Crystal

"Iwas wrong," I say urgently as I'm released from the stinking alien's grip and I'm immediately enveloped in all of Drelix's scales and muscles. "I was so wrong. You shouldn't fight. We should get out of here."

"Too late," Drelix rumbles above me, his head buried in my hair, claws pricking through the fabric of my dress. "I have agreed to the fight, and it must happen. I am a Sarkarnii warrior, and my bond is my honor."

"Sounds stupid," I reply. "Surely it's better to be alive and risk being thought dishonorable than dead and no one gives a shit."

"I do this for you, my little morsel," Drelix says.

I pull back from him. Rage rises within me.

"Don't you dare put this on me," I spit out. "Don't you dare! I can look after myself…back on Station X42, I was fine until you came along. Absolutely fine. Don't you…" A sob escapes my chest, and it only makes me angrier because I do not want to cry. "Don't you say this is on me because it's not."

Drelix pulls me back to him, even though I resist. He shoves his head into my neck, and his hot skin burns at me.

"I do this for you because you are the only thing worth living for. I will win this fight, I will get what we want from the Uhatx, and we will leave this place, forever," he rasps in my ear. "And I will need you to cause a distraction with him at the moment I raise both arms over my head."

My heart spins, my head pounds, and I've gone from anger to guilt I'd even doubt Drelix for a second. He actually has a plan in all this chaos. It's almost like he's done this before.

I think I might have whiplash.

His lips close over mine and everything lengthens, soothes, becomes nothing, not while he's kissing me, his forked tongue sweeping mine, my chin cradled in his hand, my body molded to his.

"Enough!" the Uhatx grumbles. "If you win, you get to do whatever you want with your mate once you finish your fight…and you remain alive."

Drelix takes no notice, finishing up his kiss and sliding his clawed hand into my hair, pulling it free from its Kosta induced bonds. He stares at me like he's trying to burn me into his brain.

It doesn't fill me with confidence.

I'm released with a rumble, and he glares at the Uhatx.

"If even one hair on her head is harmed while I am in the dome, I will take it out on you ten times over," he snarls.

The Uhatx's weird smoke tentacles flicker unevenly.

"She will be safe, Sarkarnii."

"Fuck you," I mutter under my breath.

The row of ten guards steps forward, pushing Drelix away from me and out into the main room. I've already seen the chaos caused in there by the Gryn, who have either vacated or been removed, but the walls bear the scars of pulsar bolts and there are a few bots carefully cleaning up what looks like pools of blood. Most of the patrons have been moved elsewhere, although there are a few stragglers who look up as both Drelix and I are taken across and through a set of large double doors, where we are dragged off in different directions.

I want to protest. Frankly, I want to knee more of the black clad, masked guards in their sensitive places and go after Drelix, but if he has a plan, maybe I should respect it.

Over my shoulder, I see him being led away, his scales shining and his long, serrated tail thrashing. I don't remember much of his dragon form, other than the huge, huge teeth, but there surely can't be anything in this galaxy to match him.

One of the huge guards gives me a shove from behind, causing me to stumble. I spin to face him.

"Don't you fucking dare," I growl, but he simply shoves me in the chest, and I go sprawling with a squeak.

The last thing I want to do is have Drelix back here, snarling up a storm, so I get to my feet slowly, carefully, and brush myself down.

Only to find, stood between me and my assailant, a veritable mountain of feathers.

"Are you okay, mistress?" the Gryn says.

He's streaked with blood, but I get the impression very little of it is his and potentially, if we want to avoid further bloodshed, the guard needs to tread carefully.

But so do I. Given it's my job to create some sort of diversion. Presumably to get hold of the tablet vid screen the Uhatx showed Drelix earlier. So, as much as I'd like to sic the Gryn on the guard, it's not the best of ideas.

"I'm okay, thank you," I reply.

The enormous Gryn, covered in tattoos which swirl over his nearly naked body, snorts down at the guard and shakes out his feathers.

"Good," he replies. "See that she remains that way," He adds in a growl to rival Drelix and then stomps off in a swirl of feathers and…is that cinnamon I can smell?

I shake my head for a second. Just when I think this galaxy couldn't surprise me more…

The guard bristles next to me, but he daren't do anything, not while the Gryn is around.

"Is it this way?" I ask, all sweetness and light. He grunts, and we continue down the passage until I'm hit with something I absolutely wasn't expecting.

The smell to end all smells. I want to throw up. I want to curl into a ball and hope never to smell such a thing again. Instead I cough and choke, eyes streaming as the guard next to me laughs mirthlessly.

"This way, female," he growls, taking hold of my shoulder and shoving me down a smaller, darker passage.

I consider whether I should use the dagger strapped to my thigh, but I reason now is not yet the time, especially as I'm trying to keep my dinner down, when we burst out into the light.

We're in the dome. The vast space rings with the sound of the perpetual crowd, both in person and virtually. The place is so large it even has its own weather, with a light mist hanging high above us. But it is the main arena which captures all of my attention.

Landscaped into deep valleys and tall peaks, with huge pools where I see the occasional flicker of something in the dark water. The place is vast.

And it is a killing ground.