Page 47 of Galaxy Games Four-Book Box Set (Galaxy Games)

47

The Next Level of Hell

T itan

I’ve never forgotten, not for a moment, that Katann Hahn holds the controller to my slave collar—and Blaze’s. By the look on his face, I assume Blaze and I will be dead within seconds.

It’s obvious he’s on comm with someone, and by his hunched body posture, he’s speaking with a superior. He realizes he’s on camera, so he’s reduced his responses to yes and no answers. The longer his televised conversation continues, the clearer it becomes he’s not going to get his way.

The resistance movement is clever, and suddenly the whole world can hear the voice of the male on the other end of the call.

“You will stop this fiasco right now. Let them melt into the crowd. They will get their comeuppance soon, but not on camera. Before you argue, let me assure you this goes all the way to the Supreme Leader of the Federation himself.”

“Yes, Sir,” Hahn says, his pinched face indicating those are the last words he wants to speak.

The male on the other end of the comm continues to flay Hahn alive. “You have been in charge of this debacle from the start. Make no mistake about it, the Supreme Leader has designated both you and your mate for termination for your part in this mess. Make this disaster stop. Now.”

I gloat as I watch the emotions fly across Hahn’s face. The male who spared no effort in beating me until I slipped into a puddle of my own blood because I followed his mate’s orders has now been slated for execution by the head of the Federation. And his shaggy mate, Gilina. I spare no compassion for either of them.

“What an impassioned plea we just heard from Blaze,” Zedd says, unaware that the whole world just heard that discussion. “We had to lobby hard for your freedom, but Slayer, Titan, you’re free to go.”

Blaze

It’s almost anticlimactic. We’ve been on high alert for days, fighting for our lives. We’ve been assaulted by humanoids and creatures. We’ve been bombed. I was almost raped. And now it’s just bye-bye?

The crowd is jubilant. The exuberant noise of their cheers is almost deafening.

As Xzavic and I raise our arms triumphantly, playing to the assembly, I assume a sniper’s site is trained on one or both of us at this very moment. This goes to the highest levels of the galaxy-wide government.

“We’re sitting ducks,” I scream so Xzavic can hear me. “Let’s bounce!”

I drag him down the steps and pull him into the dense crowd. The government wants us dead, but they wouldn’t fire on their own people, would they?

Stupid question. Of course they would. That bombed out city we traversed the first few days of The Game ? I think that’s what happened there. We need to run.

I see the crowd parting up ahead. Since Xzavic is seven feet tall, I ask him what’s going on.

“A black hover. Looks military. No, too nice for that. It looks government.”

My stomach plunges. What did we get? Five minutes of reprieve? Even then, I didn’t truly believe we were safe. Not really.

The hover is skimming low to the ground and going slow enough people have time to get out of the way. Make no mistake about it, though. It’s coming straight at us.

“This is it, Xzavic,” I say as I squeeze his hand. “I love you more than words can say.”

The hover stops directly in front of us, and the two rear doors open. Huge males emerge from either side. They’re dressed in dark, expensive suits, but their physiques give them away. Wide, muscled shoulders scream they haven’t missed any workouts lately. They’re bodyguards.

“Please join us,” one of them says cordially. He may be packing one or more guns, but he isn’t pointing one at us. Nice touch.

Xzavic and I hesitate a moment, but really, we have no choice. When my mate steps forward, the male says, “I’ll take your weapons,” as he holds out his hand.

I realize I didn’t take the opportunity in our hotel suite to tell him about the Feds. He still doesn’t know why they entered me into the game—or why they want me dead.

Xzavic gives him his sword and pack. I do the same, then reluctantly hand over the rifle. It takes an extra second to tear my gaze from the weapon. I worked hard for it, and truth be told, it managed to save our lives.

Xzavic slides in first, his hand never leaving mine. The doors close when we’re both settled in the back of the hover limo. I take a deep breath, willing myself the strength to get through the next ordeal. I try to slow the pace of my pounding heart, wipe my sweaty palms on my thighs, then raise my eyes to see what the next level of hell has in store for us. I think this is the end.