Riley scrambled back, and so did the worm, as its blue blood sprayed across the stone altar. The vile slug wailed as it fled. Riley threw her ax but missed. Her eyes widened in horror as the creature scaled the wall, then huddled on the ceiling.
“Now, I will not honor you. I will make sure you feel every second, as our swarm consumes their way out of your body,” the worm hissed.
As he spoke, Riley could see the end of its wriggling tongue begin to heal. She looked at its tiny arms. One of them was injured when he arrived, but now it wasn’t.
Shit, Riley cursed. At the rate the slug was healing, he’d be coming after her again soon.
“Don’t be angry, sweetheart. I had to show you how strong I am. You wouldn’t want our swarm to be weak. I thought you’d be proud of me,” Riley pouted.
“You severed my proboscis,” he hissed.
“And it’s growing back. Don’t pretend to be a weakling.”
Riley picked up a jagged bone and launched it like a javelin toward the beast. Unfortunately, it didn’t stab into him. She needed something heavier.
“Come down here. I’m starting to get offended. Don’t you like me? Your manners are hurting my feelings.” Riley did her best impersonation of a jilted girlfriend.
Riley knew her performance was stupid, but she didn’t know what else to do to keep the worm off balance. She grabbed her ax and let it fly. This time it struck the slug, embedding in his segmented tail. It was hardly a killing blow.
Crap. Its stuck. Riley stared up at her only decent weapon.
“It looks like you could use some help,” a deep rumbling voice said from over her shoulder.
A knife flew, striking the disgusting worm between its eyes. A second later, the creature dropped to the ground with a sickening splat.
Riley spun around and came face to face with a massive red chest. She’d been so intent on eliminating the Ubi, she forgot about the other competitors. She looked up, up, up to see Spawn smirking down at her. Riley stumbled backward then paused. If Spawn wanted her head for a trophy, he could’ve snapped her like a twig while she was distracted. Instead he killed the slug.
But that means…
Riley’s heart sped up, as the implication dawned on her. She warily looked the man over. Spawn’s sheer size was always shocking. Even if he had purely honorable intentions, she would’ve been intimidated. He’d clearly been through a warzone. Spawn’s bare torso and legs were covered with cuts and scrapes. There was a particularly nasty gash on his shoulder. Blood ran down his chest, mixing with sweat. Spawn acted like it was nothing as he stood disturbingly still. He probably didn’t even notice the injuries, considering all his scars. When Riley reached his face, the stern set of his jaw, and intense black eyes that pinned her, had Riley second guessing the demonic man’s intent. Maybe he did want her head.
“Are you hurt?” he asked.
The considerate inquiry coming from the savage giant was unexpected. It distracted her from the notions of escape that had been forming.
“No.” Riley shook her head.
Spawn looked her up and down for confirmation. His eyes lingered on her hips and Riley suddenly recalled she was practically nude.
“Good,” he rumbled.
Spawn must have seen her growing apprehension because he swiftly lunged, wrapping her in his massive arms. They were like bands of iron imprisoning her.
“Let go of me,” Riley screamed.
She struggled, using the evasive maneuvers she learned on YouTube, but he held her tight. Riley lunged forward and latched onto Spawn’s chest, sinking her teeth into his flesh, as her nails dug into his biceps. The demon didn’t even look mad, as Riley glanced up into his obsidian eyes. Instead, he dipped his lips to her ear.
“Bite me all you want, Little Manx. I understand you are afraid,” he whispered, “but you know what must happen to get out of here. So, show me how to ease you.”
Riley shivered as Spawn’s breath teased her neck. He was so incredibly warm where her body melded against his torso. Then she recalled how fucked up this situation was. Spawn’s mask of civility angered her. He was competing for her at a slave auction. And god only knew what the bastard had done with June and Ion on the demon planet. Riley bit harder, tasting blood. Her hand found Spawn’s shoulder wound and squeezed.
“Enough. I don’t know who’s coming through that door next, but I doubt their intentions will be as kind,” Spawn growled in her ear, as he pried her hand off his shoulder. “I am sorry Little Manx,” he whispered.
Spawn gripped her tighter against him. His palm slid down her back and delved between her thighs. He pushed one thick finger past her scant panties and prodded at her labia. When he found what he was looking for, he pressed deeper. Riley squirmed as he fingered her.