Arkon

ARKON

I woke to pain. It crawled through my body, searing every nerve ending. My muscles spasmed, and I bit back a groan. The anti-Vinduthi weapon. I remembered now. That bastard Zhen’la had used it on us.

I tried to move, but heavy shackles bit into my wrists and ankles. The familiar weight of my weapons was gone. I was trapped, helpless. Rage burned through me, hotter than the pain.

My senses kicked in, and I took stock of my surroundings. A prison cell. Small, maybe ten feet by twelve. Bare metal walls, no windows. A single door, thick and solid. The air reeked of disinfectant and fear.

And then I saw her. Samira. She lay unconscious on a cot across the cell, her chest rising and falling steadily.

What had they done to her?

I strained against my bonds, the metal cutting into my skin. It was no use. These shackles were designed to hold a Vinduthi. I couldn’t break free.

“Samira,” I called, my voice hoarse. “Samira, wake up.”

She stirred, her eyelids fluttering. A soft moan escaped her lips as she regained consciousness.

“?” she mumbled, blinking in confusion. “Where are we?”

Before I could answer, the cell door slid open with a hiss. Dr. Zhen’la entered, his insectoid body filling the doorway. Rage exploded within me. I lunged forward, straining against my restraints until they cut into my flesh.

“You fucking bastard,” I snarled. “I’ll tear you apart.”

Zhen’la’s mandibles clicked in amusement. “Such spirit. It will be entertaining to watch it break.”

“Where are we?” Samira demanded, sitting up on her cot.

“Larakis,” Zhen’la replied.

My blood ran cold. Larakis. The underground city, a haven for the worst criminals in the galaxy. We were in deep trouble.

“What do you want with us?” I growled, still pulling at my bonds.

Zhen’la’s eyes glowed with malicious glee. “You, , will be sent to the rings. Your strength and skill will make you quite the attraction.”

My stomach twisted. The fighting rings of Larakis were brutal, often fatal. Normally, I wouldn’t worry that much. But it was Zhen’la’s next words that truly chilled me.

“And your lovely Samira will ensure your cooperation.”

“No,” Samira spat. “I won’t be used as a pawn. I’d rather die.”

Zhen’la’s mandibles clicked again, a sound I was beginning to hate. “If you insist, I won’t stop you. But consider this – I’ve seen how looks at you. I know how Vinduthi feel about their mates. The best way to break his spirit? To have him kill you himself.”

I froze, horror washing over me. “You can’t-”

“Oh, but I can,” Zhen’la interrupted. “And it will prove to my backers in the Consortium that my research is valid. Controlling a Vinduthi? That will open doors you can’t imagine.”

I looked at Samira, saw the fear in her eyes. And I knew, in that moment, that I would do anything to keep her safe. Even if it meant tearing myself apart.

Zhen’la stepped further into the cell, his many limbs moving with unsettling grace. I lunged at him, driven by pure rage and instinct. My muscles strained against the unyielding metal of the shackles. The bastard easily sidestepped my attack, mandibles clicking in amusement.

“So predictable, ,” Zhen’la chided. He produced a sleek, gun-like device from one of his lower arms. “But I’ve prepared something special for you.”

I snarled, baring my fangs. “Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work.”

Zhen’la’s eyes glowed with malicious delight. “Oh, but it will. This is a revolutionary compound I’ve developed. Nanites infused with a potent cocktail of drugs. It will accelerate your healing, enhance your strength. I want you at your peak for the fighting rings, after all.”

Before I could react, he pressed the device against my neck. A sharp hiss, followed by a burning sensation as the injection penetrated my skin.

“And now,” Zhen’la continued, “a little test. , kill the human.”

The drug hit my system like a supernova. Fire raced through my veins, setting every nerve ending ablaze. My vision blurred, the world twisting into a nightmarish kaleidoscope of shapes and colors. I fought against it, gritting my teeth as I struggled to maintain control.

“No,” I growled, my voice barely recognizable. “I won’t... I can’t...”

Zhen’la watched with clinical detachment. “Fascinating. Your willpower is impressive, but ultimately futile.”

He stepped back, exiting the cell. The door hissed shut behind him. A moment later, my shackles released with a metallic clang.

Freedom. The word echoed in my mind, battling against the drug’s insidious whisper. Kill. Kill. Kill.

I watched Zhen’la’s retreating form through the small window in the door, acutely aware of the danger I now posed to Samira. My muscles trembled with the effort of staying still, fighting against the overwhelming urge to attack.

“?” Samira’s voice cut through the haze. “, look at me. Whatever he did to you, you can fight it.”

I turned towards her, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. She stood by her cot, hands raised in a placating gesture. I could see the fear in her eyes, but also determination.

“Stay... back...” I managed to grind out. Every word was a battle.

“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not giving up on you. You’re stronger than this, . Remember who you are.”

I took a stumbling step forward, then another. My body moved of its own accord, drawn inexorably towards Samira. Inside, I raged against the drug’s influence, desperately clinging to my sense of self.

“Please,” Samira pleaded, her voice cracking. “Snap out of it. This isn’t you.”

I wanted to reassure her, to tell her everything would be alright, but the words stuck in my throat. My vision swam, tinted with a red haze. Samira’s face blurred, becoming indistinct.

My hand reached out, fingers stretching towards her throat. No, no, no. I screamed internally, fighting with every ounce of willpower I possessed.

Suddenly, Samira lunged forward. Her lips crashed against mine in a desperate kiss.

The moment Samira’s lips touched mine, something inside me snapped. The drug’s influence twisted, warping from murderous rage into raw, primal desire. I kissed her back with bruising force, my hands gripping her waist and pulling her flush against me.

A growl rumbled deep in my chest as I tasted her, my tongue plundering her mouth. She tasted of fear and desperation, but beneath that lay a sweetness that made my head spin. Or maybe that was the drug. I didn’t care.

Samira’s fingers ran through my hair, tugging hard enough to hurt. The pain only fueled my passion. I spun us around, pinning her against the cold metal wall of our cell. My body pressed against hers, trapping her.

“,” she gasped as I trailed biting kisses down her neck. “Don’t hold back. I need you.”

Her words ignited something fierce within me. The last shreds of my self-control evaporated. I captured her lips again in a searing kiss, my hands roaming her body with desperate need.

Samira arched into me, her breasts pressing against my chest.

I growled again, louder this time. My hands found the hem of her shirt, ripping the fabric away with ease. Samira didn’t protest. Instead, she moaned, the sound driving me wild.

“More,” she demanded, her nails raking down my back.

I obliged, tearing away the rest of her clothes. My own followed suit, shredded and discarded without a second thought. The cool air of the cell did nothing to temper the heat between us.

“Samira,” I groaned. “I can’t... I need...”

“Then take me,” she breathed, her eyes dark with desire.

That was all the encouragement I needed. I hoisted her up, her legs wrapping around my waist. In one swift motion, I buried myself inside her.

We both cried out at the sensation. Samira was tight, wet, perfect. I stilled, overwhelmed by the feeling of her surrounding me.

“Move,” Samira demanded, rolling her hips.

I didn’t need to be told twice. I set a punishing rhythm, each thrust driving us both higher. Samira met me move for move.

The world narrowed down to just us, to the points where we connected. Nothing else mattered. Not Zhen’la, not the Consortium, not even our dire situation. There was only Samira, and the pleasure we were chasing together.

The madness rushed through me again, a tidal wave of primal need that threatened to drown my last vestiges of control. Samira’s scent filled my nostrils, intoxicating and irresistible. My Vinduthi senses picked up every nuance of her arousal, the sweet musk of her desire mixed with the salt of her sweat.

I buried my face in the crook of her neck, inhaling deeply. My tongue darted out, tasting her skin. The flavor exploded across my taste buds, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core. I couldn’t get enough.

My lips and teeth grazed the curve of her neck, alternating between gentle nibbles and more forceful bites. Samira moaned, her head tilting back to give me better access. The sound reverberated through me, making my veins burn hot.

“,” she gasped, her fingers digging into my shoulders. “Oh god, don’t stop.”

But I had to stop. Even through the drug-induced haze, a part of me knew the danger. The urge to claim her, to mark her as mine for all eternity, was overwhelming. My fangs ached with the need to sink into her soft flesh, to inject her with the DNA-altering venom that would bind us together forever.

I growled, low and feral, fighting against the instinct. Samira didn’t understand what was happening, couldn’t know the significance of a Vinduthi claiming bite. And I couldn’t do that to her, not like this, not when neither of us was in our right mind.

“Samira,” I managed to grind out. “I can’t... I might hurt you...”

She pulled back slightly, her dark eyes meeting mine. “You won’t hurt me, . I trust you.”

Her words, meant to reassure, only made it harder to resist. Trust. Such a fragile thing, and so easily broken. I couldn’t risk it, couldn’t risk her.

The pressure built inside me, a molten core of desire and instinct threatening to erupt. My fangs lengthened, ready to pierce her delicate skin. I could almost taste her blood on my tongue, could almost feel the rush of the claiming.

No. I couldn’t. I wouldn’t.

With a snarl of frustration and pain, I wrenched myself away from Samira’s neck. Before I could second-guess myself, I sank my fangs into my own forearm.

Pain lanced through me, sharp and clarifying. The taste of my own blood filled my mouth, metallic and familiar. It wasn’t what I craved, wasn’t nearly as satisfying as Samira’s would have been, but it was enough to snap me back to some semblance of sanity.

I pulled back, panting heavily. Blood trickled down my arm from the puncture wounds, which were already starting to heal.

“?” Samira’s voice was laced with concern. “What’s wrong? Did I do something-”

“No,” I cut her off, shaking my head. “No, it’s not you. It’s... it’s complicated.”

I looked up at her, taking in her flushed cheeks, her swollen lips, the marks I’d left on her neck. She was beautiful, perfect, and I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life.

I couldn’t give Samira the claiming bite, but I could make damn sure her body knew mine. With a growl, I redoubled my efforts with renewed vigor. The cell echoed with the sound of flesh meeting flesh, our gasps and moans a primal symphony.

Samira’s nails raked down my back, digging in hard. The pain only spurred me on, heightening every sensation. I gripped her hips hard enough to bruise, using my strength to lift her and slam her back down onto me.

“,” she cried out, her voice breaking. “Oh god, yes!”

Her words sent a surge of satisfaction through me. I wanted to hear her scream my name, to know that I was the one giving her this pleasure. My lips found her neck again, sucking and biting, leaving marks that would linger for days. Not a true claiming, but a visible sign of my possession nonetheless.

Samira’s inner walls clenched around me, drawing me deeper. The tight, wet heat of her threatened to undo me completely. I fought against my own release, determined to make her come first, to brand myself into her very being.

My hand slid between us, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves at her core. I circled it with my thumb, matching the rhythm of my thrusts. Samira’s back arched, her head thrown back in ecstasy.

“That’s it,” I growled against her skin. “Come for me, Samira. Let me feel you.”

Her body responded to my command. I could feel her teetering, so close to falling apart. With a particularly hard thrust, I pushed her over that precipice.

Samira came with a cry that echoed off the cell walls. Her body clamped down on mine, waves of pleasure wracking her frame. The sight, sound, and feel of her orgasm nearly undid me, but I held on, riding out her climax.

As her tremors subsided, I didn’t slow my pace. If anything, I fucked her harder, chasing my own release now. Samira whimpered, oversensitive but still meeting me thrust for thrust.

I felt her begin to tighten around me, her breathing growing ragged. “,” she gasped. “I’m close. Don’t stop.”

As if I could. I redoubled my efforts, ravishing her with all the strength the drug had given me. Samira threw her head back, a cry of ecstasy escaping her lips as she shattered in my arms.

The sight of her pleasure, the feel of her pulsing around me, was too much. With a roar, I followed her over the edge, my release crashing through me.