Page 71 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

“I don’t care if you have a fancy laptop. Just hurry. They’re about to start.” Ashlyn’s gaze was glued to Zade, her heart racing like a jackhammer against her ribs, her palms sweaty. She knew her brother-in-law. He didn’t get upset over little things. He, like most Caldorians she had met, was skilled in all types of combat. If Cam was upset, there was a good reason for it.

“Here we go. Oh, no,” Rachel whispered. “This is bad.”

“What? What is it?” Rachel’s hesitation made Ashlyn’s fear skyrocket even more, confirming her suspicions.

“The Tandek, or ‘Blade of Suffering’, was originally employed in ancient Cappran duels.” Rachel continued to read aloud from her tablet. “Made of a light-blue metal only found on Cappra, the Tandek has a short, slender blade with a sharpened edge polished to a silver sheen, with a glowing purple stripe down its center. A small red light near the hilt flickers like a firefly. The metal blade is warm to the touch and hums like a tuning fork. The edge is laced withNeuravex-13, a deadly compound which, when released into the bloodstream, causes agonizing pain and hemorrhaging throughout the entire body. There is no known cure. Although not against Cappran law, the use of Tandek blades has become exceedingly rare. Combat resulting in death to resolve personal conflict is generally considered too extreme and primitive in modern Cappran society.”

Emotion clogged Ashlyn’s throat. “They can’t do that. We have to stop the fight right now. He wants to kill Zade ina sanctioned execution so he can control me without anyone protesting. Too primitive? More like sadistic and depraved.”

Rachel shook her head. “That doesn’t make sense. The seat is yours now, with or without Zade. They can’t double down and win it back.”

Ashlyn leaned closer to Rachel so no one else could hear. “They’re not trying to win it back. They never lost it.”

“What are you talking about?”

Ashlyn lifted the edges of her long skirt to show her chains of obedience. “Remember these?”

Shrugging, Rachel whispered, “So? You think C’Nar wants to kill Zade so the chains don’t work, and he can trick you into new ones?”

“No. He doesn’t need new ones. These work just fine for him.”

“What?!” Rachel whisper shouted.

Nodding, Ashlyn covered the offensive chains and explained the situation. “Somehow that asshole found a way to get what he wanted. Zade thinks C’Nar pre-programmed them before he put them on me, and with some carefully chosen words out of me, was able to complete the connection without me knowing about it. I agreed to wear them for my husband, not for Zade specifically.”

Cam ended his discussion and tapped his communication device, his attention back on Rachel and Ashlyn as the scene unfolded in front of them. “I just spoke to one of our people down there. He said Zade was informed of C’Nar’s intention to use the blades and he still agreed to the fight.”

“So, they’re going to hack at each other until the poison kills one of them?”

“Zade declined Tandek blades of his own. He chose traditional Caldorian battle blades. They’re much lighter than Tandek blades, and perfectly balanced. Zade has trained onthem, and is an expert in hand-to-hand, close quarter combat in general. However, the battle blades are not laced with neurotoxins. Zade will be the only one who suffers the effects of the poison if he gets cut.”

Ashlyn covered her mouth with trembling hands, her eyes huge saucers. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Not in the slightest, I’m afraid. He even gave instructions for no one to interfere.” Cam bent to kiss Rachel comfortingly before adding, “He also requested a message be delivered to you, Ashlyn.”

“What message?” she croaked. Her fingers trembled as she brushed at a tear welling in her eye. What could Zade possibly have to say to her at a time like this?

“He said to tell you that he still has unfinished business with you, and there will be no getting out of it, so focus on that.”

She gasped as his meaning sank in. Zade wanted her to focus on sex while he was getting killed?! She couldn’t sit there daydreaming about how good it felt to have him deep inside her while he was getting stabbed. She may have been fantasizing about sex earlier, she reasoned to herself, but the fight hadn’t started yet. She whipped her head back around to the pit, searching for him. He stood unmoving, his eyes directed upward into the crowd, waiting for her to see him.

Once she made eye contact, she was unable to break away. His unwavering gaze was almost hypnotic, mesmerizing her. She felt herself falling, almost in a trance, into a swirling cauldron of liquid heat and carnal hunger. His eyes spoke of desire. Passion. Determination. The air between them crackled with tension as the world faded away. All that existed were the two of them. Her body flushed as she recalled with exquisite detailwhat he said he was going to do to her with his hands, his mouth, his tongue. Her cheeks grew rosy. Her tongue darted out to wet her lips.

A satisfied grin spread across his face as she squirmed in her seat.Smug bastard. He knows what he’s doing to me. I’m achy, needy, and too distracted to be completely terrified, just like he planned. No. Just like he ordered.

Zade stoodat the center of the arena pit, finding his sense of balance in the undulating waves of sand as C’Nar loomed closer. He could hear the crowd cheering, but he blocked the noise, his entire focus on his enemy.

Zade braced himself for impact, an electric charge of anticipation crackling through him. This was no test. He had no doubt C’Nar was one of the most vicious, merciless warriors on Cappra. He didn’t care. C’Nar tried to kill his mate. For that alone he was going to die.

The crowd's roar grew louder as he steeled himself for battle, the smell of ozone burning in his nose, warning him that danger was coming with a force too powerful to resist.

Adrenaline buzzed through his system. He brought his battle blades up as they began circling, each sizing up the other's weaknesses and strengths. His senses were acute. He was aware of every movement, every sound, every breath of his opponent. He could see the sweat on C'Nar's forehead, smell the sour stink of his fear, feel the burning heat of his hatred.

He locked eyes with C’Nar as they began their dance of death. Their blades collided with a loud clang, the sharp ringing sound echoing in the closed arena. C’Nar was a powerful opponent, and the impact sent shockwaves up Zade’s arms.

C’Nar lunged, but Zade, anticipating the move, adeptly changed direction and thrust upward in a swift counterattack. C'Nar evaded and struck back with a flurry of lethal moves, eachone aimed for a quick kill. Zade was ready, fighting with a single-minded focus.

The ground shook and undulated, forcing them to constantly adjust their footing as they fought with a speed and agility beyond human capability. Their movements were fast and intricate, almost like a choreographed dance, blocking and deflecting blows with precision and strength, their movements graceful and fluid. The fight grew more frenzied with each passing moment.

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