Page 48 of Prison Moon
Metal locks inside the door clicked when the wyvern slid the disk in his hand over the locking mechanism. Thoughts of ripping their throats out the moment the door opened turned his vision red. The wyvern’s threat of what they’d do to Sarra was the only thing holding him back and they knew it. The smirk on the face of the wyvern who unlocked the door said as much.
He stepped out of the cell and the scent of blood, unwashed flesh, and bodily waste hung heavy in the air. The wyvern who had yet to move held out a pair of wide metal cuffs. “Raise your arms.” Toren did as told. The cuffs were attached to a short chain that kept his arms close together. Another short chain dangled from the other and was raised and hooked to something on the neck collar. His arms were bent, hands near his face. The restraints rattled the dragon enough he felt his chest heat as fire burned up this throat.
They led him down a long corridor, the noise from outside growing as they approached a set of doors. Two more wyverns stood by them. They exchanged looks with the two flanking him before the doors opened.
Bright sunlight temporarily blinded him as he was grabbed and led outside. His vision slowly returned. The arena was filled with others in every shape, color and species one could imagine. Cells to his left were filled with females who looked much like his Sarra. He searched the faces of those staring back at him.
“Toren!”
Her voice sent a jolt of need racing through his limbs. He searched the cages and saw her in the one farthest from where he stood. She was pressed against the bars, a smile on her face despite their circumstance and even though he knew it was useless, he raised his hands to the collar and gave it another yank.
A wyvern guard standing next to her cage opened the door, another walking inside and grabbing Sarra’s arm, jerking it violently as he started to drag her out of the cage. A growl crawled up his throat at the harsh treatment, his hold on the collar tightening as the wyvern on his right gave his arm a tight squeeze. Something in the way in which he looked at him told him to keep quiet. That threat they’d made against Sarra was still whispering through his head and as much as he wanted to kill every last one of the wyvern in the arena, he clenched his jaw and locked eyes with his mate and willed himself to calm down.
Sarra was led across the ring to where he stood, and for reasons he couldn’t explain, the wyvern holding them both let go. Sarra ran the short distance between them and threw her arms around his neck while frustration at his bound arms rattled that growl in his chest louder.
“I was so scared of what they were doing to you.”
“I am fine, Sarra.”
She kissed his neck, his jaw then clamped his head between her hands and kissed him so hard on the mouth his entire body jolted. She was pulled away from him an instant later.
Toren scowled when the wyvern who now held Sarra squeezed her arm hard enough she hissed at him in her strange language. The wyvern’s scales ran down the length of his face on both sides and the majority of his bald head was covered as well. He’d not forget him, nor his rough treatment to his mate. He bit his tongue and watched him lead Sarra to a wooden platform at the end of the arena where she was high enough off the ground to be seen by everyone. He didn’t take his eyes off of her as the gathered crowd’s yells grew louder. The wyvern holding his arm walked him to the center of the ring, then let go of him. He turned to face Sarra as a loud drum beat gonged a few times, then a voice filled the air.
“This fight will be special for those who wish to participate. Not only will you win the girl, but a dragon’s hoard of treasure the likes you’ve never seen, a hoard of dragon scale by the thousands, precious metals, and gems. The dragon scale alone is worth its weight in Ancagon steel as they’re the most valuable currency in the galaxy. With enough of them, you could almost buy your way off this moon.”
A hushed whisper rippled through the crowd. Toren watched their faces as they stared at him. How many would he have to fight? How many would he have to kill?
He turned in a slow circle and met as many gazes as dared to look at him. Many were eager for a fight. He could see it in their eyes and his dragon was screaming to be let out of its cage.
The wyvern on his right stepped in front of him and released the cuffs on his wrists and unchained them from the collar. Anticipation flared through his veins. Once that collar was off, he’d burn this place to the ground. When the thick metal wrist cuffs were off, the wyvern stepped back.
“You’re leaving the collar on?”
The wyvern on his other side laughed. “You don’t think we’re stupid enough to let the beast out of his cage, do you?”
Several of the aliens along the perimeter of the ring stepped down, wide feral smiles lighting their faces.
The person announcing the fight was still talking, explaining the prize as more aliens stepped down into the ring. Nearly thirty in various sizes were staring back at him, shifting their weight from foot to foot. They were ready for a fight.
“Is that all brave enough to fight a Draegon for his mate and treasure?”
“A Draegon?”
Toren wasn’t sure who yelled the question but the low murmur of voices started to rise in volume until they were so loud, they drowned out the announcer.
“Silence!”
Everyone stopped talking. The announcer said, “He is collared. The dragon is well restrained.”
The aliens who’d stepped down into the ring were once again looking at him. They thought they’d tamed his beast? He smiled and let his fangs grow longer, the sharp tips sliding past his lips as his claws extended, his body bulking until the collar cut into his throat. He might not be able to shift completely, but he wasn’t harmless.
That low murmur of voices rose in volume again. Several of the aliens who’d stepped into the ring retreated, jumping back onto the platform the others were standing on. Slowly, the aliens stepped away until only three remained.
Toren raised his arms, his claws gleaming in the sun. “Even restrained, I have more strength than ten males combined. I will destroy you.”
The three who remained looked at each other before turning their attention back to him. Toren smiled when they all three turned and stepped back onto the walkway.
The announcer said nothing for long minutes, nothing but the sound of the wind rattling the tree limbs heard. Toren turned back to Sarra. She was smiling at him.