Torment by Tana Stone

Author:Tana Stone [Stone, Tana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Broadmoor Books
Published: 2020-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nineteen

When Vrax recognized the alien who’d been in front of him at the slave market, he almost laughed. A sheen of sweat covered his bare chest, and Vrax could almost smell the fear rolling off him. He could certainly sense it, even if the creature’s hand holding a blade didn’t give him away with its tremble. The alien cocked his head to one side as he walked closer, his eyes finally flaring with recognition.

“I am glad to see you are still alive,” Vrax said, his voice barely carrying over the din of the crowd. “Should we give them a good show?”

The nod was slight, and the hint of a relieved smile reached no one but him. They circled each other a few times, Vrax directing him ever so subtly with flicks of his wrist. The dust kicked up from the ground and settled a fine layer over their bare feet.

When he lunged forward, he let his opponent dodge to one side, asking as their heads passed, “What happens if you lose, my friend?”

The alien flicked his gaze toward the tunnel he’d come from. “They send out the next one.”

“You are not punished?” Vrax asked.

“No more than usual.”

“Roll left,” Vrax said out of the corner of his mouth, swiping his blades through the air and giving what he hoped was a menacing growl. The stands shook as the crowd jumped up and down, bellowing their approval.

Vrax’s stomach clenched as he noticed the fresh scars on the creature’s back as he came out of the roll. No doubt made by a whip of some sort.

“I fight for a share of the purse. Move to your right.” Vrax said, his blades slicing through the air when the alien had just been standing. “So my mate and I can escape from Kurril.”

“I will help you. And if you defeat me, my owner will lose.” A grin quirked at the corners of his mouth. “That will be its own reward.”

“You have my thanks,” Vrax said. “What is your name?”

“Zarda. And you have mine for not killing me.”

Vrax shrugged. “I do not kill those who don’t deserve it.”

“You are right. You do not belong on Kurril.”

Vrax motioned him to come at him. “Slash at me with your blade. I will dodge to the right.”

Zarda did, and Vrax threw himself to the side right before the blade cut through the air next to him. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Vrax thought how fickle they were.

He decided to show them just what a barbarian he was, bending low and putting his weapons down as he pounded his hands on the hard packed dirt. The crowd responded, and the resulting screams made the earth vibrate.

Zarda charged at him and Vrax scooped up his blades, spinning around and slashing the air. More wild cheers.

Vrax glanced over at Tori, but couldn’t spot her over the chaos of the crowd. He’d had to close his mind off since the thrum of the crowd’s emotions was overwhelming. She’d seen him fight enough that she would know he was staging an act for the spectators.

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