I woke up moaning in pain. I had a slight headache from earlier. I remembered goink into the cave and mourned for my cousin when all the sudden, darkness appeared out of nowhere. Trying to gain my sight, I looked around. All I is saw some fur and skulls inside of a dwelling. 'Reminds me of a movie I saw years ago...' I sighed. I was about to wipe my forehead when I felt my hand not moving. I looked from behind, my hands were bound in restraints. I tried to yank them lose, but nothing.

"If it isn't the little vermin that stole the Arbitrator's heart."

I turned and looked at the voice.

I saw two Yautjas coming into the tent one is carrying a tray of food and the other wore robes indicating that he is a leader.

"You must be the little Ooman that our Arbitrator has brought back from another planet."

I looked at him in anger.

"Who are you?"

"Lar'ja, Leader of this badblood clan." He answered evilly.

"Why did you take me from the Arbitrator?" Lar'ja walked towards me and kneel down in front of me. He took a strand of my hair in his fingers.

"I was ordered by another Yautja to kidnap you."

I felt very tensed the way Lar'ja stroked my hair like that.

"Just let me go."

"In due time young one, but for now you must be hungry." I looked at the food and looked at him.

"I'm not."

"You say no, but your body needs food." Lar'ja sneered evilly.

"When Raj'ah finds you, he will kill you without hesitation." I warned him.

Lar'ja snarled at me, sniffing my scent before he got up and stood in front of me once more.

"Why would he do that? You are the perfect bait to lure him to us. I already sent him a beacon. Once he arrives, we will play a game that involves you."

"I want no part of this stupid game of yours." I snarled.

"The last time someone said that to me, ending up being hurt...badly."

I turned away from Lar'ja as he changed the subject.

"I must say that you impressed me for what you did for the Cetanu back on Yautja Prime. What's the ooman saying, 'Taking the bullet for someone.' "

I glared at him. "What do you mean?"

"You Oomans, always make a mess of everything including getting in the way of an important Elder."

My eyes grew wide.

"It was you...You're the one that tried to assassinate Grand Elder Cetanu!"

"I ordered my assassins to kill the Grand Elder Although I had help."

"Who?" I demanded.

"You will see soon enough." Lar'ja snarled.

"When your precious Arbitrator gets here, we are going to play a game, the most dangerous game ever played." Lar'ja chuckled evilly while I tried to wiggle out of my restraints, tears streaming down my face.

"You will be part of the game whether you want to or not." Lar'ja left me weeping alone in the tent. He turned to two of his guards.

"Prepare her items and send a message to Arbitrator Raj'ah."

In the forest on Yautja Prime, Raj'ah, Rai'eka, and Fatal used the hounds to find Alex's scent. Since she ran off after learning about her cousin's death, Raj'ah felt so guilty about keeping this from his mate.

"Alex hates me now." Raj'ah trill sadly.

"She doesn't hate you, brother." Rai'eka said trying to cheer him up.

"We will find her, Raj'ah." Fatal said.

The hounds howled in the sky.

"We are getting very close to her."

The three Predators ran into the forest following the hounds until they stopped at the cave. Raj'ah looked at the cave and found the picture and the dog tags. Picking it up, he stroked the girl's face with his thumb. Since she found out about her cousin's death by a badblood, Raj'ah never forgave himself.

"We will find her, brother." Rai'eka assured him.

Raj'ah looked at her before they heard a sound.

They looked behind and saw one of Cetanu's guards running towards the group.

"You got a message from a badblood leader, Lar'ja."