Page 41 of Gladiator's Captive

“We will bring the woman,” Sayk answered, unruffled by my aggressive stance. “Your fate still remains to be decided.”

The growl ripped from my throat as I assumed my fighting stance. No one was taking Serena from me.

“This is how it’s going to be, then.” Sayk lifted his upper lip, exposing the long, snake-like fangs that curved inside his mouth, already dripping with poison.

“I guess it is.” Aggression rippled inside my muscles like a poison, readying my body for the fight. My vision became more acute as the years of training settled in my bones, turning my body into a deadly machine. Only this time, my opponent was as deadly as I was. As deadly, yes, but not as motivated.

The Huugwor stood between a Muharib and his mate. This was a mistake he would not live to make again.

The human warrior eyed us with a doubtful, worried expression, still holding his blaster up, but not daring to fire as his leader had forbidden him to act. I knew from his expression that he would only obey until a certain point.

Then all bets were off and he would attack. This meant I had to kill Sayk fast, then him.

I could follow their trace back to Tartarus after that.

I moved, my stance low on the rocky ground, my footing confident. Sayk crouched, the spikes growing longer along his limbs, their color changing until they were a deadly black against the gray of his skin.

Time was suspended in the surreal moments before violence.

Down on the sand, Serena fussed, her eyes fluttering. A soft, feminine moan broke from her lips and she lifted a weak hand up.

“No,” she cried out. “Please don’t. We’re only seeking shelter.”

Her weak voice broke through the air like a sword, slicing the tension with a single sentence. I surged forward, forgetting all about Sayk, about Ry. All that mattered was Serena and her broken, wonderful voice.

The next heartbeat, I was at her side, lifting her body onto my lap. Her blue eyes locked with mine for a single second, then they closed as she had exhausted what little strength we had left.

I felt the other males stand closer behind me, but didn’t turn in aggression in response.

“We only seek shelter.” I echoed Serena’s wise words, realizing perhaps too late that this was what was needed. “For my mate and me. Shelter.”

“And shelter you will receive,” Sayk answered. “Whatever happens next, I cannot yet say.”

Chapter Twenty-One

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