Alien Prince's Bride: Scifi Alien Romantic Triangle Romance Novel (11 page)

Aw, c’mon, what about my…

“But you made it quite far before.”

Hey. I like you. You notice things. Let me share some observations with you as well, then.

“I can’t quit,” Areon said. “Breathing or not.”

“Why not?” Ronay asked, shrugging. “No one compels you to be here.”

“No one forces you either,” Areon replied.

Ronay gave him a curious look. Then he nodded, understanding. “I wish you luck then,” he said. “If it isn’t Maige you are after.”

“She’s all yours.”

When Ronay gave a small growl, Areon laughed lightly. “I meant that in the best way possible. She’s very worthy. I just have my heart set on another.”

The warrior backed down at that. There was something endearing in his single-minded simplicity, so Areon didn’t hesitate further. “I know what’s coming.”

Ronay’s eyes went wide, then suspicious.

“How?” he asked, looking around to see if they were overheard. Or possibly searching for a trap? Clever lad, that one.

“I used to be a guard for the Overlord. Made some friends. They owe me a few favors.”

“And they actually
told you
? I thought the Overlord had a stronger hold.”

Areon made himself laugh at that. “He does, trust me, I managed to upset him once or twice,” he said. “I think they thought me safe to tell because they believe I’ll die anyway. That way, they could repay me and give me a chance without doing much damage.”

Ronay measured Areon again. There was no way to hide his bulk, as impressive as that was. Areon had gotten quite good at masking his strength in favor of that, giving the effortless grace of his body a rough edge. It was very important he wasn’t viewed as a threat, or as a serious contender. Until it was too late.

“I can believe that,” Ronay said at last. “No offense.”

“None taken,” the Raider Prince smiled. “As it is, I would suggest you find some way to protect yourself from the
gnaour
.”

Ronay’s mouth practically dropped open. “The
gnaour
? On the arena? That’s a death sentence!”

“It’s the Overlord. He promised he wouldn’t make it easy for us. Do you have an antidote for their venom?”

The other warrior nodded. “Yes. Luckily. I’ll take it right away, but even then... a hit too close to the heart and it’s done.” He looked at Areon for a long moment. “I appreciate it, though I doubt your friends intended the advice to reach me.”

“They’ll live,” Areon said. “I don’t doubt for a moment Forial knows more than I do, so how’s that for fair?”

Now Ronay laughed despite the terrible danger they were in. He had a pleasant voice, under the roughness of his obvious anxiety. “Yes. Good to hear I am not the only one who saw him escape too easily yesterday. You know, I’m starting to think you’re not so hopeless after all.”

Careful now.

“Come what may, I’m thankful for your help. Really. I wouldn’t accept this, but I’ll take any advantage I can get, for Maige. With Forial and Grom and the Prince god-knows-where, it’s only fair as you said. Anything else your friends might have told you?”

“Not really,” Areon admitted. “All I know – all I guess – is that the
gnaour
won’t be the only ones trying to kill us.”

Ronay nodded, agreeing. “No. I don’t suppose they will.”

The great gong calling them to the arena sounded overhead. Areon saw the warriors around him wake up. Eyes that were almost bored the moment before now flashed with emotion. Another day – another trial. With the
calayas
watching and the Overlord trying his best to make them give their all, as he’d said. That much of his speech was true at least.

Areon looked at the men slowly making their way to the arena that called for them. He didn’t doubt for a moment there would be less of them coming out. The first day had been a trick only the Overlord might have found funny. Now the games were over and the true tournament was ready to begin.
 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Overlord seemed to be in a good mood, which was
never
a good sign and with the tournament going on, doubly so.

Violet was now properly seated with the rest of the
calayas
on the podium next to the arena. After the surprises and shocks of the first day, Atreens wanted something simple and understandable, so did the girls and their parents. Pearl had relayed to them that her father, the famous champion Rumeon, had personally spoken to the Overlord. Pearl added in a distasteful tone that the Overlord had approved the trial of the first day, but wanted to make sure no more tests were in store for the
calayas
. Of course, after the day before, they didn’t trust a single word out of the Overlord’s mouth, but Irmela had said the same – no more for them.

That did not help.

“They really screwed us over,” Violet said when they sat down. The rest more or less agreed with her.

The Overlord had made the tournament real for them – a bit too real. Violet had not been thrilled about the prospect of watching champions die, but she had at least considered it a natural part of life. Now they were a bit too attached to the warriors, they’d fought for them. She wondered if that possibility had come up in the Overlord’s schemes. Violet truly felt the first day majorly backfired.

Only Maige had been worried before, but now they all were.

***

The grand arena was enormous. They had been too confused and excited on the first day to notice that the other edge was barely visible. The second day would bring something worth seeing, that much was obvious from the screens. Right now it was switching between the
calayas
, the champions and the Overlord.

The arena was suspiciously empty. Stacks of crates, a few chains that looked like they hadn’t been cleaned up from the spider web and so on. Violet was certain it was meant to look like that, like it was half-finished.

The champions were standing in a rough circle on the ledge around the arena a little off the ground. They were all stripped to their waist and wearing matching long pants. To the
calayas
, who had never been touched by a man – Violet winced at the memory – it had to have been quite a sight. She and the other prizes had been quite sullen in the morning, but now they came alive. It was difficult to tear her eyes away from the champions, but Violet saw they were all staring, mouth open, practically drooling.

It was no wonder. In the heat of the day, they glistened in the sweat of the practice fights, their tall, broad and heavily muscled bodies lined up for hungry gazes.

You promised no more tests for us
, Violet thought, half-joking. In truth, her body longed to run up to them and rub itself against a hard, powerful chest. She wouldn’t have minded a pair of strong, ripped arms around her either.

Like Areon three years ago, on top of you, hot and…

Violet dearly wished she could glare menacingly at her own inner voice.
Shut up
, she told herself.

In turn, the warriors looked at them. As Violet longed to be in a sure, firm embrace, the wish to hold her there was reflected in many gazes. She shuddered – soon it would actually happen.

The Overlord decided then that the moment had lasted long enough. He stood at his own podium, where he and Irmela looked over the whole tournament.

“I will make this short,” he said. Violet shuddered again, this time from fear. She knew her father – he hadn’t come by his title by accident. The tournament in hand was the biggest one yet. With seven
calayas
to be won, he wasn’t going to be as merciful as he seemed on the first day.

“The first trial was essentially a trick,” the Overlord said. “But it showed a lot. It was a test of skill and attention, which some of you passed. It was also a chance for the
calayas
to show their true selves. Now you know them and you should
know yourself.”

His voice lost all warmth as he went on. “I hope the smartest of you have already understood this, but for those of you who haven’t, I will put it simply. I did not joke yesterday. If you want to have one of the prizes, you will have to give up everything and you will be forced to surrender. Some tournaments are won by luck and some by chance, this one will be won by only those worthy enough.”

He gestured to the many doors on ground floor of the arena. Violet wondered what was behind them, but in truth she wasn’t sure if she wanted to know. The Overlord was scaring her.

“It’s traditional to give the champions a chance to quit anytime, but the parents of the
calayas
agree – that is too easy.”

A buzz went through the audience. Violet felt her hands shaking – so much for simplicity then.

The Overlord continued. “You will have two trials today. The lone goal of the first is to survive. You only get two chances to quit. One is when the next trial begins and the
calayas
are free to give their favor after seeing you fight for real. The other is now.”

None of the champions moved, but Violet saw doubt in the eyes of one or two. The option to quit had always been a comfort of sorts for the weaker competitors. That they could bow out, leave with shame, but keep their lives, train and try again. No Atreen shunned someone who had worked themselves up after suffering a defeat. Now the Overlord was taking that away from them. It was a gamble, one that the Raider Prince would’ve enjoyed, wherever he was.

“You have been stripped of your armors, your weapons, any aid you might use. You are alone with only your own two hands to stop whatever comes through those doors. Those of you who decide to fight, descend to the arena. With that, you will forfeit the right to quit until the trial concludes. Choose now.”

The Overlord sat while a stunned, deafening silence reigned in place of his voice.

Violet was too afraid to look, but even more afraid of not looking.

As could be expected, Grom was the first to bend his huge body and just jump to the arena. He could have used chains or ladders to swing down more gracefully, but Violet guessed showing his strength was a tactic as well. Her eyes bore into the renowned champion. Grom was bald and twice the size of the average Atreen – he looked like someone had stacked huge metal crates together. From his posture it seemed like he carried some of that weight on his shoulders. When he walked, he was a bit hunched over, but he was quicker than he looked. Violet had heard he could rip a man limb from limb without any weapons.

Ronay followed him, not because he hesitated, but because, unlike Grom, he felt no need to show off. Very calmly, his gray eyes determined, he lowered himself down one of the chains. Maige’s favorite was tall as well, with weight to match. He clearly wasn’t built for speed with his big arms and a heavy tread, but his strength was commendable – he had proved that the day before, when he kept his impressive frame on the narrow ledge.

Forial and Reim were the next to follow. Forial descended slowly down the ladder, keeping his strength. Reim swung down to land gracefully on the arena, earning an applause, which he accepted with a smile and a bow. In the absence of the Prince, he was the clear favorite of the crowd. He had a good sense of humor and Violet had to admit that he wasn’t a bad-looking man. Even the
calayas
had taken notice of him. Both Forial and Reim were leaner than Grom, but, then again, everyone was. Their bodies looked quite alike, but the similarities ended there. Reim was handsome with his smooth smile and gray eyes sparkling under his black curls. Forial was cold, his eyes were almost lifeless and his mouth smiled only when he triumphed over an enemy.

There Violet’s mind stopped, she didn’t dare to peek at the ledge. Other warriors descended now, taking courage from the first, although a few still stood stiff, Areon was standing too.

Violet willed him to stay there, or not… Ugh.

He’ll die
, said a part of her.
If he doesn’t participate, he can’t win either
, said another.

She didn’t know what to think. All her life Violet had wished and hoped for a strong, powerful man as her victor, someone who would protect and take care of her. Killing and kidnapping
calayas
wasn’t rare and she had no martial skills whatsoever, so her champion had to be able to keep her safe.

Everything had been fine until Areon showed up. She was going to root for the Raider Prince, certain that he was unbeatable.

Looking at him there, standing on the ledge, Violet hesitated.

I miss him
.

There, she’d allowed herself to admit that. But she missed a child’s life. Having fun with Areon had been fine and carefree, because the Overlord had protected her then. Now she would have to leave her home and depend on her victor. Could that man, who was still standing on the ledge, really be enough for her?

He’d make you happy
, a treacherous part of her said with certainty.

He might
, Violet thought back.
But I don’t know if I would rather be happy or safe.

She looked at Maige, sitting next to her, beaming for the time being. Violet envied her, she had never thought she would, but she did. Only Maige had it better – Ronay had accepted the challenge at once, he’d been on the arena before Forial! It wasn’t bad at all to root for someone like that.

Areon was moving too now. Violet’s heart skipped a beat as he took a hold of a chain and ended up on the arena. Ended up was the correct term, because he half-slid and half-fell from the ledge. For a crazy, embarrassed moment Violet thought he might actually bloody wave
at her again, but he kept his cool.

Her father had said no one would just stumble upon victory in a tournament he hosted. No luck would help Areon when the Overlord designed the trials. Yet a part of Violet was glad. She badly wanted to silence that part, but there it was, grinning ear to ear.

Stop doing that
, she told herself again.
This is NOT a good thing. Areon is not meant to be on that arena, he’s going to get himself stupidly killed and it’s my fault. Although I told him, I told him not to come back!