Protector:A Scifi Alien Romance(6)
“I’m good.” She wasn’t going to tell them about her constantly churning stomach and the feeling of never quite belonging. “And you?” Her gaze dropped to Rory’s still-flat stomach. Not only had Rory fallen in love with an alien gladiator, she’d gotten herself pregnant by one.
“Wonderful.” Rory patted her belly with a smile. “The Hermia healers tell me the little guy is growing just fine.” She screwed up her nose. “They’re already going into fits about how someone my size can give birth to an Antarian child, but I’m sure they’ll have it figured out once this little bump is cooked.”
“Except they don’t know how long your gestation period will be, exactly,” Regan said, her gaze turning inward. Once a scientist always a scientist.
A screwed-up nose again. “They’ll figure it out.” Rory smiled. “I’m just happy to see my pretty boy turn to mush whenever he touches my belly. He talks to the baby, you know?”
Madeline remembered the amazing sensation of having a child grow inside her. She didn’t remember Wade, her ex, ever talking to her belly. But he’d only been one year older than her, and scared spitless about becoming a father.
She cleared her throat. “I just spoke with Galen. I’m going to take over planning the party tonight after the arena sea battle.”
“Oh?” Harper said.
“Apparently, he’s invited a couple to attend who are known as big betters at the underground fight rings.”
Harper straightened. “They think they can find out information from them?”
Madeline nodded. “Apparently, this pair likes a good party.”
Rory smiled. “So you’re going to give them one, and butter them up.”
“That’s the plan. And find out where Blaine is.”
Regan’s pretty face turned worried. “Every time I think of poor Blaine, it makes me feel sick.”
Rory pushed her red hair back, her face hardening. “We’re getting him back, no matter what it takes.”
Madeline nodded. “We won’t leave him there.”
As a group, they continued down the hall, with its stone-lined walls and gray-and-red wall hangings. The women began to talk about the mock sea battle and party, and kept asking her questions and tossing ideas at her.
Regan reached out and touched Madeline’s hair. Instead of her customary bob, it was almost to her shoulders. “You need a haircut. I can organize that for you.”
Madeline blinked and managed a nod. They included her so easily. From the day they’d helped rescue her, they’d treated her as a friend. It felt…odd. But now, whether she liked it or not, they were four of only five humans from Earth anywhere in the vicinity of this part of the galaxy. As she listened to Rory and Harper argue over something to do with the arena battle, she realized what a comfort it was to not be completely alone.
The image of silver-gray eyes flashed in her head before she banished it.
Feeling a flare of burning in her belly, Madeline rubbed her stomach. For now, she was going to focus on the party. Just knowing she had something to do made her feel better.
And knowing that she was doing something, anything, to help find Blaine was the best feeling of all.
***
Lore shifted his feet on the sand and swung his sword down.
He moved his blade through powerful arcs and thrusts, his focus narrowed and intense. He thrust the sword forward, the weapon an extension of his body…then he spun in a showy turn.
Of course, here in the House of Galen training arena, there were no spectators to cheer and applaud. Some of the other gladiators refused to pander to the crowd, but Lore figured that they were there for a show, for a spectacle, and he didn’t mind giving it to them. He knew why most of those people came to watch the fights. It was the same reason they watched shows, read books, and listened to stories. They were searching for an escape from the reality of their lives, searching for entertainment, inspiration, and feeling.
He lowered his sword. He knew it was almost time for him to go in and prepare for the sea battle. Overhead, the dual suns of Carthago were slowly heading toward the horizon. Soon the arena lights would come on, and spectators would start pouring into the stands.
Hearing movement behind him, he turned, and saw his fight partner Nero stomping in his direction.
Nero was a huge mountain of a man, who came from the barbarian world of Symeria. A planet of extremes from its icy climes in the north, to its steaming jungles at the equator. The man still preferred his fighting leathers rimmed with fur. Nero was a tough fighter, and a man of few words. Having been his fight partner and his friend for several years, Lore knew Nero was a hunter to the bone. Tracking prey and fighting was in his blood.