“I think I have somewhere else to be.”
Mara frowned watching as her friend and the rest of the players quickly left the vicinity.
“What were you thinking?” he growled at her.
“Hi Vaelor. Good to see you too.”
His coloring turned a deeper shade of blue. Was he angry?
“You could have been seriously injured.”
“It was a friendly sparring match. I’m still able to continue playing the game. Don’t worry. I haven’t cost you the win.”
“I don’t give a farthing about winning the game!” he shouted at her.
Definitely angry.
Chapter 20
Vaelor
When he came back to camp from his hunting trip, no one was by the fire except the GSG technician. When he asked the small alien where everyone was, he pointed in this direction. He was not prepared for what he met.
Mara and Gora were fighting one another. It was a surprise because he thought they were friends of a sort. Once he recovered from the unexpected situation, he intended to intervene. The Bestial could tear Mara apart with her strength.
He took two steps toward the circle, but the Cyborg stepped in front of him.
“Get out of my way,” he growled.
“Let them finish. The rest of them need to see that humans belong here. If she can’t handle this, she shouldn’t be here.”
“I don’t care what the others think. Move!”
The Cyborg stayed put. “They are almost finished. This is the last round. Whoever gets this point wins the match.”
Blaine had stepped up next to him. “She’s damn good. Smart. I didn’t think Mara had it in her but she has held her own with Gora.”
Vaelor felt his inner temperature getting hotter and hotter with anger and frustration. But he stayed back and watched the final match.
Mara crouched and waited. When Gora charged, Mara dropped low, grabbed her wrist, and used Gora’s own momentum to twist and redirect her. Gora’s foot slammed into the ice—outside the circle.
“Match over! The human wins!” someone shouted.
The camera drones were whirring around, taking pictures and videos. Then whirled away. He growled. The onlookers began to leave the area, stepping out of his way quickly.
“What were you thinking?” he growled at her.
“Hi Vaelor. Good to see you too.”
“You could have been seriously injured.”
“It was a friendly sparring match. I’m still able to continue playing the games. Don’t worry. I haven’t cost you the win.”
“I don’t give a farthing about winning the game!”
She looked shocked at his words. But he meant it. Her health and safety were paramount to him. Winning the game for the money was not as important as it once had been. They needed to talk but somewhere more private than here.
“Come with me.”
