(Zorya)
I staggered away from Xalik.
To my relief, it was Ashlia.
She caught my eye.
I knew she saw my hand lingering on his back.
“All done?” She questioned.
“Yes.” I stepped further back, and Xalik turned around.
His face went rigid.
The smile he had been carrying, the softness of his features, completely vanished as if it had never existed.
Stunned, I understood that the part of himself he had shared with me never surfaced in front of anyone else.
He crossed his arms and distanced himself.
Ashlia moved closer and accepted the tablet from me, observing the results.
I pointed out the temperature.
“It’s normal.
His has always been a bit on the higher range,” she clarified.
He had been correct.
“I will make the complete reports and print them out.
We are done for now.” Ashlia professionally smiled.
He sternly nodded.
His eyes wavered towards me and softened for just a mini-second.
“Good luck!” I mimed at him.
He nodded once.
The door opened again, and Sentry Jazian appeared.
“Is Shade done with his check-up?” He asked, eyeing us.
“Yes,” Ashlia answered.
Shade moved silently, like a panther, and left with Jazian.
The door closed, and I slumped on the chair nearby with a thudding heart.
Ashlia began writing something on the paper before turning around and handing it to me with a grim expression.
“Keep your distance from Xalik.
He is dangerous, and he belongs to Vega Canara.
She will literally peel off the skin from your hands if she suspects you unnecessarily touched him.
I saw you holding hands the other day.”
If that day he hadn’t taken the brunt of the punishment, I don’t know if I would have survived in that room.
I didn’t want to accept the truth, but I knew he had let her rape him instead, in that wounded condition.
Taking the pen, I only jotted down one word.
“Okay!” And turned the paper towards her.
She smiled and took it from me, rolling it up.
She placed it inside her mouth and, to my utmost surprise, ate it.
“No evidence,” she mimed at me, and I nodded with a little smile erupting from my lips.
“Let’s prepare the reports and hand them over.” Both of us exited the medical bay to print out these reports and submit them.
***
At night, I returned to my room.
Someone had brought me food and fresh clothes: same white gowns, three of them.
Picking them up, I was about to place them in my cupboard when a rolled note fell from inside them, as if someone had intentionally placed it there.
The paper was white and seemed to have been taken from a medical pad.
Did Ashlia leave me a note?
But I was with her the entire time.
Bending down, I picked up the note and curiously unrolled it.
Stylish cursive handwriting stared back at me.
“Zorya….thanks for taking care of me, especially for singing in the most melodious voice I have ever heard.
You brought me peace when I needed it.
I ought to be your peace and protector when I can be…”
Xalik, it was from him.
How did he manage to slip a note into my room?
Was he even allowed to roam freely in this place?
What if he got captured?
The thought terrified me, and yet the note put a smile on my face.
I couldn’t help but read and reread it.
The tips of my fingers grazed over his writing.
I didn’t know where to hide it so it wouldn’t be discovered.
I didn’t have the heart to destroy it.
After thinking for a few minutes, I neatly folded it.
Picking up the mattress, I hid the note under it in a small nook with a simple prayer that it wouldn’t be found. Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Lying down in bed, I couldn’t get him out of my mind.
His gentle touches, the tenderness of his gaze and the warmth of his words put a smile on my face as I drifted off to sleep.
***
The tournament started the next day.
Beta Hadis came to collect me from my room.
“Alpha is waiting.” The very thought of seeing that monster again sent a shiver running through me.
But I had no choice.
Quietly, I followed Beta Hadis.
He took me towards another room.
There were cameras in the hallway and more sentries posted than before.
Every step was being watched, and I was only thankful that there were only hidden microphones in our rooms and not cameras.
Hadis and I arrived outside a room with a golden doorknob and the same Sigil of their pack.
One of the sentries opened the door, and he grabbed my arm, almost knocking my breath out of my lungs.
He sternly spoke before taking me inside.
“Keep your eyes down and don’t speak until you are spoken to.”
“Yes, Beta Hadis.”
We entered the room.
The musky tang of cigar smoke and expensive perfumes filled the air.
The light was dim red, and all I could see were polished black shoes and gold attire.
Women and men kneeling on the floor—slaves like me, to be precise.
Some had long chains tied to their ankles and collars.
Barely clad in white clothes, desperation clung to their eyes as some gazes found me.
A hush fell over me when I silently and obediently made my way to Caliath.
Snugly, he was sprawled on the sofa with his long legs spread.
I didn’t have the strength to even stare into his eyes.
I came to a halt in front of him with my trembling hands clasped and eyes low.
“Kneel by my feet,” his lazy command came, and I obeyed.
“Good.” He placed his free hand on my shoulder.
The coldness of his touch seeped into my skin, making me shudder.
Blue and gold were the colours he had chosen to wear.
There was a hierarchy of colours, and everyone wore them according to them.
“Let’s get this party started so we can begin the tournament,” Canara’s voice came from my right, and I couldn’t help but glance.
Xalik was standing right behind her with his buffed arms crossed and eyes like daggers staring at me, devoid of any warmth.
My heart trembled in my chest as our gazes remained locked.