by Lily Thomas
Samantha paused. She was still trying to figure out whether living or dying was better. Now she might be this alien’s play thing, and she wasn’t sure how she felt about that idea. He was an amazingly enormous specimen, and she wasn’t sure she wanted this berserker taking her.
“Your prize warrior!” The speaker came back and pointed at her. All eyes turned to her, as the crowd quieted. There was an expectation that tainted the air, and her eyes darted around.
What was coming next?
A disgusted look overcame the alien’s face, as he turned to her. Was he finding her as repulsive as she found him? Good. That meant there was a better chance she wouldn’t be spending the night with him.
He strode over to her, and she backed up.
“Stop.” He snarled at her.
She froze mid-step. At least, they could communicate.
His arm wrapped around her waist, pulled her into his side, and raised his sword with his other arm. The crowd went wild, as they stood and cheered.
A blush crept up her face. They probably thought she was going to be spending a passionate night with this ruthless alien warrior. She’d bet money that there were women in the crowd turned on by the idea. How wrong they were. If he touched her, she would cut his balls off while he slept. Assuming he had balls to cut off.
She glanced down at his crotch. There was a bulge there, so he, at least, had a cock she could cut off. It was a violent thought, but she wasn’t keen on the idea of being some sex slave. It might even earn her kudos, if she brought down a warrior like him.
Looking up she caught him watching her. Her blush spread all the way up her face and down her neck. Hopefully, he hadn’t just seen her checking out his package. She didn’t need him getting any ideas.
Chapter 3
Xacier glanced down at the human woman. He hadn’t seen one up close before, which was amazing, since humans seemed to be a virus spreading throughout the galaxy. They were always causing trouble or trying to fix things they had no understanding about.
It hadn’t been his plan to get this close to her, but he knew his job was to please the crowd. They wanted a show, and he was here to give them one, until he earned his freedom from this hell.
The moment she came crashing against his side, he felt his cock go rock hard. Just her touch had him thinking what it would feel like to sink into her soft flesh. He groaned. It had been so long, since he had the comfort of a soft woman beside him.
And those jade eyes with her blonde hair. He’d never seen such a beautiful combination before. It made her look innocent and delicate.
It crossed his mind for one second that he could just take her right there and really give the crowd a show, but he didn’t want anyone seeing her body. She might not be a prize he wanted, but she was now his.
“Now we leave.” He growled down at her, as he grabbed onto her wrist and dragged her back to the barracks that housed some of the arena warriors.
“Hey! I know how to walk on my own. You don’t need to lead me.” She grumped at him.
He let go of her wrist, but kept moving quickly. He heard her pace increase, as she tried to keep up with his longer strides. If she couldn’t keep up with him, then she had no chance here at the arena.
Her eyes were wide with uneasiness. He could see how a place like this might terrify her. A blood bath was quite the way to be introduced to the arena, but she was alive. It was something for her to be thankful for, but Xacier wasn’t sure he wanted to be her protector. She would just end up being a liability, and he was so close to earning his freedom.
He couldn’t let her drag him down.
He hardened his heart. He could enjoy as many soft females as he wanted, as long as he earned his freedom. Wrecking what he had accomplished for the pale thighs of this human was ridiculous.
Two more days of battles were all he needed to earn his freedom, and once he earned his freedom he would take back the Kell Empire. His people had been without him for too long. For all he knew, the new ruler was spreading slanderous lies about him.
Once he had her in the corridor of the barracks, he resumed his normal pace and went in search of the mess hall. He needed something to eat, after that battle. He might be blood soaked, but he was working on an empty stomach, and he needed to replace the energy he just expelled.
He paused in the doorway to the mess hall. Everyone inside looked up to see who the winner was. Some looked disappointed he made it out alive and others looked as though they could care less.
They were all pursing the same goal: freedom. But he had determination and battle skills to get him to the finish line. He would take out any of these warriors, whether they were women or men. Nothing was going to stand in his way.
He grabbed some food and sat down to dig in. Noticing something in his side vision, he saw the human woman he had “won” was just standing in the doorway of the mess hall. He shrugged. She wasn’t his problem, not anymore.
Samantha followed him into a mess hall, but had no idea what to do. He already had his food and had taken a seat at a table. Was she allowed food or was she to starve? Uncertainty froze her.
Her hands twisted in front of her, as her stomach gave a growl. The thought of food was pleasant. She couldn’t remember the last time she had something to eat. Samantha glanced over at the warrior who had “won” her, but he was digging into his food like there was nothing more he wanted to do.
Maybe he didn’t want to keep his “prize”. Her chest puffed up. For some reason, that thought irritated her. She wasn’t ugly, but maybe to his species she was.
She shouldn’t feel so insulted, but she couldn’t help herself. When he had brought her against him in the arena her heart had sped up. He was a fine specimen to look at with no shirt on. Those abs could be used to wash laundry.
A cough behind her interrupted her thoughts. Turning she found an alien woman standing behind her.
“Sorry.” Samantha mumbled, as she stepped into the mess hall and pressed her back against the wall. She was surprised how many women there were among these warriors. But none of the women were human, and it didn’t surprise her. No human woman would be able to do battle in this arena.
The warrior woman walked past only to stop, turn around, and approached her. Samantha’s spine tensed, as she prepared for a fight. She wasn’t sure what to expect.
“Come.” The woman motioned her forward, and, slowly, Samantha moved her feet. “You can pick up a tray of food here.” The woman led her to a hole where trays were handed out.
Some of the tension relaxed out of her shoulders. At least someone here was being kind to her, and she wouldn’t miss the opportunity for a friend.
Samantha grabbed a tray and followed the woman to a table where they sat across from each other. Maybe this would be her chance to get some questions answered about the man who won her. She wouldn’t mind knowing a little something about her “champion”.
“What can you tell me about him?” Samantha pointed discreetly over her shoulder.
“Xacier? Not too much. I can tell you he’s never kept a prize he’s won. So you might be on your own.”
“What does, ‘being on my own’ entail?” Samantha worried.
“You’ll have to find someone else who will share their room with you. The Frirens don't provide an extra room for the prize.”
“Great.” Samantha looked down at her food. How many things could come in the color gray? She poked a mound of something, and it wiggled at her. She made a face.
“It may not look appetizing, but it will keep up your strength and allow you to face the days to come.” The alien woman told her.
“Do you already have a prize?”
“No.” The alien woman laughed, amusement clear in her crimson-ringed pupils.
“Want one?”
“You may stay with me, if he rejects you, but I won’t fight him for you. Just try not to attract too much attention.” The woman eyed the dress Samantha was wearing.
“Tru
st me, I’ll do my best, and this dress was not my choice.” And Samantha meant it. She wasn’t going to entice anyone. “If you don’t mind, what species are you? I’ve never seen anyone with pointed ears and red-ringed pupils before.” To be honest, she hadn’t seen too many species as a terraformer for a human company.
“I’m Halie, and I’m a Triel. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see too many of us. We live on a darker planet and hate to travel outside our system.”
“Actually, I have met one of your kind before. I was on a Friren trader ship with some other women, and there was a Triel. She was royalty or something.”
Halie nodded her head. “There’s been a bit of conflict over who should rule the planet. I can’t believe it is still going on.”
Samantha stuck out a hand. “Well, I’m Samantha, and I’m a human, and there’s plenty of conflict on my planet.”
Halie took her hand, but didn’t seem to know what else to do.
“We humans like to shake hands, like this.” Samantha gave her a firm shake, and then let go of her hand. “It’s a way to formally introduce ourselves.”
“How interesting. We don’t have anything like it. Just sharing names is a sign of friendliness.”
“Since you’re here, I assume you fight in the arena, like all the others.”
Halie gave a nod.
“I’m surprised any woman would have a chance against some of these men.”
“It’s not all about brute strength. Sometimes it can come down to agility and the ability to out think the other opponent. I’ve managed to stay alive for a couple months, but I don’t go into every battle. Xacier on the other hand does go into about every battle, but he is a crowd favorite.”
“I can see why.” Samantha sneaked a look from the corner of her eye. He might still be covered in blood, but he was toned like no human man she’d ever been with. Men would want to be him, and women would want to fantasize about being his bed mate.
“I need to leave, so I can get ready for my own battle that’s coming up. Think you’ll be fine on your own?”
Samantha shrugged. She wanted Halie to stay, but she also knew she would have to be alone at some point during her stay here at the arena. She would just have to get used to the idea.
Halie left, and Samantha dug into her meal. At least, the food had no taste, because the sight of it was revolting. She needed strength, because she was going to escape this new prison. It was just a matter of time and staying alive.
A large hand landed on her shoulder, as she was mid-spoonful. She froze, as her back tensed, and the tiny hairs on her neck rose.
What now?
Before she could register what was happening Samantha was hauled out of her seat by the powerful hand. The hand turned her, and she stood there staring up at a warrior who made her want to pee her pants. Good thing she hadn’t anything to drink recently.
He was something out of a horror movie from the old Earth days. He had gray skin, tattoos all over his bare chest and arms, and his muscles made Xacier look like a woman. He had black hair cut short around his head, and his black eyes drove into her like a weapon.
She sucked in a breath, as her head became light. Hold it together! Hold it together! She’d go down with a fight, if she had to. There was no way she was letting this alien take her anywhere!
The alien said something to her, but she was too distracted by his intimidating form to focus on what he was saying.
“Wh-what?” She stammered.
Both of his hands shot out, grabbed her around her waist, and then she was tossed over his shoulder.
“Hey! Let me down, you brute!” Samantha shrieked, as she beat her fists against his bare back. He probably felt nothing with his massive muscles shielding him, but she was a determined human woman, and she would be heard. “Let me down!”
His hand landed on her ass, with a slight sting.
She screamed in rage, as her legs kicked wildly. She was going to make a mark, if it was the last thing she did.
Damn that human female for the sounds she was creating. She sounded like a trigan cat with her growling and screaming. Xacier would hand it to her, she had quite the spirit, not that she was skilled, but she did have a fire burning in her. He could respect her inner strength.
As the other warrior’s hand landed on her ass, she gave a scream, and she kicked her legs in a useless fashion. She wasn’t going to get anywhere against a man with that much strength.
A growl ripped through his chest. Xacier had no idea where the change came from, but all of a sudden he had the urge to rip the man’s beating heart from his chest. He might not want the human, but she was his prize, and the man hadn’t asked.
He kept trying to resist the urge to come to her aid, but eventually he rose from the table. He had yet to battle this mountain of muscle, but he knew he could defeat him. Xacier was feared in his part of the galaxy.
His eyes shifted color, and he was able to pick up on the smallest detail. One should never enrage a Kell. It only made them more dangerous and more battle ready. Once enraged, he’d have a hard time calming down. For all he knew, he might go on a killing spree in a crowded mess hall, but that wasn’t about to bother him. None of these aliens meant anything to him.
“Release her!” Xacier barked at the alien man’s back.
The male turned. “You never want your prizes.”
“Doesn’t matter. You never asked me, if you could have her.”
The alien took a glance at her butt, and then at Xacier. “Why now? What is so special about this one?” The alien looked intrigued.
It was going to come down to a battle. Xacier had to admit her dress showed off every delightful curve of her body. He was sure it had been the Frirens’ idea to put such a revealing dress on her. They wanted her to entice more action and bloodshed, when she was on the battlefield.
“I don’t want to fight you. Just release her, and we can go our separate ways.” Xacier gave the warrior a way out. All he had to do was step away, and Xacier would let him live, until they met on the battlefield.
He scoffed. “If you don’t want to fight, then don’t, but this human female is coming with me. I’ve waited a long time to have a soft female, and I’m going to have one.”
The alien started to turn. Xacier unsheathed a sword and leapt at the man. He just hoped the warrior would drop the human woman, before they started fighting. No need for her to get cut up.
Thankfully, the male tossed her aside and danced away, before drawing his own sword. Fighting wasn’t punished by the Frirens. They always had more warriors coming in and didn’t care what the warriors did to each other. If anything, this just allowed new blood to enter the arena.
Xacier positioned himself between the human and the beast of a warrior. She was his. He blinked. He’d dwell on that later, but for now he had a battle to win, and he’d have to kill this male or keep watching his back for fear of a sly dagger slipping between his ribs.
“If you’re worried about her safety. There’s no need. I’ll be sure to take care of the female. She will be treated like a queen, as long as she sucks my cock.” He sent Xacier a smirk.
Xacier snarled at him. The human wouldn’t be sucking anyone’s cock, unless it was his own. He launched himself at the other man, and they met with a clash of steel.
“Back down, and I might let you live.” Xacier grunted at him. It was, of course, a lie. He just wanted the man to back down, so he could get in an easy kill. But his opponent wasn’t that foolish, and Xacier gave him credit for that, at least.
They broke apart with a shove and circled each other. Xacier noticed the human woman had moved away from the fight. Smart female. One wrong move and any of the aliens standing too close could get killed.
The other warrior glanced over at her, and Xacier used the moment to attack. He lunged and got in a couple slices, before backing off quickly. The other’s eyes changed to black. So his species also had an enraged mode.
Xacier might be
able to use that to his advantage. Some species could go simpleminded, while they were in such a primitive mode.
He danced around, getting in a few jabs. Then the grey alien attacked, swinging his sword wildly. Xacier dodged his attacks, while provoking him with light jabs from the tip of his sword. He was going to drive this warrior crazy and use it to his advantage.
The male ran forward, and Xacier side stepped, but the warriors who’d come closer to watch the fight were not so lucky. A couple got themselves impaled with the male’s sword, and Xacier took the moment to end the fight.
Stepping forward quickly he stabbed the alien through the back. The alien dropped to his knees, blood came up, and sputtered out of his open mouth.
Xacier grinned. No one challenged him and survived. He always got what he wanted in the end. Yanking his sword out of the dead body he wiped the blade against the male’s pants, and then sheathed his sword.
“The human is mine. Touch her, you die.” Xacier turned in a circle, as he eyed everyone in the audience. All the warriors standing close to the human took a few steps back.
She looked around her eyes wide. He could see she wasn’t used to violence. She was going to be his death most likely, but he couldn’t reverse time. He’d claimed her, and now she would be his responsibility.
“Come.” He motioned the human forward, but she didn’t budge. She appeared to be glued to her spot. “Come!” He barked at her. She'd better not make his life difficult, when he just saved her life.
Quickly, she bolted over to his side. He grabbed her upper arm and dragged her after him, as he left the mess hall. He had to get cleaned up, before he retreated back to his room for some much needed rest.
“Wh-where are we going?” She asked, as she tripped after him.
“I need to bathe, after the battle.”