Page 41 of Bound (Gladiators of the Gryn #3)

RYCH

I’d rather not give the procurator the satisfaction of coming when called, but the desire to be close enough to end the Loxzian is too much. I unfurl my wings and swing high over the party and the dome floor, making sure my weapons are clearly visible before I land with a flourish.

The Zarvu move to protect the procurator, but he waves them away.

“, I have someone who wishes to meet you.” He gestures to the reptile standing next to him.

“This is Felia, chief scientist to the Drahon.”

The female, her skin a slightly darker tone than the males behind her, gives me a sharp-toothed smile. One side of her face seems burnt, the scales heavier.

“These Gryn are impressive,” she says in honeyed tones to the procurator. “How long did you say you’d had them?”

“This one was with the dome for the last ten nova-years. Only circumstances meant his contract came to an end,” the procurator says with not a little chagrin. “The others have been with the dome for longer. Maxym and Klynn have life sentences. They belong to me.”

“But you had more?” Felia’s eyes haven’t left me for a second.

“Alas, their contracts were also…ended,” the procurator says, “and they have left Trefa.”

“Yet this one is at a loose end.” Felia finishes appraising me. “And he has returned.”

I see the Loxzian move out of the corner of my eye, and in a whirl of feathers and blades, I attempt to stop him, but his body twists into something unrecognizable. A thin line shoots over my head which seems innocent enough, until the thing splits and wraps itself around my wings, around my body. I fight it, but it’s like fighting air, and instead I topple forward, hitting the ground with enough force to expel the breath from my body.

On the dusty floor of the arena I struggle against the net, but it’s wrapped tight enough I can’t move much.

Loxzians cannot fight. They’re supposed to kill.

This one did not.

I let out a stream of curses aimed at every creature here as the female, Felia, stands over me. She puts her foot on my shoulder, and with a push, she turns me onto my back. I snarl at her.

“My mother always said the Gryn had their uses. But her research was mired in the past. The Drahon empire requires more finesse this time.” She gazes down at me with an unnatural interest. “As this Gryn no longer belongs to you,” she says to the procurator, “you won’t mind me borrowing him, will you?”

“Not at all.” The procurator grins down at me, and I can already see him calculating how many credits he will save by not having to pay me what he owes. “You’re very welcome to him. If, at any point, you decide he is no longer of use, and he’s physically intact, I’d be interested in buying him back.”

Felia’s expression changes briefly into something which could be a smile but which could also be wind.

“I’ll consider it,” she responds as crouches down next to me and I thrash my body as best I can. “I’d suggest you save your energy, Gryn. I have so many beautiful plans for you.” She traces a cool hand down the side of my face as I attempt to bite. “So vicious, so much potential,” she croons before standing up swiftly and barking at the others. “Put him out and take him to the facility.”

My blood chills. A vision of steel spears through my head. Metal, cold, pain. I strain harder at my bonds. If I let them take me, I cannot protect my sweet mate, and I won’t leave her to the mercy of whatever Fenek has planned—if indeed he has anything to do with this, but given he’s the same species, a Drahon, as this female, I can’t be sure he isn’t involved.

“Don’t bother, Gryn.” A male Drahon is next to me. “This is Loxzian tritanium. It’s impossible to break.”

“Then you won’t want to be around when you set me free,” I snarl.

“You’ll not want to be free in a few nova-seconds.” He lifts his lips to reveal his sharp, small teeth. “You’ll be very, very happy.”

He presses a hypo-syringe into my neck and, with a hiss, empties the contents into me. I don’t stop struggling as the drug heats the area around the entry. I don’t want to stop. I don’t want to let them take me away from Chrissie. I fight. I will always fight.

I have to fight.

I have to fight for her.

“And there he goes. The happiest you’ll ever see him.” The male chuckles nastily. “Enjoy it, Gryn. You’ll never be this happy again.