”

“Survival is not.” Medius sneers at her.

“Fuck you. Survival on the backs of others is not survival, it’s exploitation, and regardless of what else Tatatunga is, it’s full of good, honest species working to survive without needing to do what you’re doing.” She spits. “No one should be another’s slave.”

“You should know.” Medius nods into a corner, and a large Habosu steps out of the shadows.

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