Page 54 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

Shit. Now what?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The Arena

The arena buzzedwith the electric energy of the crowd, the air thick with the smell of sweat and bug guts as Dur’vok and C’Nar came to a stop in the middle of the arena. She wanted to roll her eyes when she realized they were just out of range of Zade’s weapons.

But not hers. She checked the crossbow. Yep, she had one bolt left. Just in case. She didn’t trust C’Nar at all. Not one bit. She and Zade had just completed the third test. They’d won. So, what the hell was C’Nar trying to pull now?

Ashlyn stood proudly beside Zade, hand in hand, as they waited to see what would happen next. Her body vibrated with aftershocks of the battle they had just won, adrenaline still thrumming through her system.

The rest of the Council members watched from their high seats, murmuring amongst themselves. Whether in approval or dismay, she had no idea.

She glanced at Zade, his breathing heavy but steady, his eyes scanning the arena for any remaining threats. A small smiletouched her lips, a silent acknowledgment of their victory. The remains of the huge creature and its offspring lay scattered on the arena floor, vapor rising from the steaming flesh.

The bond they had formed, even if under the guise of a fake engagement, seemed real in this moment of triumph. She allowed the tension to ease from her shoulders.

Councilor Dur’vok raised his hand and the noise of the crowd shifted from chaotic celebration to expectant silence. Everyone in attendance knew that a Council seat was a stake. No doubt, they also knew the Ubrion family’s reputation for underhanded tactics, cheating, and just plain evil.

The Councilor’s robes swirled around his armor, his face deathly pale and full of urgency as C’Nar moved to stand beside him. “Council Members, warriors, guests," he began, his voice steady despite the tension. "I have just received a communication from a 'Dark One’. He says his name isRapshider,which translates into ‘Bone Crusher’. He has requested entrance into the arena to speak to the Council. As a show of good faith on his part, and a guarantee of our safety, he has decloaked and lowered the shields on his ship, which is now in Earth’s orbit.”

A collective gasp rose from the crowd. Ashlyn’s heart pounded painfully in her chest as she listened. She glanced at Zade, who had gone rigid beside her, his eyes narrowed in focus. “What is a ‘Dark One’?”

Zade reached for her, indicating she should move closer. He pulled a small cloth from a side pocket of his pants and cleaned the gore from his sword, as he spoke. “They are monstrous creatures, servants of theA’Nua Na-KI,that exist only to kill. They feed on any fleshly beings they can find and are nearly impossible to injure, let alone destroy, because they are interdimensional beings. Their bodies shift between realmsat will. We have almost no defense against them. Allowing one anywhere near us is insane.”

Councilor Dur'vok continued, oblivious to the pit that just opened up in her stomach. “As a representative member of the entire Council, I have agreed to Rapshider’s––Bone Crusher's request. Please remain calm as he materializes.”

A chill ran down her spine as the crowd waited with bated breath. She had never seen a Dark One, but the stark terror on the Councilor’s face and Zade’s description were enough to haunt her. If they were servants of the A’Nua Na-KI, how much worse werethosethings?

A low level hum was their only warning as Bone Crusher appeared. His skin, a void-like black, seemed to pull at the edges of reality, absorbing light. His eyes were sunken and unreadable, bottomless pits of darkness. Bone jutted from his skin in grotesque patterns, adding to his terrifying visage. His claws, razor sharp and deadly, held the limp body of a man. A Caldorian, by the looks of his markings.

Gasps of horror echoed around the arena. Blood dripped from where Bone Crusher’s claws pierced the man’s shoulders.

Ashlyn's jaw dropped as she recognized the broken and bruised body. “Oh, no! That’s the Base commander who went missing last year. I know him! Oh god! Is he dead? Where are Cam and Rachel?” She scanned the crowd, hoping to see them in the seats they’d occupied earlier. With the entire crowd on their feet, she couldn’t find them in the mass of bodies.

Zade glanced down at Ashlyn, his expression grim. “Commander Bashall. I’d heard rumors of his disappearance. Nothing good can come of this. I need to speak to my second in command. If a Dark One is here, we need to be prepared.”

He tapped his communicator. “Bren!”

Unable to hear a response from his second in command, he called again, this time covering his other ear in an effort to blockout the noise around him. Nothing worked. Zade pushed down his unease. He should be able to reach Bren. Was the signal somehow being blocked?

A deep, telepathic growl filled their minds. “Give me the Lumerians who killed my mate,” Bone Crusher demanded.

When no one responded, a new Council member stepped forward, one Ashlyn had yet to meet, his voice edged with fear. "There are no more Lumerians. They were destroyed long ago.”

Bone Crusher’s fury was palpable. “Lies.” He tightened his grip on Commander Bashall, eliciting a scream of agony from the commander as his claws easily ripped through the Commander’s flesh like a hot knife through butter.

Alarms all across the arena began to scream in warning. Chaos erupted as half of the Councilors began running for cover, pushing and shoving one another in an effort to escape, while the other half sat frozen in horror.

Ashlyn swallowed past the lump in her throat. Zade was busy trying to contact his ship. She needed to find Rachel; make sure her little sister was safe. Memories of the previous attack on the base flashed through her mind. Now, everywhere she looked, there was chaos, people running and screaming, just like then. She touched Zade's sleeve and shouted over the deafening noise, “I'll be back. I have to find my sister!”

Not waiting for a response, she stepped behind Zade and pushed her way toward the nearest exit, scanning the crowd. Her heart was pounding so hard, her chest hurt.

She turned her head, almost in slow motion, away from the terrifying scene unfolding in front of her just as C’Nar bumped into her.

She recoiled in disgust as he leaned in close, his breath warm against her ear. Where the hell had he come from? With everyone’s focus on the Dark One, she’d forgotten all about him.

“Be silent. Run to the Dark One," he commanded. “Run as fast as you can and let no one stand in your way.”

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