Viola Grace - Champions Of Terra 01 Arena Station

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Champions of Terra

Arena Station

By Viola Grace

Prologue

K

yra Dannick was elated. “I found it! I actually found it!” She tore out of the archive as if the hounds of hell were on her heels, skidding through the library to a communications terminal. She dialled in the codes she had been given for just such an event. “I found it, Councillor Rand. The lost planet of Admar. I have the co-ordinates and the jump keys.” “This is a most exciting discovery. As soon as your findings are confirmed we’ll send out a probe.” He sounded sceptical, but was willing to follow protocol for archaeological discovery. “When can someone check on my findings?” She was extremely eager to have her work of three years confirmed. Any delay would be intolerable. “Someone should be in touch with you in a few days. Have patience, Kyra.” The call was disconnected and Kyra returned to the archive only slightly less enthusiastic than she had been before the conversation. It was possible 1

Viola Grace that she had discovered the location of a planet that had been lost to the Alliance for over a thousand years. Waiting for a week would not kill her. **** Three months later “I can’t possibly go, I get space sick.” Kyra felt queasy at the thought of the long journey to the transfer station. “It was your discovery. You have to be there when the probe confirms your findings. When the data is downloaded and you are proved correct, you’ll be the first Champion declared among your species. This is a very great honour. You have to be there.” The Ontex Councillor was adamant. There was no room for argument. So it came to pass that Kyra Dannick, research assistant at the Alliance archive, found herself in stasis and being shipped across the galaxy. She didn’t know her stasis chamber had been abducted by raiders, but she did know that when she woke up to find three men pawing her that she had not reached the transfer station. She reacted according to her own infallible instincts, and as such, found herself sold to an arena. Her savagery in defending her numbed body had the raiders recoiling. No one had the right to 2

Champions of Terra - Arena Station grope her breasts, especially while her legs were still regaining feeling. She had felt a portion of one of the men’s faces cave in as her fist made satisfying contact. Something that squished slightly tore off in her other hand as she hissed in anger and fought for her dignity. The arena was inevitable after that.

3

Viola Grace

Chapter 1 Four months later

K

yra watched the hands slide down her torso and moaned as they caressed her breasts, then trailed down to her ribs. As she let out little sighs and whimpers they continued their exploration. The long, elegant fingers drew circles along her outer thighs and her breath came in gasps as she fisted her hands in the sheets of her bunk. “Ouch, damn it. Ouch. Ok Tory, enough!” “Well, the damage does not seem to be permanent, but you’re lucky to have escaped in such good shape.” Tory withdrew her hands from her friend’s body and wiped the blood she accumulated from the superficial cuts Kyra had sustained off onto her jumpsuit. “You have cracked ribs and substantial bruising over most of your body, but nothing life threatening. This is the last time I grope you after a fight, next time have a 4

Champions of Terra - Arena Station companion do it. At least they get paid for it.” “Face it Tory, I am one of your more normal patients in the quarters, and just because we aren’t sexually compatible doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy seeing your smiling face now and then. Plus you have really great hands.” Kyra managed a winning smile for her tall, gangly friend, and was rewarded with a smile that would have done an Earth shark credit. Her chilling smile bisected a face that was lavender in hue, in a body that was 7 feet tall and as willowy as any supermodel back on Earth. Tory offered her services as a physical therapist and trainer to Kyra when she had entered the arena barracks. The two had since become fast friends. “You know that your luck in the pit is not going to be with you forever. Eventually, you’ll need to be taken to medical for some major repairs and it is going to cost you.” She sat back and surveyed her battered friend. “I know, but I would hate to have to dip into my savings. I still dream of getting myself out of here one day, and I need to bribe a lot of people to slip away unnoticed.” “You shouldn’t talk so freely of escaping. Someone might take notice and report you.” Tory looked nervously about and her eyes widened at the sight of four guards making their way through the females barracks, straight toward where Kyra was lying on her bunk. 5

Viola Grace Two of the arena guards lifted the human out of her bunk and began dragging her off without a word being spoken. Tory soon fixed that. “Where the hell are you taking her? She’s recovering from her last fight and getting ready for another tomorrow.” She moved to block their path and the other two guards that had come in with them moved her aside. “She has been summoned to medical. That’s all you need to know.” One of the guards snarled it in Tory’s face as he shoved her out of the way and then reached for his stunner. In the female fighter quarters only a stupid guard with no plans for the future ever forgot that these females fought for a living, and that by entering the secured area he would be severely outnumbered. Tory stepped back and let them exit the barracks without making another attempt to delay them. The doors swung shut behind the group and a murmur of curiosity spread through the women’s fighter quarters. This was definitely an unusual occurrence. **** A few minutes later Kyra’s escort had led her through three security check points on the arena orbital station, the silence of the walk was starting to get on her nerves. “Medical, huh? By who’s request? I sure didn’t 6

Champions of Terra - Arena Station ask for it, nor will I accept it on my account without a fight.” Stumbling between two burly guards of the Oesh species she tried to keep her dignity as much as possible while two of her arms were being held by one of each of theirs, the guard on the left was letting his nine fingers quite thoroughly explore her backside. It was not the first time she had been groped by an ‘alien‘ species, but it was always unsettling to have limbs and appendages she could not identify roaming over her body without her consent. “The repairs and exam are on the management.” The grunted reply was the only thing that came out of the right guard's mouth during the arduous half hour walk to the medical bay. Medical treatment was not free in the arena and she now had an idea who was picking up the tab for this little excursion. It was not about to be her. A team of technicians was waiting for her, ignoring her queries as to what the hell was going on they secured her bruised body to a gurney and began to work. Blood and tissue samples were drawn while her ribs were being restored to wholeness. They removed the bodysuit she had been wearing by the expedient method of cutting it from her. The shivering in her body became uncontrollable as the blades slid between her flesh and the suit. The delicate sound of shredding fabric made her skin prickle in anticipation of the 7

Viola Grace blades turning and reversing their path. The relief that she felt as the last of the cloth tugged away was at odds with the frustration of her restrained position. Under the soothing rays of the restorer her bruises began to fade. She could feel the cracks in her ribs knitting and fading into nothing. As the pain receded, Kyra began to struggle against the restraints and the hands of the technicians in earnest. The claws, fingers and tentacles that were exploring and examining her body gave her the creeps. “Quiet down! This is for your safety and comfort.” Finally, one of the team leaders condescended to speak directly to her as the hive of activity continued to swirl around her prone form. “I was perfectly comfortable before. What’s going on here? I didn’t authorize any repairs on myself.” She tried to infuse a look of haughty disdain into her features. Not an easy task considering that one of the hive of techs was engaging in a detailed exam of her reproductive system that would have made a gynaecologist blush. “The examination and repairs have been ordered by the management. You are a successful fighter and they want to minimize the probability of injury and discomfort later. They do not wish for a repeat of the last female.” He gestured to 8

Champions of Terra - Arena Station another gurney on the other side of the crowded medical bay. The figure on the gurney was definitely female, but covered with blood. She recognized the species as a Selna, commonly used in the companion services. This particular specimen had obviously run afoul of something that was not interested in her charms and enforced its dislike with sharp claws and teeth. She had piped up, “Later when?” in response to his last comment, but he proceeded to speak as if she had said nothing. “The Selna that was sent was obviously unsuitable. We are endeavouring to make sure that the next candidate is a much more acceptable match.” The saurian face lit in delight at a prospect only he could envision. Feeling nausea and fear rising within her, she ruthlessly fought it back. “A match for what exactly? And why precisely was she injured?” She jerked her chin at the other gurney where the techs were still attempting to stop the bleeding. “One of our champion fighters is in rut. His species is very rare, something to do with a low birth rate. Anyway, on the station there are only a handful of species that are remotely compatible, and yours happens to be one of them. Lucky you.” He looked over his shoulder at the Selna. “She was supposed to be a solid match, but obviously something was missing in her chemical or 9

Viola Grace biological makeup. She was rejected. We intend to monitor the next attempt carefully so that records may be kept for future use.” “Rut? You mean you want me to fuck a total stranger?” Her astonishment and outrage was evident. Occasionally a male fighter would pay to have a female fighter delivered to him for intimate purposes, but usually they made do with females from the companion barracks. Kyra herself had never volunteered for that particular branch of employment. Although, she did know several female fighters that relished the extra income from such occurrences. No one in the management of the arena had ever attempted to coerce her into it either, at least not after reading her capture record. Three of the raiders had died and two more were injured before they could subdue her after they had woken her from cold sleep. Good fighters were expensive and they did not want them injured. “The choice is not up to you. By the time we have finished with you, you will engage in whatever activity he suggests. Your opinion will not matter, you will simply react.” He gave her a leering grin and patted her straining thigh as it fought the cuff at her ankle. “Are you nuts?” The swarm of technicians stilled and all eyes turned to the team leader as they absorbed her shrieked insult. The leer was replaced by a tight smile, “No my 10

Champions of Terra - Arena Station dear, I am quite sane. You should be grateful that we are making the effort to ensure your comfort.” He turned away and addressed the only female tech in the room. “Are the supplements calibrated yet?” “Yes Dr. Telnor. Her muscle mass and physiology have been taken into account and the shots are ready.” The tech slid a tray within easy reach of the doctor and stood back with the rest of the team. “Now, since you are so curious, I will explain the supplements to you as I administer them.” He lifted the first of the four hypo sprays from the tray. “This first one is a general vitamin and mineral base to improve your immune system and give you a fighting chance against any infection your injuries might cause.” He held the injector against her arm with a small hiss and a twinge following, it was over. “The next one is a sedative. Not enough to make you unconscious, but you may wish it had.” His grin was positively evil as he closely examined her for signs of discomfort and upset. He was rewarded with the visible tension that invaded her body at his words. “Third is an inhibitor to prevent pregnancy. Your cycle is unfamiliar and we don’t want to take any chances on getting you out of fighting form.” Instead of her shoulder this injection went into her 11

Viola Grace thigh, burning as it entered her bloodstream. “Lastly, we have a little something that will make sure you won’t fight too hard.” He held the hypo in front of her face with a look of pure malevolence. “The male you are going to is one of our highest earning fighters and it wouldn’t do for you to injure him during your little encounter, now would it?” Slowly, he dragged the cool metal of the injector across her body. Then he reached between her spread thighs and inserted the mechanism into her. She gritted her teeth at the pain as the spray was triggered and absorbed into her bloodstream via the thin tissues of her vaginal walls. “This is a cocktail of various hormones present in your own system that we have synthesized, concentrated and enhanced to create a certain…shall we say enthusiasm for you to, as you put it, ‘fuck a total stranger’. The injection will take effect in a few minutes. You will then be taken to your ‘date’.” Dr. Telnor gave her a final leering grin and left the room, giving the highpitched hiss that passed for laughter in his species. The swarm of techs thinned out and at last she was left with only one attendant whose eyes were fastened on the statistics station. It was the female from before who was stuck monitoring the progress of the drugs into her system. The cool air and the hum of the machines became her physical focus as the rational part of 12

Champions of Terra - Arena Station her mind struggled to grasp what was happening to her. Since her capture, no male of any species had been allowed anywhere near her outside of the fighting arena. The three raiders that she had dispatched during the attack that had landed her here made quite an impression on the slavers who presented her as a likely candidate for the arena. During her first fight she had truly felt alive for the first time since the day she left earth to join the Alliance. In the rush of adrenaline that had coursed through her during her premier arena battle, she had found an addiction which she had gladly fed. She was an adrenaline junkie; always looking for the next situation that would stimulate her to react at the height of her capabilities, it was a pity that sex was almost out of the question. The risk was not worth the rewards. Occasionally, a female fighter was taken to be used by the males, sometimes as a punishment, on the odd occasion for hire, which earned the female a hefty sum in the process. Kyra had been careful to neither volunteer for the duty nor to earn a punishment that would land her in the arms of one of the male gladiators of the arena. She enjoyed sex, but only when she had the freedom to choose her partner and be chosen in return. The orbital station set-up did not allow for such choosing to occur. At no time were the females and males allowed to mingle without the express permission of the management. 13

Viola Grace Now, here she was facing the fate that she had so studiously avoided in the months that she had been confined here. All that effort for naught. “Ah, the stimulant is beginning to take effect.” The tech sounded relieved as the monitors began to register the increase in respiration and body temperature. Looking around to make sure that there were no witnesses the tech grabbed a small hypo spray from her kit and pressed it into Kyra’s neck, under her waist length hair. The injector disgorged its contents with a sullen hiss and the cold metal was removed. “What was that for?” She whispered her query to the tech; sure that what she had just been given was not on the good doctor’s list. “Your body is a close match for the Azon they are sending you to, but it still may be uncomfortable for you. This is a muscle relaxant that will also numb any pain for the next fourteen hours and by then you should be back here. It will make the mating more comfortable for you.” The tech ducked her head again and pretended to be checking a sensor connection as a supervisor came by to check on her progress. As soon as the supervisor left, Kyra whispered on a breath of sound, “Thank you.” Then resumed her half-hearted struggles against her bonds. When all of the indicators had been triggered, lighting up the monitor display, the tech 14

Champions of Terra - Arena Station summoned the guards to escort her to the male. Restraint cuffs were attached to her wrists and ankles, their proximity determined by a remote that allowed for full movement or snapped her limbs together and held them in a magnetic field. A short shift was produced and she was relieved that she would not be paraded through the halls naked. It was vaguely Grecian in style, which left one shoulder bare, whilst draping from the other to fall to mid-thigh. There was no tie for the shift. It clung to her every move as she took measured hesitant steps, which was all that was allowed by the ankle cuffs' distance set by the guards. One of the guards snorted, “It’s a waste of clothing if you ask me. He’s just going to tear it off of her anyway.” The other guard gave the coughing bark that passed for laughter with the Oesh and shoved her out the door. An insistent pulse of arousal had begun between her thighs, her nipples hardening against the delicate drag of the fabric of her shift as she walked. Kyra’s breasts were lifting and tightening with the increased sensation being transmitted to her brain and a flush covered her skin. She smiled to herself at the thought that if she could avoid the male, she might have a fun evening all to herself. Running her hands over her own body had been the only outlet that she had 15

Viola Grace had recently and it seemed a shame to waste all those wonderful hormones on a guy who would probably not appreciate them. Fortunately, or unfortunately; depending on one’s viewpoint, the walk to the male gladiator quarters was relatively short. Her thighs were damp with her own moisture as the guards stopped her in front of a high-security door. “He’s in these quarters. Once you are inside the door will not open again for twenty hours.” The guard on the right took the remote and deactivated first the ankle restraints, then the cuffs. He left them in place and took out his stunner to make sure that she was not going to turn on him, or make a break for it. “He’s in an adjoining room. Once you are inside, the door will open and he will be able to reach you. It would be best if you didn’t fight too hard.” The left guard typed a code into the lock and stood aside. As the door opened, and a hand caught her in the back and shoved her inside. When the door slid shut, she heard the coughing laughter once again. She scanned the room closely. Noting the location of the inner door and casting about for a weapon. The room was bare of any possible attack positions or places to hide. Only a bed was visible and a pillow attack was not something she had ever considered incapacitating. Fun, yes. Incapacitating? No. She noted the size of the bed, 16

Champions of Terra - Arena Station and based on the size of her own, which closely followed the size of her body, she was in trouble. Across the room a door slid open, Kyra moved to the centre of the room. Her arousal was temporarily forgotten in the pounding of her heart with the fight or flight response she was trying to suppress. Shadows moved in the room beyond and she tensed.

17

Viola Grace

Chapter 2

E

xpecting and bracing for an attack, she was surprised when she was greeted by the question, “Can I get you something to drink?” “Uh, no, thank you.” Her mind reeled, trying to get a handle on the moment, as with her polite response, he stepped into the light and crossed the threshold into the bedchamber. She had been right in her assessment of his height. He topped her 5’9” frame by at least a foot. His hair was a shimmering black cloak with blood red highlights visible in the gleaming of his silken waves. Bronze skin covered corded muscles that moved and bunched with every step as he approached her. His nostrils flared as he scented the air. “They drugged you.” His voice was flat, his gold eyes flared in anger. “Yes.” She kept her answer simple, unsure of his reactions. He was definitely not what she had expected. She was hard pressed to tamp down the 18

Champions of Terra - Arena Station surge of hormones that was swamping the trepidation she had been experiencing. God, he was gorgeous; and he smelled good enough to eat. That last thought had her mouth salivating and her eyes dropped to the front of his trousers. “What did they give you?” He paced closer sniffing the air, his eyes devouring her body. Her eyes shot to meet his and a flush mantled her cheeks. She backed up a step away from the bed answering as calmly as she could, “A pregnancy inhibitor, vitamin boost, a sedative and something to …uh.” She trailed off as he continued his approach. “An arousing agent?” “Yes.” The word was a whisper of sound as she caught his scent. He smelled warm, safe and really, really sexy. She felt a pulse deep in her belly as her most basic of instincts responded to his nearness. “Why did they dose you?” He continued his slow approach. His posture never giving her any cause for alarm but he continued drawing inexorably closer. “Because of what happened to the Selna.” The effect that this calm conversation was having on her was to relax her and let the chemical agents do their work. “Ah, it was…unfortunate.” His voice expressed a slight regret but his attention was obviously on her. 19

Viola Grace “Do you plan to do the same to me?” Her voice challenged him to answer honestly. He sighed and halted his advance for a moment, “I did not plan to do that to her, as odd as that must sound. Provided that you react according to your actual physical response there should be no problem.” “What do you mean ‘react according’?” Her suspicions were aroused and she began to back away from him as he advanced once again. “Her scent did not match her actions and I found that…offensive. As long as you are honest with your responses we should have no problem.” He paused again. “My name is Tiergar by the way, seeing as how we are about to become intimately acquainted.” “Kyra…” Anything else she would have said was lost in a yelp when he suddenly snapped forward and grasped her arms, lifting her off of her feet. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck breathing in her scent. A peculiar vibration ran through Kyra’s body as she hung suspended. It took a few seconds before she realized that he was purring. Her nipples tingled where her breasts met his chest. The bronze skin was coated with a fine layer of hair. He had the same hide as a lion she had once seen on earth and the texture was at once irritating yet soothing. His scent enveloped her, leaving her dizzy. 20

Champions of Terra - Arena Station Tiergar’s tongue darted out and stroked down her neck. She could only hope he liked the way she tasted. When she felt his teeth gnawing gently on her neck, her self-control shattered into glittering shards. Dangling in his grip, she had no leverage for her attack. She lashed out with her legs, connecting with his knee, and causing him to release her as he fell to the ground and his legs collapsed beneath him. She landed hard on her butt and quickly scuttled away from him. Kyra backed up against the wall using it to help herself to her feet. When she was standing she prepared herself for an attack, astonished when Tiergar sat there grinning at her. “So they did have to go into the Fighter Ranks after all. I was told that there were no other viable matches available in the companion area. You are not quite what I expected.” He slowly got to his feet and crossed over to the bed. Rubbing his knee ruefully, he leaned back on his elbows and observed her closely. “Neither are you.” She remained on her feet with her back to the wall. “I was given to expect that you were a ravening beast, ruled by unrestricted hormones.” “Oh, I am. They issued a sedative for me as well. It should wear off in a few minutes. I think you should take this opportunity to get 21

Viola Grace comfortable with me. It’s going to be a long night.” He grinned at her again, exposing his extended canines. “Can’t you let me go?” Her voice was plaintive even to her own ears, but she couldn’t stop herself from voicing the plea. He seemed nice enough, but going all the way on the first date had never been her style. Despite the fact that she was more aroused than she had ever been in her life, she was not sure that she was up for this. “Unfortunately not. My species goes into rut about once every two years. If I were at home I would find a mate when that happens. Since my capture I have not seen one other member of my own species, let alone an unmated female.” His voice was flat. “Unmated? What do you mean?” Her curiosity aroused, like the rest of her, she relaxed her stance and leaned back against the wall. The fact that she was nearly nude in the translucent shift did not bother her anymore. “No Azon male would go anywhere near a mated female, it causes too many potentially fatal problems when her mate shows up. Blood feuds between males are something the Azon have tried to eliminate. We are a peaceful race famed for our scholars and researchers. In fact, I was on my way home from a seminar when I was abducted and brought here.” “What kind of seminar?” Her astonishment was 22

Champions of Terra - Arena Station evident. “A discussion of psi abilities in the new race up for consideration by the Alliance. It was held on Nodak one week before my capture.” His eyes gleamed under black brows. His chest began rising and falling in a slightly faster rhythm than a few minutes before. “Uh, just a quick question. Are your sedatives wearing off?” She shifted forward bringing her weight onto the balls of her feet. “A few more minutes, but I really think you should get comfortable with me before they do.” He sat upright and leaned forward. Putting his weight on his crossed arms that were resting on his knees. “Comfortable how?” Her wariness was back in full force. He extended one hand, “Just come to me and touch me.” He exuded calm, patience, and lord, was he sexy. She trembled in place for a few moments then shifted her weight and began to approach him. She took one step forward, then another. A few seconds later she put her trembling fingers in his and let him draw her closer. He tugged at her and she found herself seated across his thighs. The material of his trousers was hot and slick beneath her rounded bottom. She drew in a sharp breath at the contact as her shift rode up when she sat. His gaze immediately went to her breasts at the 23

Viola Grace inhalation, then rose to meet her wide blue eyes as his hand came up to caress the creamy mounds of her flesh through the gauze of the shift. The heat from his skin and the feel of his calloused fingers against her breast caused her to gasp once again. It pushed her flesh more firmly into his gentle grasp. He made that low rumbling noise in his chest once again and stroked the shift off of her shoulder. It caught briefly on the peaks of her nipples then slithered down to pool at her hips. Pleasure infused his gaze as his hand gently explored her flesh. When he gently tugged at her nipple and then scored the sensitive peak with his nails she dropped her eyes to focus on the bronze hand covering her breast. It was then that she noted the claws. Each of his fingers was tipped with a lethal looking barb that extended as he put pressure on it. She started in surprise and then gasped in shock as she was flipped onto her back. Before she could react, her arms were extended over her head and a magnetic clamp held her by the expedience of locking the cuffs on her wrists in place. His voice went from urbane and polite to a hoarse growl. “It is for your own safety that I do this. I don’t want to injure you. It will be easier if you don’t fight me Kyra.” Whatever she would have said to that was lost as he took her mouth with his own. His tongue thrust into her mouth to stroke her own. A thumb 24

Champions of Terra - Arena Station on her jaw kept her from biting down. His fingers plunged into the golden fall of her hair as he held her for the kiss. She felt her own response soar out of control. Heat flooded her from her mouth downward, coiling at her breasts where they were pressed against the velvet-textured wall of his chest. Arousal pooled in her belly and began pulsing between her thighs. She shifted her legs restlessly and moved one thigh out from under Tiergar’s belly to stroke his hip. A growing wetness was seeping out of her depths and her hips arched into his rock-hard abdomen. Her own scent of arousal reached her nostrils and she blushed scarlet at the obvious sign of her heat. Kyra moaned into his mouth as her hips began to roll against him, seeking firm contact on her clit. How much of her response was chemical and how much was her physical response to someone who definitely knew what he was doing, she didn’t know and frankly, didn’t care. He left her mouth and ran his lips and tongue down her throat biting gently where her neck met her shoulder. Then not so gently. Her neck tilted to the side to grant him complete access. She let out a moan and he began to purr in response once again. A bass rumble that she could feel everywhere their bodies contacted. She felt his lips and teeth journeying across her collarbone and down to her breast. Jumping as 25

Viola Grace they fastened around her nipple and moaning as the suction sent pounding heat coursing through her. She felt a tightening deep within. When he switched to suckle the other breast she shattered into a thousand pieces. Screaming as she twisted in the throes of her release, her body arching and rubbing against him. Sweat coated her body as she relaxed into the sheets panting for breath. Tiergar was removing his clothing and she only had a few seconds to admire his naked form before her eyes widened at the sight of his raging erection, before his body covered hers once more. The musk from her release filled the small room, blending with the pheromones that were pouring out of Tiergar as he slowly rubbed his body against hers. Her delicate skin was sensitive after her release and she raggedly moaned as her body flared to life once again. Her nipples rasped against him and her hips rocked and pleaded for more intimate contact. She felt the blunt heat and hardness of his cock against the inside of her thighs and parted them to give him better access. Her thighs slid up to cradle his hips as she rocked herself against him. It seemed her every breath increased her tension as he simply stroked himself against her slick lips, not trying to enter, but teasing her with the feel of him. The fine down on his body was coated in a 26

Champions of Terra - Arena Station sheen of sweat as he shifted to bring his cock into firm contact with her weeping pussy. Dragging the head through her damp curls he pressed lightly at her opening until his cock was lodged firmly inside. She stiffened at the contact but raised her hips to his as his hands fastened on her breasts. With intense concentration he began to work his length and girth inside. Her body was slick with sweat and her cunt was leaking juice profusely as he slowly worked his way inside, pumping his hips gently in an inexorable rhythm. With her hands bound above her she could only arch her back and undulate her hips to bring him closer and deeper. “Oh yes, please. More. Please.” Her voice was completely alien to her as she heard herself begging him to plunge his hard cock into her. Inching his member forward into her snug channel he gripped her hips and pressed until he was fully seated. His lips returned to her breasts and locked on a nipple, suckling deeply. When she was arching and bucking beneath him again he began to draw his hard length out of her and then plunged back in, causing a rush of heat to pulse through her once again and driving the air from her lungs. Heat was flowing in her veins, pulsing in her hands and feet, driving through her belly and coming out of her throat in the breathless moans and high cries she could not stifle. 27

Viola Grace His slow retreat and advance was causing the spiral of tension to tighten again. She didn’t know how much more she could take before the climax once again lifted her and smashed her into a dizzying whirl of sensation. She lifted her hips in time to his thrusts and slowly slid her legs up to wrap around his thighs and pull him into her. A growled response to her aggressive behaviour greeted her. Kyra moaned again as the thrusts went to her core and beyond. The pulsing of her release became endless waves of ecstasy as he continued to ride her body. She flexed her limbs again, driving him deeply into her, arching her neck as the sensations grew within her. Snarling at her silent plea he nevertheless picked up the pace of his thrusts, then he leaned down and buried his face in the side of her neck. As his tempo grew from a steady deep pace to quick pounding thrusts, Kyra could feel every nerve ending. The coil in of sensation in her abdomen was winding tight and she struggled to arch frantically against him, desperate for contact with her clit. Her moans had turned to whimpers of distress and need. She twisted herself restlessly against him seeking desperately for release, praying that he would not leave her hanging. In answer to her pleas, his fingers trailed between their heaving bodies, one claw traced a path to the tiny nub that was begging for his attention. Circling it lightly as they plunged and 28

Champions of Terra - Arena Station writhed against each other, he suddenly pressed the pad of his finger against her clit in a counterpoint to the plunging of his hips. She shrieked and watched stars burst behind her eyes. Kyra’s climax gripped Tiergar’s cock in a viselike hold, slowing his thrusts and squeezing him tight. Her weight was supported entirely by her shoulders and her legs locked around his hips as he began to pump in and out against the contractions in her cunt driving for his own release. His firm strokes kept her orgasm going. She was lost to the sensations, sparks flying behind her eyes as the vortex of pleasure surrounded her on all sides. A snarling growl had begun in his throat as his sweat dripped onto her flexing body. As her body finished its frantic dance, she slumped back onto the bed and watched his brutal expression as he pursued his own pleasure now that hers had been seen to. She heard a roar above her and felt an explosion of warmth within her pulsing walls. His face set and his eyes distant as his cock discharged into her welcoming heat. Then she felt another spurt, then another and finally his body fell against her in exhaustion. The aftershocks of her orgasm fluttered around his member, which alarmingly seemed to not have softened at all. Tiergar slowly withdrew from her body, then dropped onto his side and lay with his eyes closed for a few moments. As an afterthought, he then 29

Viola Grace reached up and freed her wrists. Groaning from the tension in her arms and wrists she brought them down to her sides. Kyra grasped her elbows and rolled to her side away from Tiergar. She curled into a ball while flinching at the soreness from muscles that had not been used in quite some time. Her thighs twinged in protest as she closed them against the sticky mess that coated them, her eyes fluttered shut and she flushed with mortification as her reaction to this complete stranger replayed itself behind her closed lids. Chemicals or no, he definitely knew what he was doing. A warm, hard hand drew her body to the cradle of his as he curled his limbs around her. He was purring again. His arousal was gently insistent at her back, but he made no further move and she felt his breathing slow to a sleeping rhythm. Exhausted and in no mood to sleep on the floor, Kyra fell asleep held against Tiergar like a rag doll.

**** She was hot. A fever pounded in her blood as she awoke from an earned slumber. Twice more in the night he had taken her with no preliminaries, bringing her up onto her knees and plunging into her until she moaned her surrender and he roared 30

Champions of Terra - Arena Station his triumph. Her mind was hazy as to why she would feel such heat upon waking until she registered the hands on her body. One was caressing a breast and then trailing down to her stomach and back up to tease the other flushed mound, while the other had taken up residence between her thighs and had two fingers sliding in and out of her wet channel while the thumb rotated on her clit sending out stabs of heat with each pass. “Good morning.” A soft rumble in her ear as his hands increased their devotion to purpose. “I have been waiting.” “For what?” Her voice was hoarse from the night before, she had never considered herself a screamer, but he had not let up until her entire body had been aflame. “For this.” His fingers left her cunt and the hot smooth thrust of his cock quickly replaced it. Pleasure drove out all thought as he began to move within her. Her flesh was still sensitive from the previous evening. He felt enormous against her swollen tissues. Holding her hips to his he rose to his knees once again, and Kyra was forced to brace her weight on her forearms. If she thought his thrusts were aggressive last night he now showed her that she had had no basis for comparison. With her arms beneath her she had no way of controlling any aspect of their coupling, with the exception of 31

Viola Grace arching her hips to allow him deeper. She had no intention of encouraging that. Every plunge of his aroused flesh drove her forward and every retreat traced a burning path of emptiness within her moist and ready sheath. The slap of his thighs connecting with her buttocks was a drum beat in the silence. Punctuated only by her moaning and panting. He reached his release far before her, pulling her hips tight to his and howling his climax into the air. He held their bodies together until his engorged cock began to soften, finally then he let it slip from her well-used channel, cum dribbling down her thighs in small rivers, joining the sticky residue of the previous encounters. He flipped her to her back bringing his mouth once again to her swollen breast, one hand snaking between her thighs to plunge two fingers and then a third into her cum smeared cunt. The teeth gnawing gently at her breasts was in a direct counter point to the fingers fucking her furiously below. It was less than two minutes later that she was howling her own satisfaction. After she had rested once again, Tiergar woke her with a tender but thorough kiss. He gently draped the shift she had worn the evening before over her. “It is time for you to leave now.” He bowed formally from the waist, elegant even in his naked state. 32

Champions of Terra - Arena Station “But…” Kyra had no reason to stay. Her task was done. He seemed in complete control of his faculties, so she guessed it was over. “Ok, bye.” She turned to him as she reached the door, “Nice, uh, meeting you.” “You as well, Kyra. The guards are waiting outside. They have been there for some time.” He turned and went back into the chamber he had emerged from all those hours before. The door slid shut behind him. Kyra went to the exit and waited for it to open. As it slid aside she saw the same two guards who had escorted her in the first place. They wrinkled their noses at the smell of hot sex that was wrapped around her in a column. Making jokes about her evening for the entire walk back to medical. The Selna was still undergoing repairs. Dr. Telnor was astonished at her glowing appearance and pronounced that barring some scratches on her back (that she did not remember receiving) she was in perfect health and could return to the fight roster, once she spent some time in the hygienic chamber to remove the residue of the evening of course. When she returned to her bunk in the female fighter quarters she used the small com terminal to check her credit balance. The amount that appeared on the read-out was staggering. Apparently, it was worth over two hundred 33

Viola Grace thousand credits to spend an evening with a horny alien. Who would have believed it? She won her next four fights without any trouble. A new energy seemed to have invaded her limbs, which meant that her physical response time was greatly enhanced. She chalked it up to the vitamin injection she had received in medical and continued training and fighting in the arena. She had been summoned for additional check-ups after her winning streak was published in the arena records, but the doctors were unable to explain the changes in her fitness level. The only obvious lasting effect of the coupling itself, seemed to be that she could still smell him on her body. The scent seemed to trigger a result that she could not have anticipated. Every night for several weeks after she was returned to the barracks she awoke sweating and writhing with the feeling of him moving deep within her, her body aching for completion. She pushed herself harder in training and eventually the dreams stopped.

34

Champions of Terra - Arena Station

Chapter 3

T

he nest egg for her escape became unnecessary two weeks later when the Alliance forces landed and freed all of the fighters who had been captured by the arena owners. The fighters were removed from the barracks one at a time and when Kyra’s turn came about she received several shocks. The first was that she knew the Alliance representative that was sent to greet her. Negotiator Tyrell appeared in full armour at the entrance to the barracks and called out her name. “Kyra Dannick of the Protectorate of Terra, please present yourself for processing.” The hollow metallic voice echoed in the partially empty room. “Negotiator Tyrell, it is an honour to meet you again. What brings you here?” Kyra could not stop the foolish grin that crossed her face at the sight of her old friend in full Alliance regalia. “A porn tape. But that story will wait for later, 35

Viola Grace please come with me.” The negotiator swung around and led the way out of the barracks sweeping past the Alliance guards at the entrance. Amy Tyrell was wearing a full suit of armour that concealed every feature that identified her species. A faceplate with a speaker built into the sides allowed her to speak and filtered the air that she breathed. The Negotiator armour had been designed to conceal and protect the occupant. Every species who had a member in the Alliance with full citizenship, or who was under the protection of the Alliance sent suitable candidates to the Negotiator corp. Earth was just such a planet. The Alliance was going to make sure that all of the fighters who had been abducted were properly returned to their points of origin, but that did not make them fools. Several of the fighters had been stolen from penal colonies, and those would be returned to finish their sentences. Kyra followed her friend in silence, nodding to the Alliance guards that were stationed at every checkpoint. Several wore the insignia of the Battle Cruiser P’tal, one of the flagships of the Alliance. Kyra did wonder why they would have sent a star-breaker class ship to set the arena fighters free. The answer was not long in coming. The negotiator opened a door to a private chamber, not unlike the one Kyra had shared with Tiergar and gestured for her to sit. There was a 36

Champions of Terra - Arena Station small table set for tea and two chairs in the room, one of them occupied by an Ontex dressed in the formal robes of an Alliance Councillor. “Councillor Tajn! How nice to see you again.” Kyra walked forward and bowed formally. “I haven’t seen you since my last day on earth.” “Welcome and be seated my dear. I am so glad to see you in good health. We’ve been worried about you.” Tajn waved her into the chair and when she was seated he poured her a cup of tea. “How did you find us? I thought the station was impervious to detection.” Kyra looked curiously at Tyrell who was standing nearby like an armoured statue. “We will come on to that in a minute my dear. I have some rather bad news for you, along with some very good news.” Tajn beamed at her, his grey face lighting up. “Ok, what is the bad news?” Kyra braced herself, but what she heard was beyond anything she had anticipated. “You are no longer a viable candidate to represent your planet, the medical teams here enhanced your DNA and you no longer meet the specifications for your species. You still have your Champion status.” He amended quickly as he watched horror cross her face. “The discovery of Admar after all these years is an archaeological marvel that no amount of genetic tampering can erase. We were able to keep 37

Viola Grace your standing as the First Champion of your race, but you can no longer be a representative of your race.” Councillor Tajn paused for a moment until Kyra got herself under control. Tears seeped from her eyes as she realized that everything she had worked for was now out of her grasp. Her one goal in leaving her home world had been to represent her planet’s interests in the Alliance. Because of the jackasses at the arena her life as she knew it was over. They had made her faster, stronger, and taller, with the result being her loss of everything she had known. “Ok,” She sniffed and drew herself up, “What is the good news?” “Through the tireless efforts of Negotiator Tyrell we have a new assignment for you. You may not represent your planet, but you can still represent the Alliance.” Tajn looked vaguely uncomfortable and his gaze darted over to Tyrell. “What assignment? Where am I going?” Kyra looked at Tajn and he turned a funny shade of green, the Ontex was blushing! “I will leave you to explain, Negotiator. Kyra, I wish you well and hope to see you before your departure.” Tajn beat a hasty retreat and left the room, closing the door behind him. “Okay Tyrell, what the hell is going on? I have never seen an Ontex that uncomfortable unless someone was talking about sex.” Kyra crossed her arms and gave her friend a steely glare. 38

Champions of Terra - Arena Station “You have nailed the topic right on the head, my friend. Sex it is.” Tyrell moved over to the table and sat down the empty chair. “Do you know how we found you?” “No, I told you that.” Kyra began to blush as the possibilities ran through her head. “A vid of two rare species coupling was released on the black market. One of the species was Azon, can you guess what the other involved party was?” “Terran?” “Yep, Terran. Guess which Terran in particular?” The mechanical voice did not do a good job of translating the chipper falsetto that the speaker was using, but Kyra got the hint. She was well acquainted with Amy’s sense of humour, and had no doubt that the face behind the plate was grinning like a fool. “Me. And Tiergar. Together. On a massproduced vid. Naked. Great.” Kyra dropped her head down into her hands and tried to think of a way to dissolve into the floor. “Well, in a way it was great. It let us know that you were alive, and with Sarah’s help we were able to track the origin of the recording to this station. The Azon were also extremely happy to see their Ambassador alive and well, and ummm…fit.” A strange noise was emanating from the mask and Kyra slammed her hand into the table when she identified the noise as laughter. 39

Viola Grace “Wait…did you say Ambassador?” “Yep, Ambassador Tiergar vi Ranith, Fourth Representative of the Azon Monarchy, and future Councillor to the Alliance of Sentient and Federated Planets.” Tyrell tilted her head and looked closely at Kyra. “You can imagine that the Azon were a little startled to see that their Ambassador was mating with a previously unknown species. The fact that you took him without too much difficulty was apparently a miracle in itself. It caused great controversy. The Azon are always on the lookout for new species to breed with, they have a sadly unbalanced birthrate. Five males to every female.” Kyra gulped at the tea. Then coughed and sputtered as the last few drops went down the wrong way. She was beginning to get a suspicious feeling about where her friends’ conversation was heading. “Breed with? As in having tiny little people who will grow into larger ones?” “They are called kids, Kyra.” The dry note was back in the hollow voice. “Children. Offspring. You get the idea. You, my friend, are going to have the honour of being host to the first AzonTerran hybrid. That is, if you get pregnant in the next five years.” “What…?” Kyra’s voice was a horrified whisper. “The Azon government has petitioned the 40

Champions of Terra - Arena Station Alliance for your co-operation as the first human to successfully couple with one of their species. As you are no longer a representative of the planet Earth you fall under the aegis of the Alliance. They agreed to hand you over.” Tyrell looked over at the teacup in Kyra’s hand. “Damn, I miss eating and drinking.” An armoured fist came to prop up the faceplate. A heavy sigh emanated from the negotiator. “You mean that they just handed me over? They made me a sex-slave to the Azon? I thought slavery was not tolerated by the Alliance.” Kyra grasped at straws as her mind grappled with the import of the information she had just been given. “No, of course not. That is why I was called in. Apparently, since we are the same species they thought I would have an idea of what it would take to make you happy. I have been in negotiations with the Azon reps since we had the location of you and Tiergar pinned down. It was one helluva trip. You’ll only have to mate with one Azon, you will receive property and a regular stipend per annum, and any children you bear will have full citizenship to the Alliance as well as be registered citizens of Azon. No matter whose genetics win out in the pregnancy lottery.” “So, do I get to pick the guy who knocks me up?” “Within certain limits. The choices were made as soon as you cleared the medical exam after we 41

Viola Grace landed and took over.” Tyrell patted Kyra’s hand. “Don’t worry, I have it on good authority that the matches chosen are a match to complement your DNA and your personality. One candidate will meet you when we get to the Neelin Station, the other four when you get to Azon. You will then be expected to make your choice.” “You are lucky that the Azon were willing to allow you multiple choices, but apparently that is the standard mating agreement for their females. It did not strike them as odd to have you do the choosing either. If you can get your nerve up, you might want to try a few of them on for size before you make your choice.” Her voice was once again amused and she patted Kyra’s hand where it now lay limply on the table. “You’ll be leaving in six hours on board the P‘tal.” Tyrell stood and headed for the door. “You’d better pack.” Kyra sprinted back to the women’s barracks and grabbed her supply of bodysuits that were all the management provided for the fighters. Tory had left the day before and was on her way back to the colony from which she had been taken by raiders. With a hug and a promise to communicate by whatever means they could, the girls parted. Kyra downloaded her credit information and shifted it onto a transfer card. Scanning her bunk area for anything left over, she turned and left the barracks for the last time. 42

Champions of Terra - Arena Station

**** She was assigned quarters on the warship, grateful that her roommate was in service on the ship and therefore was not often in the room. Her buddy, the negotiator, would contact her before they reached the transfer station with the name of the first candidate to be her new mate. She was expected to go without a fuss. After regaining her equilibrium, she joined the others in the common room. One hundred and fifty fighters out of the six hundred at the arena were on board. When she entered the room there were about half of the rescued personnel in it, some sitting quietly, some in conversational groups. She scanned for familiar faces and was stunned to see Tiergar talking to another Azon. His conversational partner was obviously a member of the ship’s crew and just as obviously impressed by Tiergar. She stood observing him for a moment, remembered heat rushing through her before she shook herself mentally and physically. She was unaware of the golden eyes that found her as she turned to stand in line at the food kiosk. “So as I was saying Ambassador Ranith, no expense was spared to locate you and bring you home alive and well. Your disappearance was 43

Viola Grace distressing to the entire planet…” Malik continued on as Tiergar let his attention drift to the long blonde hair over the pert backside he so enjoyed. “If you will excuse me Malik, I believe I see someone I know.” He gave the crewman a small nod and crossed the room to stand behind Kyra. At this close range he caught her scent, light and sweet, it sent a wave heat to his loins. His aroused flesh began to press uncomfortably against his clothing and he was astonished at his reaction to the little alien. He had never responded this strongly to a female in his life, not even in the full force of the m’daken when the urge to fuck was almost enough to drive him mad. Kyra breathed in and caught a taste of Tiergar’s scent, but for her senses to smell him he had to be right behind her. Slowly, she turned and looked up at his grinning countenance as her heart beat faster. She felt her thighs clench and made a Herculean effort to appear unruffled. “Hello Tiergar, nice to know you made it out.” She kept her voice friendly and polite, though what she really wanted to do was burrow her face in his neck and breathe in his comforting scent while her arms wrapped around him. God, he was still so sexy she couldn’t believe it. “Or should I address you as Ambassador Ranith?” “Kyra,” her name was a caress, “I hardly recognized you with clothing on.” A wicked grin rode delightfully on his features when she blushed 44

Champions of Terra - Arena Station crimson. “Tiergar is fine.” “Yes, well, I have to be going. Nice seeing you.” She ducked her head and ran for the exit. For the next two days she ate in her room, never venturing out. On day four they docked at the transfer station, Kyra made sure she was the first one off the ship. Tyrell had stopped to say goodbye, gave her the name of her first candidate, and then returned to her assignment on Telliz negotiating for the Emperor Palden IV. At the Port Authority she was directed to a sleek personal craft and waited patiently for the crew to arrive. She should have been more surprised than she was to see Tiergar saunter up immediately after she did. “Oh good, when I didn’t see you leave the ship I realized you must have beaten me here. The crew will be here shortly so let’s go on ahead shall we?” His grin was back in full force, but this time proclaiming that he knew something she didn’t know. He palmed the lock. The door in the outer hull opened with a hiss. Kyra followed him inside, once again enthralled with the rightness of his scent. She filled her lungs and was transported to the feeling of safety, comfort, and lust that the musk of his body gave her every time he was near. She only hoped that the dreams would not begin again. Spending days surrounded by the scent of her 45

Viola Grace own arousal tended to be distracting. She trailed in his wake as he gave her a tour of the ship. He showed her the main bridge, the recreation area, the observatory and finally her quarters. Tiergar explained that they would be taking on three crew—a husband and wife team of Captain and Navigator and the Gunner/Second in Command. All were Azon and she could see the anticipation in his eyes at the thought of being with his own species once again. “Would you excuse me Tiergar? I’m extremely fatigued after sharing quarters on that battle ship. She snored like a chainsaw.” She could see the confusion in his eyes at the use of the unfamiliar term but she closed the door in his face before he could ask for clarification. She remained in her comfortable quarters until the ship had taken off and the dining chime announced the hour. Dressed in one of the jumpsuits she had been given on the warship, she went through the narrow halls to the main dining area off the recreation room. As she entered the room, she took note of the three strangers that would be her traveling companions for the next two weeks. The Azon female would have been a striking member of any species. Golden hair over bronze skin and black eyes made her the first person that Kyra focused on as she entered the room. The male that hovered protectively near her must be the captain by 46

Champions of Terra - Arena Station default. His black hair and rust-coloured skin gave him an infernal appearance belied by the engaging grin that lit his features as he spoke to Tiergar. The male who was left must be the gunner. Gold on gold skin and hair with blue eyes, he was a classic statue come to life. His were the first eyes to rivet onto her as she entered the room. Tiergar’s eyes were the second. The look of possession that flowed over his features startled her and when he rose to greet her and escort her into the group she almost turned and ran. Taking a deep breath she walked into the group of extremely handsome and tall Azon. At home she was considered tall for a female but in this gathering her stature was that of an adolescent. She slipped her hand into Tiergar’s when he offered it and as he drew her forward she trembled at the warmth of his grasp. “Kyra, this is our esteemed Captain Taldan, his mate Mela, and gunner first class Eirac. Everyone, this is Kyra.” His voice rumbled out of his chest as he made the introductions. She nodded to each one in turn as the introductions were made. Then she tried to take a seat. Tiergar’s fingers tightened over hers and he kept her at his side by that gentle restraint alone. Mela and Taldan looked at the contact, then smiled at each other. Eirac scowled at the couples around him and turned to Kyra with restrained politeness, “So, 47

Viola Grace what species are you?” “Terran, uh… human. We’ve only been in the Alliance selection process for the last four years.” A tug on her hand brought her to one of the couches, while another tug had her sitting with her thigh pressed against his. “How did you meet the Ambassador then?” His curiosity was palpable. She wet her lips and turned to Tiergar. “We were introduced a few weeks ago.” Her voice was hesitant and yet amused. ”It turned out to be a very public meeting.” “We got along very well at the first meeting.” His voice was dry. He rubbed his thumb against the palm of her hand stroking gently. Silence fell. Mela piped up at last, “Welcome to the Pyral. We are so happy that you have joined us. Shall we dine?” **** After Kyra demonstrated her ineptitude with the Azon eating tines and laughter broke out, dinner was uneventful. The conversation revolved around the route through space that the ship was on and the steps the Alliance was taking to deter raiders. Kyra listened avidly and only answered when directly addressed. She kept wary eyes on her plate, and for the most part consumed the food before her. She tasted a few of the unfamiliar 48

Champions of Terra - Arena Station items and finished the ones she enjoyed while pushing the others aside. When the meal was over she excused herself to go to the observatory and bid them all a pleasant rest-period. She stood in the center of the room, absorbing the panorama of the stars. She knew that she would be space sick in a few hours and wanted to enjoy the view as long as possible. That was the reason she had been shipped in stasis and sent to the arena in the first place. When the door opened behind her she whirled in surprise. Eirac stood in the opening watching her. His golden eyes raked over her form as he stepped into the observatory with the door hissing shut behind him. “The view is lovely is it not?” His voice was warm and friendly. “Yes, quite lovely.” She glided to one side putting distance between them. His eyes were a glowing, pulsing gold and she could smell the lust that was beginning to burn within him. The scent of his interest was not stimulating her senses at all and she wondered if it had anything to do with her interaction with Tiergar. “I will leave you to the contemplation of the view. It’s past my bed time.” He had moved away from the door, so she squared her shoulders and strode toward the exit. “Oh, I think it would be much more enjoyable with you here.” He turned and observed her, his 49

Viola Grace muscled body tensing. “Please don’t leave yet.” His words were a command and not the plea it was phrased as. “I think I have to.” She hit the door release but found it locked. She braced herself for an uncomfortable situation and turned to Eirac who had moved right up behind her. “Let me out of here.” Icicles dripped from her lips as she faced him. “The door is coded to crew members only. Everyone else has retired. It was clever of you to let me know you would be here alone, I nearly missed the invitation.” He was slowly backing her up against the wall and she bumped into it with him far too close. “There was no invitation. I merely wanted to leave you to your conversation. As I am not of your species I felt I was intruding. Now open the door.” “Of course there was. Your eyes devoured all of us but I was the only one to pick up on it. You find us beautiful.” His nostrils began to flare as he caught her scent. “You are a very attractive race,” She agreed. “That is as far as it goes.” “Oh, I think it goes a lot deeper than that. I saw you watching the Ambassador, but since he won’t oblige you, I will.” He lunged forward and caught her shoulders bringing his mouth down to hers. She turned her head aside and kicked out 50

Champions of Terra - Arena Station viscously with her booted foot. She connected with his knee and he went down to the ground. Unfortunately, his grip on her arms was still firm and she was taken to the floor with him. Taking advantage of her new position, she slammed one knee into his groin while slamming her head into his nose. A human male would have been incapacitated or at the very least stunned. Eirac, however, became enraged with the pain. His claws bit deeply into her flesh. She screamed as they tore furrows down her arms. Pain gave her extra strength. She wrenched herself away and to her feet. She picked up one of the chairs in the room and had it raised over her head to club him with it when the door hissed open. Tiergar stood in the doorway for a few seconds. Then, with a roar of rage, he lunged at Eirac. The younger male did not stand much of a chance against the fury of the outraged Ambassador. He was soon unconscious on the floor. Tiergar’s talons dripped blood, but it was not his own. He turned to her with the light of battle still in his eyes. It faded rapidly when he took in her pallor combined with the grip that her bleeding arms had on the chair. “Kyra, it’s ok. You can put the chair down now. He won’t come near you again.” His voice was quiet and soothing as he slowly approached her. Just as slowly he removed the chair from her white-knuckled grip. 51

Viola Grace Behind them Mela and Taldan were lifting a groggy Eirac to his feet. Taldan looked over at Tiergar, “Take care of her. We’ll take him to medical, you take her to her quarters. Mela will bring the healing supplies.” Kyra stood shocked and confused, blood dripping down her arms. She turned wide blue eyes to Tiergar and asked, “Why would he do that?” In a tiny whisper and folded onto the carpet in a faint. Tiergar lifted her in his arms, swiftly carrying her to his quarters. He stripped her of the torn jumpsuit carefully. Then supported her dead weight in the shower, cleaning the gouges on her arms and drying her carefully while running his hand along the limbs and curves that he had been aching for. The lock on his door chimed. After laying Kyra in his bed he went to take the supplies from a bemused Mela. “I thought you were to take her to her own quarters.” Mildly curious she stood in the doorway watching him charge up the portable regenerator and begin to apply it to Kyra’s wounds. “My quarters are now hers for the remainder of the trip and until the gods separate us.” His muttered tone was a counterpoint to the careful application for the healing device. “I did suspect as much. Does she know?” “Not yet, but she will soon. She thinks that she 52

Champions of Terra - Arena Station has a choice.” He continued his ministrations without once looking up. “You can go now.” “Just so you don’t try to kill him again, Eirac is in his first m’daken. We would never have left if we had known it was so close. He has been sedated and will remain in stasis until we reach Azon. Unless of course your arrangement with Kyra changes. Then we could let him out.” “Fine. Go.” His voice was ragged with concern but his hands were steady as he finished with the left arm and began on the right. He had closed two of the wounds and was starting on the third when she regained consciousness. His head snapped back to avoid the fist that came flying at him. However, he was unable to dodge the kick that sent him tumbling to the floor. Blood began to ooze sullenly out of the wounds on her arm that still lay open and raw. She came up on her knees and then rolled off the far side of the bed putting distance between them. Her eyes were wild and blind with pain. “Calm down Kyra. I need to patch up that arm.” Tiergar’s voice was calm and infinitely reasonable as he got to his feet but did not advance. “What…?” Her voice was a croak strangled by the tension in her throat as she tried to remember how she came to be wounded. “Have a seat and let me finish. I’ll explain as 53

Viola Grace best I can.” He gestured to the bed and raised the tiny regenerator in explanation. She finally noticed her nudity and flushed scarlet. Grabbing the coverlet off the bed, Kyra tucked it around her body then stood uncertainly shifting her weight. “Please.” His voice was soothing as he waved his hand for her to be seated. It was his lack of movement that calmed Kyra enough to take a seat perching on the end of the bed as she took in the room around her. Furnishings that looked at once rich, ornate and yet basically masculine sparsely decorated the outer walls. A small facility chamber was open to her view off to her right. A desk and communications center was directly across from her field of view. The colors were dark and clean; blue, bronze and black. She turned her eyes up to his face as he resumed his ministrations, “Ok, talk.” “Eirac was in the same state that I was in when you and I first met, but being a decade younger, it hit him harder. I had the benefit of experience to detach from it slightly, but he was unaware of anything except the urge to mate.” “Fine, that I understand. But why me and not Mela, she is of your species after all?” She raised one eyebrow while watching his features carefully for any sign of deception. “Mela and Taldan are firmly bonded, not only 54

Champions of Terra - Arena Station would he not let her out of his sight with an unattached male in the vicinity but Eirac would have been able to smell Taldan on her and avoid the confrontation.” “You mean you actually scent mark your females?” Her voice betrayed her astonishment. He laughed. For the first time she heard his laughter and the rich sound issuing form the depths of his chest caused her to smile in return. He withdrew the restorer and held it clear of her until his chuckles eased. “It is a side effect of sharing a bed. In the same way the males are marked as unavailable to encroaching females. Equal opportunity scent marking. No Azon would pursue a relationship with a person who has been so obviously bonded. It would not be honourable.” He resumed, once again, at closing the last of the wounds on her arm. “So the reason that Eirac attacked me was…?” She blushed at his explanation in remembrance of her own scent mingled with his for several days after their joining despite daily visits to the hygienic chamber. “To his senses you were an available female. In his need to relieve the mating urge he came to you in the hope that you would be receptive. You were not.” He moved the device to the small cut in her forehead. “Which saved him a painful death.” “What?” She could not keep the surprise out of 55

Viola Grace her voice. “If he had been successful in his attempt to mate with you, I would have had to kill him.” He was completely matter of fact about it and she was slightly chilled by his tone. She tightened the coverlet over her breasts then looked around in a nonchalant way. “Why exactly would he have had to die?” She drew her eyes up to his face and met his warm golden eyes. “Because you are mine, I have chosen you and my government has made sure that you are available to live on Azon. I want you here in my chambers for the remainder of the flight.” The tones were calm and measured, but the heat in his eyes blazed. Her face flamed, “Oh. I thought I was supposed to choose when I got to your planet.” At a loss for what else to say her hands twisted the coverlet into knots as the muscles of her stomach clenched. “Yes, oh.” He smiled and scooped her up, depositing her on the pillows. His lips met hers in a searing kiss that left her breathless. His tongue thrust into play with hers, touching and tasting. When he pulled his head back she found that her hands had fisted in his hair and the coverlet had fallen to her waist. With his eyes locked on hers his knuckles glided over the mound of one breast, then the 56

Champions of Terra - Arena Station other. She inhaled violently at the sharp bolt of pleasure that flowed from her nipples to pulse and pool between her thighs. His lips were full and moist as they twisted into a smile at her reaction. The heady scent of her own growing arousal reached her nostrils. She squirmed in discomfort at the fact that she was so transparent. A sudden knock on the door brought Tiergar out of his sensual plans. A masculine voice was muffled through the steel but was still understandable. “Tiergar, I need to speak with you.” Taldan’s tone was unmistakable. Tiergar smiled at Kyra and with a whispered “Later,” he turned and left the chamber. She was re-setting the coverlet around her when the door opened again to admit him. He sighed, “I’m sorry, but I’ll be gone for a few hours, please get some rest.” When he had closed the door once again she steeled herself and then made a break for it. Shuffling as fast as she could while wrapped in the bundle of fabric she scooted to her own quarters and locked the door. Discarding the coverlet, she lay naked on her own bed, pondering what he had said. Maybe he did want her, just for herself and not for her genetics. Sighing, she tried to sleep only to realize that she was still far too aroused. It seemed a fairly constant state whilst Tiergar 57

Viola Grace was in the vicinity, not that she would ever tell him that. Her mouth twisted wryly as she admitted to herself that he probably had figured it out already. She stroked her hands idly down her torso, over her breasts then to her soft curved belly. She drew in her breath and dragged her hands upward, loving the slow trail of heat that was following the gooseflesh that was rising in the wake of her light caresses. She had always been sensitive, but was much faster in her body's reactions since that night with Tiergar. Her hands cupped her breasts gently and she rolled her nipples in her fingers tightening the points until stabs of sensation radiated from her nipples to the throbbing bud between her thighs. She felt her moisture leaking out of her and abandoned one breast to drop fingers down into her hot slick cleft. She thrust first one and then two fingers into her velvet heat clenching around the invading digits until her fingers would not move. At the same time her other hand was worrying at both breasts tugging and pinching at her nipple to increase the sensations translating into her clit. Her thighs fell widely apart. She removed her fingers from her cleft to circle the swollen her nub on top. Her slick fingers flew around her clit in a frenzy as sweat broke on her body. Her back began to arch with every circuit around that tiny 58

Champions of Terra - Arena Station nub of flesh. A sighing moan was coming from her throat and she moved her fingers faster until she could take no more. Then she used the hand on her breast to viscously twist one nipple and that sharp pulse of sensation sent her over the edge. Her heels dug into the mattress, her back arched into a bow and the finger on her clit still circled although slower now with less rhythm as her muscles locked in rigor. With a final moan she let her hands drop to her sides, her chest heaving like a bellows and her slick, empty channel still pulsing in release. She had just rolled over in search of sheets to cover herself when the door slid open. Tiergar stood in the doorway frowning. “Why did you come back to your room? I told you to stay in bed.” He drew in a deep breath to continue his tirade and stopped short. His eyes took in her flushed, sweating body, the smell of female orgasm and the relaxed look in her eyes. “What have you been up too?” His voice was a soft purr but again the flaring fire in the amber gaze gave testament to his self control. His eyes said he would have her naked and begging beneath him. But his voice said it was going to be a very slow ride. “Would you believe…nothing?” Her voice was tired, amused and hopeful all at the same time. 59

Viola Grace “No.” He strode forward, his presence dwarfing the tiny room. Walking to the bed he took her right hand in his raising it to his lips despite her protests and feeble struggles. First he sniffed her fingers, still shining with her juices then he brought them to his mouth and sucked them one at a time. Swirling and laving his tongue thoroughly over each digit until her hand was damp from his tongue and not her own honey. Each touch and tug that his tongue gave her had set sparks kindling deep in her belly once again. The honey between her thighs began to flow again. She met his eyes, mute and then tentatively brought one hand up to caress his jaw. His head dipped down to hers and for the first time, she was kissing him. Stroking her tongue along his lower lip and teasing inside. He tasted like her. He let her explore his mouth for a few moments, the rumbling purr evidence of his relaxed enjoyment, before he took control of the kiss. Driving her back into the pillows and twisting so that when she broke the kiss she was astride him. With hesitant, clumsy movements she parted his tunic and shoved it aside. She ran her hands slowly over the slabs of muscle and revelled in the soft hiss from her willing victim as she drew her fingers down his abdomen to the waistband of his trousers. Those definitely had to go. 60

Champions of Terra - Arena Station She unsnapped his trousers after she had scooted down his thighs so she could see what she was doing. His aroused flesh sprang free suddenly, causing her to jump, and then giggle. She turned her eyes to Tiergar and smiled as she slowly wrapped one pale hand around the dark and pulsing shaft. His head fell back as she slowly brought her hand up and then trailed it back down dreamily, over and over as she watched the bulbous copper head leaking a sweet, pearly liquid. She leaned down to taste him, flaring her tongue across the swollen flesh, starting at the shaft and making her way up to the pulsing, slick head. With long sweeps of her tongue she removed the leaking moisture from him until she heard a snarling groan. She looked up, startled to see his neck corded, his eyes glazed and his clawed hands shredding her bed. With a sudden snap of his arms he dragged her up to meet his mouth as his hips began to buck, seeking her entrance. One of his hands kept her lips to his as the other held her hips for his penetration. Kyra groaned as the bulbous tip of his cock nudged her slick petals and drew her breath in on a gasp as finding the entrance he sought, Tiergar thrust quickly inside. Pushing into her soft haven in a quick motion that caused sparks to fly behind her lids. 61

Viola Grace As he found purchase within her he began to thrust savagely. Pulling her hips to his and slamming her against him. Her inner muscles clenched, trying to hold him in a vice-like grip as he dragged his shaft through her sensitive channel. That was it. He released her mouth, threw back his head and howled as his release pulsed through him spurting load after load into her heated belly. He fell back panting as his body finished its explosion, Kyra sat upon him feeling the sticky wetness oozing around him where they were still connected to slide onto his thighs. The musk from his release was strong. The very air was thick with the scent of their mating. With a satisfied smile he drew her down to him and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips then tucked her head onto his shoulder and cuddled her against him. She could still feel him within her. Her hips squirmed in response. Her release had not found her and while she was content, she had not been satisfied. Her orgasm was hovering just out of reach and she squirmed again to bring it closer. She couldn’t stand it. She snaked one hand to the point at which their bodies joined and rubbed gently at her swollen clit. It took only a few feathery touches before she was shivering as the tension dissolved into a thousand shining sparks. As her muscles pulsed around him she felt him 62

Champions of Terra - Arena Station stir, swelling again within her. It was at this point that she looked up into his eyes and saw his smile. His voice rumbled under her, “It is the right of every mate to see that they are satisfied. The obligation of their partner to see to it if they will not themselves. I see that I will not have to worry about it.” She blushed again as she realized that he was laughing at her impatience. “How was I to know you wouldn’t have left me hanging?” “Trust little one, you need to trust.” He placed another sweet kiss on her forehead. “Now if we could return to my rooms? The bed is much more comfortable.” He separated their bodies and tucked his halfaroused cock back into his trousers. His tunic he left open. “Perhaps it would be best if you dressed.” He eyed her naked form with appreciation. “Ok, but I am down to my last ship suit.” She squirmed into the bodysuit, wrinkling her nose at the feel of the fabric contacting the dampness at her thighs. “I’ll find something for you to wear, I promise. Did I mention my chamber also has a shower?” He laughed as she shot him a startled glance then headed for the door. He did indeed find something for her to wear. Two days later when he finally let her out of his bed, she was stiff and sore in muscles that were 63

Viola Grace not designed for such strenuous use, but there was a smile around her lips no matter what she was doing at the time. Her clothing consisted of a gauzy tunic and skirt. Underwear, apparently, was not used on Azon, at least not that Tiergar would admit. Kyra planned to ask Mela about it as soon as she could get her alone. Not that not wearing underwear was not extremely convenient. Tiergar seemed just as interested in sex now as he had been in the mating fever, but now was much more focused on her satisfaction. Often bringing her to orgasm several times before he took his own. She had asked him about her duties and responsibilities on Azon. He told her that he would take care of it. But he did give her some video clips and information disks to study. They included points of language, geography and a short dissertation on customs. Azon was a tech-restricted planet with only one spaceport. Only small craft were allowed to land and an electromagnetic shield prevented computers or aircraft out of the designated zone. Although the inhabitants were aware of technology, they did not, for the most part, use it in their everyday lives. Traders were welcome if they abided by the rules. Alien settlers were only allowed via special dispensation. Like her. 64

Champions of Terra - Arena Station She put away the disks and got ready for dinner. First she showered, then had to shower again as Tiergar joined her and took her up against the slick wall. Her scream and his roar shook the bathing chamber as they joined in their release. He then held her until she could stand on her own and bathed her tenderly. She brushed out her hair and swept it back. Then put on the tunic and skirt he had located for her. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, nibbling and licking at her neck. Her hips rocked back against his and he let her go with a snarl and a caress of her buttocks. “Later,” was his whispered comment as they left his quarters and headed off for dinner. When they arrived at the dining hall he held her back, waiting until they had the attention of Taldan, Mela, and Eirac who had been released from stasis as soon as Tiergar and Kyra had begun to couple. Tiergar held her hand silently and waited as the three sniffed the air. Taldan stepped forward with a formal bow and stated: “Greetings Ambassador Tiergar vi Ranith and his mate Kyra Dannick Ni Tiergar. We are honoured to witness this formal bond between you. May you be blessed with years of joy together.” “Thank you for your greeting on behalf of my mate and myself. We wish you joy.” Tiergar returned the bow and all of a sudden everyone 65

Viola Grace was laughing and hugging. Eirac gave Kyra a light kiss on the check and gave an apology for not clarifying her status as available before he attempted to rape her. After all, she was an alien. She was not familiar with their ways. Kyra found a moment alone to process what had just happened. Apparently, she and Tiergar had become formally bonded and he had neglected to tell her. There went her choice when they landed. The culprit chose that moment to come up beside her and place his hand on one buttock. It was the last straw. Kyra grabbed his wrist and flipped him with all of the techniques she had learned in the arena. He obligingly flew through the air and landed on his back. She stood over his stunned body. Everyone stopped in place and stared. “Were you ever going to mention it to me? I thought I had a choice.” Turning on her heel she walked out of the silent dining area and went back to her own tiny quarters. She couldn’t go home. There was no place for her in the Alliance, beside the option of brood mare. The door hissed open and Tiergar stood in the doorway. Without a word he cuddled her on his lap reminding her of the first time they had met but without the raging hormones, and waited. 66

Champions of Terra - Arena Station “I can’t go home.” Her voice was broken and small as she huddled against his chest. He waited again. She continued in a babbled rush of sound. “I’m scared. I’m all alone and going to a new planet with strange races. If you decide you don’t want to keep me I’ll be lost.” Her sobs took over as she voiced her fears. “The formal greeting Taldan gave us was for life mates. We have appeared in front of witnesses. I can’t deny you if I wanted to.” Once again his voice was soothing and matter-of-fact. He lifted her chin and gave her a quick peck on the mouth. “Besides, I have transferred half of my holdings to you. You will always have ample means to live, strange world or no.” His thumb brushed the tears away and then brought them to his mouth. His tongue came out to lap slowly at his digit then he presented it to her. Her tongue flicked out daintily and took the last of her tears from his flesh. Then she sucked at it, dragging it into her mouth and swirling her tongue around it. Then slowly drawing back until it released from her mouth with a soft ’pop’. “I hate to say this, but I think I need dinner.” She was careful not to say she was hungry as that statement had once led to an orgy of oral play she could still not believe. “Alright, but since I have been researching your 67

Viola Grace customs let’s do this right first.” He cuddled her to him and tilted her chin up so that their eyes met. “Kyra Dannick. Be my lady, my mate and my partner. Share my bed,” he wriggled his eyebrows here, “my life and my wealth. Bring your joy and laughter into my household until the gods separate us.” He stopped and gave her a solemn look. “I’m thinking. Oh!” She flinched at the squeeze one of his hands gave her bottom. “OK, ok.” She took a deep breath. “I will.” His lips drifted gently down to claim her mouth. She sighed when it was over. Then bounded to her feet. “Yes, yes, I will feed you. The others are still waiting and Mela wants to know if the throw is some Terran tradition. She would like to incorporate it at their formal ceremony if it is.” He gave her another laughing grin and led her out into their future.

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Champions of Terra - Arena Station

Epilogue

K

yra stood looking out the observatory window, Tiergar’s arms wrapped around her as they approached the blue-green jewel in the blackness of space. It glowed in the darkness awash with life as the small craft drew near. He lowered his head to murmur in her ear, “Welcome home.” Shivers of anticipation wriggled down her spine. “I can’t wait,” was her murmured reply. “But, what am I going to tell the other four guys?” Her laughter spilled into the depths of space and she felt a lightening of spirit as the ship came closer to her new world. Perhaps home was only a state of mind after all.

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About the Author

A

n obsessed crafter who hates housework, Viola has been interested in inflicting her writing on others for years. She finds enjoyment in watching others, and taking notes.