Page 17 of Champion (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #6)

Xabat relaxed, his mouth curling into something that might be a smile. “It will be my honor.”

Not content with Willa sparring only against Xabat, Nansar ordered Cristox and Pavo to take a turn sparring with her as well.

While I felt satisfied from watching their movements that none of these males were inhabited by the Zarpazian, it still took everything in me not to rush to my mate’s defense when faced with warriors twice her size.

Despite being dwarfed by her opponents, Adtovar was right to call Willa fast. She moved with graceful agility, effortlessly dodging the swing of a blade or a fist. Her lithe figure seemed to dance around the larger fighters, her movements fluid and precise.

Not a single attack landed on her as she weaved and spun through the chaos of battle.

Her quickness and agility also granted her a distinct advantage on the offensive.

She landed jabs and strikes effortlessly while her opponents struggled to keep up with her speed.

It was like watching a nimble prey outmaneuver a predator in the wild.

Her small stature belied the fierce fighter within, a true force to be reckoned with.

My emotions were in turmoil. Worry, rage, and pride all vied for dominance as I watched Willa.

Nansar, usually stoic and unimpressed, seemed visibly shocked by Willa’s prowess, which gave me no small sense of pride…

and amusement. But more importantly, I decided that Xabat, Cristox, and Pavo earned my trust based on their actions in the ring.

Despite the intensity of their fighting, none of them ever once aimed to harm Willa.

“Bravo, bravo!” Nansar feigned glee when Pavo sank to a knee, admitting defeat. “My father will be most pleased with his gift.” Willa’s pale skin sheened with sweat, her chest heaving, as she gracefully accepted Pavo’s acquiescence. Turning toward Nansar, a fierce scowl settled on her face.

“Thank you, my Lord, she trains very hard.” Adtovar jumped to Willa’s side, a hand curving around her wrist as though he feared she might throw the blade she held at Nansar.

“See that she keeps it up.” Nansar waved his guard to his side. There were only six. I could defeat six Aljani easily… it was the other twenty or so that loitered outside the arena that might prove a hindrance.

Nansar stepped forward, stopping a few inches from Willa and eyeing her with gleeful malice. “I intend for my father’s celebration to be one people will talk about for years,” he quipped before turning on his heel and heading toward the exit.

“I just bet you do, asshole,” Willa muttered to herself, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand.

My eyes followed Nansar until he disappeared amidst the dust and cobblestones, lingering on the long figure standing in the crumbling archway.

Malakal.

His pale gaze purposefully met mine, his chin dipping as his head turned toward the escarpment where we’d rendezvoused before.

“What’s all that about?” Willa murmured, coming to my side. I resisted the urge to draw her into my arms, content to feel her lean against me.

“I think he wants to meet again.” I watched as Malakal’s head turned once again in the direction of the escarpment, his gaze never leaving mine. When I inclined my head with comprehension, he answered with a nod of his own, then turned on his heel, disappearing down the cobblestones.

“Perhaps he has information about the Zarpazian,” Adtovar suggested, his eyes flicking over the gladiators’ slowly recovering from the sparring session.

“I don’t think it’s any of us,” Willa insisted, turning the scimitars slowly in her hands as though she’d just realized she still held them.

“While I might agree with you, I still don’t want to take any risk. Do not get within touching distance of anyone but Adtovar and me,” I insisted.

“My pleasure,” Willa teased, desire dancing in her deep blue eyes so heavy it made my cock throb.

The rest of the day passed painfully slowly.

Not because of my curiosity about what information Malakal might have for us, but more because I couldn’t wait for the moment to draw Willa into my arms again.

I remained close to her side, always conscious not to let my feelings show, aware that unfriendly eyes rested upon us.

Yet the minute we returned to her room, Willa turned to me, slipping her arms around my waist and issuing a heavy, contented sigh as she snuggled against me.

“I’m afraid we do not have time before meeting Malakal,” I grumbled. I wanted to take my time, explore my mate thoroughly, and discover the places on her lovely body that made her moan and tremble.

“It’s okay,” she murmured, resting her cheek against my chest over the heavy thud of my heart. “I just needed you to hold me.”

I wrapped my arms around her, lifting her and carrying us over to the cot, where I sat, drawing her into my lap. She sighed again, her smile sweet and content as she wrapped her arms around my neck and laid her head in the crook of my shoulder.

Goddess, I could stay like this for eternity.

“I was very proud of your skill in the arena today.” I’d been nervous, anxious, angry, and vengeful… but I’d also been impressed and pleased by her prowess.

“That’s me,” Willa snorted, then laughed. “Kicking ass and taking names.”

“Taking names?” I covered her shoulders with my palms, pulling back so I could look at her. “I thought you already knew Cristox, Xabat, and Pavo’s names.”

Her giggle turned into an all-out laugh. “God, you’re so cute.”

Confusion was cute? I opened my mouth to argue the point when a sharp rap sounded at the door, heralding Adtovar’s arrival.

“I just saw Malakal headed for the escarpment,” he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. His pale gaze roved over Willa cuddling in my lap, and while he rolled his eyes in exasperation, Adtovar could not hide the wash of approval that crossed his expression.

Willa climbed from my lap. “Time to go.”

“You’re not going.” The words came out sterner than I intended based on the way her gaze hit me, sharp with aggravation.

“Excuse me?” Willa glared at me as I rose from the bed.

“Charick is right,” Adtovar said, gaining some of that sharpness for himself. “If the guard summons us with news of the Zarpazian as I suspect… then it cannot be good news, which means the Zarpazian might already lurk nearby.”

“More reason for me to go,” Willa huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. “Charick will need someone to watch his back.”

Adtovar shook his head sternly. “I will watch from a distance and keep him safe. But you need to remain here with the door bolted until we return.” He did not wait for a reply, instead strode toward the back wall of the cottage, removing a small gray stone, and retrieving a knife from the space beneath.

Gladiators were forbidden to keep weapons in their abodes. That Adtovar hid the blade to protect my mate captured my gratitude and respect.

“If anyone comes other than me or Charick, kill them,” Adtovar instructed, laying the blade atop the table.

Willa nodded, although a frown settled on her face. “I don’t like this.”

“Please.” I ran my palms over her shoulders and down her arms, finally closing my fingers around her wrists and drawing her against me. “Malakal has been helpful, but I do not trust anyone when it comes to you.” I let my gaze trip to Adtovar. “Except perhaps this asshole.”

“Same to you,” Adtovar shot back, fighting a grin.

Willa conceded with a sigh. “Be careful.” She looked pointedly at me, then at Adtovar. “Both of you.”

Adtovar headed toward the door. “Wait a few minutes before you follow, in case anyone watches.”

I nodded, grateful for the few minutes alone with my mate.

“Please be careful,” Willa gazed up at me, dark blue eyes shimmering.

“Are you worried about me?” I teased, brushing a thick, silky lock of hair from her forehead.

“Yeah, well, don’t get the big head about it.”

“If you are speaking about the head of my cock, it is already too late for that.”

Her laugh was everything.

I lowered my head, intending to kiss her softly, but was unable to stop myself when her lips parted beneath mine. It took every bit of control I possessed to pull away.

“I will return soon, and perhaps we can pick up where we left off,” I hoped aloud, letting my forehead rest against hers. “Promise me you will stay inside.”

“I promise,” Willa breathed, letting her lips brush over mine once more.

I followed the cobblestones, staying in the shadows until the pathway became nothing but dirt, the underbrush offering cover for my movements.

Even in the darkness, it was easy to locate the small clearing where we’d met Malakal before.

Namely, because the location was tattooed on my heart.

It was the spot where I’d first held Willa in my arms and kissed her.

The moon wasn’t as bright as usual, spectral wisps of clouds obscuring the pink glow.

The air seemed chillier, slightly thicker and held a bitter scent that reminded me of staleness and decay—possibly from the many poor souls who had forayed into the escarpment tunnels seeking freedom, only to find death.

I settled myself on a boulder, waiting and listening for approaching footsteps.

A faint rustling came from somewhere to my right, but I saw nothing in the shadows.

Adtovar perhaps? I would have much rather he remained to protect Willa, but I doubted my mate would have let me come alone otherwise.

She cared for me, perhaps not as a mate yet, but we had grown closer, and I held no doubt that, in time, she would truly be mine.

A smile settled on my lips at the thought, a smile I wore until I heard the hurried pace of someone’s approach.

Malakal strode into the small clearing, frowning at the data pad he held. A frown that only deepened when he glanced up to find me alone.

“Where is the human Willa?”

“She was tired after the sparring today,” I offered an excuse, not wanting to offend Malakal by suggesting I did not consider him safe when it came to my mate. There weren’t many I trusted. “Do you have new information?”

“Yes,” Malakal nodded, a smile forming on his face. It looked strange, most likely because I’d never seen him without a serious expression.

He held up the data pad, motioning for me to take it. I stepped forward, my fingers closing over cool metal for only a moment before his hand landed on my forearm, just above my wrist.

Pain.

I felt an intense burning sensation, as if Malakal’s touch melted my skin away and sucked out my blood through the point of contact.

Zarpazian.

I tried to pull away, but his grip welded to my forearm. I watched as his face morphed, changing color and shape from that of an Aljani to one more familiar. To mine.

My brain rolled with the desperate realization that the Zarpazian would use me to get to Willa. To hurt her.

Kill her.

I roared against the idea, every cell in my body fighting his invasion until everything went black.