Page 39 of Urban Gladiator

“Let’s go.” I headed out of the tent without a backward glance.

Simon was at my side. “And you really think you’ll be able to let her go? You just took a man’s head off because of what he said about Ember, and you haven’t even claimed her yet.”

“And I’m not going to.”

Simon rolled his eyes in exasperation. “Your funeral.”

We searched outside the tent for Ember’s trail. I picked it up first. And then we were off, racing through the trees. My only thought was reaching Ember in time.

15

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

I mumbled to myself as I awoke in a stone cell with metal bars thicker than my thigh. It was like the Goddess was pissed at me. And perhaps she was, because I had experienced the worst luck ever attempting to escape Avalon.

The cell was huge. As was every other feature from the toilet to the makeshift bed. The walls were slate gray and looked like the stone had been scooped out, making the cell circular in design. I ran my hand over the stone. It was as smooth as glass.

A fucking giant captured me and shoved me in a cell. I came to briefly on the way here before he knocked me out again. His home was in a cave in the side of a mountain, far away from all the other tribes of supernaturals, away from any potential rescue. Not that anyone was coming for me—except for Rowan. And he wasn’t my savior, but my doom. But I didn’t know how much the giant’s smell would cover up my scent.

“Are you finally awake? You’ve been out all night. I was getting worried he killed you by accident,” a deep male voice asked. It came from the left of my cell.

“Hello? Who are you? And where are you?” Another night had passed with me unaware.

“Ian. And I’m in the cell next to yours. What’s your name, lass?” There were undertones of an accent, a smooth brogue in his voice.

“Ember. How long have you been held captive?”

“A bloody week, lass. But I don’t believe the giant has good intentions for either of us. He kept mumbling about finding his female to bear him sons.”

“Oh, sweet goddess! What is with every male I meet lately? I need to get out of here.” The thought of that hulking brute trying to beget offspring on me made me sick. If his cock was proportional to the rest of him, it’d be at least a foot long and thicker than my arm. And while I was curious about the size. I didn’t have any desire to experience what a massive brute like him considered great sex.

He’d split me in half with his dick.

I could see it now. Entering the hereafter and meeting the goddess after dying from being split apart by a giant’s massive dick.

I suppose there were worse ways to go, but still, it wasn’t the way I wanted to go out. His brute strength alone could end my sorry existence in a heartbeat.

“Good luck with that. I’ve tried, and even in griffin form, I’m no match for these bars. The giant built them too thick.”

“I can get out of here. It might take me a hot minute, but I can do it.” I glanced through the thin space between bars, searching for the giant in question. The cells appeared to be at the end of a long hall.

“You can? How?” There was excitement in his voice.

“Magic. I’ll melt the bars. I’ve done it before, but given the size of the bars, it will take me longer. And if that thing comes back before I can melt them all—”

“What you need is a lookout, lass. I humbly offer my services in exchange for you getting me out of here as well.”

“How do I know I can trust you?” My ability to trust anyone was weak at best.

“You don’t. But I’ll take it one step further. If you can get us out of these cells, I’ll fly you anywhere you want to go.”

“Really?” I asked. Being flown to the edge of Avalon would expedite my escape. I’d get ahead of Rowan. And instead of remembering the horrors he visited upon me, I could remember that, for a time, I experienced the best sex of my life.

“I swear it to you, lass, on me mum’s grave.”

“Fine. I agree. Where is the giant now?”

“He left the cave a short while ago. I’m not sure how long he will be gone. It varies day by day.”

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