Chapter 19
Mara
She woke up to find that Vaelor, once again, had left her alone in the tent.
He was right, his body heat kept her warm.
His scent seemed to soak into her body, easing and comforting her.
Sometime during the night, he had pulled her against him.
At first, she thought to pull away, but couldn’t find the strength.
Besides, she had never felt more protected than in his arms.
Voices of the other players outside the tent came to her, making her get up. She left the bedding to roll up later. Mara wanted to check on Vaelor.
The camp was full of activity. All the players were there, even the Slurchan and Rasilian. That was a surprise. Gora nodded a greeting to her as she approached the fire. She still hadn’t seen Vaelor yet. One of the GSG technicians was standing around.
“Why is everyone still here?” she asked, sitting down next to the other female. “And why is there a technician here?”
Gora pointed at the technician. “The little guy says that the next challenge will be tonight. He’s here to make sure everyone remains close until it is time.”
“At night? That seems risky,” Mara commented.
“These assholes don’t care if there is danger as long as it gets ratings for their show.”
“True,” Mara agreed.
She reached for her packet of food and waved it in front of the fire to warm it. There was no sign of Vaelor.
“Have you seen Vaelor?”
“Briefly. He was one of the first up early this morning. When the technician showed up and told us about the night challenge, he left.”
Mara hesitated eating her food. Why would he just leave her here without saying a word? Did she do something wrong last night?
“He asked me to look out for you until he returned,” Gora added.
Her shoulders relaxed. She hadn’t realized how tense she had become. Letting out a breath she had been holding, she opened the packet of food and began to eat.
“So, are we all just hanging around camp until it is time?
Gora took a sip of her water. “That’s what it looks like.”
“What do they expect us to do here?”
“You could go back to your tent to rest. I would but I am having trouble sleeping.”
Mara frowned as she looked at the female who was the only one besides Blaine to befriend her in a way.
“Are you okay?” A horrible thought occurred. What if other players were being sabotaged. “Is everything okay? Tent and bedding keeping things warm?”
“Just restless. I close my eyes, but I can hear Beast yell out.”
Mara reached out and squeezed Gora’s hand. “I’m here if you need me.”
The other female looked surprised, then smiled a genuine smile. “Mara, you are too soft for your own good. But I appreciate your concern.”
“I’m stronger than I look. I’ve had to be.”
“Why have you had to be strong?” Gora asked.
“My father got sick about five years ago. I had to leave my new job to move in with him to help care for him.”
“What about his partner, your mother?”
Mara looked at her food. “She left us when I was just a baby. My father raised me.”
“I see. Your father must have taught you like he would have a son, how to fight and be a warrior.”
That made her laugh. “My dad was nothing like a warrior. He’s an educator of different cultures and history.
He did teach me about camping and surviving in the wild if necessary.
But he had a calm and nurturing manner. A gentle and wise man is the best way to describe him.
I was the angry one, quick to temper. I ran track in school and earned a scholarship to college.
But he was at every track meet, cheering me on. ”
Gora’s eyes lit with understanding. “You’re here to win the money for the treatment for your father.”
She nodded.
Something in Gora’s attitude toward her changed to appreciation. “That is an honorable goal. I hope you achieve it.”
“Thank you.”
Mara finished eating then cleaned up. “Now what?”
“Hey, I was going to do a round with Felon. Just a little warm up to stretch my muscles. But I think we should have a go.”
“Are you asking me to fight with you?” Mara asked, surprised.
Gora laughed. “Just a sparring match. Not for real. I promise not to injure you too much.”
Mara was feeling restless, so this would be a good time to stretch her body. “You are on.”
“I’m on what?” Gora asked.
“I’m in, I want to spar.”
“There’s a clear area in that field over there.”
Mara appreciated that Gora looked for a somewhat private area away from the camp. But in the end, the other players followed them over anyway to watch.
“How are we going to do this? With as little injury as possible since we have a challenge later tonight.” Mara asked.
Gora used her boot to draw a large circle. “We each take a place inside the circle. The point is to get your opponent to leave the circle by any means necessary. Whoever gets to three points first is the winner.”
“What do you mean by any means necessary?”
“Don’t worry. It’s not to the death. If blood is drawn, the match is over.”
Mara narrowed her eyes at her sort-of friend. “I’m going to regret this aren’t I?”
Gora laughed. “This is going to be fun.”
“How do we start? Do we need a bell or something?”
“I’ve got this!” Blaine yelled from the side. “Ding! Ding!”
Mara and Gora face each other in the circle. The Bestial female was almost a foot taller and probably ten pounds more in muscle. But Mara was no slouch. She had taken self-defense classes in college, ran track, and prepared for months to qualify for the games.
Mara, the blond, blue-eyed human, looked almost fragile next to Gora, the towering Bestial female whose muscular frame radiated raw power. The match was simple: force your opponent out of the circle three times. No weapons. No tricks. Just skill, instinct, and endurance.
The first clash was brutal. Gora lunged with a roar, her momentum like a freight train. Mara sidestepped, but not fast enough—her boot slid past the edge. One point to Gora.
The second round was even faster. Gora feinted left, then swept Mara’s legs with a wide arc. Again, Mara stumbled out. Two points. The crowd murmured, sensing the match might end quickly.
But Mara wasn’t just fighting with muscles, she was fighting with knowledge.
She recalled her studies of Bestial physiology: powerful, yes, but prone to overexaggerated movements. Their strength often came at the cost of precision. And they hated being outmaneuvered.
In the third round, Mara baited Gora with a mock charge, then spun low, letting Gora’s momentum carry her too far. Gora skidded, one foot breaching the circle. One point for Mara.
Fourth round—Mara danced around Gora’s heavy strikes, letting her tire herself out. Then, with a sudden pivot and shoulder check, Mara sent Gora stumbling backward. Two points each.
The final round was tense. Gora growled, her breath steaming. Mara crouched, calm and calculating. When Gora charged, Mara dropped low, grabbed her wrist, and used Gora’s own momentum to twist and redirect her. Gora’s foot slammed into the ice—outside the circle.
Three points. Match over.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Mara, panting but smiling, extended a hand to Gora. The Bestial warrior grunted, then clasped it firmly. Respect earned.
“They know you belong here now,” Gora said.
“Is that why you asked me to spar?”
Gora looked over Mara’s shoulder. “Your male is waiting for you.”
Mara turned and found Vaelor striding toward her. He did not look pleased.
“I think I have somewhere else to be.”
Mara frowned watching as her friend and the rest of the players quickly left the vicinity.
“What were you thinking?” he growled at her.
“Hi Vaelor. Good to see you too.”
His coloring turned a deeper shade of blue. Was he angry?
“You could have been seriously injured.”
“It was a friendly sparring match. I’m still able to continue playing the game. Don’t worry. I haven’t cost you the win.”
“I don’t give a farthing about winning the game!” he shouted at her.
Definitely angry.