WarDog: Book Twelve in the Galaxy Gladiators Alien Abduction Romance Series by Alana Khan (large screen ebook reader txt) 📗

told me the name of my enemy and gave me the means to vanquish him. I will not rest until that male is dead.

Willa

Bayne’s been gone for at least an hour. I gave him space, but now I wonder if he could use the company of a friend, or at least some food.

I juggle a tray heaped with food as I knock on his door. When he doesn’t answer, I call, “Bayne! I thought you might be hungry. I’ll just leave this plate on the floor out here. Are you okay?”

After waiting a moment, I set the tray down and move to leave. Relief floods me as I hear the pneumatic snick of the opening door.

When I see the expression on his face, my hand flies to my throat in automatic self-protection. His eyes are slit, his nostrils are flaring, but the scariest thing I see are his bared teeth. Is he going to shift again? I shouldn’t worry. One thing I know is that no matter what happens, he won’t hurt me in his WarDog form.

“Thanks,” his tone is a low growl.

“W-want company?”

If I didn’t know he was alive I might think he’s a statue, that’s how still he is as he considers my offer. I hadn’t realized it would be such a hard question.

“Yes,” he says as he nods tightly. The expression on his face softens and he finally looks me in the eye as if he's seeing me for the first time since the door opened.

After taking the tray from me, he motions me to enter.

“You okay?” I don’t want to be intrusive, and doubt he wants to talk, but as of a few hours ago our status was ‘in a relationship’, so I should at least ask.

He sags onto a chair at the small table in the corner and gestures for me to take the other seat.

“Until recently, I hadn’t remembered much about my time before permanently shifting into canine form. Bits and pieces have been sifting in. Seeing Daneur Khour’s face filled in many of the blanks. How much do you want to know?”

I grab his hand from his lap and squeeze, making sure I have eye contact. Dear Lord, he looks haunted. Whatever is hiding behind his gorgeous golden gaze must be tragic. The answer to his question is easy. “As much as you feel comfortable telling me, Bayne. Now, or later, or never is okay. Just know one thing. I’m here for you.”

He lifts my palm in his and presses it against his cheek, then to his lips for a soft kiss. “Such a good female. I doubt I deserve you.

“Raiders came to my village when I was not yet twenty annums old. They set it on fire, molested the females, killed most of the inhabitants. My mother was one of those females. Then they rounded up the males they could repurpose. I was one of those, my function was to fight and make money for my owners. The invaders were led by an offworlder with purple skin. Daneur Khour.”

“It all just flooded back?”

He nods.

“Want a hug?”

His answer is to scoot his chair back and open his arms. I sit on his lap and snug my hip against his belly, pressing my cheek against his chest. He’s naked since his shift. I hadn’t noticed until just now.

There’s not much a person can say to a revelation like that. I won’t even try. What I can do, though, is provide the comfort of my embrace. He dips his head and lays it on the pillow of my breasts.

As passionate as our lovemaking was last night and this morning, what we’re doing right now is far from it. It’s interesting that I feel more like a mate now than I did when we were writhing naked in the sheets.

Chapter Eight

Bayne

We’re in the ludus. Some of us are on the floor, some on weight benches that have been pulled into a circle.

We voted several hoaras ago, with a resounding number in favor of attacking our enemy. I assumed the females would all vote no. From talking with many of them over the last lunar, I’ve noticed most of them have gentle souls. By their votes, they’ve proven their fierce loyalty. They want to protect everyone on these two ships to the best of their ability.

We didn’t want to hold this tactical meeting in the dining room. That’s where we held a party only last night. It’s where we laugh and joke and relax.

No, the place for planning war is in the ludus. Though the females call it a gymnasium, it’s where we practice our fighting. It’s fitting to be here.

Although the females are here with us, it’s an unwritten agreement that the males will fight and the females will cheer us on. I’m hungry for revenge, but above all, I want to keep my Willa safe. WarDog is still subdued deep in the recess of my mind, but I feel his agreement. He whines dejectedly, trying to regain my good graces, but I ignore him.

Erro was one of the males who came aboard when Beast killed his former owner and freed the males of his ludus on planet Trent. His cabin is on Beast’s ship, the Devil’s Playground. He tells us that he and his brother were both stolen from his homeworld. He was sent to be trained as a gladiator, his brother went to work directly for Khour.

“Since I was freed from Plenum’s ludus, I’ve spent every spare moment tracking down my brother, Turk,” Erro explains. “I found him about a lunar ago and we’ve engaged in encrypted communications. I discovered where Khour is, and I know some of his habits. It was only yesterday when I brought this information to Beast that we decided to call this meeting.

“Khour has a sprawling