Page 200 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“Hey, you’re the one who said I needed to take charge and that the lightning cats were going to be my next task once we got John sorted, so I’m making an executive decision. If Minx wants to join us, I’m all for it. At least that way we’ll still have four lightning cats. We still don’t know what Echo and Maxsim are going to do.” I wave my hand in the direction of their group, and when we turn to look at them, Maxsim and his mother are staring at us, their eyes predatory and scary. I shudder and turn back to my group.

Again, the male cats are looking at me like I just did them the biggest favor, and that may go a long way toward me being able to control them in their cat forms.

“Fine, this is on your head.” William stabs a finger in my direction and stalks toward Maxsim and his mother. Eric smirks at me and pats me on the back before turning to Minx.

“Welcome to the circus,” he says to her before hurrying after his brother.

Minx grabs my hands. “Thank you. I don’t know how to repay you, but I will,” she gushes, and I feel my brow wrinkle in confusion.

“It’s no big deal,” I protest, and Minx shakes her head.

“It really is. When my mother loses that challenge, we will be relegated back to the general population, and Natalia will be on the warpath. She will kill anyone who is in her path to making a good match. Why do you think she challenged Echo? She knowsMother is going to lose, so she is trying to make the most of the situation for her own selfish needs.”

“But surely someone here is stronger than her. There has to be an alpha female who will beat her, one who will be happy to stand in for Echo and Maxsim. They may even ask her to mate with them as a thank you,” I argue.

“No, there are no alpha females, or none who are unmated. Only omegas and betas have been born for years, and none of us will dare step up and take that challenge. We all know how vicious and aggressive Natalia is, and in the event she loses, she will make the winner’s life a living hell. The circus is the safest place for me.”

My heart sinks. “So does that mean no one will stand up for Echo?”

“No, they won’t, so it looks like she will win the challenge by default.” Trace wraps an arm around Minx’s shoulders, giving her comfort as Sim and Fuse crowd in behind them.

My eyes drift over to where the male omega is surrounded by his family. His mother has tears streaming down her face as Mazlan steps up to a dais and silences the now crowded arena.

“The first challenge of the evening is issued by my daughter, Natalia, against the abomination omega, Echo. Who here will stand in his place as his proxy?” The crowded arena falls silent, and only the sound of Echo’s mother’s sadness can be heard. Not a single person steps forward, and Mazlan’s grin becomes smug, as does Natalia’s, who has stepped up next to her.

“Well then, this challenge has a clear winner, my daughter, as no one will step in as proxy, so Echo automatically loses,” Mazlan declares as Maxsim’s mother shouts out her protests.

I feel myself step forward. “I’ll take that challenge,” I call out, my voice echoing around the arena.

“Lila, no!” Caspian shouts. I turn back to look at him. Saxon and Xavier are holding him back, so I hurry over to the three of them and grab his hand.

“I can’t let that bitch win. It’s akin to rape. The other females are terrified of Natalia, and although Maxsim hasn’t been all warm and fuzzy, I refuse to let Echo lose him.”

“The babies,” Cas hisses at me, and my stomach sinks. “I’m not sure if you or they will survive a lightning strike.”

Fuck me. How did I forget about that gem of an ability? I bite my lip, turning back to the crowd.

“She has Vilaxian abilities now, so she will be fine,” Saxon assures Caspian, putting a hand on his shoulder. “She can move fast enough to avoid it.”

Xavier puts his hand against my stomach, and I feel a warmth sink into my skin. When he pulls back, he’s smiling softly. “The babies are happy and safe and fully protected now, and they said to tell you to kick that bitch’s ass.”

“Right, that’s a dollar into the swear jar for all of you, damn it,” I tell my children, half horrified and half proud at the message they just sent me. We are in so much trouble.

I look at Cas, and he lets out a sigh of relief and nods. “Go get ’em, tiger.” He leans in and kisses me, and they both back away, allowing Saxon to escort me over to the middle of the arena.

“Challenge accepted. When I win and kill you, and your mates die too, I will be feared throughout the lands.” Natalia roars loudly before unleashing her claws, jumping down off the dais, and stalking toward the center of the arena.

“She’s cocky, and she angers quickly. You have your speed and strength, so knocking her out is probably your best bet. I know you have your martial arts experience from Earth, so combine those two skills, and you should have no problems. All you have to do is avoid her lightning.”

“What constitutes a win?” I ask, and Natalia hears it.

“Your death.” She curls her lip back and hisses.

“If my granddaughter dies, Mazlan, I will see that you pay.” It’s Eric who threatened the matriarch, and I turn to see him floating above the crowd with a gun pointed at the matriarch, the red laser beam illuminating the middle of her forehead.

She nods her assent before announcing, “The first to tap out or be rendered unconscious will be the loser. The fight will not stop until this happens, no matter how much you are bleeding. If you die because you are too stubborn to admit defeat, then that is neither my nor my daughter’s fault,” she warns me, and I nod, acknowledging her words.

Eric accepts this and lowers himself, tucking his gun back into his clothing.