Disappointment traced through Axen. “You don’t have to join me in this.”
Eloise ran her fingers through Axen’s hair. “I do, and I want to. We’re partners in everything. If you believe you can bring down the Fraken, and stop what they’re doing, then I’m with you.”
“I won’t put you in harm’s way,” said Axen. “But it may be hard to avoid.”
“I’ll be ready,” said Eloise. “You’ve seen me take down one of the Fraken’s beasts.”
“You told me that was a lucky strike.”
“I’m stronger than I look,” said Eloise.
Axen wrapped his fingers in Eloise’s hair. “I know that’s the truth.” He kissed her lips, and his hand moved down her body.
The sound of a throat being cleared made them break apart, and Axen looked over to the doorway. Bladen stood there, an amused smile on his face. His dark blue eyes ran over Eloise, and his smile intensified. “I wondered what happened to you.”
Axen gently eased Eloise from his lap, and they both stood. “Eloise, this is one of my warrior brothers, Bladen.”
Eloise nodded, a blush covering her cheeks. “Axen has told me about you. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Axen has also mentioned you,” said Bladen. “You are the human he rescued from the game. But I didn’t realize you were quite so close.”
“We rescued each other,” said Eloise.
Bladen laughed. “I have seen some of the footage, and I believe that. You are an extraordinary human woman. I’ll be intrigued to know more.”
Axen placed an arm around Eloise’s waist, a sense of possessiveness running through him. He needed to have a conversation with his warrior brothers. His involvement with Eloise would be a surprise. It wasn’t forbidden for Vortens to be with other aliens, simply unusual. “Is there a problem?”
Bladen’s expression grew serious. “No problem. But we’re nearing my transport back to the games, and I’ve established a connection with Lazet and Thunde. We’re ready when you are.”
Axen nodded. “Time to start a revolution.”
Chapter 25
Bladen led Eloise and Axen along several corridors, away from the baths.
Axen remained by her side, his hand brushing hers as they walked. She felt a pleasurable ache between her legs, a smile inducing memory of their first time together. She wanted many more days like this one. Every time she thought about wrapping herself around Axen again and the feel of his hard muscles pressed against her, she grew warm and her legs trembled.
“Axen mentioned you work with the Intergalactic Council,” said Bladen, glancing over his shoulder at Eloise.
“That’s right,” said Eloise. “They most likely think I’m dead by now. Doubt there will be a job to go back to.” She discreetly studied Bladen as they walked. He was slightly shorter than Axen, but still over six feet tall. He had short dark hair, with a streak of white at the front. His jawline was sharp, and his eyes were navy blue. He looked younger than Axen and deferred to him when they spoke. Axen was in charge when it came to these warriors.
“They’ll know you’re alive. Some will have been watching the games,” said Bladen. “I know of several members of the Council who enjoy watching the Fraken spectacles. It’s why they’re still going. Bribery and blood are powerful motivators.”
Axen growled. “Not for much longer.”
Bladen looked at Axen, a curious expression in his eyes. “Guessing that’s what you want to talk to us about.”
Axen nodded.
Bladen smiled at Eloise. “It’s amazing what the love of a good woman can do to a Vorten.”
Eloise felt Axen’s hand against her back and felt reassured. “If Axen believes this is worth fighting for, then so do I.”
Bladen’s smile widened. “Agreed.” He opened a door into the ship’s communications room. There were several decks of controls, three large screens set around the room, and a number of chairs. Everything was neat and in its correct place. Eran and Urel were both in there and turned to greet them as they entered the room.
“Are you well rested?” Urel asked Eloise.
Eloise grinned at Axen. “I am much better. I can barely feel my shoulder injury now.”
“The nanobots can be extracted now they’ve done their work,” said Urel. “And our baths’ healing properties will have assisted your recovery.”
Eloise nodded, but her attention shifted to the screens. There were images of Fraken on there. “What’s going on?” She pointed at the screen.
Urel looked at Axen. “Would you like an update?”
Axen nodded. “What’s the latest on the Fraken?”
Urel’s expression grew grim. “You should see this. The Fraken have been broadcasting your picture around the galaxy ever since you escaped.” He turned to a console and pressed a button. An image of Axen appeared on the screen.
“You’re a wanted Vorten, my friend,” said Bladen.
Axen stared at the screen for a few seconds and then turned away. “It’s only to be expected.”
“They are claiming you abducted Eloise from the game,” said Urel. “The Fraken are saying you lost your mind and somehow managed to destroy the gaming barrier. They have hinted at a coding error and plan to punish someone to show it will not happen again.”
“They’re playing it down as an isolated incident. One of their warriors gone bad, coupled with a malfunction in the game,” said Bladen. “They were running stories about how you are their longest serving warrior, and the stress has damaged your mind. Some are calling the Vorten weak.”
“They are trying to dishonor my name,” growled Axen.
“And they are succeeding,” said Urel softly. “But it is to be expected. The Fraken do not take well to being humiliated. It is bad for business.”
“Anyone who watched the game will have seen I worked together with Axen.” Eloise clenched her fists, hating the thought that Axen’s honor was being called into question. “They will know he didn’t kidnap me. No one will believe the Fraken lies.”
“Fraken are masters at manipulating the truth,” said Urel. “The edited footage I have seen is convincing. It shows Axen dragging you out of the game. And they have compelling images that show Axen throwing himself at you and pulling you through a hole in the barrier.”
“None of that is true,” said Eloise hotly. “I’m here willingly. With Axen.”
“We know that,” said Urel. “But this will make things harder for you and Axen as you move through the galaxy. You will need to keep a low profile.”
“But you have a plan for that, don’t you?” Bladen looked at Axen.
“I do,” said Axen.
“There will be Fraken out looking for you,” said Urel. “And I expect they’ll be offering a reward for your capture and return. That will bring other players into this. Those seeking a reward for capturing your head.”
“I’d like to see them try to take Axen’s head,” said Bladen.
“It’s impossible,” said Eloise.
“They won’t find us,” said Axen.
“What are you going to do?” Eloise’s stomach clenched with worry as she looked at the picture of Axen on the screen. Her eyes widened as an image of her appeared as well.
Axen squeezed her hand. “Bring up the comms link with Lazet and Thunde. They need to know what’s going on.”
Eloise took a deep breath and returned Axen’s tight squeeze. So did she.
***
A mixture of deadly calm and excitement filled Axen’s veins. It was always how he felt before going into battle. He needed to focus on what he was doing, but he could never completely kill the lust for the fight. And this felt exactly the same. He was not standing in front of a Fraken, about to battle, but he was stepping into the biggest and most dangerous fight of his life. And, this time, he had a lot more to lose.
He focused on the two Vorten on the comms screen in front of him. His elite squad warrior brothers, Lazet and Thunde, looked back at him. B
laden stood to his right, and Eloise moved back to stand with Urel and Eran.
“You’d better have dragged me away from a sparring session for a good reason.” Lazet grinned at him. “I was just about to break a sweat when I heard you needed to speak to us.”
Axen raised a hand, knowing Lazet had a smart mouth and a quick response for everything. Sometimes, too quick. As the youngest of the group, he had a tendency to act first and think later. He always acted as if he had something to prove. But he was smart, quick-witted, and lethal.
“He wasn’t sparring,” said Thunde. “He was looking for food. You interrupted nothing.” His deep voice rumbled through the comms link.
“This will be worth it. I have a challenge for you both. If you’re willing to accept.” He nodded at Thunde, ever loyal and dependable. If there was a warrior you wanted at your back when the odds were against you, it was him. In a fight, he was overwhelming and stubborn. He never backed down and was a solid warrior, quick with a blade, just like his temper.
“We could do with a challenge,” said Thunde. “I’m growing tired of these games. The Fraken are creating ridiculous beasts for us to fight.”
Lazet smirked. “It must be embarrassing for the Fraken when we go up against their beasts and destroy their hard work so easily.”
“You’ll have seen the Fraken reports that I’m now a fugitive,” said Axen.
Thunde snorted. “We saw them. In fact, we had the Fraken in the warrior pit asking us questions about what happened to you.”
“What did you tell them?” Axen almost didn’t need to ask the question; they were loyal to him.
“We told them nothing,” said Thunde. “Because we know nothing.”
“What have you been keeping from us?” asked Lazet.
Axen paused. By revealing his plans, he was implicating his warrior brothers in something deadly. “I wanted to wait until the time was right before making my move. And I had to make it alone, just in case it didn’t work out. I didn’t want any of you implicated in this.”
“By talking to you now, we’re already implicated,” said Lazet.
Urel stepped forward. “This communication channel is secure. You have no fear of this message being intercepted. The Fraken will not know you’re speaking with Axen.”
“Good to know,” said Lazet. “How’s your love life, Urel?”
Urel took a step back and dropped his head. “Not as exciting as yours.”
Lazet laughed, but his smile faded as his attention shifted over Axen’s shoulder. “Who’s that?” His gaze zeroed in on Eloise.
Axen gestured for Eloise to join him. “This is my... partner, Eloise Harper.”
Thunde’s eyebrows raised. “The human woman from the game?”
Axen nodded, a sense of pride running through him as he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Did you see the fight?”
“Of course.” Lazet moved closer to the screen and watched Eloise intently. “They always broadcast the most popular games in the main arena. And you’re always on the top five list of favorite warriors. I can’t see why, though. All those muscles get in the way of your speed.”
Axen shook his head at Lazet’s comment. “So you will have seen that Eloise was my prey in that game.”
“You mated with your prey?” asked Lazet.
“Show some respect, Quark,” snapped Thunde.
“Quark?” asked Eloise, leaning into Axen’s touch.
“It’s Thunde’s nickname for Lazet,” said Axen. “It’s because he’s not as big as him.”
“It’s impossible for anyone to be as big as Thunde. I make up for that by having twice the brains as our muscled friend here,” shot back Lazet. “So you’re his mate, now?”
“It’s not like that,” said Eloise. “I’m... different to what you’re probably used to.”
“Lazet is used to a lot of different females,” said Bladen. “He’s not one to be happy with a single mate.”
“Don’t want life to get dull.” Lazet smiled. “So, you’re together?”
Axen squeezed Eloise’s waist. “Eloise and I worked together in the game to escape. And we are together now as partners.”
There was silence in the room.
“Does anyone have a problem with that?” asked Axen.
“She’s cute,” said Lazet.
“She appears to be an acceptable mate,” said Thunde. “Small for my liking, though.”
“Thanks for the compliments.” Eloise shot a glare at the screen, but couldn’t resist a smile at Lazet’s cheeky grin.
“I did not intend for this,” said Axen. “But none of us were impressed when the Fraken announced we would be fighting against humans.”
“Didn’t you say something about them being so weak you’d be able to break one just by looking at them?” Lazet’s grin widened.
“Those were not my exact words.” Axen shifted from foot to foot.
“But you found different?” asked Thunde, his tone curious.
Axen looked down at Eloise. “I did. Despite the humans’ seemingly frail exterior, they have hidden strengths.”
“They must have if Eloise survived in the Fraken game against you,” said Lazet.
“We are not as weak as we look,” said Eloise as she returned Axen’s intense stare.
Thunde nodded. “We saw the fight with the Fraken beasts. You killed one with Axen’s blade.”
Eloise nodded and looked at Thunde. “I did.”
“You’re good with throwing blades as well,” said Lazet. “Thanks to Urel, we got to see some unedited highlights of your game in the warrior room. It showed you taking down a Fraken just before you got out.”
“You are a worthy opponent,” said Thunde.
Those words were a compliment coming from Thunde. He measured his respect for people based on how easily he believed he would beat them in a game or battle.
Lazet sat back in his seat. “I’m happy for you both. But what does this have to do with us?”
“The Fraken games must end,” said Axen. “And I have a plan as to how we’re going to do it. It’s time we took back Vorten pride and removed the debt being held over us by the Fraken. We should no longer be indebted slaves.”
“I agree,” said Thunde. “But the Elders decree it. We must serve the Fraken for as long as they tell us to.”
“But what if there were no Fraken games to take part in?” asked Axen. “What if every time a game began, it was destroyed? What if there were no Fraken?” He studied the expressions on Lazet, Bladen, and Thunde’s faces and saw a mixture of surprise, wariness, and support.
“You want us to go into the games and destroy them?” asked Lazet. “Won’t the Fraken know what we’re doing?”
“Before we begin destroying them, we need to form an army against them,” said Axen. “I won’t disclose the full facts to you, but I have been gathering supplies and contacts to help us.”
“We will not betray any knowledge you share with us,” said Thunde. “If the Fraken question us again, we will deny everything.”
“It’s not that,” said Axen. “I trust you. But I have yet to finalize the plans. We need a base, access to equipment, transportation. And we need finances. Bringing down the Fraken will not be cheap.”
“So what do we do in the meantime?” asked Bladen. “Act like nothing’s changed? Play the games and kill the humans as the Fraken insist?”
Thunde grunted. “I have no desire to kill a human.”
“Nor should you,” said Eloise. “They don’t have to do that, do they?” She looked up at Axen.
“If they don’t, the Fraken will know something is wrong. We have to continue as we are and not make them suspicious. It will give us an opportunity to examine the mechanics of the game and work to destroy them more effectively,” said Axen.
“But in the meantime, humans die.” Eloise stepped in front of Axen and folded her arms. “That’s not acceptable.”
Lazet laughed. “I can see why you like her. She’s
got fire.”
Axen held his hand up to silence Lazet as he focused on Eloise. “What do you expect us to do?”
“Save the other humans, just as you saved me,” said Eloise. “When the ship I was on was taken down, there were a number of other women on board. Some of them didn’t survive, but those who did were taken by the Fraken and kept in cells. I was with several of them. They will be next in the games. I know them; they’re my friends. They cannot die. No one should die in these games.”
“If we don’t kill, the Fraken will know we are disobeying them,” said Axen.
“Happy to disobey the Fraken if it helps this cause,” said Lazet.
“Just give the word,” said Thunde. “I’m sick of taking orders from them.”
Axen looked at Bladen, who nodded at him.
“If you all agree to this, it will be the last Fraken game you take part in. We will have to extract you from the game the same way I got out with Eloise. That is not without risks,” said Axen.
“We trust you,” said Thunde.
Lazet nodded. “I fancy a life on the run.”
“So it’s agreed?” Eloise looked around the room. “No more killing in the games?”
Axen caught hold of Eloise and pulled her back towards him, admiring her courage in standing up for her companions. “Your friends will not die.”
“What are we to do now?” asked Bladen.
Axen looked over at him. “You’re to play the Fraken game. Act as if nothing is different. Go in as if you intend to hunt and exterminate your prey as the Fraken expect. But I ask you to do one thing differently.”
“Which is?” asked Lazet.
“If you are up against a human prey, do not kill them. Give the Fraken a good show, though,” said Axen. “We all know there are blackspots in any game. Stick to deep cover and the shadows when you can. And if the human needs help, give it to them discreetly. Don’t be obvious that you aren’t hunting them. Make the prey think this is a real game and they could die.”
“But don’t terrify them too much,” said Eloise. “You don’t want to scare them to death.”
“Looking at how you survived, I doubt that’s possible,” said Bladen. “As you have said, you’re stronger than you look.”
Axen (Vortex Alien Warriors Book 1) Page 17