Gladiator: A Scifi Alien Romance (Galactic Gladiators Book 1)

by Anna Hackett

  “No.” Raiden shook his head.

  Harper spun. “Raiden—”

  “I saw the way he watched her. He’s planning something, and we all know Thraxians cannot be trusted.”

  Harper grabbed Raiden’s arm. “I have to get Regan.”

  Her face was set in stubborn lines. He knew her well enough now to know she wouldn’t back down. That she would do anything, risk anything, to save her friend.

  Even her own life.

  He both admired and hated that.

  Finally, he gave her a single, reluctant nod. What he didn’t tell her was that whatever it took, he would keep Harper safe. Whatever happened, he would be by her side.

  Chapter Eleven

  The suns were finally starting to set over Kor Magna. Harper swallowed a pained groan. Everything hurt.

  She’d put everything she had into her training today. She’d stayed focused on the thought of rescuing Regan, and done her drills over and over again.

  Her arms felt like lead, and she was pretty sure even her hair hurt. She couldn’t stop worrying about Regan. How was she handling things? How was she holding up?

  When she wasn’t thinking of her friend, thoughts of Raiden’s kiss kept trying to worm in.

  Harper lifted her swords, determined to go through another exercise and not think about him, or his kiss, or his hands on her body. She lowered her swords. Her arms were burning too much.

  “Earth girl, I think you’re done for the day.”

  Harper looked at Saff. The female gladiator was standing nearby, with her feet shoulder-width apart, and her hands on her hips.

  “No. I want to practice a few more—”

  “No,” Saff said. “I’m not feeling so guilty about snitching on you.”

  “What?”

  Saff smiled. “Angry, overprotective, possessive gladiator incoming.”

  What? Harper turned, just as Raiden stormed up to her. He grabbed Harper’s arm, snatched both of her swords and shoved them at Saff.

  “Come on.” He pulled Harper across the arena.

  She tried to break free. “I have to keep working—”

  “You’re exhausting yourself.” He pulled her into the tunnel. “You’ll be no good to anyone, if you’re dead on your feet.”

  “Raiden—”

  Suddenly, he jerked to a stop. He grabbed her wrist and touched her explosive cuff.

  A second later, it fell free, landing in his palm.

  “You’ve earned this,” he said. “You are House of Galen now.”

  Her mouth opened and she looked up at him, not understanding entirely. But for the first time in her life, she felt a sense of belonging she’d never experienced before.

  He grabbed her hand again and pulled her into the living area. Inside, he went straight to a cupboard and pulled out some cloaks. He traded his distinctive red one for one in matte black. Then he fastened a lovely gray cloak around her shoulders.

  After that, he tugged her back into the tunnel.

  “I’d really appreciate it if you would tell me what’s going on,” she said. “That would be much better than you dragging me around like I’m a doll.”

  Green eyes turned her way. “I don’t think you’re a doll.”

  When he didn’t add anything else, Harper rolled her eyes. She stayed silent, as he led her into an area she’d never been before. They passed some armed guards, who just waved at Raiden.

  And they were outside.

  Outside the arena.

  She blinked, a hot breeze washing over her. She took in the amazing, hewn walls of the arena behind her, and the maze of two-story, stone buildings ahead of her. The city of Kor Magna stretched out as far as she could see. Most of the nearby two-story buildings looked old, all made of stone, but here and there, she saw communications technology attached to the roofs, and lights glowing.

  But not far from the arena, there was a stretch of modern skyscrapers spearing into the sky. There, she saw neon lights blinking, giant billboards flashing, and transports zipping along a wide street. Even from a distance, she could see aliens of all shapes and sizes, humanoid and not, walking the streets.

  It made Harper think of the Las Vegas Strip—a jarring spot of bright glitz and glamor.

  “The District,” Raiden said, pulling her forward. “It caters to the spectators who come to see the fights.”

  “And parts them from their hard earned money.”

  He nodded. “Whatever your vice, addiction, or temptation, you can find it in the District.”

  There was something in his tone. “You don’t like it.”

  He shrugged. “I don’t go there often. I prefer fewer people.”

  He tugged her away from the bright lights of the District and into the heart of the old city. There were still lots of people here, locals, she guessed. As they walked over the street paved with large rocks, she tried to absorb all the sights and sounds. He took twists and turns, as though he had a specific destination in mind.

  “What are we doing out here?” she asked.

  “You needed to get out of the arena.”

  Her heart clenched. He was doing this for her. They traveled down a few more streets and alleys, before Raiden led her to what looked like a giant, circular hole in the ground at the back of an alley.

  As they neared it, she frowned. Then she saw a large circular ramp descending downward, hugging the edges of the hole.

  They moved downward. “What is this?”

  “Carthago is covered in subterranean cave networks and these sinkhole features,” he answered. “Because of the soaring temperatures, a lot of people live underground.” A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Here in Kor Magna, I think the locals like to hide as much of their city underground as they can, to stop the tourists finding it.”

  They followed the ramp down, passing a few people toting baskets and bags. Finally, they stepped out into a cavernous underground space.

  As her eyes adjusted to the gloom, she gasped. It was filled to the brim with stalls and people. The hubbub of sound echoed off the walls. Light filtered in from the sinkhole and orange lamps attached to the rock walls. She could tell the cavern was mostly natural, the rock the same shade as what the arena was built from.

  “Welcome to the Kor Magna Markets,” he said.

  As he pulled her down a line of stalls, she looked around in wonder. The sights and smells all assailed her. She wasn’t surprised to see that most of the stalls were selling things to be used in the arena. One stall was covered in leather gauntlets and armor. Another was selling weapons, and had an excellent display of beautifully crafted daggers. Many were made of metals that Harper couldn’t identify. Another stall was selling various poultices and liniments that the seller proclaimed could soothe any aching muscle.

  But many were selling strange looking fruits and vegetables, butchered meat, and other household goods.

  She noticed a few people eyeing her with curiosity. There was such a range of people of all species here, but she was smaller than…almost everyone. God, she hated standing out.

  Harper found herself wandering over to a weapons stall. She ran her finger down the hilt of a beautiful knife. It wasn’t just a weapon, it was a work of art. The hilt was carved from a bronze metal and inlaid with blue stones.

  She looked up and caught Raiden rolling his eyes.

  “What?” she demanded.

  “You. You wouldn’t care for jewels or baubles for your neck or ears.”

  She shrugged a shoulder. No, she’d never been a woman to worry about clothes and fancy jewelry.

  He tipped her chin up. “I like that. Come on.”

  They continued on, and soon she smelled the wonderful aromas of things cooking. They moved deeper into the market, and she saw lots of people sitting on low stools and munching on various gourmet delights. Stall owners stood nearby with meat roasting over coals or large pots bubbling. As they passed one stall, she got a whiff of something horrible.

  Raiden smiled. “A
gama meat. It’s a lizard found in the desert here on Carthago. It’s a delicacy…if you can stomach the smell.”

  He stopped at a food stall that had steam wafting off a large barbeque. He purchased two skewers filled with meat, and held up a small round medallion.

  “What’s that?” she nodded at the medallion.

  “A token of the House of Galen. Everything I purchase is charged back to the house.”

  “So it’s like a platinum credit card.”

  “I do not know what that is.” He held out a skewer.

  She took it. It was loaded with some sort of delectable-smelling meat. She’d mainly been eating bread, vegetables, and simple meats back at the house. She’d steered clear of anything with strong spices or smells.

  “Eat,” he ordered.

  Since she was hungry, she did. She bit into the meat and the tang of strange spices broke out across her taste buds. She moaned. “What is this?”

  “The meat of the corra serpent that lives in the desert.”

  She paused. “A serpent. Ah, maybe it’s better you don’t tell me.” She took another bite. As she licked her fingers, she looked up and saw Raiden was staring at her.

  “What?”

  “You eat like you do everything else. With every bit of your energy and enthusiasm.”

  His words and his gaze made her heart knock into her ribs. “You going to eat yours?”

  He nodded and bit into the meat.

  Harper waited while he finished. After he’d disposed of the skewers, he held up a cloth and dabbed at her mouth. He wiped once, twice, and then it was his callused thumb rubbing across her lips.

  Her breath hitched. “This…attraction isn’t going away, is it?”

  “No,” he answered.

  “Neither of us want or need this.”

  “Correct.”

  She resisted the urge to kick him. Everything was true, but he didn’t have to sound so matter-of-fact about it. “This would just be a big problem for us—”

  He cupped her cheeks. “For the moment, let’s not worry about problems. You’re here to enjoy yourself.”

  Abruptly, he grabbed her hand. Holding her tight, he pulled her back into the crowded market again. They moved off into some side tunnels. She could see that not all were natural and some had been carved out to make more room.

  Here and there, sellers were calling out, hawking their wares. Harper felt herself relaxing. Her capture, her captivity, her time in the arena, worry for Regan, it all had her walking the very fine edge of stress and anxiety.

  In this moment, she could just relax for a few minutes. Pretend she was nothing more than a tourist, and not worry about anything.

  He pulled her down through a stone archway. There were more stalls packed into this space, and he stopped at one particular one. It appeared to sell leather harnesses and scabbards. As he haggled with the stall owner, whom he seemed to know, she wandered over to look at the leather harnesses. They looked identical to the ones Raiden wore in the arena.

  Then Raiden turned and came to her side. He held out a small, round medallion.

  Harper took it, turning it over. It had a fastening on the back. She turned it to the front again, studying the beaten-metal surface and the decoration carved into it.

  It was the twin to the one he wore on his harness.

  “It’s for you,” he said.

  “Thank you.” God, when was the last time someone had given her a gift? “It’s beautiful.”

  “It’s a design from my planet. It reminds me of you, a beautiful design but made of solid steel.”

  She bit down on her lip, touched. Something from his planet. The planet that had been destroyed. “What was your world called?”

  Raiden lifted his head, looking out across the market. “Aurelia.”

  A beautiful name.

  “We were at war with a neighboring planet. A feud that had gone on for generations. When I was sixteen, that planet hired a team of advanced, ruthless mercenary fighters. They invaded under the cover of darkness and decimated my planet.”

  She gasped. “Mercenaries.”

  Hard green eyes met hers. “The Thraxians. They killed my mother, my father. My younger sister was raped before my eyes.”

  God. Harper had no words. Instead, she leaned into him. She knew he’d been a prince, so it made sense that the royal family had been targeted.

  “The mercenaries planted powerful bombs in the fault lines of my planet. After they were set off, they started a chain reaction. Aurelia was ripped apart.”

  She closed her eyes. “How did you get away?”

  “I tried to fight back, but there were too many of them, and I was young. I was injured. My bodyguard got me off the planet.”

  Understanding bloomed. “Galen.”

  Raiden gave a single nod. “He’s only a few years older than me. He was raised to be my royal bodyguard from birth.”

  “So your world is gone.” She pressed a hand to his back, felt the muscles beneath her fingers flex. “And so is mine. It’s too far away for me to ever get back.”

  They stared at each other. How could she feel so much so quickly for this tough man?

  Without another word, Raiden grabbed her hand. Once again, they moved through the labyrinth of tunnels. She saw the way the people acted when they recognized him. She saw awe, excitement, trepidation and fear. He was a larger-than-life god to them.

  But Harper was starting to see that beneath the tough gladiator was just a man.

  As they moved on, she saw some tunnels leading into darker, seedier looking areas. Groups of men lounged against walls smoking. She realized that there were darker, scarier things hidden down here as well.

  But soon they moved back into a well-lit area with a smooth stone floor. Raiden stopped in front of a wooden door banded by beaten metal.

  He pulled out a key and opened the door. After he locked it behind them, they went down a spiral stone staircase until they came out into a large room.

  Harper gasped. A large pool filled the space. A mosaic tile floor covered the bottom of the water that sparkled blue, lit by hidden lights. By the side of the pool was a seating area of large cushions. It was ringed by potted plants and a pretty vine that covered the stone wall.

  “You said you liked to swim,” he said.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said.

  He moved toward the pool’s edge. “I did too, as a boy on Aurelia. It had many beautiful lakes.”

  And he must have missed it terribly when he came here. She touched the thick, wild vine growing on the wall. It was covered in tiny, delicate flowers that gave off a beautiful perfume.

  She breathed deep. “That scent is delicious.” She sucked it in.

  “It’s called phena. Some say it’s an aphrodisiac.”

  Oh? Harper felt an insidious curl of heat in her belly. “What is this place?”

  “It is owned by the House of Galen.”

  But it was his. She knew it. She bit her lip. Maybe this was his private little pleasure pool. “Do you bring all your arena admirers here?” She felt acid burning in her belly.

  He looked down at her, pulling her closer. “I’ve never brought anyone here. These plants—” he fingered the dark, waxy, red leaves of a slender potted tree. “They are nocturnal plants originally from Aurelia. I’ve spent years tracking down the seeds.”

  Raiden pulled her over to where the large cushions sat. She sank down on one the same color as the cloak he wore in the arena.

  “I admire your spirit, Harper.” He stayed standing, his cloak framing his powerful body. “And your essence.”

  “My essence?”

  “Aurelians can feel a person’s personality.”

  Wow. “That’s…amazing.”

  “It’s how I tracked you the night you escaped. Your essence is strong and bright. I feel your sadness, but you don’t drown in it. You let it inspire you.”

  “Like you do.”

  He remained silent.

 
“You do, Raiden.” She tucked her legs beneath her. “You’re helping others. You’re thriving in the arena.”

  He looked away. “I had nothing left. Now I do as I please.”

  “Bullshit.”

  He tilted his head. “My lingual translator does not know that word.”

  “It’s an expression we use on Earth. Let’s just say, I don’t think you’re telling me the truth.”

  His face tightened. “I do not care for others. I care only for myself.”

  “Bullshit,” she said again. “Galen, Thorin, Saff, and the others. You have a lot of people you care about.”

  “Because they are useful to me.” He turned away, staring at the water.

  Harper got to her feet. “Why do you pretend you don’t care—?”

  Raiden spun quickly, grabbing her arms. “Because it hurts too much when you lose them. They slaughtered my parents, my sister, the entire population of my planet. People who depended on me and my family to protect them.” As suddenly as he grabbed her, he let her go and turned away.

  She touched his back. “I’m sorry, Raiden.” All this pain. Had he been carrying it around all these years? How did he bear it?

  “I failed them,” he said. “I can still see Naida’s face as they hurt her. Begging me to help her.”

  “I lost my sister, too.” That pain she could truly understand.

  He stared at her. “I’m sorry.”

  “I know what it feels like, Raiden.”

  He let out a shuddering breath. “You keep pushing and digging under my skin. I don’t like it.”

  His sharp words made her take a step away. “Fine. So stay away from me.”

  He whipped his head around to stare at her. His gaze was blazing. “I can’t seem to.”

  Harper felt a crazy mix of emotion. “I’m going to swim.” She looked around. “Are there swimsuits?”

  “No. I always come alone.”

  She wasn’t letting that stop her. Harper turned her back on him and pulled her clothes off. She could feel his gaze on her and dammit, she liked it. Far too much.

  She dived cleanly into the water.

  Oh, God. It felt so good. She kicked and found her rhythm, swimming some laps. She saw Raiden cut into the water, swimming beside her.