“They did not tell me you were competing,” he’s saying in a low snarl, but Abby’s lip curls in rage, and I know that bitch is out for blood.
“Wife, I did not know you would be here,” he continues, and Abby’s gaze darts to me, her eyes narrowing as she sees the sword. Then she’s off and running, to where a second sword hangs on the wall.
Her humongous husband watches her run, his pout turning wry as he realizes she’s about to kick his ass or go out trying.
When he cracks his knuckles, I turn my attention back to Niki. Three on one is not great odds, but they’re dancing around her still. Playing with her.
I grind my molars.
“Niki, let’s do the merengue,” I yell at her.
“I hate the merengue,” she grits out, lashing a hand at a Suevan who steps too close.
Then I see it. A pile of the projectiles they were lobbing at us, to try and force us into this room.
“Forget the merengue,” I scream at her. “Time for the limbo!”
Her gaze darts to me, and one of the Suevan’s lashes out, catching her shoulder. She goes down hard, and my hand closes over one of the fake energy grenades.
“Stay down,” I screech, and then I let it fly. It hits the closest Suevan, and he frowns at me as it explodes, then sits down heavily. Out. “Varsity softball, bitch!” I tell him, then pitch another into the Suevan leering over Niki.
It smacks him on the head, and he doesn’t feign the pain on his face.
Now there’s just one, flexing his shoulders as he measures the distance between us.
Two, if I count Abby’s husband.
She’s screaming obscenities at him, slashing wildly as he half-heartedly parries her attempts.
“Cool your tits, Abby, focus.” I’m running towards Niki as I shout it at her, the sword in one hand and the energy grenade in the other. The Suevan backs away from her prone form as I close in, laughing maniacally.
At the last second, Niki’s legs scissor out, catching the Suevan off guard and sending him falling back into one of the stone walls. I pitch the last grenade in his face for good measure, and it explodes in sparks and smoke when it hits his forehead.
“You’re OUT,” I say, and Niki snorts, standing uneasily.
“One left,” Niki pants, tilting her chin at where Abby’s winded and tired.
She cries out in pain as her Suevan husband—the Beast—lashes out a lazy stroke at her.
I squint. It didn’t look like he made contact, and when I glance at Niki, her face reflects my confusion.
But Abby is screaming and carrying on as though she’s mortally wounded.
“I wonder if she played soccer,” Niki speculates.
“Should I…”
“Nah, let it happen.”
Abby is sobbing softly, pressing her arm to her abdomen and glancing at it like she expects blood to pour out at any moment.
“Oscar worthy,” I mutter, impressed.
The Suevan steps closer, a stricken expression on his face. Abby pants, her forehead screwed up and eyes shut, and as he tries to take a closer look, her hand darts out, lightning fast.
She grabs his balls and twists.
“Oh, shit,” Niki says.
“Yeah,” I agree.
“Get him!” Juls yells, dragging herself towards the exit door.
As for the Suevan, he’s on his knees before her, so tall his head’s still at her chest height.
She goes to kick him in the nuts again, but he catches her leg, twisting her to the floor.
“That’s enough of that,” I mutter, surging forward to slice at him with my energy sword. “You’re done. You’re done.”
He frowns down at where Abby pants, murder written all over her face.
“Y’all need therapy,” I tell her, offering her my hand. “You can’t lose your cool like that,” I add, pushing her to the door.
Niki’s managed to haul Jul’s over her shoulder, fireman style, and then we’re limping out the exit, the Suevan Trials completed. We’re bruised, battered, and bitchier than ever, but we finished.
We fucking did it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
KANUZ
Niki emerges first from the arena door, a tired but pleased looking Juls draped over her shoulder. We all witnessed her fall, cringing as the vid bots displayed the injury, scanning her immediately. Hairline fracture. Human bodies are so much more breakable than ours, and it made me want to run after Gen and pluck her from the course.
But Juls is in good spirits, and she’s won the hearts of Sueva for powering through despite her obvious pain. The human medics, Carmen and Tati, are standing by with a Suevan med specialist to help patch her up.
Then Abby races through, her face grim and eyes flashing with anger. That one… that one is a female to watch. The way she dispatched the Beast was sneaky and mean, and I have a feeling that Draz is already making plans for how to best utilize our youngest female Warlord.
Gen’s glowing face appears next, smudged with dirt and blood, her vest torn where talons ripped through it. She drops the practice energy sword, and squeals as she races into my arms.
My heart clenches as she jumps up, wrapping her legs around me, peppering kisses across my mouth. She tastes like sweat and blood and hard work, and I savor every press of her lips against mine.
“I am so fucking proud of you,” I tell her, staring into her dazzling blue eyes.
“I did it!” she crows, and I support her weight as she pumps her fist into the air. “Oof, I’m sore already.”
“You took some serious hits.” I grin at her. “Like a Warlord.”
“Like a badass bitch!” Niki yells, and all the women cheer.
The Beast of Sueva comes through the door as they’re whooping, and Gen stiffens in my arms.
He looks proud though, swaggering out like he’s won the prize and not just been trounced by four small human females.
Abby tenses in the corner, where the med techs work on scanning her and shooting her full of supplements.
The Beast is there in an instant, scooping her up. “That was a nasty trick, wife,” he says, his voice low and rough.
Her eyes are huge in her dirty face, and they widen further when he kisses her.
Only to be rewarded with a swift kick to his abdomen.
He laughs darkly, and Abby’s face is screwed up with rage.
“Put her down,” Niki says, her voice dangerous. “Now.” Draz steps closer to the pair, his tail lashing back and forth.
The Beast does as she bids, setting her down. Abby watches him with a guarded gaze, and he lashes out a talon, causing her to flinch, but all he does is run it across her cheek before turning with a laugh.
She glares at his back as he leaves the room.
“Okay, then,” Gen says as the door snicks shut. “Who’s ready to party?”
Bex bursts through the door at the same instant, jumping up and down, the rest of their crew pouring in, surrounding the newest Warlords and first humans to make it through our trials, cheering and clapping them on the back.
Gen squeezes my hand once, then allows the crowd of women to sweep her away from me.
I love seeing her happy. I love that something here on Sueva has made her so pleased.
She’s one of us now. A Warlord. A princess.
She’s mine.