Alien warrior bound gala.., p.1
Alien Warrior Bound (Galactic Gladiator Games Book 1), page 1
ALIEN WARRIOR BOUND
GALACTIC GLADIATOR GAMES BOOK 1
MARGO BOND COLLINS
SASHA CAINE
CONTENTS
Introduction
The Galactic Gladiator Games
1. Jazmin Reed
2. Azi Valar
3. Jazz
4. Azi
5. Jazz
6. Azi
7. Jazz
8. Azi
9. Jazz
10. Azi
11. Jazz
12. Azi
13. Jazz
14. The Announcer
15. Az
16. Jazz
17. Azi
18. Jazz
19. Az
20. Jazz
21. Azi
22. A Word from Our Sponsors
23. Jazz
24. Azi
25. Jazz
26. Azi
27. Jazz
28. Azi
29. Jazz
Epilogue: Gwen Mitchell
The Galactic Gladiator Games
About the Authors
More Books by Sasha & Margo
Join Margo & Sasha Online
Alien Warrior Bound
Copyright © 2022 by Sasha Caine and Margo Bond Collins
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without prior written permission of the author except where permitted by law.
Published by GGG Publishing
Cover by Clarissa Yeo, Yocla Book Cover Designs
The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author or authors.
Created with Vellum
FIND MARGO BOND COLLINS AND SASHA CAINE
Check out the Galactic Gladiator Games online!
www.margobondcollins.net
You can also sign up for Margo’s general newsletter here for news about all her books, plus freebies and more.
www.boneorchardbooks.com
For release news, freebies, and more, follow Sasha on Amazon. You can also sign up for her newsletter here!
ABOUT ALIEN WARRIOR BOUND
They have only one job: beat all the other contestants.
He’s a former POW who escaped the galaxy’s most secure prison.
She’s a curvy book nerd, abducted from her job as a small-town librarian on Earth.
Welcome to the Galactic Gladiator Games, where the toughest aliens in the galaxy fight for the most prestigious titles. But these games come with a twist: every alien warrior is mentally and emotionally bound to a potential Earth mate, forced to work with her to overcome their enemies—and sometimes each other.
Fans of Ruby Dixon, Evangeline Anderson, and Grace Goodwin will adore these hot alpha aliens and their sassy human mates.
Want to read the next Galactic Gladiator Games books? Order Alien Warrior Seduced and Alien Warrior Defended now.
Check out the Galactic Gladiator Games website here!
INTRODUCTION
Hello! Thank you so much for picking up one of our books. We really hope you love it!
We would hate to part ways once you finish this book, however—so let’s keep in touch! We have a great bunch of people in our Readers’ Groups that you absolutely shouldn’t miss out on.
We do exclusive book freebies, online parties, giveaways, sneak previews, and events for these amazing groups.
And as a GIANT thank you for joining, you’ll receive free books on us.
Join Margo’s Group Here
Join Sasha’s Group Here
THE GALACTIC GLADIATOR GAMES
THE GALACTIC COUNSEL URGES ANYONE WITH PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS TO SEEK MEDICAL APPROVAL BEFORE APPLYING TO THE GAMES. THE GALACTIC GALAXY GAMES COMMISSION IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY INJURIES SUSTAINED WHILE COMPETING. PLEASE NOTE: DEATH DISQUALIFIES A PARTICIPANT FROM CLAIMING PRIZES. MANY COMPETITORS ARE HARDENED CRIMINALS—VOLUNTEERS MAY WISH TO RECONSIDER JOINING IN THE GAMES, DESPITE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WIN GREAT RICHES. FOR COMPLETE GGG RULES AND INFORMATION, SEE HERE: GGG Website
1
JAZMIN REED
“Honestly, Jazz. You’ll never find someone if all you do is daydream about book boyfriends and white knights that don’t exist.”
My best friend, and sometimes frenemy, Tessa tapped her perfectly manicured fingernails against the scratched surface of the library checkout desk. I tried to ignore her, or rather I’d been trying to ignore her for the past thirty years. She was persistent, though, always after me to chase my own happily ever after. I constantly reminded her, and not always gently, that most women didn’t fall in love with their high school sweetheart, marry him right out of high school, push out three babies, and have everything fall into place like the easiest jigsaw puzzle on the planet.
“I’m working, Tessa. Can we just talk later?” I scanned another return barcode, the computer beeping happily as one of its beloved books was returned home properly.
The ancient office chair supporting me had one wonky seat spring and the arms cut into my hips. But somehow, Tessa made me more uncomfortable than the chair ever could.
“The kids will be home later. You know I can’t talk with them racing around like animals. And Connor is going through this ultra-clingy phase. Ever since he started third grade, it’s like we’re back in kindergarten and he doesn’t want to go to school. He cries every morning, and his teacher has to practically pry him from the car every day.”
Connor was a sweet kid, and I knew there had to be a reason why he all of a sudden hated third grade. But when I’d broached the subject with Tess, she’d waved me off and said he needed to grow up, he wasn’t a baby anymore.
Cracks under the picture-perfect life, cracks that Tess didn’t want to see.
And that was the issue for me too in a way; it was why I didn’t want to fall in love again.
Between the pages of a book, I could grasp a temporary joy without dealing with actual problems. Even if the main guy in a story was riddled with flaws, he eventually got his head straight, realized he loved the main woman, and everything worked out. I’d embrace those glorious two words ‘the end’, close the book, place it back on a shelf, and move onto the next story.
I didn’t have to deal with what happened after the story came to a close.
The financial discussions.
The mistakes.
The apologies.
The growing old together and possibly becoming bitter old companions.
Of course, I’d dated in the past, with each relationship eventually coming to an impasse. He’d want to discuss ‘the next step’. A weekend trip away. An international vacation. Or moving in together. Maybe getting a dog. Or, God help him, he’d want to fantasize about marriage and children.
I could barely keep my house plants alive, let alone a pet or child.
Maybe I didn’t have the normal domestic drive some women seemed to have; that biological clock that started ticking and never stopped. It just ticked, ticked, ticked away. Wearing down a person’s resistance and desire to stay independent and free.
“You’ve got that look again.” Tessa had moved around the desk to sit on the lower ledge next to me. Her forehead wrinkled with concern as she stared. “Aren’t you ever going to grow up and just... pick somebody?”
I snorted, reaching for a damaged book and marking it for repair. “Because it’s that easy, right? Snap my fingers, meet Mister Right and grow a happy little family. Picket fence. Gorgeous kitchen. Enough money every month for bills. The perfect life with two kids and a dog.”
She rolled her eyes at me. “Obviously it’s not that easy. Marriage can be work, but it’s sooo rewarding, Jazz. I don’t want you to end up alone.”
And there it was.
What should be my biggest fear.
Ending up alone.
Joke was on the universe though, because being alone forever really didn’t sound that terrible.
Tessa pushed a few more times, hoping as always to wear me down and get me to finally agree to a blind date or an online profile. Buzzwords like single, ready, and mingle floated through the air as I attempted to get lost in my work. She chattered on and on, an endless stream of ‘happily married woman’ beliefs trying their very best to worm into my brain.
I almost cried with happy relief when her phone buzzed softly. Tessa picked it up, exasperated that it was already time for her to run a few errands before joining the car-rider line at school.
She picked up her things, pecked me on the forehead, and then made one last ditch effort.
“Suzanne’s brother is coming into town for the weekend. Remember him? Such a looker. We’re having a get together at the golf club. Come, okay? Just put on something pretty....” She fell silent for a second as she glanced at my tie-neck blouse, flowy skirt, and sensible shoes. I knew what she was doing—mentally picking over my wardrobe for something, anything, that was sexy. “Oh! Wear that emerald green dress I gave you at Christmas.”
“The one that’s cut down to my navel and slit up to my thigh? No.” I shook my head, not even entertaining the thought. “It’s at least two sizes too small and made for someone built like you, Tessa. Not me.” She was a slender f our at max. I was a curvaceous sixteen, sometimes eighteen depending on the clothes. The dress she’d given me over the holidays was obscene. I hadn’t even been able to force myself to try it on. It hung in the back of my closet, and I never intended to let it see the light of day, let alone the light of day while I wore it.
“Just do it for me. I swear,” she traced a finger over her heart dramatically, “if you do, then I’ll stop with all the ‘get hitched, be happy’ talk.”
I stared at her incredulously. “I don’t believe you.”
“Scouts’ honor.” This time she held up two fingers in a peace sign. It wasn’t even the proper salute, but I was pretty sure she realized that. Tess was doggedly deliberate. Especially when it came to my future as a diaper bag toting member of her mom posse.
“You were never a scout.”
“Best friend’s honor?” she quipped, winking.
“Jesus, fine. I’ll come. But there is no way in hell I’m wearing that dress.”
She grinned. “No dress, no deal. I’ll text you the details!”
Then she turned around, basically skipping happily away.
And all I could do was scowl at her back.
The clubhouse was lit up like the fourth of fucking July. You’d think the President had come to town, not Suzanne Cleary’s dick brother who hadn’t given me the time of day in high school even though I was popular Tessa’s best friend.
The green dress clung to me tightly, the velvety material hugging every curve like I’d been sewn into the outfit instead of yanking it over my head and down my body with such venom that it had to comply or else be torn to shreds.
I looked ridiculous.
My breasts hanging out for all the world to see.
My right leg exposed nearly up to my panty line.
And I was so pale that the moon above seemed to make me glow against the dark forest hue.
Music filtered out into the night from the club’s patio. Laughter traced through the notes.
Taking a deep breath, I patted my purse gently to feel the comforting shape of the book I’d tucked inside in case of emergencies, and I stepped forward.
One night. Just one night of torture, and Tessa would be off my back hopefully forever. And then I could just live alone, falling in love with impossible fictional heroes whenever possible, and forget the idea of marriage completely.
2
AZI VALAR
The bounty hunters for the Galactic Prison System caught up with me in a no-name bar in a backwater town on some shithole planet way outside their jurisdiction.
I recognized what they were as soon as they walked in. It was easy to peg them as outsiders—they were too clean, too sober, and way too well armed. I counted eight weapons between the two of them—and that was just the ones I could see. They were also better dressed than any of the other bar patrons—and also all of the other bounty hunters I had taken out since I had escaped from Vanguard, the galaxy’s most secure prison.
Their gazes swept the room with a practiced glance. If they followed standard hunting protocols, there would be a third one waiting outside.
But I could deal with him later—if only I could get past these two.
They were both vaguely humanoid, two arms, two legs, single torso and head, all the sensory organs in the usual places.
One was tall and muscular, with a pair of metal wings he folded in toward his back as he moved inside, thick features and what looked like a permanent scowl across his face.
The other was smaller, slender, with shoulder length dark hair and fine, sculpted features. I almost made the mistake of dismissing him as comparatively unimportant. Until, that is, I saw the light reflecting off the slightly oily sheen of his skin, glittering in rainbow colors.
Flark.
He was one of those fae fuckers. They rarely left their home planet of Danicka, but the ones who did tended to be tougher than they looked.
Danickans were an odd bunch. A ship from Old Earth had crash-landed on the planet. The passengers inside took over, named the planet after the captain’s wife, and then joined with the indigenous life forms there, creating a new breed of humanoids with powers they called “magick.”
I didn’t recognize the other one, but his size would make him the perfect muscle—and those wings, assuming they were functional, would allow him to search by air or ground.
Careful not to make any sudden moves, I casually turned back to the bar, picking up my Grodnikian ale and draining it in one long gulp.
My back itched, as if I could literally feel their gazes on me.
I had to assume I’d been made.
Barlin’s hells.
I had been hoping to go upstairs after the bar closed for some fun with the pretty little Jardrin bartender, with her six arms and two mouths.
Was it too much to hope for? A little physicality to salve my soul after what felt like an eon trapped in Vanguard? I’d managed not to become anyone’s plaything during my incarceration, mostly because I was twice the size of most and nimble as an Arackson Fex. But it also meant I’d had little in the way of strange. Only my own triple jointed fingers and suction points to satisfy my needs.
No, a fight wasn’t what I’d been hoping for when I walked into this bar.
But that’s exactly what I was getting.
If I was going to make it out of here, I would have to avoid letting the fae touch me. That crap on his skin could send me into a mating frenzy. Just one touch, and I would be his willing slave, ready to follow him anywhere until the effects wore off. It was a smart combo, the fae and the winged muscle guy. Between the two of them, they could probably bring in almost anyone they set their sights on.
Better to get it over with now.
I propped one booted foot on the rail that ran along the bottom of the bar, dug several credit pieces out of my pocket and dropped them on the oiled counter.
I liked to pay in advance for any damage I left behind.
The Jardrin blinked her wide tri-eyes at the overpayment. I winked at her. Her deep brown skin flushed obsidian. If I escaped, I’d circle back to the bar and make her blush again. Wild dreams.
Well, here we go…
In one fluid motion, I pushed back from the bar with the foot on the rail, slammed the ale bottle against the edge of the valentium wood bar, and spun around to meet the two bounty hunters just as they stepped up behind me, the jagged edges of the now-broken bottle held out toward them.
“I wouldn’t come any closer if I were you,” I warned, my voice low and threatening.
The winged male chuckled, flexing his meaty fists. “I think that’s your line, Alder,” he said to the fae.
“Sorry, Azi,” the fae said. “You are worth way too much for us to walk away.”
Yeah, I knew that. I had seen the wanted transmissions being sent out across the galaxy. 2.5 million credits. That’s how much the prison system was offering for me. A bounty like that would keep a crew flush for a star’s age.
Not that I was surprised at the price on my head. The only prisoner to ever escape the Vanguard, I was becoming something of a legend. The government could not allow me to remain free.
