V'hor's Nestmate

by Michelle Howard

  The conversation shift worked. Brown eyes glinted as Grutak leaned across the table eagerly. “Do you really think you’ve found someone who can beat Vanquish?”

  “So far I haven’t managed to get the Antare bumped to the head of scheduling. His trainer’s holding out for a higher pay off by hacking our live vids to tease the crowd with footage of his most gruesome victories at another facility. Low grade, but its drawing attention.”

  Eva could tell Mannid was intrigued in spite of the disgust in his tone. Antares had multiple arms and a hyper disorder which demanded they work continuously. As an opponent, he’d probably fight until he literally died or was heavily sedated.

  “Do you think he could do it though?” Grutak was almost slobbering in his excitement.

  It wasn’t a pretty image. Feigning a yawn, Eva leaned back against the chair leg, prepared to let the rest of their conversation fade into background noise.

  “No one can take me.”

  All three of them jumped at the sound of the deep rumbling voice. Eva twisted to get a look at the speaker.

  Holy hell! What was he doing here?

  “Vanquish, what an honor.” Grutak stood and waved at an extra chair. “Join us.”

  The dangerous Serpine, the one she’d watch rip out another’s eyeball, stepped closer, but didn’t sit. His gaze flickered briefly in Eva’s direction and she stifled a gasp. Seeing on a holo-screen was one thing, in person another.

  Nothing was glossed over with the man standing before them now. His eyes were indeed vertical diamond point slits—not a fancy computer trick after all, the color a rich green with golden hues. His blond hair was pushed forward into a wave on top, the back cut short in comparison. Blunt features and a bullish nose defined his face capped off with a wide forehead.

  “I’ll stand.” Green-gold eyes blazed with life and smoldering anger. So much anger, how could Mannid not see it?

  He folded his arms over his bare chest, the sinewy muscles flexing. Eva wanted to look away, but couldn’t. Interest and desire poked through the emotional shield she’d worked to build. She should be disgusted. She’d watched him kill front and center. Not once, not twice, but three times. For money no less.

  But this deadly man before them had her attention.

  Chapter 2

  Up close she was stunningly beautiful. Vee gazed at the sleek wave of black hair combed back from a smooth face. Thick lashes fluttered as she looked up then back down. It was enough for him to catch the color of her eyes. Brown and filled with curiosity and a healthy dose of fear.

  The fear sent a spike of anger through his veins.

  “I don’t believe we’ve ever officially met.” A proud grin creased Mannid’s florid face as he rose to be on equal footing.

  Vee arched a brow and allowed a half-smile about his lips. He had all the information he needed on him thanks to Jaron. Mannid Oorl, owner of the illegal entertainment center and suspected bliss smuggler. All around criminal. Though it galled him to do so, V’hor kept his tone polite. “Everyone knows who you are, Mannid.”

  The four inch height difference left Vee gazing down. Ruddy stains darkened Mannid’s cheeks at the realization. He jerked at the sleeves of the black jacket he wore, shiny buttons going from hem to collar.

  The woman at his feet gagged then grab at the collar about her neck. The length coiled about Mannid’s fist didn’t leave a lot of room for distance between them, but he didn’t ease her struggles, merely glimpsed to his side and frowned.

  Protect.

  Protect.

  Protect.

  Vee’s instincts screamed at him.

  “Stay calm, Vee.” Rydak’s thready whisper filled his ears.

  Of course his empathic Team Leader would sense the emotions rising to the surface. Rydak and Bane were near in case things took a turn and Vee had to be pulled out. Khane and Uri were somewhere close as well. Not that he couldn’t make his way out on his own and do a fair bit of damage during the process.

  “Good to know I’ve made an impression, eh?”

  Noticing the direction of Vee’s gaze, Mannid used the tip of his booted foot to spread the kneeling woman’s thighs wide. The outfit she wore revealed more than it hid. Her puckered nipples were a deep cherry beneath the thin gold material and the shadowy cleft between her legs was devoid of curls.

  Protect.

  Rage stirred in Vee’s belly like a hungry beast eager for a meal. His Serpine nature twitched at the dark mood taking possession of his mind. He flicked his tongue against his throbbing fangs as they filled with venom. Lost in the instinct as natural to him as breathing, his mind flung savage images at him.

  How easy it would be to break the hand pressing down on her shoulder. Easier still to crush each stubby finger then slide the blade tucked beneath his waist slowly across Mannid’s thick throat.

  Vee kept his gaze on the deliberate lewd positioning of the woman. The pulse in her neck hammered a frantic beat while Mannid petted and stroked her hair. The urge to defend rose again. One step forward and Vee could sweep Mannid’s feet and have him on the floor, hand closed around his throat choking the life from him.

  The woman for her part tilted her chin at an arrogant angle beneath the fondling, brown eyes snapping fire.

  At least her will hadn’t been crushed. Yet. That didn’t mean Vee couldn’t still cause havoc on her behalf and watch the blood of her enemy leak onto the floor.

  “She’s lovely, isn’t she?”

  Mannid aimed a smug grin in Vee’s direction. Reminding himself of the Jutak creed to protect and serve with honor brought him a measure of calm. It wasn’t easy. Vee exhaled slowly and let the anger drain until nothing remained but a serene oasis completely devoid of his true feelings. “She looks like one of the highly sought after human females from Earth.”

  Muttered gasps sounded in Vee’s ear when he dropped the telling detail to his team, but he stayed focused on Mannid.

  Glee lit the malignant gaze. “Yes, yes. A bargain too. The Marenians were eager to complete the sale because of a coming raid from Jutak warriors and I was able to procure her for myself.”

  Mannid turned his back to the female and missed the dark glare she shot at him. She might be on her knees, but the spark in her stare vowed vengeance for her unfortunate fate.

  “Let’s go somewhere quiet to celebrate your good fortune of late.”

  The offer was said in an amiable tone, but the light in Mannid’s eyes was lit by a feverish glow. Vee inclined his head and followed as they all made their way to an alcove in the back with a solid wall on one side and glass on the other three. A curved black bench was neatly tucked beside a matching square table. Mannid pressed a button on the surface and the glass walls took on a hazy tint.

  “To keep others from seeing in.” Mannid smiled and deliberately took a seat on the long bench. A look aimed at the Earth woman had her going to her knees at his side.

  Grutak sat on the long bench as well, close enough his left thigh brushed the female’s hair. Since Vee had no intentions of sitting, he declined by folding his arms over his chest to make his position clear. “What did you want to discuss?”

  A flash of impatience was quickly wiped away. Vee’s guard immediately went up. He held his silence until Mannid gestured around them. “I run all of this. A man in my position could afford to be generous for a small favor.”

  This was it. The opportunity he’d been waiting for to ingratiate himself to Mannid. Pretending to be interested, Vee quirked a brow. Perhaps Mannid would let slip something the Jutaks could use. “What type of favor?”

  “Throw tonight’s fight against Jolox and I’ll let you sample the girl.”

  Red hazed over his vision and Vee moved across the small space toward Mannid. What he intended he wasn’t sure because the female blanched and a small cry escaped her mouth.

  The sound stopped him in his tracks. Mannid had jerked the chain on her neck, pulling her backward and off balance in his hasty jump to his f
eet away from Vee.

  Deep inhale, quiet exhale. Vee centered himself. Think like an arena fighter. The reminder worked. If he accepted the deal, he could get the human woman to Enotia and make sure she was safe.

  “How long?” Vee asked.

  “Damn it, Vee!” Khane’s gritty growl.

  “Fuck, what did he just say?!” Uri’s deeper snarl.

  Rydak and Bane held their silence, but he almost sensed their rage in the telling quiet. Ignoring the curses ringing in his ear, Vee tapped the small black bud as if scratching an itch. His comm went silent.

  Mannid smoothed the hand not holding the leash over his jaw as if in thought. “One night with Eva should be sufficient wouldn’t you say? Any longer with a Serpine could be hazardous to her health.”

  She flinched, her rosy complexion going pale. Their eyes met, but she jerked her gaze away before he could discern the meaning in the look.

  Eva.

  Her name was Eva. His cock swelled and his heart thumped to a faster pace. The sudden surge of desire took Vee by surprise. When was the last time he’d felt a physical pull toward a female? More than a year at least, but he’d crushed the feeling and gone without. Now his cock thickened beneath his brown leather pants and started an insistent throb.

  And it wasn’t only because she was a striking woman. Vee sensed something stronger, more fascinating tugging at him.

  “I’ve enjoyed all your fights, Vanquish. You’re ruthless in the arena.”

  Vee shifted to take in the other member in the small group. Grutak. He recognized him from the files Jaron had put together. Heavily involved in the manufacturing and distribution of bliss. “Credits motivate.”

  “Exactly.”

  A huge grin split the wide features, jagged gray teeth clicking together in a gruesome display that caused the woman to whimper. Terror saturated the air in a small burst, the taste sour on the scent glands of Vee’s tongue.

  “Tonight should be a real crowd pleaser. Your opponent is undefeated and you’re undefeated,” Mannid cut in. “If you lose, it will tip the scales. A rematch in two days would drive the betting wild.”

  Unable to resist another look, Vee glanced down. Her eyes widened then blanked. She lowered her head, but her fists clenched on her lap. Resisting in her own way, while her owner made no secret that he was negotiating to sell her body.

  Determination flooded Vee’s veins. He dropped his arms to his sides, flicking a glance at the man who the Jutaks suspected of trying to start up a secret bliss empire. “And if I consider this, you will allow me to have...Eva?”

  A muscle ticked in Mannid’s jaw as his lips firmed. “I’m aware what I’m asking is a big risk. For you. But the payoff would be huge in return. I’ve seen where you live. Think of how much you could make in credits when the two of you face one another again.”

  “You’re putting a big price on a single fuck.” Vee braced his legs in a wide stance. “I can get that from anyone here and still win tonight.”

  Laughter burst from Mannid and after a beat Grutak joined in. Mannid settled, a smile still on his face. “You don’t give in easily, I see. I like that, Vanquish. Is that what attributes to your success?”

  “Not throwing matches attributes to my success.”

  The candid response did not go over well. Mannid’s nasal tracks flared as if scenting for a lie.

  There was no lie to be found. Vanquish wasn’t known for losing and nothing in their intel indicated he’d ever been bribed in the past. Off world transmissions to the resort had been blocked to prevent him from discovering anything different while Vee assumed his identity.

  Easing back on his intensity, Vee shook his head and tried for a conciliatory tone. “I can’t lose my undefeated record. Fans would take a big loss as the odds play heavily in my favor.”

  “Think of the credits if you bet on yourself next time though,” Mannid cajoled. “A fighter like you could improve your circumstances dramatically with this one small goodwill gesture.”

  Heaving a harsh sigh, Vee feigned reluctance. “I’m not sure it’s—”

  “It will be the best entertainment the customers will ever see, Vanquish.”

  The greed in Mannid’s gaze sickened Vee. Others would lose out big. “If I do this, I want more than a night.”

  That caught his attention. Eagerness leaped in Mannid’s gaze. “What?”

  “You’ll make triple what she’s worth if I lose. I want Eva.”

  For some reason he couldn’t explain, Vee needed to get the female away from Mannid. She could never be his though. Not for personal use despite the fledgling energy crackling through him. Vee would free her and return her to wherever she’d been stolen from. It was the only option.

  “Maybe I can bear to part with her for two nights,” Mannid joked with a short laugh.

  “For what the cost to my rep will be, I’ll only be satisfied if she’s mine.”

  Anger suffused Mannid’s face, his brows creased into a fierce scowl. When he lowered to one knee next to Eva, Vee froze wondering if he’d miscalculated. Had he just sealed the Earth female’s fate? Could he stand here and watch her death or would he break his cover to save one individual?

  Mannid licked a path up Eva’s slender throat, eyes on Vee all the while. “She does hold ones attention.”

  Fingers lax and hands held loose at his sides, Vee didn’t react. Mannid would never know how close he was to dying. Another lick and Eva’s mouth tipped down, her posture cringing.

  Protect.

  Mannid and Grutak both studied him, but it was Mannid who continued to protest what he asked. “You never want to keep a man or woman, Vanquish.”

  It was a weak argument in light of what Mannid asked for in return. Vee continued to stare as he held his silence, wanting him to see who he was truly dealing with. The man he tried hard to hide. Vee was very, very dangerous when riled. Seeing Eva kneeling for Mannid while he violated her with his touch had him one step beyond riled.

  “Well, this is unexpected.” Mannid took a deep breath, pushing away from Eva as he regained his feet. “Let’s make clear what we’re agreeing to. I give you Eva, you lose tonight’s fight in the arena. Two days from now a rematch will be held.”

  “Yes.”

  Cocky arrogance suffused Mannid’s face. “It will be hard to part with something I’ve grown attached to, but you’re right in your assessment. A woman willing to spread her legs is easy to find.”

  “Deal?” Vee asked.

  ***

  Being kicked and beaten had taught Eva restraint she never thought she’d possess. Which was how she managed not to move at the touch of Mannid’s slimy tongue against her skin while the fighter Vanquish watched.

  She searched her memory desperate to recall what she knew of him. Serpine. Their sperm was said to be poisonous. If Mannid sold her to Vanquish and he forced himself on her, she’d die. Horror destroyed the small kernel of desire she’d felt at his approach.

  Mannid wore a gloating expression. He had to know her fate. Rage surged. He was using this deadly fighter as a means of making more money. Stupid credits he didn’t need. To hell with the fact she could die in the process.

  More anger flooded her in a tidal wave. Fury made her blind as Eva leaped to her feet and charged at him. Both palms hit Mannid’s chest with a loud smack. Caught off guard, he stumbled back. She curled her fingers into fists and swung again and again, uncaring where they landed.

  Mannid did his best to fend off her attack, but Eva was like a whirlwind. Pain and terror gave her strength as she threw sloppy punches, yelling curses.

  Features suffused with color, Mannid stepped into her flimsy blows, arm raised to block. “Stop this now, Eva!”

  The command did nothing to cow Eva. She clawed his face, leaving three bloody stripes behind.

  The punch still took her by surprise with the force of it. Blood spurted and filled her mouth as she staggered back. The right side of her face went numb for a split second. Then pa
in exploded from her ear down to her neck.

  Crying out, Eva leaped toward him once more. She added kicks to her struggles and Mannid’s leg buckled. Unfortunately, he managed to snag the edge of her top in the process.

  They went down together in a tangle of limbs, rolling around on the grimy floor until Eva struggled to straddle him. She punched his stomach, rewarded when he drew in a sharp breath.

  “I’ll kill you!” She screamed in his face, putting her hands about his neck and squeezing.

  A strong arm hooked about her waist and hoisted Eva off her feet and away from Mannid, stopping her from making good on her threat. Warm breath caressed her ear. “Easy, chupaja.”

  She fought the unrelenting hold, never looking away from her target. Destroying Mannid before he destroyed her was her only thought. Another arm joined the first to lock tight about her middle, pinning her own arms to her side. Firm lips brushed the sensitive curve of her earlobe as the deep voice whispered, “Don’t make me hurt you.”

  Vanquish. She recognized the melodious tones. Arching back in his hold, Eva pinwheeled her legs in more wild kicks. She slammed her head back and grinned maliciously when a curse followed.

  “Cease or I’ll have to make it look good when I stop you,” Vanquish murmured, still using that soft voice which sent shivers down her spine.

  Make it look good. What did he mean by that? She’d witnessed his vicious nature. A flash of his gruesome fights played across her mind. He hurt others for a living. Did she want all that rage turned in her direction? The answer was a resounding no. Eva went limp and he curled her into the shelter of his body. The hold around her waist shifted from punishing restraint to protective. She didn’t know what to make of it.

  Mannid swiped at the line of blood flowing from his nose, chest rising as he panted from exertion and stood. Scratches marked one side of his face, filling her with pleasure.

  With a glare toward Eva, he said, “Maybe I should give her one last lesson before you take her. Give you a little help putting her in her proper place.”

  Tension shot steel in Eva’s spine, but the firm slap of a rough hand clamped down on her hip, preventing her from going for Mannid again and clawing his eyes out.