Page 40 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

Before I could answer, the cell door slid open with a hiss. Dr. Zhen’la entered, his insectoid body filling the doorway. Rage exploded within me. I lunged forward, straining against my restraints until they cut into my flesh.

“You fucking bastard,” I snarled. “I’ll tear you apart.”

Zhen’la’s mandibles clicked in amusement. “Such spirit. It will be entertaining to watch it break.”

“Where are we?” Samira demanded, sitting up on her cot.

“Larakis,” Zhen’la replied.

My blood ran cold. Larakis. The underground city, a haven for the worst criminals in the galaxy. We were in deep trouble.

“What do you want with us?” I growled, still pulling at my bonds.

Zhen’la’s eyes glowed with malicious glee. “You, Arkon, will be sent to the rings. Your strength and skill will make you quite the attraction.”

My stomach twisted. The fighting rings of Larakis were brutal, often fatal. Normally, I wouldn’t worry that much. But it was Zhen’la’s next words that truly chilled me.

“And your lovely Samira will ensure your cooperation.”

“No,” Samira spat. “I won’t be used as a pawn. I’d rather die.”

Zhen’la’s mandibles clicked again, a sound I was beginning to hate. “If you insist, I won’t stop you. But consider this – I’ve seen how Arkon looks at you. I know how Vinduthi feel about their mates. The best way to break his spirit? To have him kill you himself.”

I froze, horror washing over me. “You can’t-”

“Oh, but I can,” Zhen’la interrupted. “And it will prove to my backers in the Consortium that my research is valid. Controlling a Vinduthi? That will open doors you can’t imagine.”

I looked at Samira, saw the fear in her eyes. And I knew, in that moment, that I would do anything to keep her safe. Even if it meant tearing myself apart.

Zhen’la stepped further into the cell, his many limbs moving with unsettling grace. I lunged at him, driven by pure rage and instinct. My muscles strained against the unyielding metal of the shackles. The bastard easily sidestepped my attack, mandibles clicking in amusement.

“So predictable, Arkon,” Zhen’la chided. He produced a sleek, gun-like device from one of his lower arms. “But I’ve prepared something special for you.”

I snarled, baring my fangs. “Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work.”

Zhen’la’s eyes glowed with malicious delight. “Oh, but it will. This is a revolutionary compound I’ve developed. Nanites infused with a potent cocktail of drugs. It will accelerate your healing, enhance your strength. I want you at your peak for the fighting rings, after all.”

Before I could react, he pressed the device against my neck. A sharp hiss, followed by a burning sensation as the injection penetrated my skin.

“And now,” Zhen’la continued, “a little test. Arkon, kill the human.”

The drug hit my system like a supernova. Fire raced through my veins, setting every nerve ending ablaze. My vision blurred, the world twisting into a nightmarish kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. I fought against it, gritting my teeth as I struggled to maintain control.

“No,” I growled, my voice barely recognizable. “I won’t... I can’t...”

Zhen’la watched with clinical detachment. “Fascinating. Your willpower is impressive, but ultimately futile.”

He stepped back, exiting the cell. The door hissed shut behind him. A moment later, my shackles released with a metallic clang.

Freedom. The word echoed in my mind, battling against the drug’s insidious whisper. Kill. Kill. Kill.

I watched Zhen’la’s retreating form through the small window in the door, acutely aware of the danger I now posed to Samira. My muscles trembled with the effort of staying still, fighting against the overwhelming urge to attack.

“Arkon?” Samira’s voice cut through the haze. “Arkon, look at me. Whatever he did to you, you can fight it.”

I turned towards her, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. She stood by her cot, hands raised in a placating gesture. I could see the fear in her eyes, but also determination.

“Stay... back...” I managed to grind out. Every word was a battle.

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