Page 2 of Rogue: Planet Athion
“Already been there, my prickly. Or do you need a reminder of what a man’s cock feels like inside you?”
He was no man. He was a monster, one of the Trad that had been attacking my world for years. The same Trads that had reaped Earth of women in their prime. I’d been one of those women once, but now … I shoved the thoughts away along with the memories of what had been done to me all those months ago. They wouldn’t serve me right now.
“Remember how it felt, Rogue?” he pressed. “I remember. I remember how you bucked beneath me.”
The bastard. My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. Memories of his hands on me, of his breath on my face. I’d been disorientated and weak from the transport, still adjusting to the drug, and he’d taken advantage. But I wasn’t that woman any longer. I set the bowl on the desk and slowly turned to face him, allowing my lips to curl slightly in my favored sadistic smile.
“And do you remember how it feels to have two balls?” I kept my eyes locked with his.
He blinked sharply, and his sneer level dropped a notch. Yes, I’d taken something from him too. He hated me for it, but he wouldn’t act on that hatred. He’d seen me in action in the arena. He knew what I was now, and damn did it feel good to see the spark of fear in his eyes.
He composed his features quickly. “I wouldn’t get so cocky, Rogue. You may have survived the last three months, but today is another day, and guess what, you’re up against House Zantar this week.” He leaned in, a gleam of glee in his wicked eyes. “The Pack takes no prisoners. You won’t be able to berserker your way out of that fight.”
Nausea rolled up my throat. House Zantar, the most vicious team on Vesper V. They called them the Pack because they hunted like wolves—they cornered, and they attacked, and then they played with their prey. House Ryzer, my house, had succeeded in avoiding a match with Zantar since I’d been here, but it had only been a matter of time before we drew the short straw.
I’d seen them in action when they’d gone up against House Axar. I’d smelled the testosterone, the copper scent of blood, and the foul smell of shit. House Zantar housed no humans or Athions; they were comprised purely of criminal Trads—the scum of their kind—and these scum enjoyed both meting out pain and taking it. Conversely, House Ryzer was comprised of three Trads, two human males, an Athion male, and a human female. Me. There had been more of us, but they were dead now.
The house master, Eldyck Ryzer, wouldn’t have entered us into the match lightly. What was his play? Weasel face would know.
“What’s the barter?” Because it was always about goods, services, or credits.
Marick’s mouth was a smug smile. “Rumor is Zantar’s team is getting antsy, they need a little release of the recreational kind.”
Ice trickled through my veins. “Ryzer wouldn’t barter me. I’m his best fighter.”
Marick snorted. “Why do you think he said yes? He expects you to win. The fool.” There was real derision in his eyes. “The drug may have turned you into a freak, but you’re still human.” He tapped his forehead. “Up here, you’re still weak.”
Like fuck would I let him mess with my head. “What does Ryzer get if I win?”
“The pack alpha.”
“Vex?”
“That’s right. The one and only.”
He leaned in. “I hope you lose.”
My eyes narrowed to slits. “You’re a disloyal bastard, you know that?”
“And you’re nothing.” His smile brimming with satisfaction, he strode away.
I turned my back on the door, hands braced on the desk. The Pack, the fucking Pack. The leading contenders and my worst nightmare. Being the only female fighter sucked ass.
There’d been four human females to begin with. Four of us mutated by the fertility drug the Trads administered to the human females they kidnapped from Earth. We were meant to be incubators for their offspring, but we’d ended up being rendered infertile. Our bodies had been changed—made stronger, more resilient, useless to them when it came to procreation but perfect for recreation.
I’d arrived on Vesper V along with four others, and one of us had been given to each of the four houses. Zantar’s female had been dead within a week. Since then, they’d bartered for and won the other two. If they were bartering for me, it meant the other two were also dead.
Bile burned the back of my throat. The Pack was eight strong with the alpha, Vex, at the head, but matches were usually four on four. Losing was not an option.
2
Bowl empty, face washed, and morning business complete, I waited by the doors. Any second now …. With a whirr and a click, my prison unlocked, and the door trundled open. I stepped out into the corridor beyond, sealed now that the fighters had been let out of their pens. Up and down the corridor my house members stretched and stepped out of their cages.
Marlon, the lithe, powerful Athion in the cell to my left, joined me with a lift of his chin, his amber eyes warm in his blue-tinged face. He was dressed in the customary black pants and black tee that were the color of our house.
“Looking rested,” he said coolly.
Ouch, the warm eyes meant nothing if his tone was chilly. He was obviously still pissed at me for the berserker antics in the arena a week ago.
