V'hor's Nestmate

by Michelle Howard

  ***

  Almost an hour into the match it was obvious the Togolor was tired and didn’t have much left to give. Not that it stopped Jolox. He kept up the performance, circling Vee instead of the erratic lunges and charges of earlier. Vee had already proven that he’d use those opportunities to do close quarter damage.

  “If you want to yield victory to me, you can walk away.” Vee didn’t want to kill Jolox, but would if forced to do so.

  “Fuck you, Serpine. I will not lose. I beat you before, I can do it again.” Jolox followed the statement with a high kick toward Vee on a spin and jump.

  When it connected, the sheer force Jolox put behind it knocked Vee down. He was back on his feet in a flash though his chest burned. Having seen success once, Jolox attempted to repeat the move. Vee was ready this time and dodged out of reach. Unbalanced, Jolox ended on his back in the dirt. Vee snorted as Jolox rolled with the motion and leaped upright.

  As soon as Jolox was standing, Vee’s foot slammed into the side of his face. A tooth flew out along with a spray of yellow fluid. Face flushed, Jolox still managed to sneer. The heat in his gaze promised deadly retribution.

  “Had enough?” Vee’s wanted to keep Jolox on edge. It was in his favor that Jolox was rash. During their last bout it had been easy to note he was all bluster and little skill. Jolox won by overpowering an opponent or intimidation. Vee had no intentions of being overpowered and was far from intimidated.

  “I’m gonna enjoy licking the blood from your dead body. I’m going to crush every bone and enjoy you begging for your life as I smash your skull in.”

  Another grin swept Vee’s face. This time they were both fighting at full force. Jolox’s claw swipes and horn gouges were meant to eviscerate. In return, Vee had done severe damage as well. “Feel free to try.”

  Jolox snarled in useless fury as he attacked. Vee mixed a flurry of kicks and strategic punches with a skill Jolox had no chance of defending. He used his Serpine speed to stay ahead of any blows Jolox attempted in retaliation.

  When they staggered back to study each other, Vee allowed a pleased smile to twist his lips. The last kick had cost Jolox and something had torn. He balanced his weight heavily to the right as if Vee wouldn’t notice the motley shade of vivid blues and dark purple surrounding the area of his left knee.

  Sweat dripped from Jolox’s chest in rivulets mixed with bright yellow streaks. The bright colored blood marred his face and arms as well. There wasn’t a place on him free of injury.

  In contrast, Vee had sustained lesser damage. A deep cut across his brow stung from Jolox’s horn. Slashes to his right arm from razor sharp claws attested to his luck and pure chance getting under Vee’s guard. But Vee wasn’t winded or drained by the fight. In fact, he was invigorated. Rarely did he get to fully let loose in a one on one fight. Even prior matches within The Pit, he hadn’t wanted to do long term harm to his opponents.

  “I won’t let you win,” Jolox whispered as he sucked air.

  “You won’t find me as easy to defeat this time.” Because Vee was no longer under any obligation to let Jolox win. Eva’s life wasn’t on the line in exchange for him meeting Mannid’s demand.

  Jolox snarled and lunged, right arm swinging followed by his left in rapid succession. Vee bounced back, arching his torso to avoid contact. Jolox led with another failed strike. It was obvious by his misses and stumbling steps his coordination was impaired.

  Keeping his smirk in place, Vee reminded himself that this was about the mission. He had to make sure Rydak and the others had enough time to get in place and stop Grutak. Vee chuckled and taunted the lumbering Togolor. “Tired, Jolox? Feeling weak?”

  Jolox paced with him, crouched in position waiting for the opportunity to close in. Confusion glimmered briefly in his darkened gaze. The tactic he’d employed in their last match wasn’t working as it had before. He couldn’t bulldoze Vee and overwhelm him with his size.

  On an all or nothing approach, Jolox seized the moment to barrel in Vee’s direction. There was no dodging the momentum. Thick arms snaked about his waist and Vee’s breath escaped on a gasp as they crashed to the ground.

  A female screamed. Vee’s neck turned as he tried to see into the crowd. Eva? No, not Eva. She wouldn’t scream and draw attention to herself. The distraction cost Vee. It was only a split second, but it was all Jolox needed.

  He raked his claws down Vee’s side. Vee grappled with Jolox’s upper arms and shoved a sliver of space between them, but couldn’t break free. Jolox pressed his advantage and plunged his claws deeper.

  Fire hot agony burned along Vee’s side. He locked his jaw on a pained cry. Jolox laughed in his face, demonic glee in his dark eyes. “I will take your pretty human from Earth and make her my slave. Mannid promised me two nights between her legs. When I’m done, not even you will want her back.”

  Mannid. Mannid had played them both.

  This explained the bet Jaron and Sasha discovered against Vee. If Jolox killed Vee, Mannid would steal Eva back and gift her to Jolox temporarily. Then she’d be back in Mannid’s possession. If she survived.

  “I’ll make her cry first as images of your death play on a holo-vid. I’ll taste her tears just as I ram my cock into her tight core. No one will stop me. I will claw the soft skin from her body for my amusement. Her screams for mercy will pleasure me.”

  Denial roared inside of Vee. He steeled himself against losing control. Jolox wasn’t going to be left alive long enough to breathe the same air as Eva let alone do the things he threatened. And Mannid...Vee would make sure he didn’t get within touching distance of Eva again.

  “Eva is mine. No one gets to hurt her.”

  The warning didn’t deter Jolox in the least and he slammed his head forward. The edge of his horn came close to taking out Vee’s right eye. The bitter bite of the graze left a stinging sensation behind.

  “Haven’t you realized, Vanquish?” Jolox laughed, the rising chuckle filled with malice. “Mannid hates you.”

  It all came back to Mannid. All of this to regain Eva. Mannid would rather lose a valuable fighter like Vanquish to salvage his pride and keep her in his possession.

  Blood dripped into Vee’s eye momentarily blinding him. He blinked rapidly to clear his vision. Taking advantage of the disorientation, Jolox smashed his fist into Vee’s face. Pain exploded as his jaw rattled.

  “Vee!” That was Eva’s distinctive cry calling his name.

  Vee risked a glance where he knew she sat in the stands. Mannid approached her from behind, almost jogging down the aisle in his haste to reach her. Vee’s heart sped up to beat double time. He surged up, tossing Jolox off of him as if the Togolor weighed nothing.

  Bane would be there. Bane wouldn’t let Mannid anywhere near Eva. But as Mannid drew closer and closer, there was no sign of his friend and teammate. Eva glanced over her shoulder.

  By the way she stiffened, Vee knew she’d caught sight of Mannid. He contemplated the distance and wondered if he jumped the low level barrier would he get to her in time.

  As Vee took his first step in her direction, Bane cut through the standing crowd. Appearing as a casual attendee, hair sloppily brushed forward to cover the side of his face, he reached Eva from the left as Mannid reached her on the right.

  “You’ll lose her now!”

  Vee faltered as Jolox pummeled him from behind again and again. On the last blow, Vee dropped to his knees. Coming to stand in front of him, Jolox gripped his hair and leaned over, breathing harshly. “Mannid promised all I had to do was delay you in the arena and he’d gift me the Earth woman. I didn’t need to kill you, but I want to.”

  Vee didn’t bothering to struggle as he focused on Jolox’s words. Mannid was as good as dead. When Vee left here, he’d make sure the entertainment owner was eliminated.

  With another growl, Jolox pulled at Vee’s hair and continued. “I would have done it for free, Vanquish, but then he offered me your human pet. Mannid is quite angry that she seems to be
enjoying you.”

  “Really? Such a waste since she’s only a sex slave.”

  His clear dismissal confused Jolox. Directing his rage into action, Vee surged to his feet and dislodged Jolox’s hold on his hair. Jolox swung wide, but Vee side stepped, pivoted to the right and caught the fist Jolox still had fully extended. Jolox’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected that.

  Quick and efficient, Vee switched his grip from Jolox’s left hand to his thick wrist. Grinning, Vee paused to make sure he had direct eye contact and his intent was clear. Then Vee twisted. The flash of horror was perfect. The crack audible and quite painful if Jolox’s expression was any indication.

  “I will say it again in case you didn’t hear me. Eva is mine. No one, not Mannid and not you, will hurt her.” He pushed Jolox back, instinct hammering at him to go to Eva.

  Jolox roared and got back up. His left arm hung limp at his side, yet he refused to quit. He probably assumed he still had a chance.

  He didn’t. The moment he threatened Eva, he’d sealed his death.

  Vee’s blood heated and the slits in his shoulders burned with the need to unfurl his hood, guaranteeing any venom from a bite in that state would kill Jolox. Only a small part of rational thought kept the urge in. He’d come too far to blow his cover. Only a few of royal Serpine blood possessed the ability and Vanquish was far from that line.

  That didn’t mean Jolox’s death wouldn’t be painful. Vee smiled. Painful indeed. Not even Jolox’s quivering form changed his mind.

  The next moments hazed out for Vee. Screams filled his head. Begging and unintelligible pleading battered his ears which he ignored. Then finally whimpers that dwindled off. None of it penetrated until the silence around him replaced the strident screams. Unnatural silence. Vee shook his head and gazed down at Jolox. Or what remained of him. The other fighter was barely recognizable.

  Every breath ripped from Vee’s chest in jagged pants. He shoved to his feet, eyes going to the section where he’d sat Eva. Bane stood beside her, an odd stillness about him. Mannid appeared stunned. Eva was on her feet, face pale and hands pressed to her mouth.

  Did she fear him again after witnessing what he was capable of? Had he disgusted her with his actions in The Pit? What Vee had done to Jolox hadn’t been pretty.

  A quick side glance showed medics entering the arena. They loaded the remains of Togolar’s body on a hover board though it was obvious to all he was dead. Him or me. Those were the options and Vee had plenty of reasons to walk out of The Pit alive.

  The announcer droned on and on about his win, inciting the audience to a fevered pitch. The building resounded with the echo of applause. Vee ignored the acclamation and kept his attention on Eva. Would she run or would Bane be able to keep her calm? The questions caused a rare kernel of fear to enter Vee’s mind. A Serpine female would have been preening in pride at proof of his ability to defend and protect.

  Earth females were different. Faye, Sylvie, and Joni were evidence of this. They placed a higher value on the life of those who’d wronged them.

  “You need to clear the arena, Vanquish,” a trembling voice said.

  Vee tensed and faced the attendant who came up behind him with shuffling steps. Eyes burning, he had to concentrate in order to shake off the pulsating fury and anger remaining from his efforts to destroy Jolox. The attendant jerked backward, gaze wide with fright. Trusting his teammate to take care of Eva despite the way his chest tightened, Vee turned and rushed toward the grated entrance.

  Nesting instinct demanded he attend to Eva first, but he needed his comm to confirm if the team was able to stop Mannid’s shipment of bliss. Getting to Eva was paramount, but he had to rely on Bane at least getting her to the tunnels without trouble. Khane was also around somewhere and would be available as a solid force at Bane’s back.

  They’d all regroup and make their way together to the shuttle where Rydak and Uri would be waiting to return to Enotia. Then he and Eva would talk. He’d tell her the truth. All of it.

  As he hurried through the underground fighter’s section, bypassing congratulatory grunts and shouts, Vee hoped it worked out exactly that way.

  Chapter 15

  Eva managed not to flinch when the enigmatic Bane clasped her arm above the elbow. “Let’s go.”

  Mannid chose that moment to speak. Everything about him reeked of falsehood. “Eva, I should have expected to see you here. Quite a wild ending, hmm?”

  Eva swallowed, but straightened her shoulders and tipped her chin up. Her fingers played over the knife handle clutched tight by her hip. She’d never been more grateful to have a flimsy weapon in her life. “You should be pleased. The crowd reaction was overwhelming.”

  Mannid’s gaze flickered to her side. “Who’s your friend? I could use someone like him in The Pit.”

  Bane grunted, but kept his head lowered and continued to lead Eva forward. They had to walk around Mannid to get by and the thought left Eva physically ill. She didn’t want to brush against him in any way. Seeming to understand this, Bane switched sides with her as soon as contact would have been made. Mannid stumbled from the maneuver, but recovered and skipped to keep up with them as they departed.

  Eva needed to see Vee. She wanted to make sure he wasn’t seriously hurt. The blood on him hadn’t seemed excessive and he’d walked from the arena under his own steam. But Jolox’s intent had been clear. He’d wanted to kill his opponent. Instead he was the one left dead.

  Those disturbing images would stay with Eva for a long while. Deep inside she was glad Jolox was gone. She could put him and everything else she’d experienced in this cursed place behind her.

  “Eva, no need to rush. Can’t we talk?”

  If only she could escape Mannid’s irritating presence as easily. Clearly ignoring him wasn’t working. “No. I’m meeting Vanquish and we’re leaving.”

  Mannid’s steps sped up behind them. Bane curved his arm over Eva’s shoulder as they approached the long tunnels that led to the exit doors. He leaned low to murmur, “Hold on. We’ll be out soon.”

  Mannid was going to make this difficult. Eva knew it in her gut. He wasn’t completely simple minded. No one built a successful business like The Pit unless they had some semblance of wits.

  “I’m afraid I can’t allow you to leave, Eva.”

  Before Eva could question Mannid’s slimy drawl, shouts rang out. Bane shoved her from behind. “Go, Eva!”

  Startled she attempted to turn, but another rough push from Bane had her picking up speed even as she glanced over her shoulder on a half-trot. Three men, including Mannid, surrounded Bane. All hulking and familiar fighters from The Pit.

  Fury blasted through Eva. She started to pivot and demand Mannid leave them alone. Bane’s midnight gaze shot toward her, towering over those around him. “Leave. Don’t look back. Trust Vee, Eva.”

  He didn’t yell. Just stated clear and concise orders. Eva wasn’t a fool. She was a hindrance not a help against trained fighters. After one glaring last look at Mannid and the others with him, she visibly shuddered and gave Bane a brief nod before turning away. “Later.”

  Clinging desperately to the belief he would make it out on his own, Eva gripped the knife in her hand at waist length and took off.

  Mannid shouted behind her and Eva wanted to laugh. He’d actually thought she’d stay when cornered. More evidence he wasn’t as smart as he believed himself to be. Her footsteps echoed through the hollow tunnel, but Eva didn’t slow.

  Not when she heard the growls and grunts. Not when she heard an ear piercing scream and definitely not when she heard Mannid’s voice raised in outrage.

  Half-way down the corridor a large scaly alien stepped into her path. Dressed in a tan loincloth and nothing else, he stood seven feet at least. She jolted to a stop and stared. Lights from above glinted off his purple scales as he moved closer. His long tongue curled about his upper lip as he released a low vibrating hum of appreciation.

  “I’m with Vanquish.” Wher
e the words came from, Eva didn’t know, but they flew from her lips without hesitation.

  As if considering her words, the purple fiend tipped his humanoid head to the side then spoke in a lisping rasp. “Belong Vanquish?”

  Eva swallowed and gave a shaky nod. “Yes.”

  He stepped aside, clearing the way. “Not. Worth. Trouble.”

  “It’s good you think so.”

  Eva jerked, heart flipping in her chest. Coming to stand beside her, Vee eyed the fighter. He wore the torn and bloody pants from the arena. He’d added a black form fitting shirt and had his bag slung over his shoulder. The fighter bowed low to Vee then walked around them and continued in the opposite direction.

  “I’m glad you’re here. Your friend Bane...Mannid had—” She could barely get the words out.

  Vee picked up her hand and squeezed. “Don’t worry about it. Khane was covering his rear and will catch up to them.”

  Khane? Did he have another fighter helping him?

  Vee tugged her hand, expression serious. “Now we leave. I’m fulfilling my promise to get you out of here.”

  Searing happiness burst forth as Eva matched his brisk pace. At this point, she didn’t care where. “Really?”

  He looked down at her. “Really.”

  They took a series of turns through connecting tunnels until Eva grew confused. “This isn’t the way we went the other day.”

  Vee shook his head. “Mannid placed security personnel at the main exit.”

  “W-what? Why?” Panic swelled. Why was Mannid so determined to keep her? “Is it because of me?”

  It had to be. Mannid wouldn’t stop until he had her back in his possession. Eva glared at the dark walls around them, scrunching her nose at the thick odor of sweat and blood. She was never going to be a slave again.

  “I believe he’s only interesting in winning. Letting you go was against his will and now to prove a point, he’s trying to get you back.” Vee squeezed her hand. “I won’t let that happen, Eva.”