My Wild Pet (Whispers from the Imperial Cage #2)

Chapter 67

CHAPTER 67

Gabriel

I tremble as I stand on the swaying platform, high above the arena floor. It’s not just the drones screeching overhead or the void below that worry me—it’s the knowledge that I love Briar and I don’t want her or me to die for alien entertainment.

The scoreboard above flashes Phase Three: Integration, the final trial of The Eternal Convergence. If I fail to get myself and Briar through this, I die.

Aefre’s voice says, “Ember, watch the left side. Ash, get ready to jump when I say. On my mark.”

For so long, that voice has been my compass. He is the one who plucked me from a filthy trading post over a decade ago, naming me Ember as though I might reignite some spark he believed the galaxy had snuffed out. I learned to read Imperial under his guidance. I learned strategy, combat, and discipline. Every muscle in my body, every reflex I possess, is shaped by him. Despite the bizarre system that made me his “pet,” I owe him something, at the very least acknowledgement that he shaped me into the man I am today. The human man who is ready to use his skills and escape with the woman he loves.

Had I been bought by someone else, someone less talented, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to compete and win UCs in these pet competitions and then I wouldn’t have the chance to leave with Gael.

I push down these mixed emotions. If Aefre were in my position, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, he would also choose freedom.

A mechanical screech rips me back to the present. The platform beneath our feet lurches, threatening to dump us into the arena pit.

The crowd gasps.

Aefre’s instructions come fast, “Ember, shift your weight forward—now! Ash, counterbalance on the right.”

I react on instinct, shifting in sync with Briar so the platform levels out. Relief washes over me.

We scramble onto a rotating walkway. Drones circle overhead, stunning us when they can.

“Gabriel!” Briar yells, slipping into my real name. She grabs my wrist, pulling me behind a vibrating energy shield. Another shot crackles off the shield, spattering sparks.

Aefre’s words emerge distorted, “Emb—keep moving—up… next platform…”

I want to curse him for not speaking clearly, but deep down, I know I can’t blame him for the interference. It’s part of this challenge, no doubt, the comms between trainer and pets going in and out.

We sprint together, vaulting a gap to a higher platform. When I land, my wounded arm jars violently, and I slip.

Briar’s hand clasps mine. Her voice in a panic, “I can’t pull you up.”

I use all my strength never breaking eye contact with her to get back on the platform.

The crowd roars.

Our respite is short-lived. A moment later, a jarring clang signals the arrival of a menacing cage-lift. Its metal bars drop around us, boxing us in.

Over the loudspeakers, an announcer proclaims with sadistic glee, “Only of you may exit. Only one. Failure to comply will result in termination of both pet.”

I look at Briar. “You get out. Don’t wait for me. You’re more valuable than a male pet and will have a better life.”

“No Gabirel,” tears form in her eyes. “I won’t leave you. If you stay, I’ll stay.”

“You’ll die, just like Fifi and I won’t do that to anyone again.”

Briar meets my gaze. “We do this together. We figure out a way out, together .”

I nod, trying to steady my racing pulse. The idea of betraying her is unthinkable, but the judges have rigged the cage so that if one of us doesn’t move forward alone, the entire platform will drop.

A countdown timer flashes across the overhead display. Fifty-nine seconds. Fifty-eight. The drones outside the cage start spinning up energy blasts.

“Look around for something that can save us when this cage drops. Something we might be able to hold on to,” I tell her quickly.

Then we hear a jolt of static, and Aefre’s voice surges through more strongly than before, “Ember, override the cage from your side! There’s a console—lower right corner!”

I rush to the console. My collar thrums, Aefre’s presence flowing through the link. Even though the spectators want to see us betray each other, he’s still guiding me. It’s so bizarrely comforting that tears prick my eyes.

“Listen Ember, I only get one chance to tell you this. Are you ready?”

“Yes, Master Aefre,” I say impatiently as I watch our time slipping away.

“Input this code exactly,” Aefre instructs. “ U4-KARR1/9:S2-Ω. Remember to include the symbol for Omega at the end. There are no second chances. If you miss even one stroke, the system won’t be overridden and you’ll die.”

I shakily put my finger over the keypad’s alien characters and begin typing, each keystroke shimmers with a faint glow—U, 4, dash, K, A, R, R, 1, slash, 9, colon, S, 2, dash, Omega—each beep echoing in my skull. The console emits a series of soft chimes in response and then finally, the screen pulses green.

With a wheeze, the cage doors swing open.

I grab Briar’s arm before she jumps out. “Wait the drones will attack. We must jump together and protect our heads as we jump. A direct hit to the head will knock us unconscious.”

“We only have a second!” she screams. “Jump!”

We jump out just as a lethal barrage of stun-beams sears the air behind us.

The last moments play out in a blur as Briar and I sprint across a swaying catwalk. Ahead, the final exit comes into view—bright lights glowing like a promise of survival. We push through with a final burst of energy, collapsing onto solid ground amid a deafening roar of applause.

For a second, I can’t breathe. But then I realize, we made it.

A voice booms through the arena, “Phase Three: Integration Complete. Ash, Ember, and Master Aefre have completed The Eternal Convergence.”

But did we score enough points to win?

A hush settles. A pulsing holographic display comes to life high above us, showing dozens of names all written in Imperial hieroglyphics. My heart pounds as I scan for “Ash & Ember”—for any sign of our final score. Then I see it, flashing into place at the top of the list:

ASH & EMBER (TRAINER: AEFRE) – THE ETERNAL CONVERGENCE

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Time (out of 10): 9

Technique (out of 10): 9

Mental Resilience (5): 5

Synergy (5): 5

Trainer’s Bonus (5): 4

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Subtotal: 32 / 35

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Combined with Prior Rounds: 66 / 70

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RANK: #1

The arena erupts in cheers. A wave of relief crashes over me, tears stinging my eyes—Briar and I truly won. But then the screen flashes again, revealing a new line in vivid neon letters:

“BOND brEAKER CHALLENGE: COMMENCES IN 30 MINUTES”

The announcement is accompanied by the overhead announcement, “Master Aefre has entered his winning pets in the Bond Breaker Challenge. If you wish to make a wager, do so now.”

My stomach drops.

Beside me, Briar’s triumphant smile falters.

We both knew the Bond Breaker was a possibility, but last year it took place the day after the final challenge. I thought if we were going to have to do it, it would at least be tomorrow. We’re too tired to do this.

Aefre appears. A faint tension tightens his jaw. “This is a special request from the sponsors. They want a show of unity, a final display of human loyalty from the Grand Champions. It pays handsomely—much more than usual . ”

“But we won,” Briar says.

“Champions or not,” Aefre says quietly, “the sponsors want a Bond Breaker and the audience wants a Bond Breaker. I pushed hard for it to be moved to tomorrow, but no one could be swayed. Trust your instincts and you’ll be safe.”

I’m overcome with resentment, fear, and exhaustion.

Briar and I exchange a glance. We survived everything else. We’ll survive this, too.

Aefre steps aside, checking his console. “Thirty minutes,” he reminds us, then gestures for us to follow. The roar of the crowd returns, louder than ever, as we steel ourselves for one final challenge neither of us wanted—but that fate, and greed, insists we face.