Page 10 of Rogue: Planet Athion
4
Sleep was an elusive bitch, and while everyone else slumbered, I paced my cell. Press ups and sit ups had done nothing but get the blood pumping through my veins hard enough to make me even more alert. The twist and burn inside me wasn’t anything new. It was desire and need, and it would be gone in a day or so, but while it lasted, it left me on edge and doubting my every thought when it came to the guys.
I passed the bars on my door to see Xavier propped up against his, watching me.
I sauntered up to mine. “Creepy much?”
“How long has it been?” he asked softly.
“Five months since I saw home, three months fighting.”
His gaze fell to my lips. “I know that. Marlon told me. I meant how long since you had sex.”
My scalp prickled, and my chest grew warm. “Excuse me?”
He shrugged. “You seem frustrated.”
It wasn’t his fault. If he knew what I’d been through, if he knew about Marick, he wouldn’t have asked that question.
“I’m not frustrated.”
His jaw clenched. “Yes. You are. I can smell it from here, and I’m sure your friend Marlon can too; it may not affect him the same way due to his carnal preferences, but he can smell it no doubt, and the Trads … I’m actually impressed by their restraint.”
What the fuck was he talking about?
“And this Pack Marlon was telling me about …”
“Want me.”
He sighed heavily, his gaze flicking from side to side. “The fight could be anytime?”
“Yes.”
He cursed softly. “Who gets to decide who fights?”
“Marick, the house manager.”
Xavier leaned against his bars, his gaze intense. “Well, let’s hope he chooses me to go in with you.”
I arched a brow. “You a fighter?”
He offered me a half smile that lit up his pale blue eyes with an inner fire. “Only for things I believe are worth fighting for.”
Was he flirting with me? It seemed kind of tasteless under the circumstances, but then why was there a frisson of excitement skating up my spine. Urgh. I turned away from the bars, ignoring my throbbing pulse and the sudden stab of desire that the curl of his mouth had elicited.
This wasn’t real. This need wasn’t real. “Go to sleep, Xavier. Get your rest while you can.”
My bunk claimed me, and I closed my eyes and shut out the world, and eventually the sweet ache faded, and sleep claimed me.
* * *
There was no doubt in my mind when Marick appeared outside my cell that today was the day. His sneer said it all as the guards passed out the gruel, but he didn’t speak until we had our breakfast.
“I have some important news for you today.” His voice echoed around us through speakers built into our cells. “Two pieces of important news, to be precise. The first is that due to a shortfall in manpower the Quad Council has decided that fighters will be used for labor on a rotational basis.”
No one said anything, but I could feel the questions in the air. Labor meant getting out of the cell block. It meant mingling with the other workers … It meant possible escape.
My thoughts must have shown on my face because Marick’s sneer intensified. “Don’t get any ideas. There is no escape from Vesper. There are drones everywhere and guards at every corner. You will be escorted to your work sector and supervised at all times.” He paced back and forth, hands clasped behind his back. The second piece of news …” He turned his head to look at me, his thin lips curling in a smirk. “In two hours, you’ll be taken to the arena for a match against Zander House. Mr. Ryzer is eager for a win, and I’ve taken much care in picking the team to represent him.” His gaze fell on me. “Jurak, Anton, Xavier, and Rogue. You’ll be fighting today.”
