title: The Reluctant Gladiator
author: Riddle, Diana
description: Download for FREE with Kindle Unlimited   This is a 8,000 words CLEAN stand-alone story with an HEA, so no cliff-hangers!
    Ever since her mother died, Maria has thrown herself into her swimming career. It gives her a purpose, and a reason to build a relationship with her father that had not existed when her mother was alive. But now she’s twenty years old, training for the olympics, and wondering who she is as a person. Swimming has been her entire life. Who is she? Corbyn is from the planet of Troupe. He is a part of the Resistance Party, the political party in opposition to the barbaric gladiatorial games of Pym, that happen once a month on Troupe. The dragon shifters of Troupe are chosen at random, and fight to the death. The winner is ‘gifted’ with a human female. When Corbyn is forced to participate by the evil prime minister, he is gifted Maria. Will he take her unjustly against his morals, or will they become fugitives together?  ----------------------------------------------------------
  EXCERPT FROM BOOK
    On this particular day, Mikhail had called Corbyn into his office. It was not entirely unusual for the head of parties to meet, but they rarely spoke. Corbyn sat with his legs crossed in the chair in front of Mikhail’s desk. It was a tall desk, unnecessarily so, meant to intimidate those who sat in front of it as the prime minister towered over them. Corbyn was not bothered by it. He folded his hands in his lap and waited for his former friend to speak.   “I wanted to thank you for coming in,” Mikhail began. He adjusted the knot in his tie. He wore an impeccably tailored charcoal suit, in stark contrast to Corbyn’s typical uniform of a shabby cardigan and corduroys.   “I always have time for you, Prime Minister. What is it you wanted to see me about? There is no planned filibuster this week if that is what you wanted to know.” Mikhail smiled thinly at Corbyn. His eyes burned red whenever he smiled, a haunting precursor to his shifting state.   “Very courteous of you to inform me,” Mikhail said. “But that is not the reason I called you in. In fact, I called you in as a courtesy as well. I wanted to inform you in person of your name being pulled from the stone goblet of Pym.”  “You know perfectly well that I will not be participating,” Corbyn said. “The basis of my party platform is explicitly against the gladiatorial ways of our fine planet. And you know that government leaders are exempt.”  “Indeed that was true until last special session. There was an addendum to the spending bill.”  “I saw no such addendum.”  “It stated,” Mikhail said, ignoring Corbyn. “That no longer shall members of government be exempt from Pym’s Choice. I called you in here to let you know that you will be a part of a historical moment. The first leader of the Resistance Party to step into the arena.”  “Mikhail...what is this?”  “I don’t know what you mean.”   “What do you intend to achieve by trying to force me into Pym? Political embarrassment?”  “I believe you know perfectly well what the punishment for refusing the call of the goblet is.”  “You intend to jail me?”  “Of course not,” Mikhail said, touching his hand to his tie knot in a gesture of mock horror. “I wouldn’t dream of it. I expect you to participate. As a member of your planet’s government, and a sworn upholder of its laws, I can only expect you to conform to said laws.” Corbyn was sickened by how much Mikhail was clearly enjoying himself.
  AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a stand-alone story with an HEA, so no cliff-hangers! Story contains mature themes and language, and is intended for 18+ readers only.