Beast Planet 1: Captive Surrender (12 page)

Oh, god,
did
I over-sho
o
t my mouth again? I started to shake with sudden fear, not for my own life, but for everyone around me. I quickly glanced at the other women who stared at me, uncertainty written on their faces.

I had to do something; I had to drive the point of our survival home.  “If you want the
Zakiu
species to survive, then you’re going to have to make exceptions, otherwise you’ll lose the next generation of game fighters.”

I almost jumped out of my skin when Morrdrook laid a firm hand on my shoulder. I glanced up
seeing him
nod his approval and support. I wanted to sag against him, to take comfort in his arm. Instead, I stood ridged, my chest tight with fear
while
we waited for our captors’ decision.

Striking at the heart of any matter, I found mostly worked when in a sticky situation, like right now. But if they disregarded my words, then any woman who failed to get pregnant would die.

“
The games will continue; all breeders will have until the start of the new season
.”

“How long is that?”

“
Six human months
.”

Six months was better than two; I exhaled my pent up breath. The platform hummed and turned, carrying the Druel away.

Slowly, I turned to face Morrdrook, his arms were folded and a scowl darkened his handsome features. “You take big risk.”

I swallowed, but found my mouth already dry. Was he angry at me for trying to save not only my life
,
but also the lives of all the other women? “I know, but I had to do something.”

“Have very good
hu
-
mon
, Morrdrook.”
Nular
slapped Morrdrook on the shoulder as
he
passed by with Joan. He grunted, but said nothing. The
Zakiu
took their women and filed out of the assembly area. Many of them nodded with approval in
Morrdrook’s
direction. He ignored them, keeping his focus on me.

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his burning gaze.

“Even if we can’t get pregnant, I’ve bought us some time.” I felt the quaver in my voice. Tears pricked the back of my eyes. I didn’t want him to be angry with me. I didn’t want to fight with him either.

In a blur of sudden movement, he grabbed me, making me squeak in surprise. He hauled me against his muscular chest. I felt his strong fingers spear through my hair, cupping my skull as his mouth slammed on mine—hot, heavy and brutal. I moaned at the erotic pain shooting through me. My body flamed to life
,
white-hot desire
spiraling
through to every nerve ending. His tongue breached my lips, possessing my mouth,
like he was
trying to imprint himself on me, drown himself in me. By god, I wanted it, I wanted him.

J
ust as suddenly, he pulled back, both of us pant
ing
and star
ing
at each other. The markings on his body glowed again.

“Best of all females,” he muttered, taking my hand pulling me along like a child. With my head still spinning and his mind blowing kiss, I didn’t care.

* * * *

The tension in the air
grew
palpable
,
the activity notch
ing
up to a whole new level. I got caught up in the preparations for
the
next battle, along with everyone else. The notion I would have nothing to do, but sit around and watch the fighters train was laughable.

Abby and I, under the carful watch of our
Zakiu
, kept ourselves busy by running drinks, holding weapons for our guys, even running in and resetting target boards. I even saw Joan bring a drink to
Nular
a few times before resuming
to sit
with the other women.

Machines brought in new weapons. The fighters chose what they wanted and then proceeded to care for, sharpen and practice with them.

I learned the coloured sticks represented the order for the coming fights.

It wasn’t just Hurl beasts they would fight against. They also had to fight smaller, but no less deadly creatures the
Druel
gleaned from other planets.

As there were two months left of the games, they were divided into two games per week. The next game was only a half hour away. I leaned against the wall and felt the tension in my own shoulders
,
watching as Morrdrook paced the floor below the stadium. Past the large, double
doors,
I heard the chattering crowd and loud announcements in the
Druel
language.

Other fighters, including a handful of
Zukiu
,
Fraxi
and
Gillip
stood around the entrance, adjusting armour, stretching and generally preparing themselves before stepping out onto the arena sands.

Morrdrook was dressed in battle amour of thick, black leather criss-crossing over his torso. Gleaming black plates connected from links at his belt, falling down to shield his upper thighs. His wrists were cuffed in the same material. His chosen weapons attached to
both
his belt and his back.

As sexy as it was to see him dressed like this, it consumed me with dread. Despite him telling me repeatedly he did this many times before, it didn’t make it any easier. Morrdrook
gave me
instructions when the doors opened—I was to go sit in an area designated for the non-fighting participants to watch and wait.

My chest tightened watching him, too afraid to ask the one question I feared most.

His stopped pacing and his beautiful eyes settled on me. He stretched out his hand and without hesitation, I ran to him.
He gathered me close, nuzzling my throat. I savoured his heat, clinging tightly to him, breathing in his divine, raw masculine scent, trying to absorb some of his strength and self-assurance.

“Fear not for me,
Aunna
, remember, I best of all fighters. I not die today.”

I cupped his face
,
pulling it back to look into his eyes, “You better not.” I put on a brave smile. He crushed his lips over mine and I hungrily kissed him back, knowing it could be our last.

I won’t ask; I will have faith in him
. Repeating the mantra over and over gave me a little strength.

Morrdrook told
me
there would be a meeting each week to determine how the two games would proceed. It looked as if they were keeping the Hurl beasts until the grand final of the
Druel
games.

“I not like them being here, but have no choice.”
Nular
approached with a worried looking Joan by his side.
Morrdook
pulled away slightly, but kept an arm anchored on my waist.

Always possessive and protective, I smiled loving this about the
Zakiu
men. They proved so far, no matter the situation,
they always made sure their women were looked after.

“We’ll be okay.” I tugged away from Morrdrook to go stand with Joan. “We’ll look after each other.”

“What
ya
worried about, our guys will kick some major arse.” Abby added
,
bouncing into the mix.

“Each fighter is to run maze.
Fraxi
are the defenders, watch for traps, keep low, move fast and come out alive.”

“Ready to die.”
Everyone turned around to face the taunting
Fraxi
fighter who tried to take Abby, then me during our first time watching our men train. The tension in the air suddenly hit a new level with the murderous stares, directed at the taunting
Fraxi
. More red aliens came up behind his buddy. “
Druel
offer us prize if we kill one of you; we get your females.” The
Fraxi’s
gaze landed on Abby. “I want your red one, will kill you first.”

Fuck, this was not good. Why the hell would they offer us to the
Fraxi
? Obviously their desire to see us breed more
Zakiu
wasn’t as important as getting the best from their fighters. Anger replaced my trepidation, I wanted nothing more than to
kick the asshole
Fraxi
in the balls and then slam his spiked head into the ground.

Makkiu
seemed to have my same thought, but Morrdrook grabbed
Makkiu’s
arm before he could launch himself at the
Fraxi
.

“Wait
Makkiu
, we kill him out there.”

As if on cue, a horn blared and the doors to the arena slid open,
signaling
the start of the
Druel
games.

My heart jumped into my throat
;
Morrd
r
ook took my trembling hand and he squeezed it gently. Despite the self-assurance shining in his eyes, it didn’t make me feel any better while I followed him out.

Chapter Ten

If not for the knots in my stomach and the roaring of the
Druel
crowd, I may have enjoyed the warmth of the strange, red sun shining down on my exposed skin. The air still hung heavy with
the
smell of machines of industry, or whatever the hell it was
keeping
this alien planet ticking over.

My eyes stood riveted on the entrance to the huge maze with seven-foot, black, metallic walls
,
inside which the
Fraxi
disappeared.

The game was simple, but none the less deadly. The
Zakiu
had to enter the maze and make it through the other end without
the
Fraxi
slaughtering them, or killed by
any of the various booby traps in different parts of the maze.

Large screens hovered in various spots above the crowd, so the
Druel
could see the action from every angle, but the fighters couldn’t see the screen. From our position, in a caged box near the entrance to the
arena,
all
we
saw was
along one side of the maze’s outer wall.

In one way, I was relieved, as I didn’t have to watch any of the fights, which was not unlike the first one I’d witnessed. Someone was sure to die.

The
Zakiu
gathered together before entering the maze; I watched while they held a group discussion. Then, nearly all of them removed their larger
,
heavier blades. I could only guess it would be more difficult to swing them in the more confined space of the maze.

I learned a little about weaponry
while
watching the fighters practice. Large, heavier, hacking swords were only good in open combat; for more personal battles they were far from effective.

The men pulled out the lighter, shorter, stiletto-type daggers, each blade
having
three sides, and all of them razer sharp. They still
kept
reserved blades strapped to the bulk of their legs.

Morrdrook spoke to the men and they paired off, each
heading towards one of the two entrances
either
end
of the maze entrance.

There were only two ways of exiting this maze—dead or alive.

Abby sat on my left and Joan on my right. Feeling the need for support, I grabbed each of their hands.

“They’ll get through, alright.” Abby’s face was pale, no doubt feeling the same nerve wracking worry many of us felt.

I squeezed her hand. Joan’s hand tightened on mine. “My husband never treated me with as much tenderness as
Makkiu
does. I don’t want to lose him either. I trust him when he said he won’t die today.”

I looked at Joan and she gave a shrug, only starting to get a small insight into her life before the abduction.

“You’re married?” Abby dived in.

“We separated a week before the abduction and we were about to file for divorce. I guess the
Druel
saved me a fortune in lawyer fees.” Joan’s laugh was strained; she stared vacantly out into the arena. “I actually happen to care about what happens to
Makkiu
. I never did with my ex-husband.”

“They sure have a way of getting under your skin.” Abby’s lips turned up at the corners in a half smile. I knew exactly what she meant and heaved a dreamy sigh.