V'hor's Nestmate Read online

  The audience booed, women screamed in shrill panic. Unexpected dizziness assailed Vee. His side, back and head burned in agony. Only the reminder he’d had worst injuries in his past kept him from passing out.

  The moment Jolox hefted his weight to hurl him, Vee twisted his hips, legs going around the beefy neck in a tight clasp. Jolox choked, losing his grip and fought to rip free. His hands slapped at Vee, razor sharp claws slashing at his thighs. The leather gave in places, offering no resistance.

  Jaw clenched against the searing burn, Vee pushed backward and released Jolox at the same time. He hit the ground hard, causing his breath to seize in his chest as he arched up on a groan.

  Jolox laughed and his eyes gleamed. Knowledge glittered in their depths. All he had to do was incapacitate Vee to finish the fight. Or kill him.

  Not his day to die no matter what agreement he’d made with Mannid. Vee whirled away, dirt flying into his face as Jolox crashed down beside him. An elbow pounded the floor, inches from where his head had been. Too close. Vee heaved a relieved breath.

  Then pain reverberated through his head. The punch to his right cheek left him dazed. Another blow to the opposite side sent bile rising in his throat. Laughter flowed around him as Jolox crouched over him and raised his arms high with a roar.

  Deciding now a good as time as any, Vee allowed himself to lose consciousness.

  ***

  Eva strained in her seat, trying to see over the bobbing heads around her. Everyone stood, cheering, chanting. Then angry, fierce booing followed. Frustrated, she lurched to her feet and clasped her hands together at what she saw. Dirt from the arena floor streaked both fighters upper torsos mixed with the slick shine of sweat. Jolox straddled Vanquish, fists pumping in the air, neck arched back as his roars of triumph shattered the sudden quiet.

  Vanquish’s prone form remained unmoving. Eva cried out and took two steps down toward the arena barricade. Was this part of the act? Thin streams of blood bisected his features as he lay with legs sprawled. What if he was dead? Plenty of fighters left the ring in death. He couldn’t die, she didn’t want him dead.

  Heart in her throat, she braced her hands on the low wall contemplating...what? Breath shuddered from Eva’s chest at the realization that she wanted to leap to the floor below and check on the Serpine. She pressed a hand to her neck, the collar and leash clinking with the motion.

  Run! Run now! Her mind blared the signal to escape and still Eva watched.

  “The winner, the Togolor, Jolox! What a surprise! What a battle!” The announcer’s voice cut into the low grumbling, the audience’s shock gradually turning to anger.

  Behind her someone yelled. She glanced over her shoulder to see a small group bumping and shoving. Fear tripped over her nerves. Turning away from the squabble, Eva stared at the fallen form of Vanquish. He’d bartered for her from Mannid which made him an enemy. Someone she should want to escape and yet he’d also given her the key to the hated collar and asked her not to leave. Threatened actually, but still.

  Nibbling her bottom lip, Eva fingered the key chip in her hand. Confusion colored her judgment. A figure dressed in a white jump suit and clear face shield came out with a hover board floating waist high beside him. The medic. Jolox surged to his feet and kicked Vanquish as he vocalized his rage. Eva’s fingers clenched into a tight fist. Another kick as he laughed and bounced on his toes.

  “Stop him!” She found herself yelling.

  Guards employed by The Pit for such instances rushed forward, terror in their gazes and shock sticks held at the ready as they created a line barring access to the slumped form of Vanquish.

  Shouts rose from the audience. They’d lost big and reality was setting in. Somewhere a woman screamed high and loud. Motion to her left snagged Eva’s attention. A wave of people streamed in her direction. Between one moment and the next chaos ensued.

  Eva didn’t know where to go. Her best bet in the midst of the madness was to leave. Get far away while the mayhem exploding around her provided the perfect cover.

  Except.

  She had no credits, didn’t know anyone and didn’t have the first idea how to escape. She was on an unfamiliar world and so far from anything she knew it would be sheer foolishness to think success awaited her. That left Vanquish and his odd mesmerizing eyes.

  If he was alive.

  Don’t run from me, Eva.

  Jolox had been corralled back finally and strode toward the grated opening into the tunnel without doing more damage. The cruel twist to his lips spoke of his pleasure at winning and not a drop of remorse reflected there for his actions. Why would it? Regret wasn’t a part of this small bubble. Fighters came and went. Some lived and some died. This was a way of life for those who fought in The Pit.

  With help from the guards, the medic got Vanquish loaded on the hover board. The lights on the rim of the flat bed glowed a rich shade of gold with pulsing blips of red. Eva took that as a positive sign that Vanquish still lived. Decision made, she backed away from the barricade.

  Now to figure out how to make her way to wherever they were taking him.

  Chapter 5

  “How is he?” A rough voice with a slight rasp asked the question.

  “Heavy bruising, laceration, and a broken leg. Repaired the damage.”

  The recitation pulled Vee from the light doze he’d initiated in order to heal. How did he get injured? Had a mission gone wrong? His mind flickered, thoughts flying in rapid succession then the memories came a beat later. Eva. Vee jerked. Where was Eva?

  “I think he’s coming around. Amazing actually. Very few Serpines can trance themselves as Vanquish appeared to do to accelerate his healing.”

  Vee groaned as he rolled over on to his side and pushed the probing hands off of him. “Enough.”

  He opened his eyes in time to see the medic and his tiny androgynous assistant step away. Another shadowy form hovered in the corner, taller, broader than the ones in the white uniform of medical professionals. Vee pushed up into a seated position on the bed. Minor aches and pains made themselves known, left over from the medic’s efforts but nothing he couldn’t handle.

  “You are lucky.” The medic stuffed his supplies back into the hard metal case on a side table amidst a tangle of cloths streaked with red. “If your genetics hold true there will be no long lasting effects.”

  He’d be fine. Vee knew this as sure as he knew his Matire hated him. His side twinged as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed. Painkillers didn’t often work on him due to his venomous nature, but so far nothing major was impacted. Except his head throbbed. Vee fingered the area.

  “I used a lasik blade to close the wound. You may still feel some tenderness.”

  Tender wasn’t the word Vee would use. Jolox hit harder than he expected. Vee stood, ignoring the assistant’s flinch and hasty step back. Due to Vanquish’s reputation or general reaction to being in the presence of a Serpine? He wasn’t sure nor did he care.

  Vee glanced around the cramped room. Equipment crammed in corners and shelves filled with vials. This space was set up for fighters who needed immediate care after each match. Not the best medicine and technology available. A neutralizer would have healed him completely.

  He inhaled deeply only to choke on the fetid smell of the room. Blood and sweat soaked the air.

  The dark shadow in the corner finally moved, coming closer. “Your fight is already creating a buzz. Word has spread wide at the huge upset.”

  Tension crackled. Vee couldn’t pinpoint the source. The medic and his assistant opened the door and slid out, leaving the two of them alone. “Who are you?”

  “Name’s Bass. I’m just an investor. Came to the match to see Mannid’s operation.”

  Vee shrugged. “You’ll have to talk to him. I have nothing to do with anything outside the ring.”

  And he needed to find Eva. The urge driving him to find the Earth female stabbed at his chest. Vee eased off the bed and bypassed the stranger in the ti
ny space, but Bass’ next words gave him pause.

  “Jolox may be undefeated, but it’s not because he’s a stellar fighter in the pit. During my travels I’ve noticed he wins even when the odds are against him and with far better opponents. Someone’s brokering for him behind the scenes.”

  Was Bass implying he knew something? Vee stopped, hand on the panel of the door. He didn’t turn. “What’s your point?”

  No one could suspect Vee had thrown the fight tonight.

  “No point,” he drawled. “Just curious is all.”

  Vee didn’t have time or the interest to pursue more. “I avoid being curious about things I don’t care about.”

  Vee opened the door and closed it with a click behind him. He’d give the details to Rydak but Jolox and any criminal activity around his fights didn’t rate as a blip on the radar for Jutak warriors.

  “You really are okay.”

  His hand flew instinctively toward a weapon at his hip that wasn’t there. Vee spun around and came face to face with the person he’d planned to seek out. Eva sat on a small worn stool propped to the right of the door. Slight bruising stained one side of her face. Mannid’s work.

  She jumped to her feet, caution lighting her features as she approached. “The medic said you were fine, but wouldn’t let me in though I told him we were friends of a sort.”

  Pretty pink circles bloomed in her cheeks from the blatant lie accompanied by an awkward shrug. She lifted the end of the leash in her hand. “I think this told the truth, but he didn’t budge, saying you’d be out shortly.”

  Feelings Vee couldn’t describe poured through him at the sight of the dark-haired beauty. Relief because he wouldn’t have to search for her while worrying someone unscrupulous had stolen her. Next came a wave of unexpected desire that slammed into him hard enough to shudder. He wanted to bury his fingers in the silky black mass of hair and pull her close until nothing separated their bodies but the clothing they wore.

  The imagery had him hardening. He didn’t react like this to women. Refused. Time had helped him deliberately cultivate a cold, distant demeanor.

  Aside from his teammates, no one else was allowed to get close to him. It was how he’d been raised and he’d yet to find a reason to break the habit.

  Vee closed the distance between them and gripped her chin. She flinched, but held still in his hold. The bruising on her face could have been worst. Vee smoothed his thumb over the mark high on her cheekbone, the slight discoloration at her temple and then caressed the plump bottom lip with its tiny cut in the corner.

  Her face lost its pinched expression, easing his own raging concern. Vee wasn’t sure why he was having such a visceral reaction to this female from Earth. Over the last few years his commitment to his Matire shadowed his every action. Always he kept in mind his limited time table.

  At some point, Peshla would summon him home and he’d have to go. Walk away from the Jutaks who were his family and the little ones he’d grown close to.

  Eva twisted in his hold, freeing her chin and dragged in a ragged breath. Worry flickered in her brown gaze. He slid his hand forward again then paused. Was he seeking to comfort her? Comfort wasn’t a part of his training, but instinct, some indefinable emotion pressed at him to do just that.

  His hand hovered in the air between them. The dim lights above flickered as the energy supply wavered. Vee dropped his hand to his side and waited, but the lights thankfully remained on. Blackouts weren’t uncommon here. Limited resources kept the tiny planet from being a more desirable place to inhabit.

  Protect.

  Vee checked around the empty hall. Only a handful of patrons traversed this section. He grasped Eva’s arm above the elbow. “We need to go. I don’t like staying here after fights.”

  There were always disgruntled types hanging about and bitter fighters looking for the opportunity to track an opponent for vengeance. Or any other excuse to expend the excess adrenaline after a match.

  “Um...sure. Can we talk about this too?” She waved her fingers and Vee caught sight of the key chip he’d gotten from Mannid.

  Vee gritted his teeth. Torkel wasn’t going to be pleased about any of this. His Unit Leader hated when Earth women were innocently caught up in the Marenian sex slave ring. “Yes.”

  They left the underground rooms of the arena and Vee guided Eva toward the left. Stares turned their way, but one look at his face and the path cleared for them. He hurried Eva into the prep room he’d used earlier and locked the door. She glanced around, indecision crossing her face and backed against the nearest wall. The chain about her neck clinked, stirring his anger. Why hadn’t she used the key chip?

  “You need to remove that.” He nodded at the leash and collar.

  “Why?”

  Because it offends me he wanted to snarl. The truth probably wouldn’t go over well with his cover identity so Vee shrugged. “Up to you.”

  Her mouth firmed and her eyes flashed. Vee wanted to smile at the glimpse of opposition. Instead, he shoved the ruined leathers down his legs and kicked off his boots. All injuries had been healed by the medic and no sign of scarring remained.

  “Hey, hey! None of that.”

  His lips twitched, very familiar with the Earth word hey which made no sense. Naked, Vee walked over to grab his pack and pulled out a pair of black leather pants then a matching shirt with sheer panels down the sides. Grimacing at the wardrobe created to mimic Vanquish’s questionable style, he pulled on the clean leathers. Subtle movement to the left and behind kept him aware of Eva as she studiously watched his every action.

  Senses attuned to her for some reason, Vee knew the moment her gaze landed on his open bag resting on the only furniture present. The stained chair was the least of the offensive things in here. Dried blood from prior occupants splattered the walls and the sticky substance on the floor gave credence to fighters doing more than prepping for a match while getting ready.

  Vee yanked the hideously designed shirt over his head. If only he could ignore her presence as easily as she attempted to ignore his. He jammed his feet back into his boots and froze when she reached for the handle of Vanquish’s customized laser sticking out.

  “Don’t.”

  She jerked her hand away, gaze flying to his. Vee ran fingers through his mussed hair and contemplated what to do now. He had to meet with Bane and Rydak at Vanquish’s home. None of his team would be pleased at her presence, but there was no way he could leave her here or stash her some place safe.

  “Why do you have that?”

  The tremble in the low voiced question struck a nerve with Vee. The urge to ease and soothe was so powerful he slammed down a mental shield to block it. Keeping his steps slow and measured, he approached Eva. Aside from a delicate quiver, she didn’t react to their close proximity. Didn’t bolt as he expected.

  Her gaze met his in defiance as she quoted the regs. “Fighters aren’t supposed to have weapons. It’s an unfair advantage in the arena.”

  “Indeed.” Not that it stopped others from sneaking them in anyway. Vee leaned around her, their bodies close enough to brush and grabbed the handle of his pack, pushing the weapon deep into the interior and zipped it shut. Awareness crackled to life, the heat she gave off acting as a lure to his Serpine craving for the telling warmth.

  Vee closed his eyes and inhaled. Her scent was intoxicating. Light, but musky, a hint of bitterness from the fear emanating from her pores.

  “That’s it?”

  Opening his eyes, Vee met the shadows dancing in her gaze. He got off on sensing the terror his presence caused in others. Even now. He hated having her afraid of him but was oddly aroused by it. The dichotomy left him confused. One more thing to blame on his mixed heritage.

  Eva tipped her head back in an effort to create distance without moving. “You don’t talk now? You had plenty to say when you were making a deal with Mannid!”

  Vee wished he could give her the answers she wanted. He straightened, allowing her the sp
ace she refused to ask for and tossed a smirk in her direction as he backed away. “Didn’t have it with me in the arena.”

  Fire snapped in those bright eyes glaring at him, but she held her tongue on whatever explosive words almost escaped. Why was he taunting her? It was scary, yet bemusing, his reluctant attraction for this female.

  Every sign that she wasn’t cowed by her circumstances invigorated him. Serpine females were strong in nature and observing the like in other females was like placing the sweetest nectar in front of a stinger bug. Irresistable.

  Silence swirled around them laced with the enticing heat which kept calling to him. Eva’s fingers clenched around the chained leash. Enough with that. Vee hiked the strap of his pack on his shoulder and took the key chip from her lax fingers. He clasped her neck and Eva stilled.

  Her fear struck Vee like the caress of a thousand fingers tipped with the sharpest claws. Pain and pleasure combined. Holding firm so she wouldn’t move, he lifted his other hand for her to see. Her gaze darted to the key chip and her throat wobbled in his light grip.

  Breath unsteady, Vee placed the chip to the metal for contact, waiting as the internal lock code registered with swirling yellow circles. A simple snick and the collar slid from her neck, the links tinkling to the floor to end in a curled pile.

  The dark red blemishes and scrapes on her throat had a low trill escaping. He muted the telling sound. “Let’s go.”

  Eva dropped the looped end she held, confusion flickering in the depths of her eyes. “I don’t get you or what this is about.”

  An argument broke out on the other side of the door. The wall behind them vibrated as if a body had been thrown against it. Time was of the essence. He’d given away more than he should have already. “We need to leave. What you think isn’t important.”

  Her spine stiffened. “I’ll scream.”

  Vee chuckled against his will. The smile lingered as he cast her a chiding glance. “Do you expect that to work for you? Here, where lawless nature rules?”