Champion(13)

“Blaine,” Rory said with exaggerated patience. “The sexual tension crackling between you two is outrageous. Saff is awesome. I couldn’t think of a more perfect woman for you.”

“The last thing I need right now is a woman.” He needed to get back to his normal self, shore up his control.

Regan pressed a small hand to his arm. “You need to not forget to enjoy yourself.”

He waved a hand at them. “I have a sister, I don’t need any more.”

“She’s too far away,” Rory said. “Bet she’d appreciate us stepping in.”

“I have a fight to prepare for.”

“Stubborn.” Rory shook her head. “You do know that we’ll be placing bets on how long it takes for you and Saff to do the nasty.”

“Go.” He shooed them away. “Now.”

They all smiled at him and called out good luck before heading over to talk with the other gladiators.

Moments later, he heard the wail of a siren. Raiden moved up beside him. “Time to fight.”

Blaine nodded. He was ready. With the others, he stepped out of the tunnel and into the arena.

Noise thundered around him. The stands were filled to bursting with people, and the spectators were shouting, cheering, and screaming.

Memories hammered at him—of being in the underground fight rings, of the blood, the pain, and of watching the light fading from his opponents’ eyes.

He breathed deep, looking up at the big, open arena. At the evening sky above. He tried to remind himself that he was no longer trapped, no longer a prisoner.

But the memories had very sharp claws.

Saff moved up beside him and bumped him with her shoulder. Instantly, it snapped him back to the present.

“Ready?” She was holding a net device in one hand, and her sword in her other. She was also watching him with that deliberate gaze of hers, and he guessed that she’d read his thoughts.

Damn. Blaine wanted her to see him as a man, not a broken, damaged animal. “I’m ready.”

Around them, the other House of Galen gladiators stepped onto the sand. Raiden and Harper, looking like a warrior couple. Raiden’s skin gleamed from the oil that had been rubbed on it, his tattoos on display. Harper looked like she’d been born with a sword in her hand and fighting leathers on her athletic body.

Thorin was fighting with Kace, who was usually Saff’s fight partner. They looked like they should be an odd pair: the huge, wild warrior, and the tall, straight, military-trained man. But Blaine knew that all these gladiators had been fighting together a long time. One look at them on the sand, and you knew they were a tight-knit team that understood each other’s styles, strengths and weaknesses. When one had a weakness, the other had a strength to balance it out. That was what made the House of Galen unbeatable in the arena.

Lore and Nero came last. The showman gladiator was already fingering the small pouches on the belt around his lean hips. Blaine had seen the way the man used smoke and fireworks to wow the crowd. His fight partner wore a cloak made of fur tonight, and a beard covering his strong jaw. He stared at the crowd with flinty eyes.

Blaine glanced at the stands, his gaze zeroing in on the House of Galen seats. He spotted Galen’s broad form, and the human women beside him. Rory gave a wild wave and a whistle.

But then, the timbre of the crowd changed, the shouts rising. Blaine turned.

Across the sand, the House of Thrax gladiators stepped into the arena.

Blaine would never forget the moment he’d first seen one of the slaver alien race. With the alarms blaring on Fortuna Station, scientists running in fear, he’d raced in to fight, and had seen the first of the demon-like species. Over seven feet tall, orange veins glowing beneath tough, brown skin, and a set of black horns swept back off their heads.

Tonight, all the House of Thrax gladiators were Thraxians. Good.

Raiden turned, his gaze sweeping over all of them. “For honor.” He looked straight at Blaine. “And freedom.”

The House of Galen gladiators all raised their voices to repeat the cry. And revenge, Blaine echoed silently.

“Let’s go.” Raiden lifted his sword.

They all broke into a jog. Blaine kept pace, with Saff on one side and Raiden on the other. They moved smoothly into a straight line, picking up speed. He heard Thorin let out a wild battle cry from the other end of the line.

Ahead of them, the Thraxians did the same, sprinting to meet them.

They slammed into their opponents. Blaine crashed his sword against that of a massive Thraxian.

The sound of fighting filled the air, with the background soundtrack of the cheers of the crowd. Beside Blaine, Saff was whirling like a storm, her sword deadly. Blaine blocked his opponent’s swing, then sliced the gladiator across the chest. The alien fell back with a cry. Blaine looked over to see Saff take her rival down. She was fierce, lethal and beautiful.