Page 43 of Bound (Gladiators of the Gryn #3)

CHRISSIE

I step out of the ground transport as I spot the two Gryn landing within Fenek’s compound. Both Maxym and Klynn had been very clear they were not able to carry me, partially because it was likely they’d be spotted, and picking up any other creature is strictly forbidden for them, but also because both of them insisted if Rych scented me on them, he would likely remove a body part from the perpetrator.

Which only left a ground transport. I did my best to clean myself up once I was inside, but my coat is all but ruined from where the Drahon left claw marks, along with the dirt and dust of the last few days across the planet. The rest of my clothes haven’t fared particularly well either.

The doorway clicks at my approach and slides open with a slow, lazy rumble. As it does, I’m greeted by a sight I was not expecting.

Maxym has his sword raised, and as I step inside, he brings it down to split a butler bot in two. Klynn is surrounded by metal pieces and his chest heaves with violence.

“Um, I probably should have warned you about the bots,” I say.

“Bots!” Klynn spits with absolute venom. “Vrex them.”

“Neither of us do well with bots,” Maxym offers as a half apology. “I’m not sure why.” His great dark wings shudder.

“Rych doesn’t like them either.” I look at the remains. “And as a further warning, Fenek loves them, so there will be more.”

“Have to kill,” Klynn responds.

“Be my guest, I hate the things too.” I walk up to the main entrance, and the door swings open at my approach.

I stand on the threshold as the two huge Gryn troop inside. Klynn sniffs the air and grimaces.

“Smells like Rych,” he says. “And death.”

I’m running before I realize it, through the lower floor living area, down to the empty kitchens, back up to the vacated bedrooms before finally finding myself outside Fenek’s office. Now I can smell it too, sickly sweet decaying meat.

I don’t want to go inside. I don’t want to find…

Maxym gently pushes me to one side. “Let me, little female,” he rumbles and opens the door.

I don’t want to look, but I look anyway. My heart spins, beats three times, and seems to stand still until I see the body on the floor.

It’s not Rych.

“Fenek!” I push through Maxym’s feathers and kneel next to my fallen boss.

There are pools of blood everywhere. The cleaning bots have done their best, but it is these which are producing the disgusting smell. Fenek looks all but dead, his usually vibrant scales dull. It is true, he does resemble the Drahon who attempted to kidnap me, only he is smaller and his facial features softer. Two horns rather than three and, as I take his hand, he opens his eyes, the pupils round rather than oblong.

“I tried to stop them,” he croaks.

“You did a good job,” Klynn says, examining the damage in the room. “You fought well for a small creature,” he adds, something which is probably not a comfort to Fenek.

“They wanted you. I sent you away with the Gryn to protect you.” He swallows roughly, staring up at the others. “And you have found more.” He struggles to sit up, and I help him. “But you can’t stay here. It’s not safe.”

“I have to find Rych.” I grab a pitcher of water which has miraculously survived the onslaught in the room and hold it to Fenek’s lips. He gulps it down greedily. “He’s my…mate,” I finish lamely.

“He is?” Fenek slowly lifts his head. “You have mated with him?”

I suddenly feel like I’m bringing a boyfriend home to meet my dad, all squashy inside, embarrassed, nervous, worried what he’s going to say when he finds out who I’m with.

“Yes.” I look at the floor.

“Thank all the gods!” Fenek says. “I thought the dumb creature might take me seriously when I told him to stay away from you!”

“You did what?” I exclaim.

Fenek looks at the two other Gryn who are filling the room. “It was obvious from the moment he set eyes on you that you were his mate. I’ve met Gryn before. I understand how you all work.” He gives Maxym a long, hard look. “Only the Gryn I met were different to the gladiators here. I couldn’t be entirely sure if he would mate you, so I gave him an incentive.”

“By telling him to stay away?” I gasp.

“If you were his true mate, he would be unable to resist. It wouldn’t matter if the Galactic Council themselves forbade him, he’d still come for you.” Fenek grins, shifts, and grimaces, wrapping his arm around his midriff. “And it sounds like he did.”

“He’s been taken by the Drahon,” I say urgently. “Do you know anything about this?”

“Help me up,” Fenek says.

Maxym reaches down and picks him up by the scruff of his neck.

“My desk.” Fenek’s voice is a little strangled.

“Where is my fellow gladiator?” Maxym rasps.

“All in good time, Gryn,” Fenek says as he settles himself behind his desk, looking marginally less like he’s at death’s door.

Klynn leans forward and stabs his sword through the top of one of the spherical cleaning bots which has unwisely decided to appear. Fenek’s eyes widen.

“Don’t like bots,” Klynn growls.

“You see, my dear , I didn’t just have you as my pet. I was keeping you from the Drahon, a species mine have known about for nova-decades and who should, by all rights, be confined to their own planet.”

“I don’t understand.”

“They infected you with a virus. But not any virus—this one has a code which can disable any tech, especially weapons tech.”

“What?” I reel back, sitting down heavily on a chair opposite him.

“Using you as a host, they could get in anywhere. What they didn’t plan for was the pirates they paid to transport you to sell you on instead of completing their job. The Drahon have been looking for you ever since.”

“So, I’m not sick?” I’m struggling to come to terms with being a science experiment. “But I am sick. I feel…I felt so bad.”

“It’s not like the Drahon care how you feel, but your body’s been getting used to the changes in your DNA. I had hoped with my care it would have happened faster, but it seems my care was not enough.”

“I want the virus out of me,” I snap. “I want it gone, not taking me over faster.”

“Then it seems we are all going to be looking for both Rych and the Drahon. They’re the only ones who can do it.” Fenek spreads his hands out on his desktop. “Believe me, I’ve tried everything to find a way for you.” He shakes his head. “But the Drahon are the only ones who have the tech to do it.”

“Then it’s about time we found them and showed them what happens when you mess with the Gryn and their mates,” Maxym growls. “It’s time to go get Rych.”