To read from the beginning start here.

A hatch opens from above and two trays lower from the ceiling. One lands on my side of the room, the other on yours. You look at the trays.

Yours holds steaming platters of life-giving food. Food I need.

Mine holds water. Sustenance you need. We must share. You cannot reach what I have as I cannot reach what you have. We must mutually agree to share, yet we cannot reach across the boundary limits of our chains.

A low growl emanates from your throat. It is clear to me Your keen eyes have already met and measured the extent of your chains and you've deduced the water is out of your reach.

“What is this?” Your gaze turns to me.

I don't yet know if you've realized the length of my chains. I'm still huddled against the wall on my side of the cave. I brave a look at you. There is so much strength in your eyes. I cower before you. Still, I have not yet said a word.

“Female, do you not speak?” The first thread of frustration brews in your voice. “What is the meaning of this?”

I shrug. The one you killed made me beg so many nights for scraps of food or drops of water, depending on which one he controlled. Some days he made me go without, but I always shared. He made me give my half first and wait for benevolence that he only sometimes reciprocated. It had always been a battle.

“They force us to choose.”

“The female does have a voice.” Your nose crinkled with humor. “Good to know. Choose what?”

“Whether we share.”

You glanced at the two trays. “Your chains do not reach to this half of the room then?”

I shook my head.

You took half the food off the tray then slid it across the invisible barrier.

My eyes widened at the generous offering. Your predecessor would have made me beg…or worse.

“Just like that?”

You give me a nod. “Yes, just like that.” Your eyes shift to the tray with the two jars of water.

Crouched against my side of the cave I didn't dare approach with you at the edge of your chain, even knowing you wouldn't be able to reach me. I couldn't move. Your strength terrified me and knowing you'd recently killed a powerful warrior who'd thought of nothing but my demise kept me rooted in place.

A narrowing of your eyes displayed a calculating thought in your mind. “You do not need to fear me, female, but I very much need that sustenance and would appreciate if you would…share.”

You stood, and in that unique way of yours, moved all that muscled bulk to the far wall, making not a single sound. I, on the other hand, rattled in my chains and each of my steps slapped on the cool rock floor. I approached the boundary that separated our sides of the room.

I lifted my pitcher and then slid the tray across to you where you would be able to reach it. I grabbed the tray of food you'd graciously given me and rushed back to my wall before you could pounce at me, because I was certain you could rush me just as quickly and as silently as you'd moved away.

“Thank you,” you said.

I turned to see you retrieving the water.

“Now, tell me,” you said leaning back into a crouch, your golden eyes devouring me, “tell me what this rut is?”

I swallowed, my mouth turning dry with my doom. Were Ranckor and Icknor even now feeding off my fear? I thought they needed to be close to suck in my pheromones and never really knew how much of my captivity with my cell mates they observed.

“If you survive the final fight,” I said, my blood growing cold and my appetite fleeing with the thought of you taking me, “they will give me to you.” I looked at you, as if that explained it all, but you continued to stare at me waiting for more. “Five fights in the pit…Sight. Smell. Touch. Taste. And the final one…the Rut.”

“But I already see and smell you…”

“You…smell me?” No, you are too far away. “No, that's not what they mean. They mean my…”

“Yes.” You pointed with what I now realized was a clawed fingertip toward my pussy. “I smell your sex…it's very sweet.”

“How–” No, I didn't finish the question. I didn't want to know how keen your sense of smell was.

Your eyes widened and all I saw were twin pools of burnished gold. “Yes, I would very much like to touch and taste too. And now, I understand. I too, would like to…rut with you.”

No. No. No! I did not want that. That is not what I wanted at all.

You give a sharp nod. “Do not worry, little female. I will win and we will mate. I will take you and protect you.”

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