Page 24 of Chained to the Champion
A smile stretched, all needle-sharp teeth. “Ah. The incident. With your … property.” He settled back, enjoying this. “My guards report you claim an alien creature that was caught trespassing.”
“Your guards gossip like hatchlings.” He gave no flicker of reaction to that. “But yes. The human is mine.”
“Curious.” His gaze probed, peeled back layers. “I've never heard of one from Scalvaris to take slaves. Your lot are so critical of our honored traditions.”
“That creature is no person.” The lie felt like swallowing sand. “It merely serves a purpose.”
He studied me. Looking for cracks. For the truth I hid. He addressed the attendant at the door. “Bring it. I wish to see this … pet.”
Pet. The word ignited fury, a primal roar clawing up my throat.
“Is this standard procedure?” My voice scraped, rough metal on stone.
“For unusual cases?” His smile widened, venomous. “Absolutely. Is there a problem, Scalvaris?”
The trap. Sprung. Refusal meant suspicions confirmed. Compliance risked Vega. Hell.
“No problem.” I bit the words off.
The attendant vanished down a side passage. Silence stretched, thick with menace. I stood carved from stone, refusing him the satisfaction of seeing the war raging beneath my scales. If he hurt her … if they'd harmed her further …
“Tell me, Zarvash.” He leaned forward, heavy forearms on the desk. Testing. Probing. “Does Darrokar sanction this little adventure?”
Politics. Allegiance. Always. “I answer to the Blade Council and my own judgment. There are no laws against entering this tournament. I've done so before. This year, I plan to win.”
“Ambitious.” His tongue flicked, tasting the air again. Seeking the flavor of my words.
Before I could form a reply that wasn't a snarl, the attendant returned, dragging Vega behind him.
My vision went red. A tremor started deep in my chest, threatening to erupt. Bound. Hands lashed tightly before her. Dried blood crusted her jaw where some bastard had struck her. Filth smeared her clothes, the stink of the cells clinging to her.
But her eyes. Gods, her eyes still burned. Fierce. Unbroken.
She saw me. Something flickered across her face, relief? Accusation? Gone before I could grasp it, masked by defiant stillness.
I wanted to rip the room apart. Tear the Master's throat out with my bare claws. Snatch her away, cleanse the filth of their touch from her skin. The urge was physical agony, a blade twisting behind my ribs.
Instead: stone. Cold indifference carved onto my face.
“So.” The Master rose, circling Vega. Assessing livestock. “This is the pet.”
I wanted to flay the word from his tongue. “Yes.” Voice flat. I had to keep any emotion out of it. She had to just be athingright now or we were both dead.
He reached out. One claw hovered near the line of her throat. I forced stillness. Forced control.
Don't react. Don't snarl. Don't give him the satisfaction.
The rage boiled, scalding, just beneath the surface.
“Spirited.” He observed, gaze sliding back to me. “Needs a firmer hand, perhaps.”
Vega's eyes met mine. A warning. Understanding. We were balanced on a knife edge.
He circled back, posture radiating expectation. “Prove it.”
My jaw tightened. “Prove what?”
He gestured towards Vega, a flick of his wrist. “That you control it.”
