Protector:A Scifi Alien Romance(49)

“Screw you,” Madeline said.

Vashto waved at the guards. “Bring them.”

Madeline was torn away from Lore, and the guards dragged them out of the cell. She was half carried, half pushed down a tunnel, until they were both shoved out into the fight ring. A simple, dull sword was tossed at Lore’s feet.

The dag’tar’s body was gone, and fresh sand had been sprinkled over the floor. It didn’t quite hide the blood stains.

The crowd stomped their feet, the sound like thunder in her ears. They’d been denied the carnage they’d been expecting, and now…they were out for blood.

She swallowed. Lore reached out and grabbed her hand. She saw he’d picked up the sword, testing its weight.

The tenor of the crowd changed. She and Lore turned and looked behind them.

The three women had been pushed into the pit with them.

Madeline hurried over to them. “Are you okay?”

The tall brunette with long, tangled, curly hair nodded. “I should be asking you that.”

“We’re still standing,” Madeline said. “We came here to get you three and Blaine out. You’re human.”

The woman nodded. “And you’re Madeline Cochran.”

Madeline frowned. “Do I know you?”

The woman shook her head. “My name’s Dayna Caplan. Former New York City Police detective. I’d just moved into security.” She gestured to the black-haired woman. “This is Winter, she’s a doctor.”

Madeline saw that Winter’s eyes were covered in a milky-white film.

“The Thraxians blinded her.” Dayna’s anger was tightly leashed. She waved at the tiny blonde. “And this is Mia, she’s a spaceship pilot.”

With a burst of clarity, Madeline realized who they were. “You were on the supply ship from Earth that was due at Fortuna Station.”

Dayna nodded. “We saw the attack on the space station.” The woman heaved in a breath. “They came after us next, and there was nothing we could do.”

Madeline nodded. “Okay, well, everything’s going to be okay. We’re going to get out of here.” She saw all the women darting looks at Lore. “And this is Lore.”

The women stared at him. “He’s…an alien,” Dayna said.

“Yes, but I promise you, he’s one of the good guys,” Madeline said. “We’re a long way from Earth. He’s…” Madeline flicked her gaze up to his.

“Hers,” he said. “I’m the man in love with her.”

The other women were staring at Madeline with wide eyes. She took a deep breath and continued. “There are other humans here from Fortuna Station. We’ve found asylum with the gladiators of the House of Galen. It’s safe, and the gladiators are helping us. We can talk more about this later, but right now, we need to find Blaine, and be ready to get out of here.”

“How?” Dayna asked.

“The House of Galen will come,” Lore told them.

Madeline prayed Galen and the others would be there soon. “Until then, we just need to stay alive.”

The metallic, rattling clank of the gate echoed through the pit, and they all spun. The crowd started chanting anew.

“Stay back.” Lore spun his borrowed sword, moving to stand in front of the women.

A familiar figure stepped out into the pit. The blue-skinned, tattooed alien with the long hair. The beast-man.

But when his hot, golden gaze hit them, a shiver ran down Madeline’s spine. The beast-man’s veins were popping out under his skin, the tendons in his neck strained.

He threw his head back, and let out an inhuman roar.

He didn’t look anything like he had earlier. He watched them with no recognition.

The only thing in the beast’s eyes was pure, animal fury.

What had they done to him? But Madeline didn’t have a chance to think, because the alien started striding toward them, his fighting forks in hand.

Lore lifted his sword and moved to meet the beast.

Madeline’s mouth went dry. She knew her protective gladiator would do anything to keep her safe. Including sacrifice his life.

Not going to happen.





Chapter Sixteen




Madeline pushed past Lore, but he threw out an arm, trying to hold her back.

“Madeline—”

She kept her gaze on the blue alien. “We’re allies, remember?” The tattooed alien’s eyes were on hers, and she swallowed hard. She saw no sign he knew them, just a wild, animalistic anger.

“Take care of the women,” Lore said. “Find a way out.”

The blue-skinned alien tensed, his gaze whipping back to Lore.

As Madeline stumbled back, she heard Mia the pilot let out a sob behind her. The sound seemed to infuriate the beast. He took a menacing step forward, and then charged at Lore.