Guardian: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 9)

by Anna Hackett

  She grabbed onto him. “Rillian—”

  Eyes the color of gunmetal met hers. Then suddenly, he was yanked upward off his feet.

  Dayna reacted on instinct. She clamped her arms and legs around him. He groaned in pain, and the sound stabbed through her.

  They flew up through the air frighteningly fast. What the fuck?

  Holding onto Rillian tightly, Dayna arched her head back. Above, she spotted a giant, dark shimmer in the sky.

  Her chest locked tight, her eyes widening. There was a giant, invisible, floating fortress hanging above the desert sands.

  They were pulled closer to the massive craft, and she saw the bottom platform was a smoke-blackened, industrial level. Smoke churned out of exhaust pipes, and she saw what reminded her of coal-fired engines. Rillian had said fancy engines didn’t work well in the desert. Grimy-faced workers looked out through the metallic bars with dead eyes, watching as they whipped past.

  And then they were jerked up over a huge wall. Rillian groaned again, the agony of the sound making her heart hurt. Then, everything became a fierce blur, as they tumbled and slammed hard into more sand.

  In a whirl of color, sound, and pain, Rillian sprawled on the ground. Agony radiated through him from the wound on his shoulder. It felt like he was on fire.

  His clothes were soaked with blood, but thankfully, he felt his symbiont compensating for the blood loss, and attempting to heal the wound. It would be sand-sucking bad if he healed up around the harpoon, though.

  He managed to get to his knees, blinking away dizziness.

  “Take it easy.”

  Dayna came into focus in front of him. She had bunched up her head covering and was pressing it to his shoulder. He saw the worry on her face. She pressed harder to staunch the blood loss and he groaned.

  “Sorry.” Her eyes were full of misery.

  “Fine. Healing.”

  Something flashed in her eyes. She moved behind him, and without any warning, she gripped the harpoon and yanked it out. Hot pain flared.

  Rillian shouted and fell forward.

  “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, baby.” She pressed the wadded fabric against both sides of his wound.

  He gripped her hand. “Thank you.” His voice was hoarse.

  She blew out a breath. “I hate hurting you. Now, we just have to work out what the hell is going on, and get out of here.”

  Now that his dizziness was easing, he lifted his head. He went still and felt Dayna do the same.

  “Fucking hell,” she murmured.

  They were kneeling in the center of an arena.

  The arena floor was covered in sand and ringed by empty stands constructed of a jarring mix of metal, wood, and whatever had been scavenged to build them. He felt the faint vibration of the engines beneath their feet.

  Rillian turned his head, taking it all in. “No wonder we hadn’t been able to find Zaabha.”

  Zaabha was on an airborne platform. It could fly, move, and stay hidden. Drakking crudspawn Thraxians.

  “They must have regular set down locations,” she said. “Hence, the maps. But they can go anywhere.”

  Nearby, a rattling sound echoed across the arena. Several large gates were clanking upward.

  “This isn’t going to be good,” Dayna said, her voice tense.

  “No, it isn’t. Help me up.”

  They stood together as the gates stopped and stared at the dark shadows. A number of animals slunk out of the darkness. They were big and deformed, and no species of animal he knew.

  “What are they?” she asked.

  “I see features of hunting cats, but I’ve never seen a species this big.” Some of the animals were severely deformed—bones twisted and large growths in strange places. “I think these are probably the result of some illegal breeding program.”

  “Nice,” she muttered.

  Another large alien creature lumbered in behind the cats. It had gray-green bumpy skin, overdeveloped muscles, and powerful arms.

  He dragged in a deep breath. “That’s a larg. Banned from the Kor Magna arena. They enjoy crushing their prey to death.”

  “Oh good, the more the merrier.” Dayna moved in front of him and shifted into a fighting stance.

  Rillian fought off a smile. Of course, she was going to protect him.

  Behind the animals, he saw several fighters of different alien species move into the arena. They all wore threadbare, tattered clothes and scarred leathers. Their weapons were a haphazard mix of homemade swords and scavenged spears and axes.

  These were the imprisoned fighters of Zaabha. People who had been fighting to survive for who knew how long. People that knew they had to kill or be killed.

  “I don’t think we’re supposed to make it out of here,” Dayna said quietly.

  He reached out and grabbed her hand. “The Thraxians still don’t understand Earth women.”

  She shot him a sideways smile. “Or suave casino owners who own half the planet.”

  She lifted her knife and Rillian pulled out his own blade.

  “Let’s fight.” Rillian grabbed her for a hard kiss. “Don’t get hurt or I’ll be very unhappy.”

  The cats bounded in fast.

  Rillian leaped in front of Dayna and, as the lead cat jumped, he timed his move, then grabbed the cat out of the air. He spun its huge bulk and threw it to the side. Dayna ran and slid in low, feet first. She slashed out with her blade. As she cut into the hide of a cat, it screeched.

  Another cat flew at Rillian in a flurry of sharp claws. He dodged, and it flew overhead.

  When he spun around, it was to face the bulky larg. It slammed a giant foot down into the sand, making the floor vibrate. Rillian raced toward the alien. He was fast and it was slow.

  The larg swung clumsily and Rillian leaped up, jumping over the creature’s arm. It was slow, but he knew that if it got a hit in, it would break bones. His shoulder screamed in pain, but he blocked it out, slashing out with his knife. He nicked the creature’s cheek and it roared.

  Rillian landed on the larg’s arm. He jumped again, aiming straight for the alien’s face. He rammed his blade into the soft spot between the creature’s black eyes.

  It shuddered, arms waving through the air. As it collapsed, Rillian leaped off, landing beside Dayna with a roll.

  “Rillian.”

  She was tense, braced to fight, and her knife clutched in her hand.

  He raised his head and saw the first wave of fighters were racing at them. He straightened, seeing the desperation and despair on their faces.

  Dayna stepped forward, waving her arms. “We can get you out of here!”

  The closest fighter darted forward, giving no indication he’d heard her words. He swung a rusty sword at her and she ducked, going in low to stab him in the thigh.

  More fighters swarmed over them. Rillian spun, ducked, and kicked. He jumped high, slamming brutal kicks into one man’s face. He landed and rammed his hand forward, taking down a tall woman. He spun, grabbed two fighters, and rammed their heads together with a crack. Both fighters dropped instantly.

  Turning, he saw Dayna fighting. Drak, she was amazing. Strength and skill. Power and beauty. He watched her spin, kick, and follow through with a hard punch. Like him, she was trying not to kill the fighters.

  But more were coming.

  His symbiont flared, heat moving through his blood. He was going to get Dayna out of here.

  Whatever he had to do to ensure she lived, he’d do it.

  As he pulled more power from his symbiont, he knew his eyes would be a brilliant flashing silver. He lifted his head and the attacker rushing at him hesitated, his battered sandals kicking up sand.

  Rillian smiled and spread his arms, ready to fight. Whatever it took, he would save Dayna.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Sweat was dripping into Dayna’s eyes. She swung out with her knife, then ducked and weaved through the fighters.

  There were just so many of them…and they all looked
like they had nothing left to lose.

  Something whacked into her side from behind. With a grunt, she went crashing to the sand. She spun and looked up at a giant, green-skinned alien fighter with a staff.

  The staff slammed down again and she rolled. She moved to jump to her feet, but the alien leaped on her.

  His heavy weight drove her into the sand. She smelled unwashed body and turned her head.

  “Look, we’re here to shut this place down. We can get you out.” Bracing against the smell, she looked up…into dead, blank eyes.

  He pressed his staff against her throat. Wrapping her hands around the rough wood, she tried to keep him from choking her. She saw that the man had some sort of metal implant embedded at his temple.

  Dayna pulled power from her symbiont and sent the man flying off her. He grunted, spun in the air, and landed in the sand.

  She leaped to her feet, power surging through her.

  For the first time since her rescue, she felt like she and her symbiont were one. And it felt good.

  Searching for Rillian, she spotted him fighting a tall man. Two big aliens were moving in on him from behind. She raced toward him.

  She watched him toss one fighter away. One of the big aliens rushed at him, slashing at him with a sword.

  That’s when she saw the other big fighter circling around, holding a large spear. Her chest went tight. The first fighter was toying with him, keeping him busy.

  “Rillian!”

  At her shout, he lifted his head…just as the second fighter thrust the spear into his side.

  “No!” she cried.

  She watched Rillian drop to his knees. He clutched the spear protruding through his gut. Dayna sprinted harder. He’d already lost so much blood from the harpoon, but now she watched more red flow down his side.

  But he was still fighting.

  He reached up and jerked one opponent to the ground. He drove the man’s head into the ground. The second fighter’s eyes widened and he took a step back. Rillian rose, then yanked the spear from his gut.

  Dayna stumbled to a stop nearby, wincing. The pain had to be excruciating.

  Rillian turned and lifted the bloodstained weapon. He strode toward the fighter, who spun, ready to flee.

  With a powerful toss, Rillian speared the man through his shoulder. The alien fell to the ground. The blow was hard enough to pin him to the sand.

  She reached him. “Rillian.”

  “I’m okay.” His face was sheened with sweat. “Keep fighting.”

  They turned, and she saw more fighters racing out of the open tunnel. An athletic woman led the charge, moving quickly across the sand.

  Dayna stiffened. The woman was almost as tall as Dayna, with dark, matted hair, skin shades darker than Dayna’s, and pale green eyes. “Oh no.”

  She’d seen the woman’s picture before and she looked a lot like her sister. It was Ever Haynes.

  The brunette showed no recognition. As she reached them, she swung a rough, jagged sword. Dayna leaped back, dodging the blade. She got a close-up view of the silver implant protruding from Ever’s left temple.

  “Ever? Ever Haynes.”

  No response. The woman lunged forward, swinging her sword again.

  Dammit. Dayna rolled across the sand. She didn’t want to hurt the woman.

  Ever turned away from Dayna and attacked Rillian. He bent backwards fluidly, the sword passing within an inch of his face. But Dayna saw him clutch his stomach wound and wince.

  Gritting her teeth, she charged forward. She leaped on Ever, taking her down to the ground. The woman struggled, but her face stayed strangely emotionless.

  What did they do to you? As Ever tried to buck her off, Dayna gripped the woman’s head. “I’m sorry.”

  She slammed the woman’s head against the ground. Something flickered in Ever’s eyes before they closed. She was out cold.

  Chest heaving, Dayna got to her feet. She glanced over and saw Rillian limping toward her, dragging one leg behind him. He was leaving a trail of blood on the sand. Her heart clenched.

  Fighting back her fear for him, she reached down and gripped the neckline of Ever’s tattered shirt. She dragged the woman with her as she and Rillian moved back toward the center of the arena.

  Fighters were circling them, but they were wary now.

  “I’ll distract them.” Rillian pulled in a breath, his eyes like quicksilver. “You climb into the stands and find a way off this thing.”

  Dayna shook her head wildly.

  “I want you off this.” His tone was autocratic and commanding.

  “No.” She shook her head again. “I know you’re planning to sacrifice yourself for me. Not going to happen, Rillian. For once, you’ll have to deal with the fact that I’m someone who won’t follow your orders, and someone who cares about you.”

  He reached out, fisting her shirt with one hand. “Live, Dayna. You have to live.”

  She lifted her chin, emotions storming through her. “Without you, I wouldn’t be living, I’d be existing.”

  He muttered a vicious curse and yanked her in for a quick kiss. “Drakking hell, I’m falling in love with you.”

  “Well, I’m falling in love with you, too.” Her throat was tight, her symbiont stone flaring. This amazing man was hers.

  But first, they had to survive.

  As they turned, she saw more incoming fighters had entered the arena. Her pulse spiked. So many. Too many.

  Dayna stiffened her spine. She wasn’t damn well giving up now. She had always fought to protect, and she would do it again now.

  She’d fight, with the man she was falling in love with by her side.

  Rillian felt the blood dripping out of him, his energy draining away.

  But he had to keep his woman alive.

  The fighters rushed closer, and he knew he wouldn’t be able to stay on his feet for long.

  He pulled in a breath, looking at Dayna as she stood over the unconscious Ever. Dayna was tensed and ready to fight. He realized now that she would always fight for what was right.

  And he would always fight for her.

  There was only one thing he could do to ensure she lived. The one thing he’d fought his entire life to control.

  Rillian let his arms fall to his sides. “Dayna, whatever happens, stay back.”

  Her eyes widened. “Rillian.”

  “Stay back and stay alive.”

  He relinquished all control, letting his symbiont free. Energy flooded through him in a wave, and washed all the pain away.

  His vision turned acute and hunger swamped him. Emotions washed away leaving him with the need to hunt and kill. Feed and thrive.

  Win. Whatever the cost.

  He crouched down and snatched up a fallen sword. As the fighters rushed at them, Rillian leaped into the air, spinning and swinging the sword around.

  He cut through opponent after opponent.

  He grabbed the closest fighter and the man struggled against him. Rillian pressed his hand to the man’s chest.

  Energy filled him and he smiled. The man’s body shriveled and turned to dust. He grabbed another enemy and fed. Another.

  As rich, potent energy sang through him, he turned to see more fighters were coming. A never-ending supply of energy. His symbiont pulsed—hungry and wanting.

  He plowed through another wave of fighters. He fed, he killed, he fought.

  When he rose from the littered bodies, he saw the fighters were hanging back. Watching him with fearful eyes.

  “Rillian!”

  Through the roar of energy, the voice penetrated. It sounded vaguely familiar.

  He turned and saw a tall, brown-haired woman taking down a fighter. She was a fierce fighter and filled with pure, untainted energy.

  He tilted his head. He knew her.

  Dayna. It was like a whisper in his soul. Dayna.

  Mine. His. Rillian’s.

  Suddenly, a giant alien charged at her with a wild cry.

  Hea
t seared along Rillian’s spine and his symbiont relinquished its control. “Dayna!”

  The alien swung a huge fist, and Dayna’s body flew through the air. She hit the sand, rolling over and over. She stopped on her stomach. She tried to push herself up, but fell back down.

  Rillian fought his way toward her, swinging the sword with wild slashes. He didn’t care who got in his way, he would make it to her.

  He got closer and saw she was crawling, pulling her bleeding body across the sand. She was hurt.

  A giant shadow fell over her, and a clawed hand sank into her hair. The alien yanked her up viciously, holding her dangling above the sand. Her face was clenched in pain.

  Rillian paused. It was a Thraxian. Both his horns had been broken off and his orange eyes leveled on Rillian. “Rillian.”

  Recognition flickered. Old memories of his years running scams resurfaced. “Vral.”

  He hadn’t seen the Thraxian for years. The man had run some jobs with Rillian…until Rillian caught him stealing from him and cut him out.

  “I was hired to send you a warning not to mess with Zaabha,” Vral growled.

  Cool fury ignited. “You killed those people.”

  An ugly smile. “You always pretended not to care, but I knew you did. Always so arrogant, thinking you were better than the rest of us.”

  “I still am,” Rillian said.

  Anger flashed in Vral’s eyes. “You stole from me. Left me with nothing.”

  “You stole from me, and broke our agreement.”

  Vral took a step closer. “I’ve spent years dreaming of getting my revenge.”

  Rillian tilted his head. “And I haven’t given you one thought.”

  Something ugly flickered in Vral’s eyes. “Now I have your woman.” He shook Dayna like a doll.

  Rillian shook his head sadly.

  Vral cocked his head, his brows drawing together. “You’re bleeding out and will die on this sand. And I have what’s yours and I will hurt her!”

  “No, you don’t have her.” Rillian’s gaze met Dayna’s golden one. “And she’s going to hurt you.”

  Dayna spun in Vral’s grip and jammed her knife into the Thraxian’s neck, working the blade through the alien’s tough skin.