Protector: A Scifi Alien Romance Read online

  A familiar figure stepped out into the pit. The blue-skinned, tattooed alien with the long hair. The beast-man.

  But when his hot, golden gaze hit them, a shiver ran down Madeline’s spine. The beast-man’s veins were popping out under his skin, the tendons in his neck strained.

  He threw his head back, and let out an inhuman roar.

  He didn’t look anything like he had earlier. He watched them with no recognition.

  The only thing in the beast’s eyes was pure, animal fury.

  What had they done to him? But Madeline didn’t have a chance to think, because the alien started striding toward them, his fighting forks in hand.

  Lore lifted his sword and moved to meet the beast.

  Madeline’s mouth went dry. She knew her protective gladiator would do anything to keep her safe. Including sacrifice his life.

  Not going to happen.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Madeline pushed past Lore, but he threw out an arm, trying to hold her back.

  “Madeline—”

  She kept her gaze on the blue alien. “We’re allies, remember?” The tattooed alien’s eyes were on hers, and she swallowed hard. She saw no sign he knew them, just a wild, animalistic anger.

  “Take care of the women,” Lore said. “Find a way out.”

  The blue-skinned alien tensed, his gaze whipping back to Lore.

  As Madeline stumbled back, she heard Mia the pilot let out a sob behind her. The sound seemed to infuriate the beast. He took a menacing step forward, and then charged at Lore.

  Lore took a few running steps, and the men both leaped into the air.

  They crashed into each other with a resounding smack, hitting hard.

  Madeline watched, heart in her throat, as Lore and the beast pummeled each other. Lore swung with lethal power, opening up bleeding cuts on the beast’s chest. She could tell he was trying not to kill the alien.

  The blue beast roared his rage, getting in plenty of hard hits of his own, with his brutal fighting forks.

  They were evenly matched. Madeline’s hands curled into fists. She knew they’d go on and on, wearing each other down.

  She didn’t want the blue alien dead, but she wasn’t letting Lore die here. She glanced over at the women. “We have to help Lore.”

  Madeline scanned the sand, and spotted something half buried nearby. A staff. She brushed the sand away and snatched up the metal rod.

  The women flanked her, and they moved forward.

  Madeline started to scream and shout, in an effort to distract the blue alien, and the other women joined in. As the beast-man spun around, Madeline swung the staff as hard as she could, slamming it into his back.

  The blue beast let out a cry, stumbling forward. And that was just the advantage Lore needed.

  Lore leaped onto the beast, driving him to the ground. He brought his sword down, skewering the alien through his shoulder.

  “I don’t want to kill you,” Lore yelled. “Snap out of it.”

  But the alien heaved Lore off, leaping back to his feet. He aggressively circled Lore, preparing to attack again.

  “Stop!” Mia ran in, her blonde hair a tangled mess around her face. “Please.” She threw her hands up.

  The alien went still, staring at her.

  “Don’t hurt him,” Mia cried at Lore. “He helped me.” She slowly stepped closer to the beast-man.

  Madeline held her breath. Mia neared the alien, and pressed her hands to his chest. Lore stood nearby, chest heaving, his gaze never leaving the alien.

  The crowd began to boo. They wanted fighting, and blood.

  “Please, join us.” Mia went up on her toes, the tips of her fingers brushing the beast’s strong jaw. “We’ll get you out of here.”

  Madeline bit her lip. If he lost it, he could kill Mia with one hard hit.

  But then Madeline saw something amazing. The beast relaxed a little. His arms shot out and he grabbed Mia, dragging her into his chest.

  Lore took a step forward, but Madeline grabbed his arm, shaking her head.

  The blue alien took a deep breath, burying his face in Mia’s hair. He was pulling in her scent, and something about the woman seemed to soothe him.

  When he lifted his head, the wild look was slowly draining from his golden eyes. Then he looked at Lore, and gave a nod.

  Madeline released the breath she’d been holding. Then suddenly, the crowd’s booing silenced, and a roar pulsated through the seats.

  God. What now?

  The sound of rattling chains signaled the opening of another gate, and a new fighter stepped out into the pit.

  She smiled. Thank God. It was Blaine.

  “Blaine!”

  Blaine raised his head, lifting twin swords as he did. Madeline’s smile disappeared.

  Like the beast, his muscles were straining, his veins standing out from his skin. And there was no shred of recognition or humanity in his dark eyes.

  Inside, all she saw was a burning desire to fight and kill.

  ***

  Lore stared hard at Blaine.

  The man had been drugged. Lore recognized the signs. His chest was heaving, and he was fighting it, but Lore had heard about the kinds of drugs the Srinar used.

  Blaine couldn’t fight off the effects forever.

  Where the hell was Galen? If the imperator and the other gladiators didn’t get here soon, there’d be no one left to save.

  Blaine’s dark gaze stayed on Lore and the others, like a predator assessing its prey. It wouldn’t be long before he attacked. Lore spun his sword around, adjusting his grip.

  “Find a way out,” he growled at Madeline.

  With a nod, Madeline moved toward the others, gesturing at the rock walls.

  He looked back at Blaine, his jaw tight. He knew it was a lost cause. This pit had been designed to keep well-trained and powerful fighters from escaping. What hope did the four Earth women have?

  A tingle at the back of his neck made him look up. He saw Vashto and Cerria sitting on a ledge above, smiling down at them. Sand-sucking scum.

  When he looked back at Blaine, that’s when the man attacked.

  The human hit with the force of a crashing spaceship.

  Lore blocked the blows, his sword clashing with Blaine’s. They moved across the sand, metal ringing on metal.

  Drak, the man was strong. Lore didn’t want to kill him. Blaine had already been through so much, and suffered far beyond what the women had. And Lore wasn’t sure how Madeline, Harper, and the others would look at him if he killed their friend, even in his own defense.

  “I’m not your enemy.” Lore circled the man.

  Blaine growled.

  “Your friends are here to rescue you, Blaine.”

  Blaine rushed forward. Their swords hit, but Blaine swung his second blade in under Lore’s arm, slicing open Lore’s side.

  Hissing, Lore spun away, ignoring the pain and the blood.

  Using all his strength, he swung at Blaine. He fought hard, forcing the other man backward across the sand.

  “Madeline and Harper are here,” Lore called out in between each thrust of his sword. “Rory and Regan.”

  Blaine faltered for a second, before he screamed and swung his swords again.

  “Harper,” Lore said. “She’s been looking for you.”

  Blaine stopped, staring at Lore. He shook his head, fighting against the drugs.

  Then, with a loud roar, he charged forward again.

  Lore danced back across the sand, blocking the fierce hits. Drak. He had to think of something else.

  He was almost at the wall on the other side of the fighting pit. Then he remembered. The Srinar had taken his sword, but missed the tiny pouches tucked into his belt.

  He snatched a pouch off his belt and tossed it at Blaine.

  The red smoke exploded in the man’s face, and Blaine started coughing and shaking his head.

  Suddenly, a form came racing through the smoke toward Blaine. Lore’s chest
went hard. “Madeline, no!”

  “It worked on the beast!” She ran right up to the enraged fighter. “Blaine! Please.”

  The man opened his eyes, staring down at her. Tears were streaming from his red-rimmed eyes.

  “It’s me, Madeline. Madeline Cochran.” She held out a hand. “Let us help you.”

  “Let’s give our champion of the fight rings a little help.” Vashto’s deep, gravelly voice interrupted them, his words echoing out across the fighting pit.

  Lore cursed. What was the sand-sucking slime doing?

  Another gate clanked open on the other side of the pit. Everyone standing on the sand stiffened.

  At first, nothing happened, then it looked like shadows slinking out, detaching themselves from the darkness. Five giant shapes.

  “Oktani fire wolves.” Lore had never seen them before, had only ever heard of their viciousness.

  The crowd cheered, watching the giant beasts with green, leathery skin move forward.

  Suddenly, there was a scream from above. Lore looked up in time to see a man’s flailing body falling, tattered clothes flapping around his body.

  He landed hard in the sand in the center of the pack of wolves.

  Now the crowd went quiet. The poor man got to his knees, terror lining his face.

  Drakking hell. Lore started toward the poor soul, but one of the wolves leaped forward, opening its huge jaws.

  A stream of fire poured out, engulfing the man.

  The victim was turned to charcoal in seconds. The crowd went wild.

  “Oh, my God.” Madeline’s face was pale.

  But seeing the man die seemed to help Blaine fight off the worst of the drug’s control. He was moving in front of the women, his swords held up, his gaze on the wolves.

  Suddenly, the fire wolves howled, a haunting sound that echoed off the walls. One leaped forward with a giant bound. It landed, dirt spraying up from under its paws. It released a stream of fire in Madeline’s direction.

  Lore dived, knocking her off her feet. They rolled through the dirt.

  He yanked her up and they turned. Blaine was hacking away at a wolf, dancing backward to stay out of the range of the vicious fire.

  Behind Lore, the beast-man was standing in front of the other women, and facing off with another wolf.

  The other animals were moving in closer. Lore ground his teeth together. They were all trapped with no way out.

  He wrapped his arms around Madeline. He’d do anything to protect the woman in his arms. The woman who’d cracked open something inside him that he hadn’t even known he’d buried away.

  Staring at the fire wolves, he knew what he needed to do. He wasn’t sure it would work, but it was worth the risk. Madeline was worth the risk.

  He caught Blaine’s gaze. Then Lore pushed Madeline into Blaine’s hold.

  The man wrapped his arms around her and she started, her gaze flying to Lore’s. “What’s going on?”

  Lifting his sword, he turned to the wolves. “Only I can take them down.” He breathed deep. He’d never had a chance to fully embrace his powers. He’d kept them hidden beneath illusions.

  Now, it would be a trial by fire.

  Literally.

  He walked steadily toward the wolves.

  “No!” Madeline screamed.

  ***

  What was he doing? Her heart thundering in a bid to burst out of her chest, Madeline watched Lore walk into the center of the giant, wolf-like creatures.

  They circled him, their eagerness visible in the excited lines of their bodies.

  “Lore, no!” She tried to break free, but Blaine’s strong arms held her back.

  Lore turned, watching the animals. One leaped at him in a wild pounce. He slashed out quickly with his sword, skewering the beast.

  As it fell on the dirt, dead, the rest of the pack went still and watchful.

  “Kill him!” Vashto roared from above.

  The wolves closed in on Lore. Madeline’s breath caught in her throat.

  All the remaining wolves opened their jaws, and let loose with wicked fire.

  As the flames consumed Lore, savage pain cut through Madeline. No. She couldn’t lose him. Not like this.

  She’d survived her abduction, the loss of her son, the loss of everything that she’d held dear. But with Lore, she’d actually started living for the first time in her entire life.

  And now her life was ending again.

  The crowd was chanting, and tears streamed down her face. She never took her gaze off the hunched shape in the center of the red-gold fire.

  Then she saw Lore straighten.

  She gasped, shocked hope flaring. She heard Blaine’s sharp intake of breath.

  Lore lifted his arms, his body turning a glowing gold as he stood straight and tall. He moved his hands and a ball of flames grew between his palms.

  Then he flung the fire back at the pack of wolves.

  Amazing. Madeline smiled, as the crowd fell silent.

  A wolf leaped forward, and Lore threw another ball of fire. He lunged and spun, sending streams of fire at the pack.

  It was like some lethal fire dance. His grace and power stole Madeline’s breath away.

  Hers. This magnificent man, with so many layers and strengths, was all hers.

  He threw one last ball of flames, and all the fire wolves were destroyed. Silence filled the fighting pit, Lore standing there, flames licking over his body.

  “I want him!” Cerria screamed from the ledge above. “Bring him to me.”

  All the tunnel gates into the pit opened, and armored guards rushed in. They were all carrying nets.

  Panic shot through Madeline’s system. “We have to help him.”

  She broke free of Blaine’s arms and ran forward. She heard Blaine cursing and running after her.

  Several nets sprang over Lore and instantly burned up. He shot a stream of fire, and several guards fell, trying to slap out the flames engulfing them.

  The next net slammed into Lore, and this time, it didn’t burn.

  This new net was made of metal wire. Madeline knocked into a guard, pushing him over. She saw Blaine fighting two other guards. But there were so many.

  Another metal net crashed into Lore, tangling him up. He fell on the ground, struggling.

  No. No one was taking him prisoner and keeping him in a cage. No way she was letting Cerria have him.

  Madeline skidded down onto her knees beside Lore. The flames had died, but she saw all his veins were glowing gold beneath his skin. She grabbed the nets, wincing at the heat of them, and tugged.

  Suddenly, she was wrenched backward. Her scalp burned with pain.

  She twisted and saw Cerria’s claws coiled in her hair. But the woman’s hot gaze was on Lore, who glared back at her.

  Cerria dragged Madeline up onto her feet. “This one is being sold off.” Cerria shook Madeline. “I’m going to have Vashto send her off-world.” An ugly, vicious smile. “Far out of your reach, gladiator. Then, you will be all mine.”

  Something in Madeline went very still. The thought of being sold again, being locked away… Fear burned like acid in her mouth.

  Under the nets, she saw Lore’s silver gaze ignite with flames. “I won’t lose the woman I love to the likes of you.” He pushed to his knees.

  Suddenly, flames exploded all around Lore in a brilliant burst.

  Chapter Seventeen

  He wouldn’t let it happen again.

  Lore let the fire erupt out of him in a torrent. He’d lost Yelena. He wouldn’t lose Madeline as well. She’d suffered enough, and he wouldn’t let her suffer anymore.

  Madeline was his—to protect, to cherish, to love.

  The nets fell off him as charred rubble. He stood, and focused his fire on the nearby guards.

  As a boy, he’d had basic instruction in using his abilities. All it required was a thought. But he hadn’t completed his training as an adult, hadn’t ever tested his control to the limit.

  No
w, however, he felt fully focused, the roar of the power humming through him.

  He’d watched his family destroyed, his sister sold, the males of his species hunted to the ends of the galaxy. No longer.

  He lifted his hands in front of him, a fireball forming between his palms. He threw it directly at Cerria.

  As the fire engulfed the woman, she screamed. He expanded his ability to keep Madeline untouched by the flames. The fire bent around her, as though she stood in a protective bubble.

  Her mouth was open as she stared at him.

  Behind her, Cerria’s remains fell to the ground.

  Lore spun to attack the final guards…only to find them running for their lives.

  He let the flames die, and strode toward Madeline. She just stared at him, and he couldn’t read her face.

  A tiny seed of doubt burrowed under Lore’s skin, and his steps slowed. He couldn’t tell if it was fear in her eyes… Then she ran and leaped into his arms, her arms and legs wrapping around him.

  “Now that was a show,” she said.

  He pulled her in tight to him. “Don’t ever be afraid of me.”

  “Never.”

  “I never used my ability to save Yelena. I didn’t know how.”

  Madeline pressed her cheek to his. “She wouldn’t have blamed you, dushla.”

  His heart clenched at her use of his endearment.

  “We have company,” Blaine said in a deep, rusty voice, interrupting the moment.

  Lore lifted his head. Blaine, the beast-man, and women had closed in. They were staring at a new set of guards entering the fight ring. Lore looked up at Vashto in the stands. His face was a terrible mask, as he stared down at the spot where his lover had died.

  “All guards to the ring,” Vashto yelled. “Kill them. Kill them all!”

  Lore set Madeline down, pushing her to the center of their group. They were outnumbered, and without weapons.

  “Turn the fire back on,” Blaine said.

  “I’m tapped out,” Lore answered. He felt like he’d been running for days and his energy was low. “I’ll do what I can.”

  The guards moved as a tight unit, holding up interlocking shields. These were trained fighters.

  Suddenly, a large body leaped down from above and landed on the sand in a crouch in front of them.