Page 49 of Beauty and the Alien Beast
Belland scoffed. “She is not your mate. This female is wanted by the Omers. She is defective. They have more that you can choose from, but this one is coming back…” He eyed her pointedly. “With me.”
“No,” I snarled, raising my rifle.
Everyone aimed at me at once. The cyborg was clever. Now that he knew I was a Gladiator, he would not kill me for fear of angering the Omers. It was a known fact that spilling a Gladiator’s blood—especially on our land—was a declaration of war with my people. The Omers were also greedy, and war was bad for their business.
“Gladiator, have your actions been sanctioned by your alpha?” Belland asked.
“That is not your business,” I spat.
“So that’s a no.” Belland smiled. “You look like a lower-ranked warrior, so I assume you have not heard about the deal the Omers have made with the alphas of all packs.”
I knew that was a lie. The council had voted not to buy from the Omers. And I was the deciding vote that made it so.
The cyborg continued. “You’re messing up their deal with your rebellious actions.”
“You know nothing,” I barked.
“I know that your people will die without the females the Omers own. Do you want that on your head?”
I remained silent, plotting how many of them I could take out without giving them an opening to snatch Ella.
Belland snapped, “She’s a whore.”
I kept glaring at him. “Watch your accursed mouth, or I’ll rip your tongue out.”
The whole time, I prayed to every god I could name that Brax had reached the elders with my message and that our reinforcements were on their way. I had cut down a good number of the slave catchers, but Belland and a few others were still standing and he could call for his own reinforcements.
Belland put his lower hands on his hips. “Well, you’re certainly being dramatic enough about it. But I suppose your first taste of a female did that to you. Part of why I never touch the slaves myself.” He gestured toward my limp Ella casually. “You’ll get over her.”
“I’ll tear the limbs from the first man who touches her.” I holstered the pistol and drew my swords even as I kept the rifle aimed. “You will not be able to shoot me down before that man dies.”
“And then you will be dead, and what will be the point?” Belland sneered.
“Well…” I started. “Then try to kill me.”
“You know I can’t risk that, Gladiator,” the cyborg replied. “I’ve only been authorized to bring the earthling back, not start a bloody war with your people.” He paused. “But you know that already. One drop of your blood spilled and my bosses will have my head.”
Just like I thought… Killing me was not an option.
“Just give up the human,” Belland pleaded. “If you wanted her so bad, you could have offered to pay and left through the front door.”
“I do not buy females, and neither will my people.”
The cyborg scoffed. “You have been misinformed, Gladiator. Sectors one and two have already ordered many females. The Omers’s transaction with your alphas is a done deal.”
A done deal?I stiffened.How dare the alphas go against the council’s wishes?
I stared back at him defiantly. “This female is mine, and I am hers,” I said. “You will not take her back to that torture complex.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Belland shouted. “Not without her.”
I positioned my body in a manner that gave me plenty of space both to fight and to protect Ella from anyone who attempted to bypass me to get to her. I pointed one of my swords at him in challenge. “Then come and fight me one on one so at least some of your men will survive this day.”
“Well, I can see you’re not going to be reasonable. Too bad. I know you Gladiators have admirable combat skills. But they won’t win the day for you now.” He gestured idly, and two of his catchers rushed me at once.
I tossed the rifle into the air and lashed out with my blades, thwarting a knife thrust and a flurry of blows with my upper arms. I was quick with my blades, slashing open their bellies with two strokes, then spinning as they stumbled. With the strength of the beast within me, I easily cut off their heads. The plasma-tempered steel sang with the impact, both blades shedding drops of gore as they finished their arcs, their surfaces too fine and slick to stay dirtied.
My upper hands caught my rifle and aimed it back at Belland. As I went back to the guard position, I saw him standing very still.
