by Hope Hart
Asshole.
I know Herix. Udan once invited him to one of his gladiator tournaments, and the older male watched as our group of women was led into the huge cage overhanging the tournament as a reminder of what the gladiators could win.
There were more of us then, and I was lucky to escape being chosen when three other women were given as prizes to the gladiators.
One of them was Jessica. Only she fell in love with her gladiator, and together, Jess and Agaz bribed guards, doing whatever they could to spend a sliver of time together.
I remember asking how she could risk it. How she could take a chance on something that was guaranteed to end in heartbreak in that place. She could be given to another gladiator— one who didn’t have any loyalty to Agaz. Agaz could be killed in one of his fights. They could be found together and both killed.
“Love is worth it, Peyton,” she’d said. “He’s the reason I can get up every day and hope that there will one day be a better life for us. Love is worth everything.”
God, I hope Agaz is alive. Please let him be alive.
I picture Vazta, strong and sure, always confident— other than the few times I’d made him doubt himself. Even then, he’d adjusted his strategy, never straying from his goal of making me his. If we both get out of this alive, I’m never leaving his side again.
If he still wants me after this, that is.
I lift my head minutely. With nothing else to do, I examine my surroundings and mull over what could be awaiting me on Herix’s planet. I have no idea what it’s called, but I know that while the male hadn’t taken any of the slaves Udan offered to him that day, he hadn’t said a word to stop the atrocities happening around him either. Not to mention, he’s offering up his hospitality to Udan.
It’s unlikely that he will help me.
I’m going to escape. Udan has just a few guards with him now, and he tends to go through them quickly, killing them when they displease him. He’ll be distracted while he’s kissing Herix’s ass, so hopefully he won’t have as much time to spend with me.
I feel like my life is counting down. The longer I spend with Udan, the more likely it is that he’ll get bored or frustrated and kill me. I need to be strategic. I can take pain, but I need to do whatever I can to stay alive.
Udan paces back and forth, thankfully unaware of my thoughts. Then he stalks out, slamming the door behind him.
You’re dead. I think as he storms out like a child. You just don’t know it yet.
Chapter Thirteen
Peyton
Udan taunts me occasionally over the next few hours. At one point, he opens my cage door, reaching in and grabbing me by the hair even as I attempt to stay out of reach.
He pulls me out, examining my body and snorting as he takes in my long pants and t-shirt.
“Unacceptable,” he says, dragging me toward his closet. I reach for his wrist, attempting to relieve some of the pressure on my hair and he simply pulls harder, casually slapping me across the face.
You are so dead.
He pulls out a piece of material and lets me fall to the floor, throwing the material at me.
“Change,” he orders, and I pull it up, not at all surprised to find one of the thin shift-dresses he prefers for his slaves. It’s beige and shapeless, too thin to protect me from the elements, which means I’ll need to find clothes when I manage to escape.
I hesitate, and he steps forward threateningly, stopping when I pull my shirt over my head. I leave my bra on and pull the dress overtop, shucking my pants off.
Udan stares at me, making his displeasure at my defiance known.
“You will learn to cooperate, or life will be very difficult for you.”
“I am cooperating,” I say. “Did you want a striptease? Fuck you.”
He reaches out casually, hitting the other side of my face, and I blink back tears of rage.
“You will learn,” he says.
The ship shudders, just as one of the guards knocks on the door.
“We are landing, sir,” he says.
“Very good.” Udan stares into the distance for a moment and then turns back to me, his eyes widening as if surprised that I’m still there. Then he smiles and moves back to his closet, pulling out something long and black.
At first, I think it’s a whip, which wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest. Bile fills my mouth when I realize what it is and I jerk back as Udan approaches, a grin on his face.
It’s a fucking collar and leash.
The struggle is quick and nasty, and my head is ringing by the time I come back to myself, lying on the ground, choking as Udan pulls on the leash. The collar tightens around my throat and I gag, even as he grows impatient, kicking me in the ribs.
“Get up,” he orders, and I manage to make it slowly to my feet. Everything hurts, and despair hits me. How the fuck am I going to escape when he’s got me leashed?
Just stay alive, Peyton. And uh, you might want to stop antagonizing him. Just saying.
The voice in my head isn’t wrong, and I follow submissively as Udan leads me through the ship. The guards grin at me, leering at the short, thin dress when Udan’s not looking. The door opens, and Udan pulls me down the ramp, ignoring me even as he leads me by the throat.
Herix is waiting, and his eyes meet mine for a single moment before he ignores me, his grin widening as Udan steps forward.
“Greetings, old friend. While I am sorry for the circumstances, I am pleased to be able to offer you my hospitality.”
Udan nods, and I watch as he attempts an easy grin and fails. It obviously chafes, having to show up at Herix’s door, hat in hand, after his planet was taken from him. Good.
“Please, let my servants show you to your quarters,” Herix says. “And then, I hope you will eat with me.”
“Of course,” Udan says, pulling me forward.
Herix gestures to a couple of servants standing at his side. Both are female, but they look healthier than Udan kept his slaves. They gaze at me curiously for a moment but quickly look away at Udan’s growl.
“Forgive their curiosity,” Herix says, his voice hard. I’m not sure if he’s pissed at the servants or Udan. “They have likely not seen a human before.”
Udan nods sharply. “My pet is rather interesting looking,” he says, turning to glance at me. For once, I play the part, my aching face and ribs urging me not to risk another beating. I lower my gaze submissively and he seems pleased, pulling me forward to stroke one finger down my cheek.
I shiver in repulsion, not meeting his eyes. From Udan’s inhale, I have a feeling he thinks I’m shuddering in lust. Great.
Herix clears his throat and arrangements are made. I ignore everything that’s said, focusing only on my surroundings.
We’re standing in front of a huge garden in the middle of nowhere. I spotted nothing but grassy fields when we walked off the ship, and I’m guessing that’s why we were able to land so close to Herix’s home.
It’s big and intimidating, the walls made of stone. The building rises in the distance, sprawling over the grounds. While not quite as big as Udan’s compound, it’s slightly taller, and I study all possible exits as we follow the servants through the gardens.
These gardens are nowhere near as large or impressive as Vazta’s, but I see a few possible hiding spots as we pass. Herix gives me a knowing look as I meet his eyes while running my eyes over the grounds and I glance away.
I do my best to memorize each twist and turn as we enter the building, but it’s like a maze and each time I begin to drag my feet and crane my neck, Udan pulls viciously on my leash.
Udan still seems completely unaware of how easily humans are killed compared to most other alien species. He’s liable to break my neck if I’m not careful. I pick up the pace and eventually, we arrive at what one of the servants refers to as the ‘guest quarters’.
Udan nods and dismisses the servant, but I recognize the look on his face and it’s not good. He orders one of his guar
ds to check the rooms and then picks up one of the vases lying on a shelf and hurls it at the wall. I flinch, attempting to make myself smaller, but he still has his hand on my leash and gives it a brutal pull, driving me to the floor.
“This is your fault, bitch. I’m forced to beg and scrape for that idiot’s attention, and he has servants show me to their quarters? It’s a shame those fucking Arcav are dead because if I could, I’d peel the flesh from their bones.”
He hauls back and kicks me in the stomach, and I groan, curling into a ball as I gasp for breath. His reminder is as vicious as his kick, but I refuse to believe they’re all dead.
Vazta’s coming for me. I know it.
Vazta
I wake with a throbbing head and immediately sit up, ignoring Kehas’ curse. I’m in the medi-center onboard our ship, and I turn my head to see Bregaz sleeping in a bed across the room.
“How long have I been out?”
“Three hours. You took some damage and your body had to heal.”
“Get me Terva.”
He appears instantly, face hard, although relief lights his eyes as he takes me in.
“Report,” I order.
“Thirteen casualties,” he says, and I close my eyes. “Eleven gladiators and two slaves. All Arcav managed to get clear.”
“Peyton.” My voice is hoarse, and I attempt to shove down the panic that hits me at the thought of her alone with Udan. Three hours. Long enough to disappear if the ship is fast and untraceable.
“Our best minds are examining everything we found in Udan’s quarters, along with everything we know about his friends and allies. The King ordered all information copied to his office and he has a team at home examining everything.”
“What do we know?”
“Udan is not well-liked. But Cilphi is resource-rich, and many rulers with more… relaxed moral codes are happy to trade with him. Some buy and sell slaves, while others simply look the other way, choosing not to report him so they can keep having access to cheap resources.” Terva's voice is tight with disapproval and I nod.
“Any leads?”
“There are few that would risk taking him in. Varian has ordered that everyone on Udan’s contact list is to be made aware that he has kidnapped a female under Arcav protection. Already, some have contacted Arcavia, swearing that they have not heard from him and offering logs from their docks to be examined.”
I slowly get to my feet, and while Kehas frowns, he does not try to stop me, moving instead to examine Bregaz. I leave the medi-center and find a meeting room, using a central ComScreen to contact Varian directly.
He answers immediately.
“What do you have?” I ask, disregarding formalities.
The King’s face is hard, although it softens minutely when Harlow appears, leaning over his shoulder with Zera in her arms.
“I’m so sorry, Vazta. I can’t believe this happened. How’s Jess doing?”
“I have not seen her yet. I will speak with her soon. Do not inform Ruby and Shauna until we know more. Peyton would not want them to worry.”
She nods and Varian holds out his arm, pulling her down to sit on his knee.
“We are following up every lead,” he says. “There are only so many ships that could be hidden in a dock that size while also with the speed to disappear in such a short time. And there are even fewer that can be made untraceable. We have also deployed ships to that sector, and they will begin searching some of the most likely hiding places. Someone will have noticed a human female in that part of the universe. They are exceedingly rare away from Earth or Arcavia.”
He does not say what we are both thinking— that other than Earth and Arcavia, the places where human females are found are those that are most dangerous to them, and the places they are most likely to come to harm.
“I have to find her,” I tell him uselessly, and he nods.
“We will find her, Vazta,” he says, and the assurance in his voice fills me with hope. It is not just me and the people on this ship who will find my mate. Varian is putting all of his resources behind the search as well.
I end the communication and order all information to be copied to the screen in my quarters so I can study it. I must be alone right now.
I have just sat at the desk in my quarters when a knock sounds on the door. I growl viciously but stalk to the door and open it, taking in Jessica’s wet face.
“Oh, Vazta,” she says, wrapping me in a hug. Her stomach does not allow her arms to reach very far, and the winged male at her side watches me with warning in his eyes, even as I fight not to bare my teeth at him.
Jessica pulls away, wiping her face.
“This is Agaz,” she says, a smile lighting her face. The male nods at me, wings rustling, but stays silent.
“Have you found anything?”
I shake my head, unwilling to say it aloud. Her face drops but she nods. “Peyton’s a survivor, Vazta. She kept us all going when we were trapped on Cilphi. She’ll do whatever it takes to stay alive. I promise.”
I nod, barely holding it together as the male wraps his arm around Jessica and leads her away. Then I close the door and lean my head against the cool surface.
I know my mate is a survivor. But how much can she be expected to survive and not break?
“I’m coming for you, little female. Just don’t give up.”
Peyton
Udan decides to take me to the evening meal, dragging me on the leash. I use the opportunity to once again study the layout of this place, but it’s like whoever designed it was trying to make it confusing.
He makes me sit at his feet like a dog. I’ve never even seen a dog outside of Earth, but Udan seems to be an expert at stripping the dignity from his prisoners.
At one point, Herix looks at me, and Udan runs his hand over my head, even as I turn my gaze to the floor.
“Do you like my pet? She attempted to ruin me and cost me my planet. Now, I’m going to breed her and then make the Arcav King watch as I gut her.”
I tremble at the image, even as Herix changes the subject. I listen in, disgusted. Turns out, Udan has made plenty of arrangements for this exact scenario. He’s funneled money into accounts across the galaxy, and all he needs now is to buy some land and find some new slaves and he can start again.
Over my dead body.
Which may be the case if I can’t get the hell out of here.
I watch Herix carefully, but both males ignore me so completely that it’s as if I am not even here. At one point, Udan slips his hand down, holding a piece of meat out and attempting to feed me like a dog. I ignore it, even as my stomach rumbles. He pinches the back of my neck, displeased, and I fight the urge to plant my teeth in his thigh.
The asshole needs to learn that this bitch bites.
Don’t attract attention. Fly under the radar and find a way out of here.
Strangely, the voice in my head now sounds like Vazta’s deep growl. The thought of him both agitates and calms me, but one thing is for sure— if Vazta is still alive, I’m not going to risk Udan beating me to death before he finds me.
The meal wraps up, and for the first time, I’m thankful for the translator in my ear. When the Arcav invaded, they ordered all humans to have them placed— likely to make it easier for us to understand Varian’s decrees. But they’re universal, which means even when Udan and Herix switch to a language I haven’t heard before, I can understand what they’re saying.
“What is your plan for the female?” Herix asks.
“I told you.”
“She would make a good hostage. The Arcav King has few weaknesses, but human females are one of them. His people require them for mates. If you are hoping to get your planet back—”
“I don’t need it back. I will find a new planet. One that they don’t know about. Then I will build an army and join the Grivath. Maybe then Varian will understand why he shouldn’t get involved in others’ business.”
Shit. A hostage situation would give m
e hope. But Udan just wants to use me as a giant ‘fuck you’ to the Arcav. That doesn’t bode well for me. At all.
I’m distracted and completely unprepared when Udan gets to his feet, suddenly pulling my leash. I choke and my eyes meet Herix’s.
Look what you’re allowing on your planet. You’re just as bad as he is.
He ignores my silent message, glancing away, but a muscle twitches in his jaw.
I want to fist pump, but I’m too busy trotting after Udan who is still in a filthy mood as he strides back to his quarters. Herix is the weak link in this little partnership. If I can somehow work on him, convince him to turn on Udan…
I’m torn from my thoughts as Udan slams the door open and yanks the leash, driving me to my knees. The cage from the ship has been brought in, and Udan smiles as he sees me glance at it.
“Now,” he says. “It’s time for you to give me what I want.”
I gulp. There’s no way I’m letting this asshole rape me. I stumble to my feet as Udan steps forward, eyes lighting in the challenge.
“I’m- I’m not ready,” I stutter out, and he narrows his eyes at me. “You won, okay, you proved you’re stronger, better than the Arcav. But I need more time.”
Udan tilts his head, obviously not buying my bullshit. “You hurt me when you escaped,” he growls.
Yes, I did, motherfucker.
“I had to,” I say. “I knew the Arcav were coming and they’d kill me if they saw me with you. I was just scared.”
I let my eyes fill with tears, blinking until they overflow, trailing down my cheeks.
“Why the sudden change of heart?”
“I get it now, okay? You’re the strongest male I know, the only one who can be trusted to keep me safe. I was an idiot for not recognizing it sooner.”
Udan’s eyes drop to my mouth and I push down the triumph that fills my veins. The idiot is buying it. His ego will be his downfall.
“Why should I believe you?”
I take a deep breath. I’m sorry, Vazta.
