Bondmate by J.J. Lore Page A

their
loyalty is so unshakable.”
    Shock
at what she’d just heard made Avanelle turn away from the imminent battle
again. The other woman nodded solemnly. “You feel it, too. It’s like your
nerves are more sensitive. Stronger, faster reaction times. Your bond is very deep already. All of us could feel it as we waited for you
outside the comfort room at the terminal.”
    Avanelle
jerked her head back to Mateen and Bynton as the officiant spoke up. “All who are gathered today will witness and know. This is a proper
challenge, and no blood feud may result from its outcome. Begin!”
    His
sudden shout was met with bellows from the warriors assembled. She could
discern both Bynton’s and Mateen’s from the sudden
din and her heart swelled with a furious love. If this woman was right, and all
the intimacy they’d shared would give them an advantage, she intended to
project as much of her passion their way as she could even from her place far
from them on the red stones.
    The
three Madocs scattered wide and rushed in with a
roar. Two fell upon Mateen with wide swings of their axes while Bynton leaped
at the remaining warrior. Her heart rose to her throat as she watched blades
swing and saw the men twist and duck, their muscles bunching and flexing under
the sheen of oily skin. Metal clashed against metal, and many in the crowd made
approving sounds and moved forward for a better view. Avanelle wished she could
close her eyes and pretend this wasn’t happening, but she would be a witness to
her men’s bravery, no matter how her stomach churned with worry.
    With
a loud cry, one of the Madocs swinging at Mateen brought his axe round in a wide arc, and with a
quick jerk, Mateen somehow rushed closer and drew his shoulder under the other
man. With a punch up from the blades of his axe, Mateen punctured the other
man’s abdomen, ripping open two gashes in the ridged muscles of his opponent.
Red blood coursed down golden skin, and the wounded fighter howled out in rage
or pain. Continuing his momentum, Mateen swung behind the injured man as he
lurched into a protective crouch and brought the knobbed end of his axe down at
the base of the other man’s neck. There was a terrible popping crunch, and the
gutted man fell limp on the stones. Without a moment’s pause, the other Madoc , who’d been held at bay by the wild swings of his
companion, fell upon Mateen, their axes striking against each other’s like
swords. It was savage to watch, and Avanelle’s gorge rose when Mateen slipped
on the pool of blood spreading from his fallen opponent. He scrambled to his
feet, and the remaining Madoc halted his advance,
clearly resetting his plan of approach.
    Bynton
and the other Madoc had locked into some sort of
shoving match, the sharp blades of their axes perilously close to their faces.
Both were panting as rivulets of perspiration ran down their faces. The Madoc snarled and kicked at Bynton’s legs, connecting with one shin hard enough to break his balance and send him
sprawling to his knees, the attacker pressing with a short swing of his axe. It
connected with the armor covering Bynton’s left elbow
with a clang, the force of the blow driving Bynton to the floor.
    Avanelle
couldn’t hold back her cry of fear, and she took a step towards the fight,
wishing she had some sort of spear or rock to throw at the Madoc grinning in triumph as he raised his axe overhead for a terrible blow. But Bynton wasn’t finished. With a quick movement he spun and
drove his feet directly into the knees of the other Alphan .
The other man lurched and fell forward, bringing his plated elbows to driving
points just as he landed on Bynton’s bare chest.
There was a tremendous groan from both men as they sprawled and grappled with
each other on the ground.
    Avanelle’s
heart was racing, and she couldn’t draw breath, almost as if she, too, had
received blows, was fighting for her life out there on the dark stones.
    “Steady.
Your bond draws you