Chapter 25 - Noviosk
I grit my teeth so hard I’m sure I’ll shatter a molar. When Ayden and I forged this fragile alliance, it was supposed to be about protecting Sam. Not getting physically close to her. Hearing them last night—even muffled by the pod—sent me into a blind rage.
I had hoped the nights would continue as they had: him standing guard at her side, deterring the predators. I hadn’t expected him to take advantage of the situation. What a fool I am.
That fragile Human woman should be the last of my concerns.
My right leg is still stiff, and it may betray me in my fight against Danuk.
I still believe I stand a good chance of defeating him.
He may be younger and quicker, but I have the strength and experience he lacks.
My entire focus should be on that battle—on how to dominate him and secure victory.
Letting Sam distract me is a mistake. A weakness. And I cannot afford any weakness.
I rise, determined to stretch this cursed leg before it costs me everything. I step to the center of the hangar, feet shoulder-width apart. Only two Humans are awake—and not the ones who spent the night together. I ignore them and begin.
The floor is cold under my bare heels. I close my eyes, then begin the sequence of exercises Sam once showed me.
Sitting, I loop a band around the ball of my right foot.
I extend my leg, heel on the ground, and gently pull the fabric until the stretch hits deep in my calf.
Release. Repeat. The movement wakes those dormant fibers that have been idle far too long.
My focus cracks when I see him arrive. In two seconds, I’m on my feet and slam a vicious uppercut into his jaw. He staggers back, off-balance, and lands hard on his ass. He rises slowly, one hand on his jaw, the other bracing against the floor. His gaze locks on mine—surprised, thoughtful.
“What the hell? Are you... jealous?” he asks, incredulous.
“This has nothing to do with that! Our deal was to protect her. Not use her vulnerability!”
He stands, eyes hardened, but not angry.
“Sam’s not vulnerable. She’s stronger than most I’ve met. She radiates. Even the darkest of us... you, me... we shine brighter when she’s around.”
“You shouldn't have done it,” I snap. “Not here. Not with these vultures circling.”
“That’s not your call, Nov,” comes a trembling voice behind me.
I freeze. I turn slowly—and meet her eyes. Guilt. Anger. And worse... disappointment.
I’ve hurt her. Not just by hitting Ayden, but by condemning what they share. By refusing to acknowledge what’s grown between them.
What did I expect? She’s had eyes only for him since he walked into this place. And I… I pretended not to see it. As if looking away would make it less true.
I search for words. None come. But she steps closer.
“You don’t get to have an opinion. You’re not my friend. You made that very clear. So what gives you the right to tell me what I can or can’t do?”
My jaw tightens. She’s right. I threw her friendship back in her face.
And friendship—it is a kind of love. And love.
.. is weakness. I cast it out long ago. For good reason.
Emotions cloud judgment. They distract. They make you vulnerable.
And look at me now: distracted, clouded, wasting mental focus on the fact that she chose Ayden.
When I should be thinking only of my battle with Danuk.
I’m losing time. Losing clarity. All for one misplaced heartbeat.
“Do what you want,” I mutter. “Just pray you don’t pay the price for it.”
Only her disappointed gaze answers me.
Moments later, her two guards arrive to escort her to the lab.
I’m left alone with Ayden, who studies me silently.
“You’ve fallen for her,” he says flatly.
“I’m not that kind of man,” I snap. “She saved my life. I owe her. That’s all.”
He gives me a crooked smile. Almost pitying.
“Lie to yourself all you want, Noviosk. But don’t lie to me. You’re jealous. And you feel things for her.”
The truth in his voice enrages me.
“Srebats don’t love. We possess. We conquer. We dominate.”
“Oh, sure. All that macho Srebat stuff. And yet the guy standing in front of me is pissed that Sam chose me.”
That’s all it takes. Rage ignites. My fist flies—fast and brutal. He dodges, barely, the air from my punch grazing his temple. He stumbles back, then counters. A high kick sweeps toward my ribs. I block it. The force pushes me half a step back.
I drive a punch into his gut. He folds, surprised by the impact, but straightens with a pained smirk.
I press forward, unleashing a series of blows. He blocks, ducks, returns fire. He’s fast. Too fast. But I’m heavier, stronger. Every strike forces him back.
He weathers the hits, never falling. Tenacious bastard.
He wipes blood from the corner of his mouth and meets my stare with something like respect.
“You hit hard, Noviosk. But you still don’t know why you’re hitting. Unless it’s just to shut me up for saying what you can’t admit.”
I charge again. He dodges—but the move throws him off-balance. I sweep his legs, and he crashes to the floor, gasping.
“That’s the best the Confederation’s got?” I sneer.
We freeze.
I should never have said that aloud. Not here.
The fight ends abruptly. We separate without another word, his eyes burning into me.
After a moment, I speak again.
“What’s your plan, Ayden?”
“To get out of here with Sam. To love her madly, as long as she’ll have me.”
I grit my teeth and curse him silently.
“I thought you had a plan.”
“What makes you think I don’t?”
“Then maybe act on it. Tomorrow, you’ll die in the arena. Not that I care much—but what happens to Sam if you and I are both gone? Nothing good. Your Confederation pals... can they even be trusted?”
“Shhh! You want to make a public announcement? Maybe rent a billboard?”
“You didn’t answer me. Can we trust them—yes or no?”
He sighs, scanning the room. No one’s listening. Still, he lowers his voice.
“I haven’t had contact since arriving. What do you expect? I came straight here when I heard Sam might be in danger. I don’t know where my team is. In case it slipped your mind—space is big.”
I grind my teeth.
“So you’ve got nothing. You’re just winging it.”
“I’m counting on the same luck that’s kept me alive this long. Everything’ll be fine.”
“Such naive faith. The stars turned their backs on me long ago.”
“Humans call that karma,” he says dryly.
I think of all the lives I’ve taken. Maybe he’s right.
Suddenly, footsteps. Guards. Armed. Not just for Ayden—for me, too.
They don’t ask. They drag us.
We’re hauled into Danuk’s throne room. Forced to our knees. He’s smiling, soaking in his own smugness.
“Well, well,” he begins. “Turns out I’ve been hosting a member of the Intergalactic Confederation. Those meddling fools.”
Ayden turns to me, mock-surprised.
“Damn, buddy. You’ve been holding out on me. An intergalactic pain-in-the-ass? That totally checks out.”
I’m floored by his flippant tone. Srebats don’t do sarcasm. It’s a baffling human trait—twisting words to mean their opposite. A mental maze. Unfamiliar. Dangerous.
Danuk doesn’t get it either. He slaps Ayden hard across the face.
“Why is a Confederation agent here, on my territory?”
“Your... oh, I’m sorry! This is your place? Cute decor. Bit rustic. Hospitality could use some work.”
Danuk stares, fist still raised. Ayden grins like a lunatic.
“Answer me! What does the Confederation want?”
Ayden shrugs.
“Told you. I’m on vacation. Thought I’d check out the local charm. Very... authentic.”
Danuk clenches his fists. His jaw ticks. Rage.
Even I’m impressed. Ayden has nerve. If I were Danuk, I’d have already snapped.
“Let’s see if your memory improves under a real sun,” Danuk growls.
Ayden just sighs, disappointed.
Then Danuk turns to me.
“Our agreement is void. You conspired with the enemy. You knew who he was. You’ll be judged accordingly.”
Damn it. I handed him a perfect excuse to cancel our duel—one I would’ve won.
I could lie. Say I didn’t know Ayden’s identity. Claim we weren’t allies. But Danuk would smell the falsehood.
So I make my move.
“You’re just scared to face me. Looking for a way out.”
Only four guards here. Humans. Loyal by coin.
Danuk smirks.
“We’ll never know, will we? Partnering with a traitor, just to share a Human girl? Pathetic.”
My fists clench. I long to rip his throat out. But not yet.
“You talk of disgrace—but you’re just a scavenger. Feeding on what others built.”
He grins.
“And yet here I stand. While you? You’re just a shadow of your former self.”
I step forward, slow, deliberate.
“Let’s settle this. Here. Now. Just us.”
He laughs.
“Dueling privileges? You forfeited those, Noviosk.”
He signals the guards.
“Tie these traitors in the arena. Let them soak up some sun. It might clear their heads.”
We’re dragged through metal corridors. Gates open with a heavy rumble.
The arena is a brutal circle of scorched steel. No dome. No filters. Just space overhead—and a merciless sun.
They bind us to charred posts. Arms wrenched back. Cables tight. A strap across my chest pins me in place. Another around my neck forces my face upward into the blaze.
Danuk strolls forward, smug.
“Feel that, Noviosk? It’s not artificial. It’s real solar heat. But you? You should be able to take it.”
I squint against the light.
“I can. But could you?”
He stops inches away.
“I’m not the one in chains. Think it over. Maybe one of you will share something useful.”
He turns away.
“Hey,” Ayden calls, deadpan. “You wouldn’t happen to have any sunscreen? I burn easy.”
Danuk pauses. Then walks on.
Silence falls.
Heavy. Blistering. Deadly.