Gamer for Love (Alpha World Book 8)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Alburet managed to get his thumb up into Gerald’s armpit and pushed up hard. Gerald hissed in pain as the hard point dug into him. “That’s fucking dirty,” Gerald managed as he tried to get away from the attack.

  Alburet didn’t reply, wanting to keep the small advantage he had over Gerald. The Defender bared his teeth and Alburet suddenly let go. Out of reflex, Gerald moved to clutch at his arm. Taking the opening, Alburet pinned Gerald’s injured arm down with his legs, and grabbed onto Gerald’s other arm, pinning it down as well, which left Alburet laying across Gerald’s chest.

  Gerald growled as he tried to push Alburet off, but was unable to get the right leverage. “We’re going to be at a stalemate like this.”

  Biting into the cloth, Alburet began to work it loose. Seeing what Alburet was trying, Gerald redoubled his efforts to get his arms free. After another minute, Alburet spat the ribbon free, letting go of Gerald and rolling away.

  “Two,” Alburet panted.

  “Asshole,” Gerald growled back as he picked up the ribbon.

  Carrying the ribbon to Marysue, Gerald looked upset and uncertain when he held it out to her. “I’m sorry, Mary.”

  “Don’t apologize until you lose,” Marysue replied softly, taking the ribbon from his hand and pulling him down for a kiss.

  Fluff paused in her drawing when she overheard Marysue talking quietly to Gerald during that kiss. Wanting things to be fair, she didn’t say anything to Alburet. I wonder if Al will be expecting what Marysue told Gerald to try. Looking back at her sketchbook, she changed pages and waited for the next round.

  “Now go win for me,” Marysue whispered softly to Gerald, gently pushing him away.

  Karen called for them to fight again, her excitement high with Alburet ahead in the bout. I’m going to bed you so hard tonight, Al, just you wait. Show me your strength again.

  When the round started, Al darted forward, but Gerald sidestepped the attempted takedown and came down on Alburet’s back, but did not follow him down. Wrapping his arms around Alburet’s waist, Gerald jerked, using all his anger at failing Marysue. Feeling himself start to leave the ground, Alburet tried to keep his meager hold on Gerald’s single leg.

  Alburet was not expecting Gerald to bring him vertical, and wasn’t prepared when he was slammed headfirst into the ground. He blinked in shock, not believing that he had just been driven into the hard-packed sand. Stunned by the sheer audacity of the move, Alburet was surprised when Gerald went right back to the triangle. Losing consciousness from the choke before he could try to fight back, Alburet lost his second ribbon.

  Gerald left Alburet lying there as he carried the ribbon to Stacia, his face hard. “Your husband is a challenge,” Gerald said simply, walking away while Stacia tied the ribbon back into her hair.

  He came to, and Alburet felt his rage burn in his chest at having been taken down the same way twice. Finding his second arm bare, he glanced to Stacia, who gave him a smile.

  “Ya can do it, Asthore. Do nay doubt ya self.”

  Sitting up, Alburet saw Gerald waiting for him. “Twice with the triangle?”

  “I wouldn’t have gotten it if not for the first move,” Gerald replied. “Last point for match.”

  Looking at his ankle, Alburet nodded. “You’re right.” Easing himself to his feet, Alburet took a few deep breaths. “Either way, you’ve given me a hell of a fight.”

  “Same. I doubt my father expected me to be involved in an exhibition match for Marysue’s honor when he had me learn, but it’s the best use of any of my knowledge to this point in my life.”

  “Ready?”

  “Ready.”

  “Fighters, you’ve done well, but now for the final point. Fight!”

  Neither one of them moved, not wanting to make the first mistake. Alburet motioned Gerald forward, “Your turn.”

  A small smile creased Gerald’s lips for a moment before he eased forward. Waiting for the right moment, Alburet feinted for the double leg, then stood up into Gerald’s attempt to grab him again. Head contacting Gerald’s chin and snapping the blond man’s head back, Alburet flung them both to the ground and got him into an arm bar, locking it in tight.

  Spitting blood, Gerald growled. Alburet hadn’t broken the rules, but had bent them with the headbutt. Straining his pinned arm, Gerald briefly tried to pull one of Alburet’s legs free.

  “Give, or I break it,” Alburet said, flexing the arm tighter.

  Gerald hissed, “I can get free.”

  “No, it’s locked,” Alburet replied. “I don’t want to break it. I feel bad enough catching you with my head, dammit, so give up.”

  “No,” Gerald growled, his free hand clawing at Alburet’s leg.

  “Sorry,” Alburet said as he began to over extend the elbow. He knew that he wouldn’t technically break the elbow, but it would tear the ligaments and require surgery in their other world.

  Gerald dug at Alburet’s leg, hissing in pain before screaming as the joint bent badly. Alburet felt a hint of revulsion for doing it, but kept pulling at the arm and hoping Gerald would give up.

  The moment the black ribbon fluttered across his view, Alburet released the hold. “You coy fucker…”

  Hissing in pain, Gerald rolled to his knees, “I hoped you wouldn’t guess the plan.”

  “You let me arm bar you,” Alburet said, sitting up to look at Gerald. “How did you even think I would go for that?”

  “You’ve used it on me, and I on you a number of times,” Karen said with a disappointed tone. “But fucking damn, that was ballsy.”

  “He’s never lost when he’s fought for me,” Marysue said, getting to her feet.

  Alburet got to his feet and helped Gerald up, “I’m glad that will heal on its own.”

  “Me, too,” Gerald said. “I don’t want to fight you again if I can help it.”

  “Agreed,” Alburet chuckled, slapping Gerald on the back. “To the victor, the spoils. Have a good night.”

  Marysue took Gerald’s arm and led him to their tent. “He will.”

  With the couple gone, the others gathered around Alburet. “Ya did ya best,” Stacia said, kissing his cheek.

  “Talk about brass balls,” Karen said as Alburet handed her her ribbon back. “I had no idea he could fight that well.”

  “Marysue told him to do it,” Fluff said softly. “When she kissed him, she told him to bait the arm bar and let you wrench his elbow so he could get at your ankles easily.”

  “Did you see her when she got upset?” Karen asked softly, looking at the smaller tent. “If I hadn’t known she was a Dorn before, I would believe it after that.”

  “Aye, the face she shows us is what she be wantin’ to be. The core of her be what she let slip. She does nay want to be cold and hard, but tha’ be how she be,” Stacia said as she started toward their tent. “But let us show our husband tha’ even the loser can find solace with his wives.”

  “I’ll work on the art later,” Fluff said as she kissed Alburet’s cheek. “I think Stacia is right.”

  “I’m sorry I lost, but I did give it my all.”

  “We know,” Karen said, holding the tent flap open. “If you hadn’t, I’d make you spar with me instead of fuck me.”

  Chapter Twenty

  Leaving the tent, Stacia smiled at Marysue as she joined her at the campfire. “How are ya this mornin’?”

  Giving Stacia a blinding smile, Marysue giggled, “Quite well, thank you. Did you three manage to soothe Al’s pride?”

  “We did nay have to soothe much, he was just upset tha’ he failed us. I do nay think any of us expected Gerald to be as skilled without a weapon as he is.”

  “He’s had years of practice. He’s worked so hard to make sure he could protect me.”

  “Aye, I could see the dedication when they fought. Did ya really want them to fight tha’ hard, though?”

  Marysue looked at the bag of supplies, “I just wanted Gerald to fight for me. Maybe I shouldn’t have asked for
that, but it made me so happy to know he’ll go to such lengths for me.”

  “Aye, I know tha’ to be true. Ya looked angry when it looked like Al was mayhap goin’ to beat him.”

  Marysue looked up sharply and sighed, “I don’t like that part of me. I hate it when I show that side of me. Alpha World is supposed to help me be something other than I am.”

  “Has it nay? Ya have ya knight at ya side tha’ be married to ya, devoted and willin’ to attack anyone at ya command. Would ya have asked him for his hand before bein’ here? Do ya think ya would have asked him to put ya honor on the line before?”

  “No,” Marysue replied. “Meeting Al... it changed things for us. He was a catalyst that made us see what we both wanted. The dynamic between you and him, then adding Karen and Fluff into your relationship, not caring what others thought… It made me realize I could shake off the chains of the other world if I just had the courage to let love in.”

  Eyes sparkling, Stacia nodded, “Aye. It always be hard to take tha’ step when ya fear failin’. When I came to him as a Succubus, I was so afraid of him turnin’ me away, like ya was when ya admitted ya feelin’s for Gerald. We nay be tha’ different, me friend.”

  “Still willing to be my friend after making our husbands fight like idiots?” Marysue asked.

  “It was good for them. Ya did nay know as ya can nay feel like me, but after the fight, they held a deeper respect for each other. Men be odd creatures.”

  Marysue giggled again as she pulled out an egg. “I agree with that. I’m thinking of eggs with sausage and cheese. What do you think?”

  “Tha’ be a good meal. How can I be helpin’ ya?”

  ~*~*~

  Gerald praised Marysue’s cooking so much that she told him to stop, even though she was smiling ear to ear the entire time. Once they had everything packed up, Alburet pulled the Campstone.

  Sixty seconds later, the sands shifted and a group of undead appeared. They put the mobs down in short order, then looted and started moving to the southeast.

  “We have six shards now,” Gerald said. “We’re getting one or so a group, so it’s going to take a while to collect all of them.”

  “I’m fairly certain that’s by design,” Alburet replied. “It’s the buildup. With the attacks from the graveyards and such, it gives everyone a chance to participate.”

  “Good point,” Gerald agreed.

  “How long do you think it’ll take?” Karen asked.

  “A week, maybe a bit more,” Gerald replied. “Long enough for everyone to get involved, but short enough to make you have to get involved or miss out.”

  “Everyone in the Guild is active either at a Keep or going zone to zone to help out,” Marysue added. “I’m sure the other Guilds are doing the same.”

  “It does add a bit of excitement not knowing which zones will be safe or not,” Fluff commented.

  “Even the other continents are having the same issue,” Marysue said. “Ironhand said that the Dwarves were gathering an army for when Tyr calls.”

  “The Elves and Lunari are undoubtedly doing the same… well, the Elves anyway,” Alburet chuckled. “Herding cats might be difficult.”

  “I’m sure they’ll be there,” Gerald said. “Each race will be represented, I’d think. Hard to believe otherwise.”

  “If their zones are being attacked too, it makes sense,” Marysue nodded. “Even the laziest creatures should want to defend their home.”

  “Any sign of movement, Bob?” Alburet asked the Imp after a few minutes of silence.

  “I think there are some Infernals a few miles ahead of us,” Bob called down.

  “Maybe it will be our first random encounter with Infernals,” Alburet said.

  “They won’t attack us, not with you here,” Gerald snorted. “Not that we need to fight them. Actually, thinking about it, weren’t Infernal horns on the normal list for portals?”

  “Aye, but it was nay on the King’s list. It made me wonder iffin they been truly needed for them to work.”

  “That is a question,” Fluff nodded. “I’m glad they aren’t on the quest we have. I’d feel bad about fighting them now.”

  “Don’t feel bad,” Tiny rumbled. “They are only trying to grow stronger, much as you are.”

  “It’s hard not to, especially after having gotten to know you, your families, and the rest of the ambassadorial staff,” Fluff replied.

  “Before that, it would have just been another mob for experience, but knowing that you love and live like we do makes it harder,” Karen added. “Langistors, for instance, aren’t similar enough to warrant the same feeling.”

  Before the conversation could continue, the next set of mobs appeared out of the sand. Gerald reacted first with his Ground Stomp. “That was definitely quicker than yesterday.”

  “About twenty minutes from the first group,” Alburet agreed as he flew upward. “Everyone knows what to do. Let’s burn them down.”

  ~*~*~

  They looted the corpses and were all in good spirits as they weren’t having any huge problems. They traveled in silence for a few minutes before Bob suddenly spoke up, “The Infernals will be here in a minute or two.”

  True to his word, when they had climbed to the top of the next dune, they came face to face with a group of five Infernals: one Greater Destroyer, two Greater Imps, and two Greater Succubi.

  “Lord Darkhand, it is an honor,” the Destroyer said, bowing his head to Alburet. “Are you here to grow in strength, as well?”

  “In part,” Alburet said. “We’ve been dispatched by the King on a quest to collect fragments from the undead and Elder Sandworm hearts.”

  “We were wondering why those items started appearing,” one of the Succubi said. She pulled a heart the size of her overabundant chest from her bag. “Would you like this one?”

  “We’ll accept it,” Gerald said, extending his hands. “Thank you.”

  “It does us no good,” the second Succubi said, pulling out a few shards of bone. “Please accept these, as well.”

  “Tha’ be very generous of ya,” Stacia smiled, her eyes twinkling.

  “We have no use for them,” one of the Imps flying above them shrugged. “If you want, we can pass the word that you’re looking for these items.”

  The group exchanged a look, before Gerald nodded. “If we happen upon any more Infernals, we will accept them. We’ll be fighting and collecting our own as we go.”

  “The Dark Lord has you out here even with Final Deaths being a certainty for everyone?” Fluff asked.

  “The undead don’t pose any real threat, though we have heard of entire groups that have gone missing. We pray that they died with honor,” the Destroyer rumbled. “If we encounter you again, we will present you with any other pieces you may need.”

  “Thank you,” Alburet said.

  One of the Succubi was eyeing Bob with a smirk, “Your wives still accepting applications?”

  “Sorry, they already have two more lined up for when I hit Imp Lord,” Bob said.

  “Pity,” she sighed. “I take it the same is true of you, as well?”

  “Indeed,” Tiny rumbled.

  “Isn’t that always the way it goes,” the second Succubi sighed.

  “One can dream,” the first replied. “Okay boys, we’re done here. Let’s go kill some more undead.”

  “Good huntin’,” Stacia said.

  The two groups said their goodbyes before heading off in different directions. As they walked away, Alburet frowned. “Maybe I should ask the Dark Lord if he could recall all the Infernals? We could use all we can get when the time comes for the prison.”

  “Ya would ask them to hide away until then?”

  Thinking over what she had said, Alburet shook his head. “No. I’d have to ask your sisters to stay home if I did that.”

  “Aye.”

  “I hope they’ll be okay,” Fluff said.

  “I think we all feel that way for every native,” Marysue said
. “I can honestly say, that part of Stein’s… power makes me uncomfortable.” She stumbled on her words for a moment, changing what she was going to say.

  “The faster we gather things, the better it will be for everyone,” Gerald said as they kept walking.