Page 28 of Hooded (Gladiators of the Gryn #5)
FERN
“Have you been unwell?” Narlix stares at her vid-screen as I lie on the slab.
She has raised one end, although the entire structure still seems to be one single piece of metal.
“I was sick. I mean I vomited, earlier. Sometimes the rations we’re given don’t agree with me,” I explain.
Narlix doesn’t look up, swiping quickly over her screen, her face neutral.
The lights in the room dim, flicker, come back on, and dim again. Narlix strides over to the door and opens it, where there is the usual guard outside.
“There’s a problem with the power in here. I need to use the other lab to complete my examination,” she says, beckoning me without looking over.
Confused, I get off the slab and join her at the door. The guard grunts and stands aside as I trail Narlix down a short, separate passage opposite, turning right into another room. I risk a glance over my shoulder and see the guard hasn’t moved from his spot.
“He’s been told to stand outside my lab, and he won’t deviate from his orders. Not if he wants his head to remain attached to his body,” Narlix says. “Suits our purposes.”
She hustles me into the room, where the lights blink on and reveal an almost identical lab to last time.
“Sit.” She gestures to a chair, again slab-like, but at least it makes me feel less like a specimen.
“What’s going on?” I ask.
“The main lab is monitored. I was able to create some power fluctuations to make it look like there is a problem, but not enough to attract attention,” she says.
“Why?”
“Because you are with young, and I don’t want Lord Halfen to know.”
My heart seems to come to a sudden, screeching halt. My brain is unable to catch up with what she’s saying. Time stands still as heat and cold flow through me.
“I’m…” I swallow, trying to get my voice to work. “I’m pregnant?”
“You’ve been mating with the Gryn?”
Heat stays in my cheeks. “Yes.”
“It seems you are compatible.” She cocks her head to one side. “I don’t know enough about your species, or his, to tell you much more, and I don’t want to risk doing any further tests. I can stop most of the information being uploaded to the mainframe, but not all of it.”
“Lord Halfen…” I whisper hoarsely.
“If he finds the Gryn has done what he was supposed to do, he will sell you.”
The heat is replaced by an icy chill up my spine which makes me shiver.
“Sell me?”
“A pregnant female is always worth more,” Narlix says, avoiding my gaze. “One with a warrior hybrid in her belly will command a high price.”
I feel like the world is contracting to a fine point.
“Hey.” Narlix hands me a small container of water. “What Lord Halfen doesn’t know means he can’t act on it.”
“I’m pregnant…” I repeat.
What is Klynn going to say? What is he going to do? What are we going to do?
“I can buy you some time, enough so when we pass through the Xafan nebula and the ship’s systems are disrupted, you can get away.”
I blink at her. The words make sense but no sense as emotions run riot within me.
“Why?” I take a sip of the water to clear my throat. “Why would you help us?”
Narlix stares at me.
“Why would you help us when you’ve allowed all the others to face their fate?” I harden my heart.
Whatever is happening here, there has to be a good reason—nothing is for nothing in this galaxy.
“Because I want to come with you, and your mate is the first male, the first warrior, I know can escape from the Tormeleks’ clutches. I can’t do this anymore,” Narlix rushes out.
I don’t know whether to believe her or not, but it’s not for me to decide. I need Klynn. We have to make a plan.
“I don’t know…” I shake my head, looking down to get a grip on myself. “It sounds dangerous.”
“Speak with the Gryn. Tell him about the nebula,” Narlix says, poking at her vid screen. “I need to return you to your cell before Lord Halfen starts asking questions.” She holds out her hand and helps me up. “In the meantime, avoid anything you’re given to eat which has a blue tinge to it. It won’t help your delicate stomach at this stage.”
“I thought you said you didn’t know much about my species?” I stare at her.
“I don’t, but…well”—her hand flutters over her midriff—“I know about mine.”
“ You ?”
Narlix nods. “Not the best idea I’ve ever had, but my species are rare, and when we meet another…” I swear the big beak blushes. “We have little option but to mate.”
She ushers me out of the door.
“You need to mate more with the Gryn,” she says loudly. “He needs to prove he can put young in your belly within the next nova-week, or you will be separated.”
I feel my knees dip even though I know she’s not telling the truth.
The guard pushes away from where he’s been leaning against the wall.
“The Gryn and the female do nothing but mate,” he huffs. “If he hasn’t filled her belly, I will.”
The nausea I thought I’d conquered rises up within me again.
“I’m pretty certain if Lord Halfen wanted a Tormelek hybrid, he’d do the deed himself.” Narlix sneers. “And probably cut off your cock for even thinking about taking what belongs to him.”
The guard squirms uncomfortably before he grabs my upper arm with such force I cry out.
“Doesn’t stop me from managing her if she resists,” he retorts.
“No, the Gryn will do that for him,” Narlix says evenly.
The Tormelek bully lets me go. For all their bluster, they are genuinely scared of Klynn, and I can only hazard a guess it’s because they’ve seen him fight, because it’s not for any other reason he’s given them from our cell.
“In the next few hours,” Narlix calls out as I’m led away, albeit more gently this time. “That’s all the time you have.”