Fangs and Fists, page 5
His luck would eventually run out, just like Grit’s. Soon Jett would be taken from Kiara and if she and Bolt didn’t produce offspring, she would be sent to other wolves. Bolt knew Kiara. She wouldn’t endure it. She’d fight back and inevitably she’d be killed as well.
“You want to go first?” Glacier asked.
Bolt realized they had stopped in front of the doctor’s chamber.
“Get your ear fixed or else it will heal lopsided,” Bolt told him.
Chuckling, Glacier said, “After tomorrow night, I think a lopsided ear will be the least of my worries. Unless I take Victor fast.”
“Don’t hesitate if you have the chance.”
“Good advice. I’ll be sure to take it.”
Glacier opened the door and stepped into the doctor’s chamber, Bolt behind him.
* * *
Kiara hadn’t seen Bolt for a few days and she was starting to worry. Though she’d heard through gossip carried by the mates of other females that he hadn’t fought again, she wouldn’t rest until he returned to her. She needed to see for herself that he was alive and well.
She had spent the morning watching cubs while their mothers enjoyed free time in the meeting place. When her turn came, she stretched her legs with a long, fast run. Sometimes when she ran, she could zone out completely. This morning, she was back in the woods, Bolt running alongside her. At least that where she was in her mind.
All too soon, she returned to the reality of the dank meeting place with gravel beneath her paws instead of fresh earth.
Kiara went to retrieve Jett from Lila. Unfortunately, Mia was standing beside the older woman. Mia gazed coolly at Kiara.
“I don’t know why you do it,” Mia said. “You still run like your life depends on it. As if we will one day hunt again.”
“How do you know that we won’t?” Lila asked, before Kiara could comment.
Mia snorted. “Please. You both know as well as I do that we’re all going to die here. You, me. Her and him.” The younger female jerked her head in Jett’s direction.
“Giving up is the easy way,” Kiara said. “And the coward’s way.”
Mia growled. “We’re not in the woods, but I still recognize a challenge when I hear one.”
Kiara stared hard into Mia’s eyes. “So do I. Whenever you’re ready, I’m right here.”
“Stop it, both of you,” Lila snapped. “Do you want to submit to the masters even more than we already have? They love it when fights break out among us. It shows that we care less and less for our own kind and we’re becoming the sort of beasts they want us to be.”
“Who cares? Like I said, it’s not as if we’re ever getting out. Oh look. They’re bringing more of our sisters,” Mia said.
The massive steel door that was the only entrance and exit to the females’ slave quarters rose halfway. Four naked women, bound by manacles and chains, walked awkwardly between four huntresses in black body armor and carrying shock prods.
These huntresses weren’t like Kiara and her sisters. In the tower, huntresses were invariably vampires -- creatures who were a step below demons in cruelty and often above them in intelligence. They had managed to bargain with the demons to make their lives a bit more comfortable and enjoy far more freedom, but the cost was their integrity -- if they had any to begin with. Huntresses came and went often from the tower -- capturing wolves and other creatures and delivering them to the masters.
A fifth huntress entered behind them, dragging a limp and bloody female, caught in the state between shifting.
The huntresses unchained the four women, who stayed close together as they walked hesitantly into the meeting place.
“We should help them get acclimated,” Lila said.
“Hey!” Mia called and the new arrivals glanced in her direction. “Welcome to hell.”
“Charming as usual, Mia,” Lila muttered.
“Can you keep Jett for a few minutes?” Kiara asked.
“Of course,” Lila said.
Kiara approached the injured female who, though unchained, lay in an unconscious heap as all but one huntress left.
Kneeling by the wounded one, Kiara grasped her chin and said, “Hey, can you hear me?”
The female growled softly and half-opened her swollen eyes. “They took my cub. My son. Adohi.”
Kiara felt a bit sick. This woman was unfortunately enduring Kiara’s greatest fear.
“The boy was big and healthy,” said the huntress who squatted beside the female. “He’ll be well cared for until he’s old enough to train for the arena.”
“Small comfort that is, but what would you know about it?” Kiara said, not caring that the huntress could strike her with the shock prod. Even if Kiara attacked a huntress, she had little hope of biting and clawing her way through their body armor before the guards killed her.
“Come on.” The huntress slipped her hands under the wolf’s arms and glanced at Kiara with dark, piercing eyes. “Grab her feet. We’ll bring her to an empty cell.”
Kiara wondered why this huntress was being so accommodating. Usually they dropped off slaves and left.
“We don’t need your help.”
“You’re Kiara, right?”
Kiara was surprised that she knew.
“Do what you’re told, Kiara.”
“I’m not good at taking orders.”
“You’d better learn. Your life and Jett’s depend on it.”
Again she and the huntress locked gazes. Kiara had many questions. Maybe the best way to find answers would be to listen.
She picked up the injured wolf’s legs and assisted the huntress in bringing her to the closest empty cell. It hadn’t been used in a while and was quite dusty. They placed her on the bed. The woman had fallen into unconsciousness again, but her regenerative powers had kicked in and she was already healing.
The huntress went to the washroom and returned with damp towels. She brought them to Kiara and leaned close.
“You and Bolt be ready tonight. I’ll come for you during the games,” the huntress whispered so softly that even with her keen, wolfish hearing, Kiara had trouble detecting the words.
Kiara glanced at her. Bolt had told her to be ready at any time to make their escape, but surely they weren’t trusting a huntress to help them? Even before demons took over the world, werewolves and vampires didn’t get along. Surely this vampire -- this huntress who earned a living by enslaving wolves -- wouldn’t help them escape the tower.
The huntress left the cell. Kiara stood and watched her approach the steel door. It rose enough to let her pass, and then it clanged shut.
The injured wolf groaned and Kiara went to assist her.
“Bastards!” the wounded female shouted and sat up quickly. Too quickly. She leaned back against the bed and closed her eyes, apparently dizzy.
“Relax,” Kiara said, placing a hand on her shoulder. “You need to finish healing.”
“What’s the point? They killed my mate and took my son.”
“What’s your name?”
“Winona.”
“Your son -- Adohi is his name?
“Yes,” Winona whispered.
“Adohi is still alive, so there’s hope you’ll see him again,” Kiara lied. That cub was probably already in transport to the hell knew where.
Jett would probably be following him soon because if a huntress was involved in their escape plans, they were in even more trouble than she thought.
* * *
Bolt came to her again that night.
As before, the guards opened the door abruptly.
Kiara had been pacing the cell while Jett slept soundly in the adjoining room. She turned toward the door, her heart pounding with anticipation.
Wearing only his loincloth, Bolt entered behind the first guard. His blue gaze flew to Kiara. The guards said nothing, but left them alone, closing the door behind them.
“Bolt,” Kiara said, meeting him halfway across the room.
They embraced tightly and he covered her face with gentle kisses.
“I had a strange conversation today,” she whispered in his ear, hoping that if the masters were listening, they wouldn’t be able to hear her. “A huntress said we should be ready tonight.”
“Yes. Her name is Zari. She’s been planning this escape with us for months. Me, Grit and a couple of others. Victor is fighting again tonight. His opponent is one of ours, a wolf named Glacier. Since killing Grit, Victor’s next fight has been greatly anticipated. From what I’ve heard, most of the demons in the tower will be watching.”
“You really trust her? This Zari woman?”
“I do, and so did Grit.”
“Why? Today she helped bring in more females. One of them was in rough shape. They took her cub and she tried to protect him. No one could be part of that and agree to help us gain freedom.”
“I can’t tell you anything more. You’ll just have to trust me.”
She cupped the back of his head and stared at him intently. “I do trust you. It’s her I question.”
“This is our only chance to get out of here with Jett. You know as well as I do that they’ll be taking him soon.”
Kiara lowered her gaze. She felt so torn. She’d do anything to escape, but they couldn’t trust a huntress.
Bolt gently grasped her chin to tilt her face toward his. “Kiara, are you with me on this?”
“Yeah. I suppose any chance is better than none.”
“We still have time before Zari comes for us. In the meantime, we should act like everything is normal, in case they’re watching.”
A faint smile tugged at Kiara’s lips. “In that case.”
She kissed him. Pressing close to his hard body, she grasped his firm bottom and thrust her tongue between his pliant lips. Groaning, he wrapped his arms around her and thrust his tongue against hers.
When the kiss broke, he smiled slightly, his eyes dark with passion. “This is what you want?”
“It might be the last thing we do and if it is, I want my final happy moments here in your arms.”
“Oh, Kiara, my love. I’ll protect you and Jett until my last breath. I swear it.”
“I know, and it’s the same for me.”
He swiftly picked her up and kissed her again. Kiara wove her fingers through his hair. Her eyes closed, she relished the strength of his arms and the sweetness of his kiss.
Bolt carried her to the bed and placed her on it. He stretched out beside her and buried his lips against her shoulder.
His day’s growth of whiskers tickled her smooth flesh and she chuckled softly, clinging to him. He pushed down the strap on the plain muslin dress she wore -- the only attire offered by the demons for females in their human form -- and pushed the neckline lower, freeing Kiara’s breast. He rolled his thumb over her nipple and it stiffened.
Bolt took the sensitive nub between his teeth and worried it gently. Then he licked and sucked it. Kiara’s pulse quickened and she breathed deeply, arching against him. He teased her so perfectly. Her clit ached already and she felt moist heat between her legs.
Wanting to touch him as well, Kiara quickly pulled off his loincloth. His stiffening cock practically fell into her hand. She squeezed and stroked and he swelled even more in her grasp. Kiara used her thumb to tease the underside of his cock head. He groaned and thrust into her hand.
Bolt pushed down the other side of her dress, exposing both breasts. He trailed his tongue back and forth between her nipples, pausing intermittently to suck and nip them.
“Oh, Bolt,” she murmured, closing her eyes. “Please keep touching me.”
“I have no intention of stopping,” he replied in a husky voice.
Bolt eased down her body, pulling off her nightgown on the way. He placed it aside and grasped her bottom.
“I want to taste you,” he said and covered her clit with his mouth. He lapped and sucked the sensitive flesh until Kiara teetered on the edge of an explosive climax. Then he raised her legs until they dangled over his shoulders and thrust his tongue into her quivering pussy.
He groaned and growled while pleasuring her with his mouth.
Kiara caressed his hair, her head tossing on the pillow. She moaned softly, overwhelmed by so many wonderful sensations. Just when she hovered on the brink, he released her only to cover her body with his and thrust deeply into her well-prepared pussy.
“Bolt,” she called, clinging to his neck, her legs wrapped around him.
It took just a few thrusts to push her over the edge. As she pulsed around him, he came, filling her with his essence.
Her orgasm ebbed and reality returned. She considered that he might have left her with a cub. It mattered not at the moment. Tonight they would either win their freedom or die trying.
* * *
Thoughts From the Master’s Gazing Room --
I can barely stand the anticipation.
As if anything happens here that we don’t know about.
Zari is a disappointment.
Vampires think they’re so smart. It will be fun to see her get her due.
And the cub? It’s almost a waste. He could be trained.
But what’s more fun? To wait years to possibly watch him die in the arena at the hands of a stranger or to see his innocent young self destroyed by one who gave him life?
Damn your black soul. You’re always so convincing.
Chapter Five
Posterity
Kiara wasn’t sure how much time passed while she and Bolt lay waiting for Zari. No doubt the anticipation made time move slower.
She and Bolt tried to appear calm, but she knew by the rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her cheek that he was anxious as well.
The door opened and Zari, dressed in her body armor and carrying a shock prod, manacles and chains stepped into the cell.
“Hold out your wrists so I can put these on,” Zari ordered. “Quickly. We only have a short window during which the masters can’t see what we’re up to.”
Kiara hesitated, but Bolt obeyed without question.
“Jett,” Kiara said.
“The cub? Get him.”
Kiara hurried to the adjoining room and picked up Jett, who was fast asleep. The boy stirred briefly before settling back to sleep, his head against Kiara’s shoulder. She almost envied his carefree innocence. She also wanted to preserve it for as long as possible, and the only way to do that would be to escape. She prayed that Zari could be trusted, or tonight would be the end for them all.
Back in the main cell, Bolt was now chained firmly. Zari snapped manacles on Kiara as well.
Memories of her capture flooded Kiara’s mind and she tried not to shift to wolf form and struggle.
“This way,” Zari said, her shock prod in hand. “All this is in case we run into guards who might question us.”
“What happens if we do?” Kiara asked.
“Let me worry about that,” Zari told her, leading them down the staircase. They paused outside Winona’s cell. The female was awake in her bed. She sat up and glared at them.
Zari opened the cell door and stepped in.
“Now what?” demanded Winona.
“Keep quiet and come with us. It will be in your best interest.”
“Wait, this wasn’t part of the plan,” Bolt said, his brow furrowed.
“It is now,” Zari told him.
Bolt’s brow furrowed and his eyes blazed. “If she messes this up --”
“What plan?” Winona asked, now on her feet.
“You want to see your cub again? Then shut up and put these on.” Zari approached with manacles.
Winona glanced at Kiara who nodded. She just wanted to get on with this. Until they were clear of the tower, she wouldn’t begin to relax.
Winona allowed Zari to lock the manacles around her wrists.
The wolves and vampiress continued to the steel door. It opened and on the other side, a transport vehicle with a second armored huntress in the driver’s seat awaited them.
Zari opened the back. Two male wolves and a cub of about five years sat, looking tense. Zari removed the chains and manacles from Kiara and the others. Kiara entered first. Bolt came next. He and the men greeted each other. When Winona climbed in, the boy practically flew at her.
“Adohi,” Winona said, hugging him tightly. “Are you hurt?”
“No, Ma.”
Zari closed the door, leaving them in darkness. Not that it mattered. Wolves could see nearly as well in the dark as in daylight.
The vehicle hummed softly and rolled down the corridor.
Bolt quickly introduced the two males as fellow gladiators Crispin, burly and red-haired, and Arnav, whipcord lean and raven-haired.
After Bolt briefly explained the escape plans to Winona, the wolves sat in anxious silence. Kiara had to remind herself not to hold Jett too tight. Luckily he was still asleep.
“Ma, when will we be home?” Adohi asked.
“Hopefully soon,” Winona said. “Now be quiet.”
The boy did what his mother told him. No doubt he was terrified. Kiara was frightened as well. She knew they all were.
Bolt glanced at her and smiled slightly. She tried to return it, but wasn’t sure if she quite succeeded.
They drove for several minutes, stopping at regular intervals and then rolling up inclines.
Kiara recalled her journey down to the slave quarters over two years ago. She hadn’t seen anything back then, since she’d been in a vehicle like this, but she’d felt the descent. At that time, she hadn’t thought about the day she’d ascend. That dream had grown while she’d been in captivity.
Something struck the side of the truck. Hard.
The vehicle sped up and more blows hammered the sides. The truck bounced before stopping abruptly.
“What’s going on?” Kiara said.
“How should we know?” snapped Crispin.
“It was a rhetorical question, genius,” she retorted.
“Everybody be quiet,” Winona said. “Listen!”
From outside, they heard groans and growls that sounded almost wolf-like, but made little sense. Wolves generally communicated with their growls and howls, but these noises were indistinct, like gibberish versus ordered language.
