Dante King [King - Galactic Champion 2

I woke up to one soft, warm body in front of me and one behind me. Beatrix gently stroked my ear with one of her tentacles. Yaltu was pushed up close under my arm. I knew it was her without moving or opening my eyes because of her scent. Maybe it was pheromones, maybe it was just her. I was glad to be alive, even if all three of us were lying on a thin blanket on the hard ground with nothing more than a light sheet, damp from the fog.

A gentle breeze played across the surface of the nearby lake, making little waves splash against the shore. Small bug-like creatures danced in the air. I absently wondered how many Skrew had eaten.

I could have stayed there all day, but we needed to keep moving. We were, after all, responsible for destroying large sections of a major city, Brazud. The dragons had probably done immense damage to the infrastructure and buildings, and we were the ones whod turned them loose.

I didnt feel bad about it, though. Not even a little. The dragons had been subjected to a kind of torture I couldnt even imagine. Theyd been implanted with tech used to control their minds and their actions. It wasnt done professionally eithernot even close. The implant points had still been oozing blood when the dragons fought in the arena against Reaver, Beatrix, and me. The mighty creatures were in pain and couldnt do anything about it. Until we set them free.

The citizens of Brazud had a lot to worry about without coming to look for us, though. Many, if not most, of their guards had been killed in the battles and skirmishes throughout the city. I didnt see any fires when we left, but it wouldn't have surprised me if there were some now. They had power, and when electricity met brute force, dragon teeth, and crashing hoverships, fires were bound to break out. In fact, at that moment, I thought I could smell smokeand we had to be at least six miles away.

Yaltu stirred, turned her head, and kissed my neck. Her lips on my skin sent shivers down my spine. Beatrixs long fingers stroked my chest a couple times before she sat up and stretched. Shed wanted to reward me for rescuing her from the arena, and Id been all too happy to oblige.

Id changed a lot since first earning the name Paladin, and even more since arriving on this planet, which Yaltu in the post-reward calm of our makeshift bed had said was called Druma. Gone was my vow of approximate celibacy, and I now found myself with three beautiful women. And there was another elsewhere on the planet: Enra the Ish-Nul woman. I intended on reuniting with her. I at least wanted to give her the chance to join me, or say goodbye if she chose to stay behind when we left Druma.

I sat up, my head still-groggy, and discovered the smoke wasnt coming from Brazud. Reaver was cooking meat, skewered on sticks over a small fire. She chewed on the purple fruit Yaltu was fond of, and there was more on a small stack of wide leaves she was using as plates.

Just in time. She tossed a piece of the local fruit to me. Breakfast is almost ready.

Thanks. I bit into the sweet fruit. I tore the flesh free and leaned forward to keep the juice from running down my entire front. I chewed a few more times, with a question on my mind that I couldnt ask until I swallowed.

Whats this? I pointed to the meat on the sticks. You finally had enough of Skrews shenanigans?

She looked where I was pointing and scowled. I wouldn't eat him! Hes probably nothing but gristle. Plus, with what he eats, hed be gamy and gross.

And hes a member of the team, I added with a smile.

Reaver rolled her eyes and chuckled. Yeah, he is.

Beatrix got up and sat down near the fire. Good morning. She looked at me. You made me feel things I have never felt before.

I smiled. Cant say Ive ever slept with a tentacled woman before.

Theres a first time for everything, Reaver said with a wink. I sent Skrew looking for more fruit, mostly to keep him busy. He wanted to scold all of us for well last night. So, hes out doing something useful.

Last night? Yaltu asked as she walked up. Whatever do you mean? She made a show of grabbing my ass. I must have made a surprised expression because all three women giggled. Even from two badass Void-touched warriors and a dragon tamer, it was adorable.

Yaltu stopped laughing and pointed to our left. Skew was emerging from the woods, all four of his arms burdened with fruits, some royal purple like the one Reaver had given me, others shades of red and yellow.

Oh, poor thing, Yaltu said. Some of those arent ripe and wont be for several more days. Ill go help him.

A moment later, Skrew was back at camp and had dumped all the fruit he was carrying across the big leaves Reaver had set out, much to her annoyance.

Jacob was awesome! he breathed. Jacob kill king of Brazud. Smash to ground! He shoved a small red fruit in his mouth and chewed vigorously for no more than a second before his face twisted into a knot.

What is the matter? Beatrix asked him, grinning mischievously. A little bitter?

Skrew tried to smile as he nodded slowly and pushed the half-chewed fruit out of his mouth.

You have to wait until theyre purple, Reaver said, laughing.

Everyone joined her, but Yaltu stifled her giggle and covered her mouth. She was definitely the nicest one of us. Skrew took the joke well, though.

Here. Reaver tossed him a plump, purple one. This one should taste better. And theres meat ready whenever you are.

Skrew didnt waste any time. He shoved the fruit in his big mouth, almost hiding it completely from view, and snatched a stick from the fire. Skewered on it were five chunks of roasted meat, charred at the edges and cleanly cooked. He chewed slowly, turning the stick in front of his face while the juices dripped by and onto his feet.

I squatted down and examined the double-bladed scepter Id taken from King Demetrios. With my sword, Ebon, I didnt need it. Id already given it a name: Clarent. It was made of the same Void-black material as Ebon.

I looked at Reaver and wondered whether shed like the scepter. She still had the sabers shed taken from the wagon in the arena, but one of them was broken. Clarent would be a whole lot more useful to her than a single saber. Moreover, she was accustomed to using close-combat weapons, like the MSM vibro-blade.

I took this from Demetrios, I said, offering the weapon to her. I think you might like it.

Would I ever? She grinned as she explored the weapon with her eyes and hands.

I picked up a stick and took a bite. The meat was tender and familiar.

This is good, I said around a big mouthful of meat. What is it?

You sure you want to know? Reaver asked.

I nodded.

Its this big bug I found before I was captured, she continued. It looks like a giant centipede. Lives in the water. Ambushes you when you get too close.

Steakapede, I said. Thats what I call them, and yes, they are delicious!

Water snakes, Yaltu said around her own mouthful. Thats what some call them. Others say theyre the souls of those who died a dishonorable death. The Kakul believe theyre the mother species from which theirs descended.

Kakul were short, frog-like creatures. Id encountered some when I first entered Brazud. Though I didnt have more than a minutes experience with them, they seemed to be bad drivers, rude, pugnacious, and probably as dangerous as a rusty butter knife when they werent piloting a two-ton hovership. The thought of the steakapede as their ancestor made me wonder how smart they were as well. Well, if they tasted anything near as good as this, perhaps there was some use for these Kakul after all. I chuckled, knowing Id never even consider eating any creature that could speak to me, even if it was only to curse at me.