Page 49 of January Bell

The fluffy poof of the marabou is now wilted and covered in mud, and one high heel is completely snapped off.

“Why are you still wearing those?” I say to her, mystified.

Poppy stares at me, looking absolutely devastated. “They complete the outfit,” she offers up, as if that’s any kind of an answer.

“You’re barefoot,” she notes. “And where are your pajamas?”

“You don’t like my new outfit?” I tell her, attempting for humor and falling very, very short.

In fact, I sound like I’m despairing.

“Zan is hurt,” I tell her.

“I know, I can see that. We could tell the minute you guys dropped in through the opening. I don’t know what’s happening here, and I can’t tell you how sorry I am that I ever got us into this mess.”

Poppy’s bawling now, her face turning deep, bright red, tears streaming.

The red Draegon behind her pulls her in close by her hand, nearly blocking her from my view with his wings.

“Do not blame her for what has happened,” he says fiercely.

“I literally didn’t,” I tell him, completely exasperated. “Can we all just focus? My partner’s hurt. Poppy is in no way, shape, or form mentally ready for whatever horrible thing Ken has planned here, and I hate to break up this conversation⁠—”

“Hello,” Ken’s voice booms, and his hologram form flickers in front of us.

I sigh, reaching out for Zan’s hand, and he takes it, squeezing it before raising it to his mouth and giving it a gentle kiss.

It’s shocking to me how much better that simple movement, that simple gesture makes me feel.

It settles something deep inside me regarding him.

Because no matter what happens right now, I am not going to let him hurt himself further.

I can do this.

“I can do this,” I repeat out loud, and I stare at the red Draegon holding Poppy menacingly. “You better take good fucking care of her just like I’m going to take care of my Draegon.”

I poke Zan in the chest then realize I’m being super weird. And possessive. Probably thanks to the heat, which I do not have time for right now.

Ken is still talking, introducing the challenge to the strange audience around us, and I realize I need to listen.

Because not listening? Yeah. That could get us killed.

“In summation,” Ken continues, and a ripple of absolute fear and horror shreds through my body, I know I’m not gonna like what’s about to happen.

I don’t think I’ll like anything Ken did at this stage. Zan tucks me in closer to his body, and I lean against him.

“Our two couples will be competing in this obstacle course, and the first one to win will be transported immediately to their reward. Lest we forget, the reward package is a parcel of arable land on Sueva, the galaxy’s foremost peaceful and safe planet. Once on the colony, they will have appropriate housing, and they will also be provided with a gift basket thanks to our sponsors.”

A holographic version of a gift basket appears, and the strange juxtaposition of a gift basket with the fact that my mate is currently injured to the point of being permanently disabled makes me want to throw up.

Ken pulls out a long pink blanket robe-type thing covered in cutesy little graphics.

“Next, a comms tablet, complete with a themed grip for your reading pleasure,” Ken announces to the crowd, that is cheering and whispering about the items as if they’re gold.

“Are you freaking kidding me?” I mutter. “He has sponsors now? In the lava murder pit? What is this world coming to?”

Ken continues to pull out things, and I definitively decide to ignore him and whoever decided to sponsor this absolute death arena shitshow, and try to take in the obstacles.