Drelix

The mating mix in my veins does not help the simmering anger I feel as Crystal and I leave the hotel and get into the pod sent for us by the dome.

"The Gryn have arranged for us to attend the reception this evening," I tell her. "But as indentured fighters, they have little agency. They will be in attendance, but as a precursor to the games, they'll be there as…"

"Meat?" Crystal says grimly. "I understand how it works. We had gladiatorial games on Earth, thousands of years ago."

"The dome here is considered the most vicious outside of those run by the Liderc." I snarl at the mention of my enemy's name. "There are few rules and what the crowd wants, the crowd gets."

Crystal is silent for a while.

"We should free them," she says.

"We cannot. They are indentured. If they leave without their debts being paid, they will be unable to pass freely in the rest of the galaxy."

"They're slaves but not slaves?"

"They are fighters. Until they are done with the dome, or until it kills them, they will remain until they can leave with honor, and not before."

"Doesn't sound like much of a life," Crystal replies. "Even if they don't consider themselves enslaved."

"The Gryn are…a law unto themselves."

She huffs out a breath. "Other than the fact the main menu at the games are certifiably insane, is there anything else I need to know?"

"Don't trust anyone."

"Okay, that's pretty easy. I suggest you give any drinks a wide berth," Crystal adds with a wicked smile.

"The…situation with the Yetag was a one off." I wince internally at my mistake. "It won't happen again."

Crystal shrugs. "It could have happened to anyone. Just pick your own food and drink in the future," she says as the pod swings around the corner and the dome comes into view.

It rises up in front of us, an oval mass of shining metal, glinting under the two suns, its namesake, the forcefield dome, shimmering as if from a heat haze.

"I suppose if you're going build a palace to killing, you may as well make it big, right?" Crystal says dully.

"They specialize in beast games before the main event," I respond.

Crystal growls under her breath. "Every time I think I've got a handle on this galaxy…" She closes her eyes and tips her head back. "I realize I have not."

The pod shoots into the dome's reception center and comes to a halt.

"Let's get done what we need to get done and get the hell off Trefa." Crystal rolls her shoulders.

"Fine by me. I never liked the place." I grin at her, and I'm rewarded by her small, tight smile in return.

I've already decided, once I've spoken with the Uhatx, regardless of what he has to say, I will be leaving Trefa and going back to the Golden Orion to see out the rest of my rut in comfort and safety with my sweet mate.

We step out together into the cloying warmth which the dome's inhabitants prefer. The smell of the place sticks to my nostrils, old blood, too many bodies, too much death. I fire out a sheet of smoke and embers and Crystal side eyes me. Presumably human senses are not as acute.

"Drelix of the Sarkarnii and his mate, Crystal of Earth," I announce to the greeter, a tall, slender, pale green Tartafa—one of the original inhabitants of this planet.

"This way." He points a long yellow claw through to a large room already filling with what is probably the great and good of Tatatunga society.

I link my arm with Crystal's and walk us towards the entrance.

"His mate, Crystal of Earth?" she hisses at me. "What's that all about?"

"As a single Sarkarnii warrior, I'm not exactly welcome at these sorts of functions, but a mated Sarkarnii is a novelty. It was the only way the Gryn obtain an invitation for us."

By my side, Crystal growls. "I'm bait?"

"No, I am. It's unlikely anyone in this room has seen more than one Sarkarnii, and certainly not a mated one. I suspect they're hoping I've mellowed."

"I can tell them they're wrong if it helps." Crystal laughs.

"It won't help." I dip my head to nuzzle at her hair, trussed up as it is, wanting to take in her scent instead of the myriad of other smells which vie for my attention.

It calms me in a way nothing else ever has. I feel my entire being floating easily through life without a care. I have mellowed, which is a surprise, given places like this usually set my entire shift on edge. Especially as we are very much the center of attention.

A barrel shaped serving bot slides towards us, and Crystal snorts quietly.

"At least this can't poison you," she says in a low voice before she addresses it and orders ale wine for me and something I don't quite catch for her.

The bot mixes our drinks and presents them to us from its interior. I hand Crystal her glass and sniff mine carefully. It is definitely ale wine this time. Crystal takes a gulp of hers.

"So, where is the Uhatx? What do they even look like?" she asks, peering through the throng of bodies, additional appendages, and outlandish clothing.

"You'll know when you see one," I reply sourly.

The Uhatx have never been on the side of the Sarkarnii. They're not on anyone's side but their own, and it makes them unpredictable…and dangerous.

Which makes, in this room, an interesting mix because not only am I dangerous, but the Gryn are unpredictable and five of them have just walked in.

I can already feel the tension rising, I can only hope my small pulsar pistol is enough. The last thing I want to do in this confined space is shift. It's virtually guaranteed to trip the dome's defense system, and it risks me leaving Crystal undefended.

And no one touches my mate.