Page 12 of Baited

The transport bucks as it comes to a halt. The captain opens the rear door and stares in at the mess I’ve made.

He shakes his head.

“No touching unless it’s a fight, eh, Blayn?” he says. “Then touch all you want.”

My lips ripple as I step over the prone bodies of the guards and out into the courtyard where the dome transport has stopped. High above me is a forcefield, stopping any unauthorized Gryn exit.

“I’m here to fight, aren’t I?”

“But not to remove appendages from wealthy patrons. You know the deal.” The captain folds his arms over his broad chest. “If you want to stay here and not be sent to the amphitheater for tyro fodder, you get used to being paraded and stop damaging the paying public.”

I do not want to go back to the amphitheater. We all spent time there when we were indoctrinated into the dome. It is a place I never want to see again, and I’m the one stuck inside my head.

I grunt at him as behind me there are groans.

“Gak the lot of you. Can’t you handle one single gladiator without making a spectacle of yourselves?” The captain marches over to the transport and flicks his horns at me. “Go back to your quarters,” he says. “There could be worse ways to get you used to being paraded. Think on it, Blayn.”

Does that mean I get to go back to the stinking pleasure house to be in her company again?

I snap my bonds easily and stride into the dome, making my way through the maze of passages until I’m in the gladiator area. All the cell doors are open, and it appears everyone is in tonight.Rych spots me first. He has a large healing gash down his arm, and I remember striking him during an earlier bout which vexed him off no end.

“You’re back,” he says.

My feathers itch. I feel like I need to be doing something, and it’s not talking to Rych.

I snort at him and head to my cell.

My empty cell, where all I have is a single blanket on the floor. It will not do. There needs to be…more. I’m staring into it when Rych thumps his shoulder on the wall, his ever-present jewels glittering and rattling.

“Where did they send you? Bex’s? Tie’s?” he asks. “I still can’t believe how lucky you are.”

Which is saying something, given Rych has to be the luckiest Gryn here. His ability to command luxuries is almost boundless.

“I don’t know,” I rasp.

Where can I get things for my cell? I need things, all the things, anything. It can’t stay like this, or I think I might have to start pulling out my own feathers. I give Rych a sidelong glance. Or I could pull out his feathers. As if he can tell what I’m thinking, he takes a step back from me.

“But you were sent to a pleasure house, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

I think there might be more bedding near the captain’s quarters. After all, the others have beds and bedding. I also think there are items in the training arena I can use. I tap my thumb to my bottom lip.

“And did you? Get any pleasure?” Rych continues.

“Don’t touch,” I say absently.

He drops his head back and groans. “Really? You had a full evening in a pleasure house and no touching?”

“I had a bath and food. It was good food.” I dart him a glance. I’m not telling him about Izzy.

She is…mine?

“And no females to interest you…or males?”

My lip lifts involuntarily, revealing my fangs. Rych barks out a laugh, raising a hand as if he’s about to clap my shoulder before he thinks better of it.

“No one,” I say.

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