“I want her conscious,” Baralt said, turning back to the arena without another word.
Of course. His words ripped away that momentary sense of connection, just as the guard had ripped away her dress, and she was left feeling equally naked. Kindness was not a part of this new world.
Chapter Four
Baralt forced himself to speak dismissively and turn away despite seeing first shock, then anger flaring in his little human’s eyes at his words. He could not afford to show compassion now, no matter how much he wanted to free her from her chain and carry her back to his cave…to his quarters.
When he had first emerged from the tunnel and seen her there, her luscious body fully displayed, all the blood in his body had rushed to his kotra, and for a terrible moment, he had feared it would emerge from his sheath for all to see. He had managed to get it under control, a feat that had grown easier as he’d approached and realized that she was not well. Her golden skin was flushed red, and she hung limply in her chains. When she’d raised her head at the sound of his voice, he’d been able to see her struggle to focus.
The heat of the arena weighed on him, but at least he had his fur to insulate him. She had nothing but soft naked skin. For a moment, he had actually considered cutting her down and taking her away with him, but he was only a single male, and the crowd—not to mention Relkhei—would not allow their amusement to be taken away from them so easily.
As he resumed his position, he looked up to find Relkhei watching him, and his heart sank. If the other male had realized his inexplicable concern for this human female, Relkhei would have no hesitation using it against him. Resolving to show Relkhei no sign of weakness, he readied himself for the fight.
Goolig attacked at the first note of the gong. It was not technically cheating, but it was a clear indicator that no courtesies would be exchanged. Baralt bared his teeth and went for the kill.
The fight passed in a montage of heat and fury. As Baralt had seen on the training videos, Goolig was a cunning, vicious fighter. He used his natural speed and the poisonous secretions that covered his body to his best advantage. But as long as Baralt’s knee held up, he was just as fast, and his fur provided a natural barrier to the slow-acting poison in Goolig’s slime.
Goolig’s claws caught him across the ribs, penetrating his fur enough to leave a deep gash. It was far from fatal, but the constant loss of blood would eventually take its toll. He returned the blow with a slash to Goolig’s neck, but the slime made his claws slip, and he only succeeded in opening Goolig’s skin rather than severing an artery.
On the next pass, disaster struck as he turned too quickly and his knee started to crumple. He caught himself in time to avoid falling, but the bone-deep ache warned him that he could not rely on that leg. Goolig immediately spotted the weakness and directed his attacks at that side. He danced back and forth, too fast for Baralt to catch him, and each time he delivered another slashing blow. None of them were overly serious, but each of them contributed to the blood loss.
“Now I see why you don’t fight to the death,” Goolig taunted. “You know you’d lose to a real fighter.”
Baralt had far too much experience to be baited. Instead, he concentrated on feinting to his bad side with each of Goolig’s advances. Goolig continued to strike his blows, his movements growing steadily more confident.
“You liked that little human, didn’t you? Too bad she’ll be screaming my name when I ram my cock into her tight little holes. But don’t worry. By the time I’m through with her, she will be of no use to anyone else.”
Baralt’s restraint vanished. Goolig had moved just far enough that Baralt could put his weight on his good leg. With his own flash of speed, he grabbed Goolig as he darted close once more, but this time, Baralt didn’t let him get away. He wrapped one hand around Goolig’s neck and the other around his shoulders, using his claws to keep hold of Goolig despite his slippery skin. He pulled Goolig’s head to one side and sank his fangs into the opening he had made previously. Bitter slime filled his mouth, and he could feel it going numb, but he bit harder, deeper, until he felt the artery beneath his fangs, and with one twist of his head, he ripped it open.
Goolig’s body dropped to the ground, blood pooling beneath his neck, but Baralt didn’t spare him a second glance. The other male was dead. The crowd roared, but he ignored them, ignored the pain radiating from his knee, ignored the blood dripping from his many wounds and the numbness in his mouth. He climbed the platform in two giant steps, yanked his human’s chains free, threw her over his shoulder, and headed for his cave.
Thousands of years of primal instinct flooded his bloodstream. He had fought. He had won. The female was his.
Izzie was too shocked by the sudden turn of events to protest as the big white-furred warrior threw her over his shoulder. She had thought perhaps he was better than the others? She knew better now, now that she had seen him ripping out his opponent’s throat, blood streaming down his face as he’d come for her.
“Put me down, damn it.” Her fists beat uselessly against his broad muscled back. Despite his silky soft fur, there was no give in his flesh, and the effort only caused her breasts to rub against him in a surprisingly erotic caress. The musky scent of his fur filled her senses.
“Mine,” he growled, his hand clamping down on her ass. The low, pleasant voice from earlier had
