The Rings Fighter by JC Andrijeski Read Free Book Online Page A

her submission, and turned on by it... as if he was some egomaniacal dingbat who needed humans to cower in front of him.
    She felt a pulse of... something... off Trazen at the thought.
    He didn’t look at her, but continued to focus on the female Rings fighter, looking her over as if she were a slab of meat.
    “She is exquisite,” he said, bowing to her Nirreth companion once he’d finished his heavy-handed appraisal. “You are quite fortunate,” he added, even as Chloe felt another pulse of that very real jealousy vibrate under his skin. “...I’m afraid the virtual screens did not do her justice, and I thought her quite unique, even then.”
    “Thank you, honorable friend,” Laksri said, bowing.
    “I don’t suppose either of you is open to share... or perhaps an exchange... ?” Trazen added, nodding towards Chloe.
    Chloe tensed. She couldn’t help it.
    Do not worry, Trazen assured her softly. He will not agree to it.
    The girl fighter at the table had a similar reaction to Chloe.
    She turned, her almond eyes widening slightly, to look at her Nirreth companion. Then her eyes darted up, focusing on Chloe herself for the first time. Chloe fought not to flinch under the other woman’s stare. Not because it was hostile––more that it was not. The girl fighter looked at Chloe with sympathy in her eyes, a kind of longing, as though she felt deeply sorry for her and wished she could do something to help her. Realizing the girl thought it was Trazen she needed rescuing from, Chloe bit her lip, fighting the impulse to reassure her––maybe even to laugh––to at least let her know in some way that Trazen wasn’t what he seemed.
    Do not do that, my friend, Trazen warned her softly. Continue to look sad, if you can.
    Chloe sighed internally, but let her feelings about Kiji return to the surface.
    She saw the girl wince, like she’d felt her grief empathically through the air.
    Somehow, seeing that made Chloe feel guilty.
    Why are you being so awful to her? she thought sharply at Trazen. You obviously like her. Maybe more than like. Why are you so determined to make her hate you?
    Trazen’s mind grew utterly silent.
    The male Nirreth at the table still seemed to be reacting to Trazen’s offer, when the middle aged human sitting with them, the one with the gold streak in his hair, laughed.
    “You’re kidding... right, Trazen?” he scoffed. “Aren’t the brain scans enough? Do you really need more intel on our girl?”
    “I had thought she belonged to the Royal father,” Trazen growled, swiveling his gaze to glare at the handsome human. An audible thread of irritation touched his voice, one that felt real to Chloe that time. “...Not to trader scum like you. And I was not asking you, mammal. I ask her lawful companion.”
    The male Nirreth’s arm tightened possessively around the Rings fighter, right before he switched to Nargili.
    “No,” he said, letting out a slow hiss as he focused up at Trazen, a thinly veiled hostility in his eyes. “...We do not share. I am sorry, for I honor your position. And your consort is quite tempting...” the other Nirreth added politely to Chloe herself, motioning towards her with his jointed fingers. “Is she a recent acquisition?” he said, his voice still light. “I don’t recall seeing her at any of the Royal functions before... ?”
    “She is new,” Trazen said, his voice openly dismissive. He’d gone back to staring at the girl fighter, that harder, more predatory look back in his eyes. “...We had thought perhaps to sell her for the Rings, too, now that the Boards have opened it to female mammals for sport. She is aesthetically pleasing enough for such a placement. But sadly...” His lips twitched in a small smile. “...She is not a fighter.”
    Chloe stiffened slightly at that, too, but decided it was more of Trazen’s b.s.
    Why would he tell them such an outrageous lie?
    She felt nothing whatsoever off Trazen to explain it.
    The other male Nirreth