by Cheree Alsop
“Alright,” I replied in a voice that was weaker than a newborn yaken. I grimaced at sounding like such a vax belly. A thought struck me. “Wait. I have the keys.”
“What?” a male voice said. “You have them?”
Instead of forcing out a reply, I managed to snag the ring and shake it.
“How on earth did he get them?”
The voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it.
“I don’t know, but they’re on the wrong side of the door,” a woman’s voice replied.
My eyes widened. Was that Suez?
“Kove, can you walk?” Nova asked. Her voice was hesitant as if she feared what my answer would be.
Her fear for me fueled me. “I’m hurt, but I’m not dead.”
I rolled off the pallet onto my knees. When my legs hit the ground, a sound escaped me at the pain. Ignoring the small admission of weakness, I crawled to the door and used it to push upright.
“Here,” I said.
I shoved the keys through the bars.
“They’re covered in blood,” Linc said when he grabbed them.
I leaned my forehead against the door. “I’d say you should see the other guys, but you can’t because they’re dead.”
Linc gave a small laugh as he turned one of the keys in the door. “I can’t argue with that,” he said when he pushed it open.
Gasps sounded when I stepped forward into the half-light of the hall.
I had eyes for only one person. Relief flooded through my body when my gaze rested on Nova’s upturned face. Tears filled her eyes; I was grateful she didn’t let them fall. I needed her strength. She slipped her hand into my good one.
“Let’s get back to the ship. You can rest there,” she said.
“Where is it?” I asked.
“At the loading dock. Gardsworn’s faking a drive malfunction, but we don’t know how long he can keep it up,” the stranger at Nova’s side replied.
His features were similar enough to Nova’s that he could only be one person. “You’re McKy.”
He nodded. “And you’re the Smiren my sister’s falling for.”
I looked at Nova. Red touched her cheeks. “I didn’t say—”
“There’s no time,” McKy said, cutting her off. “We’ve got to go.”
“Don’t talk to her like that,” I told him. As weak as I felt, I would gladly use up the rest of my strength to teach him some respect.
McKy’s eyes widened as if he realized it. “Right. Uh, sorry, sis. What I meant is, we can talk about it later, but we’d better hurry.”
“I agree,” Nova replied. I felt her gaze on me. “Can you make it that far?”
“Easier than dancing with Jashu Blu,” I replied.
She laughed and slipped under my arm without shirking at the blood. Her brother was a little less eager to be of assistance, but ducked under my other arm as well.
“Why did he have to dance with Jashu Blu?” McKy asked across me to his sister.
“Don’t ask,” I replied, my voice tight with the pain of walking. “It’s not a pretty story.”
Suez hurried to the end of the hall. “It’s clear,” she said in a loud whisper.
“Everyone’s drinking their sorrow at the loss of the Quartet of Darkness,” Linc told us. “The way should be clear if we keep to the lesser-traveled halls.”
With Linc and Suez leading the way, and given the very late hour on Akrul, we were able to return to the SevenWolf and sneak back aboard.
“Thank goodness,” Gardsworn said when we reached the storage bay. “I was beginning to run out of excuses as to why we haven’t left yet. Although, to be fair, the dark matter drive is very low and the regulator is acting up. We need to get it repaired.” He spotted me and his eyes widened. “What have you been up to?”
“Drezian wrestling,” I replied. “Is the drive working enough for us to take off and get a few systems away?”
“I’ll make it happen,” the Mechadocian replied with a salute. He took off down the hall.
I tried to go with the others to the bridge, but Nova wouldn’t hear of it. She and McKy helped me to the medical bay. My feet began to drag before I got there. I had used up my strength, but there was still something I needed to do.
“You can’t go back to your home system,” I said.
“Why not?” McKy asked.
“I know,” Nova said.
“Lady Winden’s actions are suspicious and….” I realized she wasn’t arguing with me and looked at her closely. “What?”
“Something’s wrong on Evia,” Nova said. She looked at her brother. “Lord Tempran disappeared and Briofe’s taken over. He said something about an alliance about to be formed and that our ship is to be shot down if we try to return. We need time to figure out his plan and prove that he’s taken his seat unlawfully if we are to return to Evia in safety.”
McKy’s hand clenched into a fist. “That vax scum. What’s his plan, wed Lady Winden?”
The brother and sister exchanged a wide-eyed look.
“I’ll bet that’s it,” Nova said.
McKy gave a visible shudder. “Disgusting.”
Nova nodded. “Lady Winden was so willing to help. I shouldn’t have trusted her. But everything was falling apart. I felt like if I could just get you out of there, they would have to honor your title. We need to get you back to the Loreandian System.”
McKy shook his head. “Not until I finish what I need to do. The entire Accords are in danger if I don’t get my message through.” He sighed. “Our ship’s taken heavy damage, the dark matter drive is low, and we can’t go home. What do we do?”
He sounded like a spoiled rich kid who had been told he couldn’t play with his favorite toy. I had to remind myself that he had only just been freed from a forbidden planet after spending who knew how much time in that rusted kixon hole. He had probably dreamed of going home, and now he was told it still eluded him.
I didn’t know what to say. I lowered gingerly onto my back on the table and waited for the results of the scan, but before it could start, something poked into my thigh. I thought it was a sliver from the pallet, but when I reached into my pocket with my good hand, I realized it was a card.
“I know where we can go.”
“Where?” Nova asked.
I held out the card. The iridescent sheen caught the light. McKy took the card before Nova could reach for it.
“Coordinates?” he said. “Coordinates for what.”
I looked at Nova. “The Dark Universe.”
McKy sucked in a breath. “Where did you get this?”
When I didn’t look at him, he stepped closer to his sister so I had to.
“Lord Fay gave it to me,” I said. “I wondered when I would ever be so desperate as to use it.”
Nova watched me with an expression I couldn’t read. “This is certainly a desperate situation.” Her eyes turned to her brother. “What do you think?”
He studied at the card in silence. Finally, he glanced back at me. “I think I would still be on Akrul if it wasn’t for you both. I need to trust your judgement.”
We both looked at Nova.
She stared at the table as she thought. I could see her mind working past her green gaze. I wished I could hear the things that swirled around in her thoughts. She was such a mystery. It captivated me.
She blinked and then nodded. “Yes. I feel that’s the best option.” She looked back at her brother. “You sure you’re alright with this?”
He shot me a glance. “I am.” He held out a hand. “Thanks for getting me out of there.”
A grin crossed my face as I shook his hand. “It was all your sister.”
She put her hand on top of both of ours. “Better believe it. Buckle up, boys. Captain Nova is heading back to the bridge.”
A groan escaped McKy.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you worried?”
“I’m terrified,” he replied.
“Me, too,” I sa
id.
Nova laughed. It was a light, beautiful sound. “Better get used to it,” she said.
The smile she gave me made me melt inside. I didn’t say it out loud with her brother standing so near to bladed operating tools, but I was happy to follow her across the ‘Verse forever. We might be planet-less and limping toward an unknown destination, but there was no one else I would rather have at my side.
I had danced to death’s lullaby one more time and survived. I said a silent prayer of gratitude for yet another day to live. I was Kovak Sunder, former Imperious gladiator of the Bacarian Star System, former prisoner of Roan Seven and Akrul of the Forbidden Planets, slayer of the Quartet of Darkness, former bodyguard to Captain Nova Ardis of the SevenWolf, and briefly, Lord Covington Gladicus the Third of the Sundaris System.
I didn’t know what the future would bring or who I would need to be; all I knew was that I had caught the eye of a noble, brave, terrifyingly intimidating and mysterious woman, and there was nothing I wouldn’t do to keep her safe.
If you enjoyed this book, book two will be out in April, 2020! Here is the link for it on Amazon:
Link for Rise of the Gladiator Book 2: Dark Universe
If you would like to join Cheree Alsop’s newsletter mailing list for new book releases and giveaways, please do so here: Newsletter Signup
Reviews are greatly appreciated as the best way for readers to find new books. If you enjoyed this book, please leave a review so that others can find it as well!
About the Author
Cheree Alsop is an award-winning, best-selling author who has published over 55 books. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her every day. Cheree enjoys reading, traveling to tropical beaches, riding motorcycles, playing the bass for the band Alien Landslide, spending time with her wonderful children, and going on family adventures. Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great quests, and never stop dreaming.
She loves hearing from her readers. Feel free to email her at [email protected]