Page 40 of Bound (Gladiators of the Gryn #3)

CHRISSIE

The library is truly amazing. It shows me that books are something which every culture, every species has generated throughout their various histories, even if they are not something I’ve come across in the present day.

Tech has overtaken the humble book, artificial intelligence taking over from common sense. Fenek’s reliance on bots rather than living creatures hardly served him well.

Or did it? I’m hopelessly confused and push all the horrible thoughts to the back of my mind as I browse the books on the shelves until my stomach growls and I remember Maxym saying there was somewhere I could find food.

I walk through the library, looking up into the ceiling which is covered in fading metallic stars. This place is like something from another world, another time, not here, not this galaxy and not mine. At the back, behind a large bookcase, I find another door which is set ajar. Inside is an incongruously Trefian kitchen, solid metal with a re-hydrator and plenty of packets of rations. There’s also a wide comfortable squashy couch. I unwrap a ration tray and heat it up.

As I stand in front of the appliance, watching for my food, I feel like I’m back at Fenek’s dwelling. I don’t want this. I don’t like my life without Rych, even if it has been non-stop danger from moment one.

But I feel alive. I even feel like the virus is leaving me alone, as if time has been suspended while I’m in his arms.

I never thought I was someone who couldn’t cope with her own company, even if on Earth I spent most of my time at work, or with my dad, or out with my friends having fun. But now, I know. Being alone isn’t for me. Yet when I was sick, when I was not me, I isolated myself. I thought it was the only way.

It wasn’t.

The re-hydrator stops whirring, and the hum of the machine is replaced by another sound. The sound of footsteps, slow and even.

Not the steps of an excited Gryn. No rustle of feathers either. For a second, I freeze. Then I remember, I do not need to fear. Rych will come for me. I hop behind the couch. Hoping I don’t end up hiding from Maxym or Klynn. I’m pretty sure neither of them will not take well to being surprised by a female popping up like a jack-in-the-box, and I’d quite like to keep my head on my body.

From my hiding place, I can see the shining metal cabinets and the door reflected in them. I pull back into the shadow of the couch as the door swings open and a creature enters. It looks so like Fenek, I nearly give myself away, only from the scar across one cheek, I see it is not him and stay put. His lips lift as he sees the hydrator, revealing pointed teeth.

“She’s been here,” he says, opening up the machine and sniffing at the contents. “No doubt she is still here.”

He’s joined by a second reptilian who inspects the ration tray.

“What if she’s here with the Gryn?” it says.

“Have you seen any sign of the feathered gakker?” the first one spits. “Anyway, he’s needed too. The boss wants a bodyguard, and Gryn take so well to memory alteration.”

He drops the tray on the floor and the food scatters. “Tear this place apart. Find her,” he orders.

From outside there’s the sound of destruction. For several long seconds, I hold in place, covering my ears, not wanting to think what they might be doing to the beautiful library or what they might do to Rych or me, when I feel the couch tipped away, and I know all is lost.

At least the sounds of smashing have stopped as I’m hauled to my feet with a cry of pain.

“Is this her?” I’m twisted from side to side. “Funny looking thing.”

The original scarred reptile inspects me, his breath hot and foul on my face.

“Humans are ugly creatures. But they make excellent vessels. Bring her. The boss is going to be happy for once.”

The reptile who caught me binds my hands together with a flexible metal band. It bites into my flesh as he drags me behind him out into the library.

A library now filled with reptile creatures.

Pages flutter down from above. At least one stack has been tipped over, but otherwise the library remains mostly intact.

“What do we do with this place?” One of them asks the scarred leader.

He looks around. “It’s useless, outdated rubbish. Burn it.” He sneers. “Burn it all.”