But as soon as I enter the next room, the rifle fucking dies. I click the trigger, annoyance and adrenaline ramping up.

A Suevan, at least three feet taller than me, bounds into my path, his tail slashing through the air behind him.

“Fuck me,” I say, throwing the energy rifle in his face as he lunges for me. Sharp talons slice at the thick leather-like vest protecting my torso, but I evade most of his grip.

“Gun’s out!” I yell. “Gun is out!”

“Fuck,” Juls shouts, running by me as best as her swollen ankle will allow. A second Suevan darts out of the shadows, tackling her to the ground.

“Goddammit,” I yelp.

Then I see it: a sword, dull and unprimed, hanging from one of the walls.

I dive into a roll, earning a slap to the face with the massive Suevan’s tail, then use my momentum to jump up, prying the sword from where it hangs on the wall.

“Fuck RIGHT OFF,” Niki yells, and then there’s a soft grunt as her fist connects with another Suevan’s crotch. Her Suevan goes down hard, and she holds up her fist, where there’s a rock clenched in it.

Good for her.

I prime the energy sword with a few clicks, and it whirs to life, the blade coated in a green haze, meaning it will stun and hurt, but won’t kill.

It’s going to have to be enough.

Juls is screaming on the floor, where a Suevan drags her by her bad foot out of the room. She’s still giving him hell, her face contorted in fury, as she hammers kick after kick to his shin with her good leg.

“Fucking let her go!” I scream, launching myself at him. His gaze darts to me, surprise rocketing across his features as he realizes I am absolutely batshit crazy. “Too late, asshole!”

The sword smashes against his face, and his eyes roll back in his head as he goes down.

“Ah, fuck, thank you,” Juls breathes.

“Stay down,” I scream at her, way too amped up on adrenaline now to modulate anything about me at all.

Juls nods, her eyes wide, and I turn back to the chaos in the room. Niki’s surrounded by three Suevans, who circle her, trying to find an opening.

But Abby?

Abby is white as a sheet, staring at the oversized Suevan who nearly snatched me when my gun died.

“They did not tell me you were competing,” he’s saying in a low snarl, but Abby’s lip curls in rage, and I know that bitch is out for blood.

“Wife, I did not know you would be here,” he continues, and Abby’s gaze darts to me, her eyes narrowing as she sees the sword. Then she’s off and running, to where a second sword hangs on the wall.

Her humongous husband watches her run, his pout turning wry as he realizes she’s about to kick his ass or go out trying.

When he cracks his knuckles, I turn my attention back to Niki. Three on one is not great odds, but they’re dancing around her still. Playing with her.

I grind my molars.

“Niki, let’s do the merengue,” I yell at her.

“I hate the merengue,” she grits out, lashing a hand at a Suevan who steps too close.

Then I see it. A pile of the projectiles they were lobbing at us, to try and force us into this room.

“Forget the merengue,” I scream at her. “Time for the limbo!”

Her gaze darts to me, and one of the Suevan’s lashes out, catching her shoulder. She goes down hard, and my hand closes over one of the fake energy grenades.

“Stay down,” I screech, and then I let it fly. It hits the closest Suevan, and he frowns at me as it explodes, then sits down heavily. Out. “Varsity softball, bitch!” I tell him, then pitch another into the Suevan leering over Niki.

It smacks him on the head, and he doesn’t feign the pain on his face.

Now there’s just one, flexing his shoulders as he measures the distance between us.

Two, if I count Abby’s husband.

She’s screaming obscenities at him, slashing wildly as he half-heartedly parries her attempts.

“Cool your tits, Abby, focus.” I’m running towards Niki as I shout it at her, the sword in one hand and the energy grenade in the other. The Suevan backs away from her prone form as I close in, laughing maniacally.

At the last second, Niki’s legs scissor out, catching the Suevan off guard and sending him falling back into one of the stone walls. I pitch the last grenade in his face for good measure, and it explodes in sparks and smoke when it hits his forehead.

“You’re OUT,” I say, and Niki snorts, standing uneasily.

“One left,” Niki pants, tilting her chin at where Abby’s winded and tired.

She cries out in pain as her Suevan husband—the Beast—lashes out a lazy stroke at her.

I squint. It didn’t look like he made contact, and when I glance at Niki, her face reflects my confusion.

But Abby is screaming and carrying on as though she’s mortally wounded.

“I wonder if she played soccer,” Niki speculates.

“Should I…”

“Nah, let it happen.”

Abby is sobbing softly, pressing her arm to her abdomen and glancing at it like she expects blood to pour out at any moment.

“Oscar worthy,” I mutter, impressed.

The Suevan steps closer, a stricken expression on his face. Abby pants, her forehead screwed up and eyes shut, and as he tries to take a closer look, her hand darts out, lightning fast.

She grabs his balls and twists.

“Oh, shit,” Niki says.

“Yeah,” I agree.

“Get him!” Juls yells, dragging herself towards the exit door.

As for the Suevan, he’s on his knees before her, so tall his head’s still at her chest height.

She goes to kick him in the nuts again, but he catches her leg, twisting her to the floor.

“That’s enough of that,” I mutter, surging forward to slice at him with my energy sword. “You’re done. You’re done.”

He frowns down at where Abby pants, murder written all over her face.

“Y’all need therapy,” I tell her, offering her my hand. “You can’t lose your cool like that,” I add, pushing her to the door.

Niki’s managed to haul Jul’s over her shoulder, fireman style, and then we’re limping out the exit, the Suevan Trials completed. We’re bruised, battered, and bitchier than ever, but we finished.

We fucking did it.

OceanofPDF.com

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

OceanofPDF.com

KANUZ

Niki emerges first from the arena door, a tired but pleased looking Juls draped over her shoulder. We all witnessed her fall, cringing as the vid bots displayed the injury, scanning her immediately. Hairline fracture. Human bodies are so much more breakable than ours, and it made me want to run after Gen and pluck her from the course.

But Juls is in good spirits, and she’s won the hearts of Sueva for powering through despite her obvious pain. The human medics, Carmen and Tati, are standing by with a Suevan med specialist to help patch her up.

Then Abby races through, her face grim and eyes flashing with anger. That one… that one is a female to watch. The way she dispatched the Beast was sneaky and mean, and I have a feeling that Draz is already making plans for how to best utilize our youngest female Warlord.

Gen’s glowing face appears next, smudged with dirt and blood, her vest torn where talons ripped through it. She drops the practice energy sword, and squeals as she races into my arms.

My heart clenches as she jumps up, wrapping her legs around me, peppering kisses across my mouth. She tastes like sweat and blood and hard work, and I savor every press of her lips against mine.

“I am so fucking proud of you,” I tell her, staring into her dazzling blue eyes.

“I did it!” she crows, and I support her weight as she pumps her fist into the air. “Oof, I’m sore already.”

“You took some serious hits.” I grin at her. “Like a Warlord.”

“Like a badass bitch!” Niki yells, and all the women cheer.