Chapter Eighteen

I closed my eyes in despair. We had been hunting Jedrick for eighteen months and we were always a step behind the Tuxrai slavers. It was getting harder and harder to link with him. It was as if my Jedrick was locked away and a feral beast had taken his place. The beast liked killing and he was making his Tuxrai owners very wealthy. I had seen vids of his fights, and they were brutal and bloody. Every low life in the galaxy flocked to the arenas to watch a Coletti battle commander fight everything from a prehistoric wolf to a horde of enormous spiders to monstrous reptiles and other champion gladiators.

Esme snuggled under my chin. "No cry. No cry."

"Why are you crying?" Detja demanded.

I didn't even bother to wipe away my tears. I was losing him. "My link with Jedrick is getting weaker and weaker. He's becoming feral."

"How long has this been going on?"

"Since his last fight."

"Zarek, I need you. Now!" Detja said urgently.

He abruptly appeared in blood splattered armor and a sword in one hand. "This better be good. We found a Tuxrai encampment."

I blinked at his aura of sheer menace. "Jedrick is turning feral."

Something terrifying flickered in Zarek's eyes. "That cannot happen."

"I agree. I will not lose my great-granddaughter," Detja stated firmly.

Hope flared to life. "How do we stop it?"

Zarek sheathed his sword. "By making Jedrick remember who he is."

"How? I talk to Jedrick every day. I reassure him we are looking for him and how much I love him. It's not making a difference."

"The process will be painful," Detja interjected.

"I don't care. I'll do whatever is necessary."

Esme bounced on my shoulder. "Me help. Me help."

"No, little one, you cannot." Detja plucked her off my shoulder. "I need you to break your link with Zadie."

"No."

"I don't want you getting hurt Esme. Please. We need to save Jedrick."

"No like."Her presence in my mind vanished.

I didn't like it either. Taking a deep breath, I turned to Zarek. "I'm ready."

I reeled as every bone, and every muscle in my body screamed in protest at Zarek's abrupt invasion. Millions of images and memories suddenly spun through my head and were forced down my link with Jedrick.

The beast bellowed with rage and fought to sever our bond.

"No! You aren't going to win. Jedrick is mine."

"Imp?" Jedrick's voice was a faint whisper.

"Yes, it's me. I want you to fight as hard as you can, Jedrick. You are stronger than the beast and never forget I love you."I held on as Zarek poured more images into his mind. "You are not a trained animal. You are the most feared Coletti Battle Commander in the galaxy. Remember that. Remember me."

Jedrick exhaled. "Zadie, my stubborn little thief."

"Yeah, I am, and I'm not taking any of that stuff back. Do you hear me? Not one item." A crazy mixture of hope and determination steadied me. Jedrick was slowly getting his memory back, but he still sounded confused.

"Discuss later. What happened?"

"You were hit by an electromagnetic blast and the Tuxrai slavers took you. You have become the star of their gladiator games."

"The arenas," Jedrick growled.

Zarek interjected, "Do you know where you are Battle Commander?"

"Hot. Gray sand. Caged Macropus."

I caught a glimpse of what looked like Earth kangaroos except instead of skin they had rust-colored scales, deadly claws, and a mouth full of sharp teeth.

"Wulf just received intel that games are being held in the northern section of Cygnus's Zhou desert,"Zarek responded. "Play their trained animal until we arrive and take care. It is the Macropus's mating season."

"Yes, my lord."

I gave Jedrick a mental kiss. "We are six hours away. Don't you dare die on me."

"The beast is strong,"Jedrick gritted.

"You're the Battle Commander. Bend the beast to your will."

"Yes, my lady." His mind gently brushed against mine.

Esme perched on my nose. "Him better?"

"Yes, he is."I blew her fur out of my eyes.

"Me talk. Him listen. Know not alone."

I kissed her furry head. "You are such a good girl."

"Me know." Esme linked with Jedrick and began chattering away.

My eyes widened in horror when I realized Esme was telling him about all the stuff we had stolen and how I had been chased by a robotic guard dog. I started to break their link, but Jedrick was listening to her babble and asking intelligent questions.

Zarek gave Detja the stink eye. "You are returning everything."

"Am I?" A challenging smile formed on Detja's mouth.

I hurriedly left the room before they got frisky again.