(Zorya)
To my utter amazement, Caliath let me go.
He called Jazian to take me back to my room.
Trembling, I quickly left before he changed his mind and put me to the same fate as those poor slaves.
I stole one last glance at Xalik.
Canara was busy smooching him.
But his right eye drifted towards me, flickering with his deep sorrows.
The Alphas had chosen more slaves to abuse.
Some were using whips, others brutally torturing using sex toys and wine.
With a shudder and heart beating with resentment, I left this forsaken place with Jazian.
Inside my room, I changed into a nightgown and cried, curling up into my bed.
The silver collar against my skin was a permanent reminder of how insignificant my life was.
I hugged my wrist to my chest.
The butterfly rested against my heart.
A hope clung to me that this wouldn’t be the end of my life.
One wrong move and he would kill me without a second thought.
With tears clinging to my eyelids, I drifted off into slumber.
I woke up to a hand on my mouth, stifling my scream and a warm body pressing against my back.
“Ssssh!” He whispered into my ear like a hushed murmur.
My stiffened body relaxed against his.
His satin-soft lips placed a chaste kiss on my ear.
His robust arms tightly wrapped around my waist.
How was he here?
What if someone saw him?
What if someone walked inside my room?
There were no locks on the inside of the room, only outside.
My room was always locked from outside by Jazian or Beta Hadis.
How did Xalik acquire a key?
The fear of getting caught made my limbs numb, and yet the assurance his body provided wouldn’t let me push him away or budge.
Quietly, without making a sound, I turned in his hold, and he let me.
I found his face in the faint light of my room.
His thick, long eyelashes veiled his wistful eyes.
Words weren’t needed between us as he held me and we stared.
“How are you here?” I mimed the words, and he ruefully smiled in return, not answering me.
Instead, his lips came to rest on my forehead as if seeking peace.
The feel of them against my skin sent waves of bliss through my broken body. This chapter was copied from novelping.com without permission.
We stayed like that until I fell asleep in his arms.
When I woke up again, Xalik was gone, and I was alone in the bed.
Was it a dream?
Or was he really here?
My hand went to my forehead, where he had kissed me.
A smile spread across my lips because I could still feel him there.
I got up and washed myself.
This was the beginning of another torturous day.
The semi-finals were to be held today.
I waited in my room but was only delivered food.
I wasn’t allowed to go to the Clinic.
As the evening hours melded into night,
Beta Hadis came to get me.
He held a red satin slip gown in his hands.
“Wear this.” He shoved it in my hands.
What new hell was this?
Instead of white today, I was being asked to wear red.
Was his master going to have me parade around?
With muddled thoughts, I went to the bathroom and changed.
He took me to the special enclosure where the Alphas and the elites sat.
Today I wasn’t going to sit with the medical team.
I had to be beside Caliath.
He wore a slate grey suit.
His murky brown hair was gelled back.
A predatory smile crawled onto his lips at seeing me.
I bowed.
“Master!”
“Come, sit with me.” He patted the place beside him, and I obeyed.
The champagne flutes and trays of entrees were carried around.
Caliath picked up an extra flute and handed it to me.
“Drink.
Tonight is going to be special.” With trembling fingers, I took the glass from him.
Canara sat with another Alpha today.
My eyes wandered for Xalik, but I couldn’t see him anywhere.
I took a small sip of the champagne.
Let the bubbly drink calm my senses.
Caliath’s greedy eyes stayed on me, like an X-ray machine; his gaze slithered to my bare legs and cleavage, making disgust crawl along my skin.
What was he up to?
Why the special treatment?
My attention was diverted when the announcement for the beginning of semi-finals was made.
Shade Vs Baram.
Baram was the one who had killed that innocent boy slave after brutally raping him.
Xalik emerged and prowled inside the cage.
As usual, his presence eclipsed the world for me.
Yesterday night’s events flashed across my brain, and the tips of my ears burnt remembering how he had taken me in his arms and kissed my forehead.
His lips seemed to still linger there, the touch so soft, so full of meaning.
Right now, his face was void of emotions, and his eyes were hyper-focused on Baram with murderous intentions in his gaze.
People chanted his name behind him.
Canara straightened up, her eyes fully focused on her warrior.
Xalik had donned black glovelets.
He menacingly snapped his fingers, standing tall like the man who owned this pit.
Baram raised his arms towards the crowd.
His fans loudly cheered.
Bets were placed.
Even Caliath and Canara placed bets, secretly writing the name on paper and handing it over to the slave girl collecting the bets.
I could only imagine the amount of money they must be winning with every battle.
“Welcome to the semi-finals.
In the right corner we have Shade representing the Night Viper Pack.
Standing at six feet four inches, weighing 190 lbs.”
Xalik only grunted at his introduction.
Baram was introduced too.
He grinned like a maniac, prancing inside the metal cage.
Xalik remained in his corner, merely watching him like a hawk.
The drum pounded three times, declaring the beginning of the match.
I closed my eyes and sent a silent prayer for Xalik.
“Be safe!” I whispered to the winds.
My words seemed to have been carried over to him.
For a brief second, his eyes lifted to find me, and then he pounced on his opponent.