Page 72 of Chained

“It’s mind control of some sort they’re using, isn’t it?”

It all suddenly makes sense. Why the Bogarok want all the males. It immediately stops any resistance and creates a built in, but expendable, army they control.

The Habosu furrows his brow. “A tasty snack…for the…Bogarok…” he says, struggling over the words as if this time, he doesn’t want to say them again.

“And what if I’m not?” I rush on, wanting to give Maxym and Retah more time, to get free, to reappear, or anything, because if any more Habosu appear, I’m not going to be able to get away. “A tasty snack for the Bogarok. What if I’m their worst nightmare?”

“Then, little female, he’ll bring you to me…”

MAXYM

I’m already half in the air as the metal slices through the opening and cuts us off from Cleo. My sword rattles across it but leaves not even a mark on the stuff.

“Tritanium,” I growl.

Retah pulls one of the new pulsix from his belt and lets rip. Unfortunately for him the bolt glances off the metal and pings around the passage, causing me to duck several times.

“I thought these would penetrate anything.” I glare at the blockage. “I need to get to Cleo.”

Retah says nothing. In fact, he seems to have disappeared, until a groan from the floor captures my attention.

He’s clutching his shoulder, where blood is welling from a wound.

“Vrex!” I’m on my knees beside him. “Why didn’t you avoid it?”

“I did. It was coming for my head!” He says through gritted teeth. “Grak! Those things pack a punch.”

“Let me look.” My entire body is on edge. Not only is Cleo on the other side of the door, but I have a badly injured Remek to deal with.

As I turn him over, the extent of the damage is clear. Retah might be a big warrior, but the blood loss alone will kill him unless I can get him some treatment.

“Drop your weapons, Gryn.”

I turn to face the cohort of Habosu and Zarvu, who have a single Bogarok at their rear. They’re armed, naturally and I have some grace left within me to know when I’m outnumbered.

And I have a damaged warrior to manage.

“I’m sorry, Retah. I have to do this, for you and for my mate,” I say quietly to him.

His brow, furrowed with pain, squeezes tighter with confusion.

“I have an injured male here,” I say. “He requires treatment.”

“We will see to it, if you surrender quietly, gladiator.” One of the Zarvu speaks, a guard I recognize from the dome. His name is Arluc.

Only there’s something odd about his eyes. Something which almost suggests he’s not quite in the present.

I have no intention whatsoever of surrendering, and given the state of all my opponents, other than the Bogarok, I know where I need to concentrate my attention.

“Once you’re fit, you need to get to the info-center,” I say, still crouched over Retah’s prone form. “It’s two levels up, near the entrance, you can’t miss it.” I murmur to him.

“You have a lot of faith in my healing abilities,” Retah says weakly. “And my ability to escape.”

“A wily prince like you has done this many times.” I grin, grasping his hand. “I’m sure you will prevail.”

“Go find her,” he says. “She is more precious than you could possibly know.”

“I believe I know,” I respond. “The dome is no more and my body belongs to her.”

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