Baited (Gladiators of the Gryn #2)

Izzy

IZZY

W as it too soon to tell Blayn how I feel about him? Is it too soon for me to have these feelings? I’ve known him for such a short time, but I can’t imagine being away from him.

When all I wanted was my freedom, being caught in his claws was the last thing I expected.

A smile, bigger than anything he’s done before, spreads over his face.

“You are the star around which I turn, my beautiful mate. My love is unending, unstoppable, invincible,” he murmurs, brushing his lips over mine.

“Gladiator!” the captain calls out gruffly across the arena. “Why are you not in the ante-chamber?”

“My mate needs to be somewhere safe while I fight,” I state. “You are to do this.”

Is that a smile I see on the grizzled captain’s bovine features? If it is, it’s gone almost immediately.

“But you will fight?”

Blayn pulls himself up to his impressive height and sets his wings. “I always fight, captain. But today, I fight for my mate.”

If the captain reacts to any of what Blayn says, he doesn’t show it. Instead he gives Blayn a swift bow.

“Then go and ready yourself. I will ensure your mate’s safety,” he replies. “Go,” he adds when my massive Gryn hesitates.

“Go,” I breathe. “I’ll be here for you.”

I get another swift kiss, and then Blayn is gone, a sweep of his dark wings the last I see of him as he exits.

“Well then, little female, I guess I’d better find you somewhere safe,” the captain says. “After all, I’m not going to risk the wrath of the gladiators…or your madame.”

“The madame?” I’m at once surprised and intrigued, but the captain is already exiting the training area, and I have to run to catch up.

“You are worried what Madame might say?” I push him, but he ignores me, and I’m out of breath from keeping up with him anyway, given his legs are longer than mine.

Multiple twists and turns later, we exit from a utilitarian corridor to something similar to the one leading to the parade hall. Only the walls are a subtle, expensive dark color, and the carpet is even deeper.

“In here,” the captain says, opening a door out of which a bright light shines.

I peer in, and I’m greeted by a myriad of faces looking back at me.

“Is this her?” a short, stocky blue Regah sporting an eyewatering robe of neon swirls asks as soon as I enter.

“This is Blayn’s mate,” the captain says. “He wanted her somewhere safe, and I knew you wanted to meet her.”

I look between the two. I can see the captain doesn’t mean me any harm, but as for this creature? He looks slimier than most of the clients we get at the pleasure house.

I just have to trust him. It’s all I can do.

“, this is the procurator of the dome,” the captain says by way of introduction.

My blood chills. This is the creature who sets Blayn fighting and killing, who keeps him barely more than a prisoner in this place.

“One of my best gladiators, and now even better since you tamed him,” the procurator simpers.

I open my mouth to tell him exactly what I think of him when there is a huge cheer from the rest of the assembly, a mixture of Habosu and Yetag.

They’re looking out of the huge window which displays the interior of the dome. The place is massive, far larger than I even imagined. I can hardly see the far end of the dome, although handy vid screens both inside the large hospitality box and outside hover in the air, showing the place from every angle.

The four Gryn gladiators are currently flying around inside the vast dome. It’s the first time I’ve seen Blayn in the air, and I remember to close my mouth as he darts swiftly from one side to the other, causing the clientele of the dome to roar out his name. He shakes himself once or twice.

“He’s rousing,” the captain murmurs in my ear. “He’s never done that before.”

“What does it mean?” I ask.

“It means he’s going to be invincible today.” The procurator cackles before waving vigorously at a Uhatx, who moves swiftly over on tentacles of smoke. “Put ten thousand credits on Blayn to be the victor,” he says loudly.

The Uhatx bows his head, and as soon as he moves away, he’s surrounded by the occupants of the box clamoring to place their bets.

I wish I had Blayn’s wings and claws. I wish I could teach this horrible procurator a lesson, the way he delights in sending Blayn and the others out to kill or be killed in the dome.

“Come, come, little female, mate of Blayn,” the procurator says loudly, coming up behind me and putting his hand in the small of my back, giving me a shove. “Come have one of the best seats in the dome to watch your gladiator perform like he has never done before.”

I’m half pushed, half guided to a bank of seats immediately in front of the vast windows. A glass of something is put into my hand and a plate of brightly colored nibbles placed next to me.

“Enjoy yourself!” The procurator grins ecstatically. “If your mate does well today, I will be sending him to Sartak where I am starting a new dome. He will be the star attraction.”

“Sartak? The weapons center?” I stumble over my words.

“Yes!” He rubs his hands enthusiastically. “They have developed bots which can fight, and they want to see how they do in a combat situation, which works to my advantage.”

“You’re going to put him in a dome with killer bots?” My stomach drops to my boots.

“I’m completely confident he will triumph. After all, you made him into the gladiator he is today, female. It’s too bad you won’t be able to join him.”