Izzie and the Icebeast - Honey Phillips Page 0,3

after he’d left Hothrest that he’d realized how much he missed it.

“Going to train,” Varga said finally as he drained his glass. “You coming?”

He started to shake his head but reconsidered. He might be one of the top ranked fighters, but he wouldn’t stay that way if he didn’t keep himself in good condition. The fact that he felt the effects of the match only made it more imperative. He drained his own glass and stood.

“I’ll wager you a bottle of my finest Aldarian whiskey that I win the first match.”

An unexpected—and slightly terrifying—grin crossed Varga’s face. “You’re on. Might even let you have a drink after I win.”

Baralt laughed, ignoring the faint ache in his knee as he followed Varga out of the room.

Chapter Two

Izzie stared after the massive alien. With the white fur covering his enormous body and the all-too-obvious fangs and claws, he rather resembled a mythical yeti. But the longer fur covering his head had framed features more humanoid than animal, and there had been a fierce intelligence burning in his vivid blue eyes. Like every alien she had encountered so far, he had studied her body with obvious appreciation, but unlike the others, he hadn’t immediately started making lewd suggestions or attempting to grab her. Based on the deference with which the guard had treated him, he was obviously a big deal around here.

The guard motioned her to move forward. An odd combination of bird and reptile with scaled skin in shades of red and gold and a feathered crest in the same colors, he had been brusque but not overtly cruel. Even now, he didn’t yank on her chains to hurry her along. She was almost tempted to see how far that forbearance might extend, but this hot, rocky tunnel with the sound of a crowd up ahead didn’t seem like the best place to take a stand. She shuffled forward obediently, thinking about the conversation between the guard and the yeti. So she was to be the prize in some kind of fighting contest? Her fists clenched. She would make damn sure that whoever won her regretted it.

Her defiance faltered as the guard turned off from the main tunnel and led her into the slave quarters. The ship that had taken her from Earth had been bad enough, but most of her fellow captives had been either animals or small aliens. Only the Derians had been a real threat… She shuddered and hastily shoved those memories away.

But here, every cell was filled with large, terrifying aliens. They ranged from humanoid to completely alien, but they all seemed to be equipped with fangs or claws or worse. The only thing they had in common was the lust with which they regarded her.

The guard deliberately slowed his pace as the noise increased. “An additional prize for the freedom contest,” he announced. “I almost wish I were entering so I could get my hands on this one.”

He stopped in a central hallway where multiple corridors came together and pulled her chained hands up over her head until she was on tiptoe, putting her body on full display.

“Take a good look. No natural defenses, just soft flesh and a tight cunt.”

There was a roar of approval, and she saw more than one of the caged aliens gripping their cocks. These, too, varied, but they all looked either disgusting or painful. Terror shot through her system, but she refused to let it show, lifting her chin defiantly.

“I’m not as defenseless as you think.”

Another roar, mixed with some mocking laughter, and the guard shook his head as he let her arms drop and they resumed their journey. A stream of blue semen shot past her, and she watched in horror as it foamed when it met the stone floor.

“You shouldn’t challenge them,” the guard said. “They’re all bred to fight, and the idea of defeating a female only makes them harder.”

“I’m a fighter too,” she hissed.

He looked at her, his gaze lingering on her bruises, and she could have sworn a brief flash of sympathy crossed his face. “How’s that working out for you?”

Not waiting for a reply, he continued to lead her up the corridor, and she tried not to reveal how much his words stung. Fighting hadn’t helped her at all so far—it had only resulted in more abuse—but what alternative did she have? She couldn’t give in to these monsters.

When she had woken up on an alien spaceship, she had been too shocked to immediately recognize