Page 110 of Galactic Sentinels: Vol 2
“Seriously though, how are you feeling?”
“What kind of stupid question is that? We’ve been roasting for hours. How do you think I feel?”
“Let me remind you—I’m a poor Human. No fur to block the sun. Look at me: scorched skin, twitching muscles, delightful body odor, dignity gone the moment they tied me to this post shirtless... Honestly, I’m about two complaints away from demanding a refund from my travel agent.”
He stares at me, clearly unimpressed.
“Why don’t you tell me about this plan of yours instead?”
“My plan? Honestly, I’m just hoping Sam gets out of this okay.”
He growls.
“As you’ve probably noticed, you and I are tied up in the middle of an arena. When she comes back from the lab tonight, she’ll be alone... surrounded by guys who haven’t seen a woman in ages. If we can’t be there to protect her, she won’t survive the night.”
Like I haven’t been obsessing over that all damn day. And I still haven’t found a way to fix it.
The day drags on endlessly. My tongue feels like sandpaper. I can’t even banter anymore.
Finally, a UV filter slides into place above the arena, and blessed darkness falls. The ventilation kicks in, stirring the stifling air. I try to open my eyes, but my eyelids feel swollen.
The sudden drop in temperature is brutal. My overheated body shivers at the cool breeze. I get goosebumps—absurd after all that heat. My brain’s too fried to handle the shift.
Footsteps echo across the arena floor. I don’t need to look to know who it is.
Danuk steps into view, arms crossed, smug as hell.
“Well? Had time to think?”
Noviosk flinches beside me. I roll my eyes. I’d love to hit him with a good comeback, but I’m too dehydrated to spit.
“I had an idea to spice things up tonight,” Danuk says, grinning like a wolf. “We’re bringing out the Human girl you’re so fond of. And I’ve invited some friends to watch. A little appetizer before tomorrow’s big event!”
Oh great. What fresh hell is this?
Little by little, the stands around the arena start to fill.
Who are all these people? Where the hell are they coming from?
I didn’t think this base was that populated.
I glance at Noviosk, questioning him with my eyes. He looks worried.
“You’ve only seen the warehouse where the fighters are kept for tomorrow," he mutters. "But there are also the greenhouses—many of them. So, growers. And the processors. Not to mention the maintenance crews, the cooks… Danuk’s resellers, his partners… The Coalition is vast,” he finishes darkly.
“I can see that… What a heartwarming family reunion,” I mutter under my breath.
A heavy silence settles in as the stands continue to fill. The laughter fades, replaced by a twitchy anticipation.
Danuk raises a hand, and instantly, two guards appear, dragging someone between them.
Sam.
She flinches when she sees us—Noviosk and me, tied to our posts. We must look like hell. Her horrified expression says it all. I try to reassure her with a glance. It’s going to be okay. Sure it will. Totally.
Moments later, Danuk steps into the center of the arena, holding a strange-looking rod. He activates it, and a long ribbon of eerie blue light uncoils. It looks like a whip made of pure energy. Oh, great. This should be fun.
“Behold my little gem,” he announces proudly. “An impulse whip. It doesn’t break the skin and leaves no marks. Handy, right? No need to worry about healing—you’ll be in fighting shape tomorrow. But my little gem does deliver intense muscular shocks. Think of it like a very, very bad cramp. I won’t spoil the rest for you. You’ll see for yourselves.”
