12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

P yne

As Becca and I bask in the afterglow of our hard-fought victory and prepare to leave the baking arena for the day, Arisha’s voice cuts through the celebratory chatter like a knife.

“Attention, contestants! I have a thrilling announcement that will shake up the competition and keep our viewers on the edge of their seats!”

A knot forms in my stomach as I instinctively pull Becca closer, my tail curling protectively around her waist. Whatever twist Arisha has in store, the gleeful expression on her sadistic face hints that it won’t bode well for us.

“Starting immediately, we’re going to break up the existing teams and pair you off with new partners!” Arisha declares, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Don’t worry about your points. Our crack team of accountants has devised a system to keep your original scores intact while assigning new points in this exciting new scheme!”

Murmurs of shock and disbelief ripple through the assembled teams as well as the live audience. Becca stiffens beside me, her hand gripping mine like a lifeline. I give her a reassuring squeeze, silently vowing to fight to stay by her side. But as Arisha rattles off the new pairings, my heart plummets.

“Beckon, you’ll be teaming up with the male Saurian, Klsp. And Pyne, you’ll be partnered with the female feline, M’berra.”

Becca’s face pales, her eyes widening with undisguised terror. The male Saurian leers at her from across the cooking arena, his forked tongue flicking through lips flecked with saliva.

I can practically smell the fear rolling off Becca in waves, and it takes every ounce of my self-control not to lunge at the scaly bastard and rip his throat out.

I knew I was growing attached to Becca, but the feelings racing through me signal how serious my connection with her is. My desperate need to protect her is so deep, wide, and profound that I imagine it couldn’t be less than what fated mates experience.

“Shit, Pyne. Working with him is going to be horrible. We’ve watched him. He doesn’t know how to play nice. And look at how he’s leering at me.”

I trained as a gladiator since I was nine and know dozens of ways to kill with my bare hands. It’s taking all my self-control not to leap the distance separating us and tear his lecherous, forked tongue out of his mouth.

Instead, I order myself to breathe as my fists clench and unclench at my sides.

“He’s not an idiot, Becca. He’s here for the purse, the same as all the others. He may be a dracker but he won’t sabotage you.”

I’ll never know how I found the presence of mind to speak so calmly.

“You’re right. We’ll go back to our room, pick up where we left off this morning, and life will go on, although you’re the one who kept us afloat during the immunity challenges. I don’t know how I’ll fare with Klst as my partner. He’s an every-male-for-himself kind of guy.”

Amid grumbling, the existing teams stay together and head for the exit. Arisha interrupts us with a sharp, “Oh, and one more thing…”

My arm is around Becca’s waist, and I feel her muscles tighten. Whatever Arisha is about to announce isn’t going to be good.

“The rules state that partners share a room. That hasn’t changed. Have a good evening.”

With that, Arisha approaches the door, surrounded by her staff. It’s a smart move, considering there probably isn’t a person in this room who doesn’t want to murder her right now.

“Wait!” I bellow, stepping forward, my fists clenched. “You can’t do this! Becca needs to stay with me. She won’t be safe with that… that monster!”

Arisha turns, leveling me with a cold, calculating stare. “The decision is final, Pyne. Unless you wish to be disqualified from the competition, I suggest you accept your new partner graciously.”

I open my mouth to argue further, but Becca’s gentle pat on my arm stops me.

“Pyne, don’t,” she whispers, her voice trembling slightly. “We can’t risk losing the competition over this. We’ll find a way to make it work somehow.”

The defeat in her eyes breaks my heart, but I know she’s right. If it weren’t for Becca, I’d already consider this competition a win. Arisha told me I’d earned my purse just for being on the program. I’ve already earned the credits I came for, but Becca’s freedom hangs in the balance. I need to ignore my feelings and honor Becca’s wishes.

Pulling back just enough to cup her face in my hands, my thumbs brush away the tears spilling down her cheeks. My heart clenches as I try to memorize every detail before we’re torn apart. The soft curve of her lips, the flecks of gold in her brown eyes, the way her hair falls in gentle waves around her face.

I want to promise her that everything will be alright, that I’ll keep her safe no matter what. But I know better than to make promises I can’t keep, especially in a twisted game like this. Instead, I reach into my boot and pull out the knife I’ve carried, hidden, since I left my phaeton.

Pressing the hilt into her palm, I curl her fingers around it, my gaze locked on hers.

“Take this. I know you’re strong, stronger than you give yourself credit for. I hope you won’t need it, but now you have a way to defend yourself, just in case.”

Becca’s eyes widen as she feels the weight of the knife in her hand, but she nods, a flicker of determination sparking in her gaze.

“I won’t let Klsp intimidate me, Pyne. I’ll do whatever it takes to stay safe.”

As I give her a supportive nod, my throat tightens with emotion.

“Yes. You will, sugarplum. You’re a fighter, just like me. We’ll get through this, one challenge at a time. And when it’s all over, when you’re finally free, I’ll spend every moment making sure you never have to fight for anything ever again.”

Becca surges forward, capturing my lips in a searing kiss that says everything we don’t have time to put into words. I pour every ounce of my affection into this kiss, letting it sear into my memory like a brand as I tuck her close.

When we finally break apart, breathless and trembling, I rest my forehead against hers, savoring one last moment of closeness before the chaos descends.

“Stay sharp, stay safe, and don’t let that scaly bastard get under your skin. You’re the Love Muffin Queen, remember? Show him what you’re made of.”

Becca laughs, a watery but genuine sound that eases some of the tension in my chest. “And you, gladiator, don’t go falling for M’berra’s feline wiles. Remember who your real partner is.” She pauses a moment, then the gold in her eyes sparks like the sunrise as she adds, “Both in baking and in bed.”

I grin, nipping playfully at her bottom lip. “As if I could ever forget, sugarplum. You’re the only sweet treat I crave.”

With one last lingering caress, we force ourselves to step back, to put on a brave face as we turn to meet our new partners. Klsp leers at Becca with undisguised hunger, his tongue flicking out obscenely.

M’berra slinks to my side with a predatory grace that sets my teeth on edge. But instead of allowing myself to be led away, I hold up a hand, stopping the feline in her tracks. “Excuse me, M’berra. I need a word with Arisha.”

Ignoring the irritated flick of M’berra’s tail, I stride purposefully toward Arisha who must be having so much fun watching our misery that she hasn’t left yet. My mind is racing with the sudden realization. Why didn’t I do this days ago? As a member of the Galaxy Gladiators, I’ve accumulated a fair amount of credits. Surely, that must be enough to buy Becca’s freedom and put an end to this madness.

Arisha raises a perfectly groomed eyebrow as I approach, her lips curling into a smirk. “Something on your mind, gladiator? Don’t tell me you’re having second thoughts about your new partner already.”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the negotiation ahead. “I want to buy Becca’s freedom. Name your price. I’ll pay it.”

Arisha’s smirk falters for a moment, replaced by a flicker of surprise. “I’m afraid Becca is out of your price range, gladiator. Her value as a contestant on this show far exceeds any credits you might have saved up.”

I refuse to back down, my resolve only strengthening in the face of her dismissal. “I’ll give you whatever it takes. My savings, the purse you’ve already promised me for the bake-off, and if that’s not enough, I’m sure my captain will give me an advance. Just tell me what you require to set Becca free.”

For a long moment, Arisha studies me, her eyes calculating as she weighs my offer. Just as a glimmer of hope sparks inside me, she shakes her head, her expression hardening.

“I’m sorry, Pyne, but I can’t accept your proposal. You and Becca are viewer favorites, and if I let you buy her out, I know you’ll both quit the show. We simply can’t have that, now, can we?”

Her words hit me like a physical blow, knocking the air from my lungs. I want to argue, to rage against the injustice of it all, but I know it’s futile. Arisha holds all the cards, and she’s made it clear that she won’t fold, no matter how high I raise the stakes.

So I force myself to nod, to keep my chin up and my back straight, even as my heart shatters into a million jagged pieces.

“I understand,” I manage, my voice sounding hollow even to my own ears. “Thank you for your time.”

As I turn to walk away, I catch a glimpse of Becca across the room, her eyes wide with concern as she watches our exchange. I try to muster a reassuring smile, to convey with a single look that nothing is wrong, and she doesn’t have to worry. But the weight of my failure presses down on me like a physical force, threatening to crush me beneath its unrelenting pressure.

I take my place beside M’berra, my movements stiff and mechanical as I struggle to maintain my composure. The feline shoots me a sidelong glance, her eyes glinting with both interest and disdain.

“Trouble in paradise, gladiator?” Her voice drips with mock sympathy.

I barely register her words, my mind consumed with Becca, of the impossible choice that lies ahead. M’berra steps inappropriately close, her fur grazing my skin, as she purrs, “I’ll collect my things and join you in our room. Then we’ll have dinner. I imagine you’ll need your energy for what will happen later…”