Page 86 of Baited

The charged atmosphere could be cut with a knife, or a set of Gryn claws. For a moment, I’m not sure the guards are going to obey the captain, but then, with a slow clicking, the ray guns are lowered, and they adopt a less combative stance.

“Thank you,” I say to the captain, although my voice is hardly audible, my throat is so tight.

“You’re welcome, little one,” he says. “It’s about time the dome was challenged, even if it means my job. Let me thank you for helping this great lump realize his true potential.”

Blayn bristles with hurt pride. “I am not a great lump. I think you’ll find that’s Maxym,” he says, grabbing my hand and pushing past the captain.

“I think you’ll find I’m a gladiator,” he calls back over his shoulder.

“And a Gryn,” I remind him. “You were a Gryn first. The dome made you into a gladiator.”

We make our way through the entrance and into the depths of the dome. Blayn pulls up short, presses me against the wall, and kisses me to oblivion.

“What would I do without you?” he says as I’m let up for air. His claws prick into my scalp as he buries his hands in my hair.

“I don’t know. What would you do without me?”

“Myeregri, you make my cocks hard and my brain function. Being a gladiator is what I thought was all I’d ever known, but it is not, and it took meeting you to help me realize it.”

“What about your family?” I ask. “Do you want to find them?”

His face darkens along with his thoughts.

“They…left me.”

“They loved you, and they couldn’t bear you not being there,” I respond. “I’d be the same.” I look at our surroundings. “When you were taken to Sartak, I didn’t want to stay in Tatatunga.”

“But you came for me?”

“I knew where you were, and I had a guide, if you were worried.”

“All I wanted was you. There was nothing else but you.” Blayn sighs. “Although if I’d known you were coming, I’d have escaped earlier.”

He gives me his grin, the one which lights him up in a good way. Even if it is verging on the unhinged on this occasion.

“We’ve got a procurator to face,” I say. “And we’ll do it together.”

BLAYN

It has crossed my mind that I could simply leave Tatatunga, leave Trefa, and wash my feathers of being a gladiator. Only I don’t want to be followed by anyone from the dome. I don’t want my life with Izzy to be disrupted by any suggestion it doesn’t belong to us.

Some corners of the galaxy would recognize the dome’s claim over me, and until it is severed, permanently, I cannot be sure my mate and our young will be safe.

My beautifuleregriis with young. I imagine her belly rounded and how she’ll look riding my cocks.

“Blayn!” Izzy says from my side. “Thoughtbond!”

“What? I want to mate you now, never mind wanting to mate with you when you are ripe with our youngling,” I reply, the wicked part of me thinking of more positions I’d like her in as she gets bigger.

“I guess I’m going to have to get used to your refusal to filter the thoughtbond,” she replies. “Or your mouth.”

I snatch a quick ky-ss from her as we reach the floor the procurator uses.

“You love my mouth.”

My chest tightens with her mirth, her annoyance, and her delight in me. So many emotions packed up into such a small mate.

“You know I do,” she says and then her eyes widen.

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