Page 74 of Chained

“And who the fuck are you?” I say, as the Habosu blinks, returns to his mind-washed state, and grabs the pulsar from my hand, twisting my wrist until I let go.

“I am Szek, a Varangy, if you didn’t know.” His face twists into a cruel smile. “You probably don’t and that’s the way we like it.”

I find myself rolling my eyes yet again. “So mysterious, such a load of bollocks.”

If he’s bothered by my sarcasm, he doesn’t show it. Instead he leans forward in a flood of stench which seems to leak from his every pore.

“We have good reason to stay in the shadows,” he says. “But coming out in order to enjoy creatures like you is a sign from our great deity.”

A shiver runs down my spine.

“And who might that be?”

“Protoex, the great one,” he says with the confidence of a religious zealot.

“So, you’re not in charge then?” I query.

He pushes his face closer to mine. The skin sheens with something I already know in my heart isn’t sweat.

“I am in charge of you, and as I’m informed you have access to the gladiator, you will do what I say, unless you want him to lose his wings.”

A nasty spike of fear runs through me. I don’t want to co-operate with this thing and whatever is controlling it and the Bogarok, for whatever ends. I’m also not fooled by his attitude. He’s a shit, scared as the Habosu is, and it’s looking decidedly unwell.

“Fine. What do you want me to do?” I fold my arms and tap my foot. “If you’re in charge, and you seem to know so much about me.”

“I can smell him on you,” Szek says, mouth wet and his tongue bulging horribly. “You are mated to a Gryn.”

“But you’re wrong about the access. I’ve lost him, and you certainly don’t have him. He’s pretty hard to hide.” I make a show of looking around in the darkness.

Szek splutters something I don’t catch then slams his fist into the side of the hapless Habosu’s head.

“Take her to the holding area.” He looks me up and down. “Actually, take her to the experimentation chamber. I’ve not come across a female like this before, and she should be thoroughly…examined.” He licks his lips, and the chill I had earlier deepens. “Before I offer her to the master.”

In all my time on Trefa, I’ve heard rumors of other humans but never met one. Our rarity doesn’t seem to make us desirable, however. In fact, it’s almost been the opposite. This is the first time anyone has paid more than a passing attention to me other than Maxym.

And I’m not liking it at all.

The Habosu grabs my arm roughly and pulls me away from Szek. I’m not sorry I’m leaving him in the dark, but I really don’t want to be removed from the last place I saw Maxym. Even so, I don’t struggle, allowing him to tow me, away, down a dimly lit corridor and away from where I last saw my huge gladiator.

I know Maxym can look after himself. Of course I know it. He’s a gladiator, a fighter, an alien warrior with wings and claws and fangs. He has so many weapons on him he’s a veritable one male army.

But it doesn’t stop the grip around my heart as I’m taken farther away. It’s as if I crave him, need him like I need air. My body already seems to be responding to his loss, my legs cramping and my skin clammy.

Which means I pay little attention to where we are, at least until we pass a series of openings and I see a large open arena inside. The training arena! I’m not too far from the armory from what I remember of my tour with Maxym and my time in the dome itself.

The Bogarok and the horrible Szek clearly have taken over the entire dome, and they’re now using the gladiator quarters as their base. It might be something we already knew, but even so, it doesn’t fill my heart with any form of hope.

They have all the weapons, all the male-power they need. What exactly were we thinking coming here?

The Habosu flings open a door on my left, and I’m shoved through with a grunt, shutting it behind me.

“Ah, a new specimen.” A lizard-like alien lifts its head to look at me.

I turn immediately and go for the door. It’s locked. I check over my shoulder, and the thing, dressed incongruously in a long white coat, is regarding me with interest. There has to be another way out of the room. I stare wildly around and then make a run for it.

“If you’re looking for another exit, you won’t find one. This place is a maze, but it’s designed to keep gladiators in,” the creature says in an almost sing-song voice behind me.

I feel claws rake down my neck, and my collar is captured pulling me up short.

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