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Being an athlete, Benet had big healthy veins and it was easy for her to insert the port she’d need.

Dmitri was the same although it took more force on her part to penetrate his skin but the Badari was uncomplaining.

Once Marushka had a steady stream of Dmitri’s rich red blood flowing into Benet, she stripped off her gloves and tossed them in the recycler.

“Now we wait. I’m going to assume this is on a par with a horse to horse transfusion, no offense, and I’ve based my calculations of the need on that assumption. ”

Dmitri’s eyes twinkled. “Sound idea. I’ve never been compared to a horse before. My inner beast, which is feline, doesn’t much like the analogy, I must tell you.”

“Well there aren’t any guidelines for tiger to tiger transfusions or at least none I could find in my hasty search.” She checked Benet’s pulse, which was weak and thready. “No change so far.”

“We just started, have patience.” Dmitri leaned his head against the chair and closed his eyes. “It’s been a long time since I had to endure a medical procedure of any kind.”

She studied him, taking note of his partially extended talons and the tips of his fangs showing. “Is it bringing up bad memories?”

“Yes but the difference today is I chose to undergo this procedure and you’re not a soulless Khagrish scientist. And I do this for my friend.”

Marushka didn’t know what to say to this so she settled for kissing his cheek and went to check Benet’s vitals again.

Benet blinked and stirred slightly, surprised to find himself lying in soft cool, grass, with a starry sky above. He was sure he’d dragged himself into his apartment. Without thinking he stretched a bit and then was shocked not to experience any pain.

A beautiful woman was sitting by his side, holding his hand. Her face was averted but as he changed position she turned to smile at him. At first he saw her face clearly and then it was as if a fine mist had interposed itself between them. He blinked, wishing to see her.

“I’ve been holding you to life since you have no Alpha,” she said. “You’re becoming one of mine today—I hope the bargain will be acceptable to you.”

Becoming one of hers? What the seven hells was she talking about?

He bit his tongue not to blurt out his questions which seemed rude and instead asked, “Where’s Marushka?

Where am I? Am I…dead?” He’d been a gladiator long enough to know men didn’t survive the kind of injuries he’d sustained in the uneven fight earlier.

The lack of pain he was experiencing now was a bad sign of where he might be.

“Your woman and your friend have fought for you,” she said patiently.

“I’ll release you to them now. You have a long life ahead of you, Benet of the Badari.

There will be surprises and obstacles but your heart’s desire will be granted.

And you will help me to help those who were created as my children. ”

Her answers weren’t as reassuring as she might have hoped, not to Benet anyway, who believed he might be dead.

Leaning over she kissed his forehead and an icy ripple spread through his entire body from the point where her lips touched his skin.

He couldn’t move but he didn’t feel himself to be in any danger.

The woman squeezed his hand and then she was… gone as if she’d never been.

He was lying in his own bed, with Marushka holding his hand and Dmitri leaning over him with an anxious expression. His lips and his throat were dry and parched and it took him two tries to get words out. “What happened?”

Marushka broke into tears and threw herself across his bare chest. Instinctively he gathered her close, stroking her hair while she wept and exchanging glances with Dmitri over her head.

“I’m glad you came back to us, my friend,” the Badari said. “My devochka worked hard to make it happen.”

“Using your blood,” she said, sitting up and wiping her eyes before staring at Benet hungrily. “How do you feel?”

“Pretty damn good for a man who was nearly beaten to death.” He couldn’t see any bruises or marks on his body, which was impossible, and nothing hurt or ached or bled.

He was wearing a pair of sweatpants and he sat up, swinging his legs over the side of the bed to stand.

Dmitri grabbed at one shoulder and Marushka braced the other as he discovered he was woozy.

They got him to the chair and she pushed a glass of water at him.

“You’re probably dehydrated,” she said. “You need to eat soon as well. Dmitri has a couple of high protein rations ready to heat up.”

“Did you—did you say your blood was part of my miraculous healing?” Benet asked.

His two friends exchanged looks and Dmitri shrugged. “The goddess told me Badari blood was magic. Marushka performed a transfusion last night and now this morning you’re healed.”

“She said I was one of hers now.” Benet rubbed his forehead in confusion. “I don’t understand the process—how could your blood work such a miracle?”

“She?” Dmitri’s question was sharp. “You beheld the Great Mother?”

“I believe so. I was dreaming.”

“I was so afraid to try the transfusion,” Marushka said. “But you were dying, beloved.”

“Hey, there’ll be no recriminations from me. Not when I’m sitting here feeling better than I have in my entire life.” He pulled her close for a kiss. “What are you wearing?”

“Your clothes.” She giggled. “When we came last night I had a court gown on, highly impractical. Besides, it got bloody. I had to sneak into the vet center to steal what I needed to do the procedure so I borrowed clothes from you. I know I’m not at my most presentable right now.”

Benet thought she’d never been so beautiful, even with the lines of stress on the face, her red eyes and the circles underneath them. “Most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my entire life, even considering the Badari goddess. I like you in anything or nothing, you know that.”

Dmitri cleared his throat. “We must get you breakfast and then Marushka must go to the palace and change. She’s expected to be at certain events today. I believe you must appear at practice as normal. It will quell any rumors and confound whoever plotted your death.”

“Vasili.” Benet ran his hands through his hair.

“There were about ten of them. I wasn’t paying enough attention to my surroundings obviously and that’s on me.

I was anticipating our late night meeting and they jumped me.

I’m pretty sure I killed one and I know I inflicted heavy damage on several others but there were too many.

Right before I blacked out the ringleader said the beating was compliments of Prince Vasili. ”

“There’s nothing you can do to claim revenge,” Dmitri warned. “Being alive and whole and basically proving you are Badari will have to be satisfaction enough for you, my friend. And winning the gold medal of course.”

“I don’t like it but I see your point.” Benet said. “I fucking hate it here in Outlier, if I haven’t made my opinion clear before.” He pulled Marushka into his lap and hugged her. “Present company excluded. You cannot marry that monster.”

“I’m not going to,” she answered. “I’ve decided and I’ll persuade the empress to agree. But until I get a chance to talk to her privately I’ll have to act as if I’m still heading for the altar with him, disgusting as the idea is.”

“You think you can get her blessing?” Benet asked eagerly.

“Not to marry you, but to be free of Vasili, yes. Dmitri and I have been doing judicious digging and we found out a few facts about Vasili and his dealings the Empress won’t like. But I must tread carefully.”

“You’ll be with her at all times?” Benet asked Dmitri.

“Of course.”

“Once you’re free of the engagement we’ll find a way to get you out of Outlier, a path for us to be together,” Benet vowed. “The goddess said my heart’s desire would be granted and you’re the only thing this gladiator desires.”

“If the Great Mother is on your side in this matter, then despite my misgivings and qualms, I must agree a way will be found,” Dmitri said with reverence in his voice. “But you must remember her timeline isn’t yours. The solution may not be in our near future.”

“As long as I can be with you, I can be patient,” Marushka said.

Benet’s stomach rumbled and they all laughed. “Guess I’d better go eat the breakfast you’ve got prepped.”

This time when he stood, he was steady on his feet and although Dmitri stayed close as he walked to the kitchen, Benet was gratified to find himself feeling normal. He and Marushka sat while Dmitri prepared the food and then all three of them ate.

“So am I a Badari now?” Benet asked after his first plate of steak and eggs had been devoured and he was digging into a second plate of pancakes and bacon.

“What does this actually mean, you know? Will I sprout claws and fangs? Am I going to grow taller? Develop an inner beast like the one you say you have?”

Dmitri chuckled. “I doubt there will be such dramatic changes. The things you mention were programmed into me at creation by the scientists. Hopefully you’ll continue to heal as well as I do and perhaps there’ll be a few advantages in speed and endurance.

I make no promises. Saving your life was my only goal and we already achieved it. ”