“Lore, no!” She tried to break free, but Blaine’s strong arms held her back.
Lore turned, watching the animals. One leaped at him in a wild pounce. He slashed out quickly with his sword, skewering the beast.
As it fell on the dirt, dead, the rest of the pack went still and watchful.
“Kill him!” Vashto roared from above.
The wolves closed in on Lore. Madeline’s breath caught in her throat.
All the remaining wolves opened their jaws, and let loose with wicked fire.
As the flames consumed Lore, savage pain cut through Madeline. No. She couldn’t lose him. Not like this.
She’d survived her abduction, the loss of her son, the loss of everything that she’d held dear. But with Lore, she’d actually started living for the first time in her entire life.
And now her life was ending again.
The crowd was chanting, and tears streamed down her face. She never took her gaze off the hunched shape in the center of the red-gold fire.
Then she saw Lore straighten.
She gasped, shocked hope flaring. She heard Blaine’s sharp intake of breath.
Lore lifted his arms, his body turning a glowing gold as he stood straight and tall. He moved his hands and a ball of flames grew between his palms.
Then he flung the fire back at the pack of wolves.
Amazing. Madeline smiled, as the crowd fell silent.
A wolf leaped forward, and Lore threw another ball of fire. He lunged and spun, sending streams of fire at the pack.
It was like some lethal fire dance. His grace and power stole Madeline’s breath away.
Hers. This magnificent man, with so many layers and strengths, was all hers.
He threw one last ball of flames, and all the fire wolves were destroyed. Silence filled the fighting pit, Lore standing there, flames licking over his body.
“I want him!” Cerria screamed from the ledge above. “Bring him to me.”
All the tunnel gates into the pit opened, and armored guards rushed in. They were all carrying nets.
Panic shot through Madeline’s system. “We have to help him.”
She broke free of Blaine’s arms and ran forward. She heard Blaine cursing and running after her.
Several nets sprang over Lore and instantly burned up. He shot a stream of fire, and several guards fell, trying to slap out the flames engulfing them.
The next net slammed into Lore, and this time, it didn’t burn.
This new net was made of metal wire. Madeline knocked into a guard, pushing him over. She saw Blaine fighting two other guards. But there were so many.
Another metal net crashed into Lore, tangling him up. He fell on the ground, struggling.
No. No one was taking him prisoner and keeping him in a cage. No way she was letting Cerria have him.
Madeline skidded down onto her knees beside Lore. The flames had died, but she saw all his veins were glowing gold beneath his skin. She grabbed the nets, wincing at the heat of them, and tugged.
Suddenly, she was wrenched backward. Her scalp burned with pain.
She twisted and saw Cerria’s claws coiled in her hair. But the woman’s hot gaze was on Lore, who glared back at her.
Cerria dragged Madeline up onto her feet. “This one is being sold off.” Cerria shook Madeline. “I’m going to have Vashto send her off-world.” An ugly, vicious smile. “Far out of your reach, gladiator. Then, you will be all mine.”
Something in Madeline went very still. The thought of being sold again, being locked away… Fear burned like acid in her mouth.
Under the nets, she saw Lore’s silver gaze ignite with flames. “I won’t lose the woman I love to the likes of you.” He pushed to his knees.
Suddenly, flames exploded all around Lore in a brilliant burst.
Chapter Seventeen
He wouldn’t let it happen again.
Lore let the fire erupt out of him in a torrent. He’d lost Yelena. He wouldn’t lose Madeline as well. She’d suffered enough, and he wouldn’t let her suffer anymore.
Madeline was his—to protect, to cherish, to love.
The nets fell off him as charred rubble. He stood, and focused his fire on the nearby guards.
As a boy, he’d had basic instruction in using his abilities. All it required was a thought. But he hadn’t completed his training as an adult, hadn’t ever tested his control to the limit.
Now, however, he felt fully focused, the roar of the power humming through him.
He’d watched his family destroyed, his sister sold, the males of his species hunted to the ends of the galaxy. No longer.
He lifted his hands in front of him, a fireball forming between his palms. He threw it directly at Cerria.
As the fire engulfed the woman, she screamed. He expanded his ability to keep Madeline untouched by the flames. The fire bent around her, as though she stood in a protective bubble.