Page 50 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

Zade

Zade removedtwo weapons from his tactical sling and shifted his stance, drawing the viderbeast’s attention away from Ashlyn as his wire rope activated. He coiled the whiplike metal and waited for the beast to charge.

For the space between two heartbeats, fear whispered inside his mind. The viderbeast was the largest he had ever seen. A female, which meant her exoskeleton would be thicker, her venom more deadly than her male counterpart. The female viderbeast was most volatile when carrying young. Judging by the viscosity of the venom oozing from the beast’s mouth, this one had been protecting juveniles when C’Nar had his people capture it.

Countless battles flashed through Zade’s mind as he locked the fear behind stone doors inside his mind. He could not afford the distraction, could not worry about Ashlyn, about losing her, about what she would choose after they completed his final challenge, not if he wanted to survive.

On Caldor, the viderbeast was respected as a deadly predator and left alone. But there were many worlds where the viderbeast, or its cousins, were used for sport.

Worlds like Cappra.

“Another reason to kill thatvemrin.” Zade kept pace with the viderbeast as it moved toward him, its bulging eyes shifting under the light. C’Nar would have to be dealt with eventually. Zade was not fool enough to believe that once the challenge was over, and he settled with Ashlyn on Cappra, the Ubrion family would accept defeat. No. They would send assassins after him, try to take her. Subjugate her. Place new chains of obedience around her ankles and turn her into a true slave.

He would die before he allowed that to happen.

Better yet, he would annihilate the entire Ubrion clan to keep her safe. Every cousin, every male old enough to threaten his mate.

The finality of the decision settled his nerves as he sidestepped a spurt of venom the viderbeast shot at his head.

Momentum carrying him, he rolled onto his side, close to the beast, and whipped his wire rope at the viderbeast’s legs.

The creature screamed as the wire wrapped around the base of one long leg. The viderbeast pulled against the wire, seeking to free itself. The resistance caused the sharp wire to cut through the beast’s leg. The bottom half of the limb fell to the ground as dark green blood erupted from the wound.

The arena erupted in chaotic screams as Zade continued his roll, coming up onto his knees and repeating the attack on one of the viderbeast’s back legs.

He needed to hobble the twelve legged creature on one side, make it lopsided, off balance, slow and clumsy, before he dared get close enough to use his sword.Two down, four to go.

Enraged, the viderbeast charged. Zade ran toward the Councilors, content to see several scramble from their seats in terror as the viderbeast raced toward them.

Seconds before running into the wall, Zade turned and raised his blaster, firing directly into one of the viderbeast’s bulging eyes.

The fluid filled cavity exploded with a loud pop.

Zade scrambled out of the way as the viderbeast slammed into the arena’s sidewall directly below the seated Councilors.

Dark green blood gathered in large droplets and fell in a steady pace to the arena’s floor.

The creature leaned its giant body against the wall for long seconds, assessing its prey, adjusting to the pain of its injuries.Thinking.

Moving with deliberate slowness, so as not to agitate the creature into another charge, Zade coiled his wire rope and slipped farther out of reach. He would draw the creature back toward its cage and use the heavy metal box to his advantage. Out in the open, it would be much more difficult to surprise the creature with another attack. He could use the metal cage as a shield of sorts, attack and retreat, draw out the fight, until it lost enough blood to weaken it.

He'd wounded the beast, now all he had to do was be patient. And stay alive.

Zade made his way to one side of the cage, relieved when the viderbeast followed him, its attitude cautious, calculating as Zade circled the cage. The beast stayed with him, walking in continuous circles around the exterior.

Bored by Zade’s tactical approach, the crowd grew restless. Some had the audacity to shout obscenities, jeering and taunting him. Zade ignored them and their calls for violence. He refused to risk his life unnecessarily. If he fell to the creature, Ashlyn would suffer. That was unacceptable.

He risked a glance to where Ashlyn stood, safely on the edge of the arena, as far from the fight as she could get.

Relief flooded him that she had obeyed him in this. Hope surged in his heart at the vulnerability and concern in her gaze when their eyes met. Did she love him? She had not spoken the words. Every time she submitted to him in bed, surrendered her body into his keeping, he needed her more. Needed to hear her beg. Needed to hear his name on her lips. Needed to look into her eyes as her body exploded with pleasure. He ached to complete the claiming in truth, to feel her hands on his flesh as she claimed him in turn, rubbed maju paste over his markings, declared to all that she had chosen him, judged him worthy.

The viderbeast stopped moving, its large body lumbering to a halt at the front of the cage. For a moment Zade thought the creature might choose to go back inside its cage.

Keeping his eye on the creature, he positioned himself so he could see both the viderbeast and Ashlyn. His mate. Everything about her was soft and beautiful, untouched by war, compassionate and kind. Everything he was not.

“Watch out!”

Zade leaped into action before Ashlyn’s scream fully registered. He sidestepped and rolled, the viderbeast’s spiked leg so close, so fast moving, the air whistled past his ear.

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