Challenging the Arena

by Lily Thomas

  He smiled. He liked the idea, and if she wanted to wash his hair he wasn’t about to complain.

  Striding over to one of the benches he found it bolted to the ground. Damn Frirens. Getting a good grip on the bench he ripped upward with all his might and the bolts gave way. The bench flew upwards as the bolts went flying every which way.

  “Oh my god.”

  He turned to find her wide eyed. And then she burst into laughter. “I didn’t know those were bolted down!” She giggled as she bent over a little. “I wouldn’t have suggested it had I known!”

  He sent her a carefree smile. “It was no problem.”

  “I can see that.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, now that you’ve ripped it out of the floor you might as well bring it over here.”

  He hefted it into the air and brought it over as she turned the shower off.

  After placing it in the shower he sat down, giving her his back.

  “I’ve never washed someone else’s hair.” She paused. “Hopefully this isn’t weird.”

  Raever shrugged his shoulders. “I find it nurturing. It’s nothing to be ashamed off.” He paused briefly. “You probably just can’t resist me. A need to touch me.” He tipped his head back and sent her a wink.

  “Pfft. Keep dreaming!” Evelyn pushed his head back into position and then began to rub the soap into his hair. Her hands made their way over to his braids. “Can I undo these?”

  “Of course.”

  “I just wanted to make sure they were something I could mess with, just in case they meant something in Vrak’rir culture.”

  He shook his head. “Just a personal preference. Do you like them?”

  “It adds,” he could hear her searching for the right words, “a certain warrior-like quality to you.”

  “Not my intention, but never hurts to look like a warrior here in the arena.”

  Her nails scraped against his scalp the moment she was done undoing his braids, and shivers of pleasure spread up and down his skin.

  “I love the feeling of you playing with my hair.” It was a moment of bonding with his mate, and after all their recent fighting he was glad to see she wasn’t holding anything against him. He’d been worried they might not be able to overcome some of their differences.

  “Good, because I love playing with it. I wish I had hair like yours.” Her voice went dreamy. “It’s so straight and perfect.”

  He chuckled as she continued to wash him. He’d let her continue to do this because he was anticipating that his chance would soon come when he got to wash her, and he had some plans.

  Chapter 8

  Evelyn relaxed at the table in the cafeteria as Raever and Demard put away the food in front of them like two beefed up athletes. She took the time to look around and study the variety of aliens mingling around them.

  There were a few she didn’t recognize, like those grasshopper aliens.

  “What species are those?” She hitched a thumb in the grasshopper aliens’ direction.

  “The Treqians?”

  “Ugly creatures.” Demard’s nose wrinkled up in disgust as he glanced over at the table of them.

  “Be careful or you might get one for a mate.” Raever teased him.

  “Shut your mouth.” Demard growled. “That’s one mate I’d walk away from no matter the pull I might feel to claim her.” A shiver shook his entire body.

  “What? You wouldn’t want to be caressed by those antennas while you pleased your mate?” Raever laughed.

  Demard visibly shook again in revulsion as his eyes slid closed. “Makes me want to throw up even thinking about it.”

  Evelyn rolled her eyes. Those two were like brothers. “Where do they come from?” She wanted to learn as much as she could about the species that surrounded her. It could come in handy at some point.

  Raever shrugged. “Not sure. I haven’t tried to befriend any of these people.”

  “You befriended Demard.”

  “Because he is a Vrak’rir.” Raever told her like she should understand that reasoning.

  Demard smiled. “Vrak’rir can’t resist other Vrak’rir, but we don’t do too well with other species.” He glanced at her. “Unless that other species is our mate.”

  She was learning a lot. Now all she had to hope was that she made it out alive and got the chance to share all this interesting information with her readers. Sex and blood sold well.

  As their dinner continued on, Raever couldn’t help but notice the way she looked at every alien in the cafeteria. It was like she blamed them for something and he was curious what it might be, but he wasn’t about to ask her in front of Demard.

  Whatever she blamed them for was also the cause of her sadness in her emerald eyes. He was sure of this. So sure, he’d stake his life on it.

  Within a few minutes, Demard smacked him on the back as he stood up from his seat. “As much as I’d like to stay up with you young people, I need to get some shut eye.” Demard began to walk off and then turned back towards them. “If you have sex tonight, try to be quiet and not wake me up.”

  Evelyn’s cheeks heated as she choked on a mouthful of food. “We wouldn’t do it while you were in the same room with us.”

  “Don’t dash his dreams.” Demard joked with a care free smile.

  “Get out of here.” Raever threw a biscuit at him, and it bounced off Demard’s head.

  Laughing Demard left the cafeteria.

  Raever rolled his eyes. “Ignore him.”

  She shook her head. “He means well, and he lightens the mood. I don’t mind him.”

  He wasn’t sure how to bring up the look in her eyes, so he started with, “Tell me a bit about yourself and your family.”

  “Well,” she started cautiously and his eyes narrowed slightly, knowing she was tiptoeing around what she might want to tell him, “I work as a journalist.”

  He scoffed. “No wonder you were put in the arena as a prize.”

  Her eyes narrowed and her sea green eyes glared daggers at him. “Be careful or you might find your mate outside of your reach with that tone.”

  “Can you resist this?” He pointed to himself as he leaned back giving her a good look of his bare tattooed blue chest. He knew he was quite the specimen, and every time she looked at him her expressive eyes would light up with lust. She liked being his mate. “I’m just saying you being a journalist wouldn’t make you the best fighter in the arena. It’s not like you can kill someone with words.”

  “Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you drive me up a wall and I leave.” Evelyn glared at him from across the table. “You might have mates, but humans don’t.”

  He held up his hands in surrender. “I’ll never drive you away.” He crossed his heart and smiled. “Tell me more about yourself. I’m eager to know more about my mate and her life before she came to the arena.”

  “Well, my job is pretty self-explanatory. I write about things, my editor throws them back in my face and tells me to rewrite them, and this goes on a couple times before she is satisfied and I get an article published.”

  “Sounds like it takes a lot of work and determination.”

  “It’s something I like doing and it helps me bring information to the crowds. I like informing people about problems that they might not know exist.”

  “What about family?”

  Her jade eyes took on a distant look. “I’ve got family.”

  He leaned over the table and wrapped her small pink hands in his large blue ones. Gently, he caressed her palms with the tips of his claws. “Tell me.” The haunted look had entered her eyes again and he knew she was about to tell him something sad from her past. He wanted to know everything, even the sad parts so he could be there for her.

  “My sister somehow grabbed the attention of the Frirens, and…” She sighed.

  He knew it was going to be bad. Anything that had Friren in the same sentence as attention was never good.

  “She was placed in the arena. I assume as a prize.” Evely
n tilted her head back and blinked away tears that were gathering in her eyes. “She was just snatched away one day with no notice. I was left to wonder what happened as I couldn’t find a trace of her. Even the authorities couldn’t find her. It was just a big mystery.”

  “So, you’re searching for her and hoping to free her now that you know she is in the arena.” He nodded his head in determination. “I will help you find her.” It would mean he might have to stay in the arena longer than he intended but a sister of his mate would be under his protection as well.

  He was so close to being champion and winning his freedom, and he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t a little bit upset about this wrench being thrown in his plans.

  “You don’t understand.” She cringed a little and squeezed his hands with hers. “My sister was… killed in the arena. She was won as a prize and clearly that person hadn’t been able to keep her safe like you have been able for me.”

  He squeezed her hands back. “I’m sorry to hear about your loss.”

  “I thought I could do something about her death, but it just landed me here in the same situation she was in, and now I can’t make her death mean something more than… a death. I’d hoped to end the arena with my articles and make her death a rallying point.”

  He cocked his head. “What do you mean?” The way she said that had him pausing.

  “I was writing an article about the Friren arenas and about how they snatch people and throw them in here. I came out here, bought a ticket, and attended an arena fight to get some more information for my articles. The Frirens found out about it, and here I am.” She waved her hands in the air at the cafeteria.

  “They intend for you to die here.” He filled in his heart puttering to a stop in his chest as he felt a cold chill spread over him. It was worse than he could have ever predicted.

  He felt her hands get a bit clammy. “I think so.”

  This wasn’t good news. This meant he might not be able to take her with him when he won his championship and was awarded his freedom.

  “I’ll do my best to get you out of here.” He promised her. Or he would die trying. He wasn’t going to leave her in here. He couldn’t just leave her here. He would have to figure something out, anything.

  “Let’s go kick out Demard.” Evelyn was ready to forget the memories they’d brought up, and there was nothing like some heated sex with her dreamy Vrak’rir to do just that.

  His eyebrows rose in surprise before he leapt up from the table, grabbed her hand, and plowed their way back to their room.

  She smiled glad that she wasn’t the only one in this relationship that was eager for sex. Talk about making her feel sexy. She got the feeling he’d be up for sex anytime she asked. It wouldn’t be a relationship where she’d have to hope her partner was in the mood.

  They rushed into the room the door slamming back against the wall with the force of Raever opening it.

  “Out!” He barked.

  Demard jumped out of his skin, but obeyed. He closed the way on his way out, grumbling about how wrong this was.

  She would feel bad about kicking him out again if she weren’t so wet and horny.

  When Raever spun around her hands shot out to explore his expanse of pectoral muscles. She needed him to drive those painful memories away.

  He grabbed her hands and held them together in front of his chest as his onyx eyes bored into her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I need to forget the pain of her death.” She paused and cringed a little. “Do you mind that I use you to forget?”

  A slow smile crept up his lips. “As long as you won’t regret this.”

  She shook her head. “Even if I hadn’t brought my sister up I still would’ve wanted you.” It was completely true. She couldn’t resist Raever.

  He released her hands and she resumed roaming over his chest. His head dipped down to her neck and gently he kissed her sensitive skin. She purred as desire built between her legs.

  When he nipped her neck lightly she nearly melted to the ground in a puddle of skin. Her hands caressed his chest making their way to his shoulders her nails digging into his muscles.

  She heard him shed his pants and she smiled to herself. He was just as eager at her. She had all the power and it was fun, not that she would take advantage of this mate hood power that she now wielded.

  Raever was eager to have her under him panting his name, but he also wanted to shower her in love. His mate was hurting inside and he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to repair that emotional damage. It wasn’t like he could ever give her sister back to her.

  All he could do was be here for her when she needed him, and if she needed him to make her forget the sadness from her past, then that was exactly what he would do.

  Evelyn’s hands continued to explore his body and her delicate floral scent wafted up to his nose. His cock went hard. His mate was wrapped around him and it was hard to hold in his joy.

  “I’ve waited my whole life to get you in my life.”

  “Impressed yet?”

  “Since the moment I met you.” He raised a hand to her to her mouth when she leaned back and looked like she was going to argue with him. “I was surprised to find myself a human mate, and I think my worry came out… not in the best way.”

  “You were worried?” Her emerald eyes took on a softer note.

  “I don’t want you to think you are useless. I just worried I would lose you to the arena before we even got the chance to know each other.”

  She stood up on her tip toes and planted a searing kiss to his lips. His heart melted, because he was still concerned about keeping her safe, but for now he was going to show her she was loved.

  Evelyn and Raever lined up at the gate again the next day. This morning she’d been so relaxed and happy. He’d done an amazing job of keeping her mind off her sister and she was thankful for that.

  She glanced around them at all the aliens that were lining up beside them.

  Raever leaned over to whisper in her ear. “This looks like it will shape out to be a normal arena fight.”

  “And a normal arena fight means?” She raised her eyebrows hoping for more of an explanation since she was still new to the arena and the way things worked.

  “It means it will be a free for all and I will need you to be vigilant and keep your back against the arena wall so I can protect your front.”

  She nodded.

  “You aren’t going to cause me trouble, are you?” He eyed her.

  “Me? Cause trouble? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She raised a hand to her chest and blinked innocently.

  “Remember that there’s no need to prove herself useful. You’ve already begun to change my view on humans.”

  “You’re just saying that to make sure I don’t try something out there.”

  “Is it working?”

  She frowned. “I’m not stupid enough to think I can take on these aliens, because you’re right, I got lucky in that last arena. It just bothered me that you couldn’t even believe I could do it.”

  He smiled. “We had a human woman win her freedom from the arena not too long ago, so I can believe it can happen, I’m just not sure it’s common among your species.”

  “Wow.” She shook her head as she thought about how hard that must have been for that woman to win so many arena fights. That couldn’t have been luck. It must have been skill. “I still can’t believe that happened.”

  He snorted. “Even you can’t believe a human woman did it.”

  Evelyn nodded. “I’m surprised she was a champion of the arena. I couldn’t imagine winning battle after battle.” She couldn’t imagine killing that many people. She would never be able to sleep after that much carnage.

  “From what I hear she was quite the woman.”

  She frowned. Raever sounded more impressed by this random human woman than her, and she couldn’t help the jealousy that flowed through her veins. She might be his mate, but that was
n’t enough for her. She wanted him to also be proud to have her by his side.

  The gate creaked open and the warriors around them poured out into the arena.

  Evelyn followed Raever closely, she didn’t want to get separated from him. She got the feeling this fight would be hectic and she didn’t want to get cut down because she got separated from Raever.

  He took position near a wall and pushed her slightly behind him. “Don’t take offense.”

  She shook her head as she eyed all the warriors filing out from even more gates. “There is more than one barrack here?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, they have several arenas on several planets with god knows how many barracks?”

  “Yes.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t believe how many people they’ve dragged into this blood sport. And all the people that must fill the stands.” She turned her gaze up to the crowd that was basically fully seated, but still a few people were meandering around trying to find their seats.

  Her eyes zeroed in on a few people eating food like they were just going to be watching a show. It confused her how they could sit there calmly with the knowledge that people were actually being killed in front of them.

  Then she glanced around the arena again to take in all the fighters that were finding their spots in the arena and her jaw dropped.

  “Connor!” She yelled and Raever turned to glance down at her before searching for what she saw. “It’s Connor! We have to save him.” Connor was wearing some sort of version of the outfit the Frirens had offered her. It was a flimsy light blue material but at least his had been offered in a pants and shirt version. “Is he a prize?” She looked up to see Raever searching the crowd and then he spotted Connor.

  “That man appears to be a prize that was won by a female contestant.” Raever confirmed as he pointed to the female alien near Connor.

  “We have to save him.” She turned to look up at him. “Can you have two prizes? We have to make sure he stays alive during this fight.” She prattled on as she pleaded while clutching one of Raever’s hands.