The casino host leads our two groups to the end of the casino. There’s a small sign there, which reads: High Level Betting.
A beautiful blonde woman standing enticingly in front of the doors, an alluring smile on her face. She’s a good actress – so good, in fact, that she barely shows a hint of disgust at the four Bullfrogs that waddle past her. I size up my enemies as they pass – and I make sure to let them waddle in front of me. Even in the supposed civility of this casino, I don’t want to turn my back on any of the slimy bastards.
Bullfrogs are big – at least a foot taller than me, and much heavier. They might be fat, but they also have huge muscles beneath the bulk of their lardy bodies. Without Orb-Weapons, I’ll admit that I’m not completely confident how a fight against the four of them would turn out. That’s why winning Danielle through strategy, rather than battle, is the smarter choice.
If it comes down to it, though, we might have to face these slimy bastards. In that case, the smartest plan will be to get to our ship and secure our Orb-Blades for the fight. We’ll be branded as murderers on this planet – but that matters little.
Firstly – if I can shoulder the dishonor of fleeing that Scorp nest, then the opinion of the slave-traders and crime lords of Reena means nothing to me.
And secondly – and more importantly – I plan on taking down the rulers of this city anyway, and making it my own. If we do that, their opinions will mean even less.
I breath in, and feel my chest swell. It was Ashley was gave me the confidence that I needed – the unshakeable belief that my triad and I can achieve anything. We will conquer this world, and then there’ll be no more slave auctions. No more terrified, huddling women forced to take to a stage in those sadistic pleasure dresses. There’ll be no more women forced into servitude – not ever again, as long as I’m still breathing.
And, if Ashley is our fated mate, then our sons will rule the planet of Reena for long, long after we’re gone – maintaining our legacy and truly redeeming us for what we ran away from.
I reach down towards Ashley, gently touching her arm. She looks up at me and I see the hope in her eyes. I’ve already saved one of her friends. She now trusts that I can and will be able to save her best friend – and then keep them all safe.
I ache to take her – to claim Ashley’s beautiful, curvy body and find out for certain that we’re Bonded. Once we are – once we’ve created that link through seeding her fertile body – I’ll finally have an insight into her mind. Like my battle brothers, I will feel her essence inside me.
I breathe in the beautiful scent of her innocence. I wish I had the same certainty as Evander that Ashley is our fated mate. It’s a thought so beautiful – so powerful - that I barely want to think of it for fear that it will vanish; like sand running through my fingers.
The casino host leads us to a set of huge, double doors. I can feel the fear emanating from him, even though he continues to wear that thin, polite smile.
I know why he’s gently trembling. The casino host is thinking deeply about the balance of profits versus risk – of the potential consequences of pitting Rogue Aurelian warriors against Bullfrog crime bosses; with ownership of valuable slaves on the line.
“There is the matter of my payment,” the casino host murmurs, greed finally conquering fear. “There’s a charge of 128 credits for arranging the fight, and an additional…” He pretends to do some mental calculations, but I can tell the casino host is just plucking a number from the air – a number he hopes we’ll pay without question. “…three-hundred to cover this game.”
I glare at him and see him shrink almost imperceptibly from my gaze. This well-dressed, charming sneak is trying to milk us for the highest amount possible.
Remarkably, that’s one thing the Bullfrogs and I seem to agree on. Don Sloor snarls: “Three-hundred credits? That’s robbery!”
I reach into my suit pocket and take out my wallet. I let Don Sloor get a good view of the thick wad of thousand-credit notes in there, as I peel off five one-hundred credit bills and hand them over to the grateful host; as casually as I might use spare change to pay for a coffee.
“Thank you, sir,” the host exclaims. Despite the generous tip, I can see the disappointment in his eyes as he realizes he could have asked for far more than the already extortionate three-hundred additional credits he’d swindled from us.
Not that I care. The casino host might think it was swindling. I think I got my money’s worth. Those credits gave me the opportunity to let the Bullfrogs see how much money I carried, and led them to believe I’m a crazed gambler willing to pay above and beyond for the chance of riches.
What is it the Old-Earth humans used to call it? A hustle?
I’ll lull Don Sloor into a false sense of security – making him assume the gamble over the fighting pit was won with merely luck.
But there was no luck involved. I knew from the second I saw that swordsman, Draven, that he had a purpose. He reminded me of myself, in fact. It sounds arrogant to say that – but I had the strangest feeling that Draven was a kindred spirit; and I’d known instinctively that he’d be the victor over that previously undefeated champion.
Perhaps our paths will cross again.
We enter the private room, and a dealer is summoned for us. The beautiful chamber is already set up for
