Page 73 of My Wild Pet

“Why didn’t you?”

“I was foolishly proud. Proud of what we’d done, of the UCs we’d won. Aefre lets me keep them. Not every trainer does that. I believed at the time that this pet life was fine. That it was enough.”

“What changed?”

Gabriel doesn’t answer right away. His hand goes to his collar, his fingers brushing over it lightly. “I haven’t told you the truth about what happened to Fifi,” he says, his voice strained. “There was a challenge called the Bond Breaker. We’d never done it before. We weren’t prepared. They… the judges made it seem like it was real in the same way the holographs we face in the language learning program are real. Like we were trapped, like she was in danger, but it was all holograms. At least, I thought it was. These things…” He taps the collar. “They make you feel and see things you’d never come up with on your own. It can be confusing.”

“What happened?” I whisper, not sure I want to know.

“I wasn’t prepared for the deceptions I’d face in the Bond Breaker,” he says, his voice cracking slightly. “I thought it was a trick. But it wasn’t. She died, Briar. And I left her to die. She begged me to save her in that arena and not only did I let her die, I was given both of our prize money, but I didn’t save her. I should have saved her.”

I stare at him, the weight of his words settling over me. “You left her to die?”

“I thought she was an illusion. I thought the real Fifi must be somewhere in the challenge fighting her way out just like I was. But it was the real Fifi in front of me. Do you believe me?” His amber eyes bore into mine seeking forgiveness. But I don’t know if I can give it.

Would he leave me to die for UCs?Am I here now with him only because Fifi died in that arena and it’s her money we are paying off the attendants with to have sex. That sounds terrible, when I think it. Suddenly, the weight of all of this bears down on me and I look away from him to gather my thoughts.

“I wouldn’t leave you, Briar. You have to believe me. I didn’t want Fifi to die. I was so confused. This place,” he motions his arms around wildly. “This fucking place. Nothing is real that Aefre doesn’t say is real.”

“Am I real?” I ask.

“You’re the only thing I know thatisreal, Briar. You’re so fucking real, and that’s why I want out,” Gabriel says, drawing me into a kiss. I taste the salt of his silent tears on my lips. “I swear, if you and I ever face the Bond Breaker, I’ll know it’s you. We have a connection—un lien—Fifi and I never shared. Maybe that’s why I failed her in the Bond Breaker. Maybe… maybe I should have known.”

I touch his cheek. “You feel real to me too.” Hesitating a moment, I ask, “If we win the Grand Championships and earn all those UCs, are you still willing to risk our future with this stranger, Gael?”

“Oui, Briar.I want freedom—with you. We deserve more than this endless cycle of training, collars, and cages. We deserve to decide what is real and what is not.”

I pull back slightly, memories of my time with other aliens swirling in my head. “I’m afraid,” I admit. “Aefre is… predictable. Safe, in his own way. He’s neverreallyhurt me. Out there, everything’s uncertain.”

“Nothing about what we’ve lived through is truly safe. It’s just… familiar. We can do better than familiar. We can have a life that’s our own. But I understand, I was where you are last year, so I’m asking you to be brave and trust me.”

I close my eyes. “I… I’ll try to be brave.”

His hands find mine. “Nous le ferons ensemble,” he promises. “We’ll do it together.”

CHAPTER 39

Gabriel

I can see the Celestial Spire ahead of us. It’s crystalline towers catch the pale lavender light of the twin moons, refracting it like a living, breathing entity. As we get closer, the whole place seems to pulse with the excitement of the Championships. This will be my fourth time here, and I never get used to the sight.

The grand staircase leading up to the entrance is a monument. A performance piece. A reminder of when humans were first yanked from Earth and paraded around as novelties in this galaxy. The steps are beautifully carved with statues of humans who fought in those first pet challenges, but they’re also a grotesque testament to the horrors of countless human lives lost. Pets dragged here as entertainment for aliens and the ghosts of their suffering still haunt every last stone on every step up to the hotel’s lobby.

“We’re here,” Aefre announces unnecessary.

I glance at him. He’s in his element.

The transport hisses open, and Briar steps out first. She moves tentatively, as she takes in all the people, the towering spires, and the impressive staircase. She doesn’t carry the weightof this place the way I do. Not yet. She has nothing but curiosity on her mind now.

I follow her, but I stop when I hear the roaring alien crowd. It hits me like a punch to the stomach.

“Ember” Aefre’s voice pulls me back into the here and now. “You can do this.”

His words are meant to steady me. But they don’t.

I nod anyway, without looking at him. My gaze is fixed on the staircase. Memories flood my mind unbidden, the alien crowds, the adrenaline, the victories. Fifi. Her laughter, her determination, her absence. The crushing realization that I killed her.

I hate this place. I hate what it took from me.

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