by Eden Ember
My soul couldn’t bear it. She was my mate. She should be here, with me, even if she didn’t want me, she should be here where I’d keep her safe.
A low, throaty growl echoed in the shuttle until Allegra patted her hand on my arm. “It’ll be ok, Elgan, we’ll get her back.”
Had that been me? I glanced around. Just about everyone was avoiding eye contact with me. Three of the males, the mated ones, I’d realize after I thought about it more, glanced at me, their eyes full of understanding.
I guess they saw what I had.
If I didn’t believe in Decators and fated-mates before, I did now. My response was instinctual, within my very cells, an automatic response as natural as breathing.
That was when I realized Gandrox looked more pissed than I’d ever seen him. He nodded to me to sit across from him at the small table.
“Derkhed is connected.” Gandrox started, his voice low. “We already have our mission and chasing after a Terran isn’t it.”
I went to speak, but he held up a finger in the air between us, silencing me. “I don’t see things the same was as you, Elgan. She threw herself at the other males the first chance she got, she threw herself at me, You have barely spoken to each other since, and when you do, she takes the first chance she gets to disappear.”
“But…” I started.
“The decision is final, Elgan. Diamond didn’t want to be on the Torq Runner in the first place, and we don’t have the time nor the resources to waste on aggravating someone like Derkhed right now.”
I slammed my fists on the table, refusing to accept what I was hearing.
The shuttle fell silent. Our hushed conversation was no longer only between us as the others realized there was a disagreement.
“Razko, return us to the Torq Runner. Send a comms message to L’ohan to bring the other shuttle back too. We don’t have time to waste on foolish detours. We leave as soon as our refueling is complete.”
“Aye, Sir.”
I stood, feeling the need to pace. For a rover, this one was big, but it was still too fucking small.
Gandrox started issuing more commands. Clearly, he felt our conversation was over.
“I hadn’t realized you feared a whoremonger.” I spat. “You want us to leave, rather than face someone who trades in flesh?”
“I want us to get on with our mission.” Gandrox stood, moving away from the table. “There are millions of lives depending on our help. Have you forgotten the rebellion?”
He stepped closer. “What about the freedoms for those planets? Or does our pious Elgan forget all that when he finds a whore to raise his interest?”
Someone gasped at the comment.
“There is nothing pious in claiming to be a male of honor and fucking everything that walks.” I implied the insult, even though I didn’t believe it to be true.
He’d called Diamond a whore. While that was true, and I should remember, Gandrox was my captain, and one deserving on my respect. I wanted to rip him limb from limb, same as I’d do with anyone who stands between me and my mate.
“The decision is final, Elgan.” He repeated. As he spoke, he tapped something on his comms device before motioning to the display beside us. It was a clip, a few seconds of the rover’s security footage of the very moment that Diamond saw the escalator craft that would bring her escape from Coriogre.
“Are you telling me that’s the face a woman who needs rescuing?”
“She is my mate!” I roared.
“Mate? Mate?” He laughed. “She’s not your mate. She didn’t even want to talk with you!” He paused the clip. An image of her hopeful expression shone on the screen.
“That’s the face of a woman who knows she’s destined to be fucked until her body is ruined, and yet, she’s happy about it!” He looked to the others, “Our ship is opposite, and our cameras caught a clear enough shot.”
“Forget her and remember your duty. The oath of protection you made. The people who want, no, need your help.”
He shrugged. “You had plenty of time to get your cock wet when she was with us, and yet, I fear, you didn’t. And that is why you are so upset.”
Unbidden, my already balled fist crashed into his jaw. He fell backwards and into the panel of instruments beside us. A second later he’d recovered and lunged towards me, crashing us both onto the floor and sending the other warriors out of the way.
It took four of the warriors to pull us apart. We stood there, sweat, spit and blood thick in the air between us.
Allegra stepped between us, her small frame only made more noticeable by the sheer size of all of us. Didn’t she realize how vulnerable she was, an errant punch from either of us could kill her?
“While you have been fighting like idiots, the Elevator Craft has taken off.” She pointed at us both. “How dare you endanger all of us by throwing punches in a small craft like this?” She looked between us again. I felt the fury of her gaze and glanced at Gandrox, who was looking as glum as I felt. Allegra may have been considerably shorter and physically weaker than either of us, but neither of those mattered to her when she stood up to us both. She had all the confidence and fury of a war lord.
I could see the strength within her that Gandrox loved so much. I also felt a little sorry for him - she would hold him to account.
“Now,” she said. “Are you going to continue to kill each other if you’re released, or do I need to get one of the stun guns or hunting kits to immobilize you?”
“That will not be necessary.” Gandrox muttered. “I will not fight, and should Elgan decide otherwise, I will deal with him.” The grave look he gave me reminded me of the warrior he was. “Elgan has already earned himself a stay in the holding cell on our return to the Torq Runner, maybe he wants it to be for a longer time.”
They released us, but not before Xyru stood ready to pull Allegra to safety should we come to blows again.
The comms device on Gandrox’s wrist beeped, I couldn’t read the message, but the red writing meant a critical or highly confidential message. He glanced to Allegra and back to the comms. “I am needed.”
With that he walked from the main shuttle floor and into the cargo bay. The rest of the Aaran crew onboard returned to busying themselves in the confined space.
I bowed to Allegra in apology. She was right, I’d endangered the crew. In return, she gave me a sad smile. “He doesn’t mean what he said.” She whispered. “Besides, he’d go back for me. We all know that - even he does. I won’t promise anything, but I’ll talk to him.”
A female petitioning her mate on behalf of another male was rare. Especially with an alpha such as Gandrox. Her pleas would mean he’d face having to back down from the decision he had already made in front of crew members.
Allegra’s gesture was not something I took lightly. “I would be forever in your debt, Allegra.” I sighed. “Perhaps if I had thought with my head rather than my fists, I would have considered buying a rover or a small ship and going after this Derkhed alone.”
“You’d leave the crew?” Her face paled. “You’d leave all of us?”
I sighed, “Nothing has meaning without my mate.” I rubbed the bridge of my nose, Gandrox still threw a savage punch. “Diamond is my everything.”
Yet again, I’d let her down. Gandrox would have me locked in a holding cell for at least a five-day. By that time, I would have to wait until the Torq Runner stopped at another trading post before I could buy a small ship. But where would I even look by then? Diamond would be long gone, in any direction, and months, if not years away.
“You love her, don’t you?” Allegra words were more an observation to herself than a question to me, but I responded anyway.
“If it is possible to love someone with the very fibers of your soul, while knowing that they may not… will not love you in return. And not caring about the devastating pain that rejection would bring.”
I looked to the display, where Diamond’s elated face remained. “If love is hoping that
someday the other person might look at you in that way, but acknowledging that day may never come, but still continuing regardless, just so you have the knowledge that person is safe from harm… and can live a contented life of their choosing...” I looked back to Allegra. “Well, then I guess I love her.”
“This is all so wrong.” She swiped a tear away. “I’m certain she feels the same way about you. I just know it.” More tears fell. “This is all just so wrong!”
Chapter Nine
Diamond
Two days. Two hungry days of desperate isolation, knowing that each second was taking me further from Elgan. He’d never find me now - even if he wanted to.
My resolve stiffened, I’d survived alone before Elgan, I’d do it again.
I’d had my one chance to have a life, and I’d blew it. So many mistakes - but I’d made them because I didn’t know any different. Maybe being a slave was all I could ever be?
It took two days before Derkhed visited my cell.
“I am told you refuse to eat. Is the menu not up to your standards?” His tone was mocking.
“Believe me, prize. Your exotic allure if fast becoming… stale.” He stepped over the remnants of the food I’d thrown on the floor. He pulled a face as he tiptoed past the menurvek that scurried along the ground.
The rotting food had brought granite ants, which brought fiztworms. And the menurvek came to eat the fiztworms. Even at night I could hear them writhing across the floor. They even ate the wet remains of the ones I could squash.
I kept my head bowed, my shoulders rounded and my gaze to the floor.
“Hm.” he said, his breath tickling the side of my face. “Such an obedient girl, but you refuse to eat.”
I lied. “It was penance for displeasing you, Master.”
My old master, back on Arenthia, enjoyed hearing things like that - Derkhed would be no different.
I’d had time to face the facts: if I was to survive Derkhed, survive slavery again, I’d have to play nice.
At least until I could gain enough of his trust to escape. One of the escape ships should be easy enough to use. It might not bring me back to Elgan, but it would get me the hell away from Derkhed.
“I am sorry, Master.” I whispered, “Sorry for my disobedience.”
“Really? I see.” He walked towards me, nimble fingers opened the ties around my shoulders, causing the entire tunic to fall limply to the ground.
His eyes roamed over my body, making me feel smaller and more vulnerable than I’d ever imagined possible. How had I endured this daily on Arenthia? Had I become so numb that it had felt normal? He forced me to step out of the pooled fabric that lay on the floor.
“Good.” he breathed, kicking the fabric away from us and sending a dozen startled granite ants in every direction.
Derkhed’s hand crossed the slight distance between us and lifted my chin up, forcing my gaze to meet his. “Because I too must confess something.” He stroked the side of my face with his other hand and it took all I had to hide the revulsion of his touch.
“I must admit, I am entranced by this.” he said, rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip. I wanted to bite it off, then stuff it down his throat.
“Kneel, prize.” his gaze held steady as he released me from his touch. I lowered myself to my knees, hating what would come next.
Do what you have to do, I told myself. Do this to earn his trust and then get the fuck out of here.
He unbuckled the front of his pants, his two cocks stood proudly. I remembered the ALIEN on Gael, the one who attacked me on the same night I’d met Elgan.
Except no one would save me this time.
I’d have to save myself.
Derkhed took both cocks in one hand, stroking their lengths together. I forced myself to smile for him.
He stroked the side of my face with his other hand, before threading his fingers into my hair. With the gentlest of force, he pulled my head towards him.
“Open your mouth, prize, show me your tongue.”
I obeyed, hoping the action would please him.
Except that was the moment he forced both into my mouth at once, hitting the back of my throat and making me gag. The reflexive action clamped my teeth around him for an instant before I tried to pull my head away from him.
“A prize who can’t swallow cock is no prize at all.” He spat as he righted himself. “That was a costly mistake, bitch. One I won’t risk with a client - it would ruin me.”
The magnitude of what was happening sunk in.
“I am sorry, Master,” I whimpered. “It was not on purpose! I will be better!”
“Well, then.” he forced a smile. “That makes all the difference!” He rubbed at his crotch. “You mean you weren’t deliberately trying to castrate me? You should’ve said!”
“Let me try again, Master.” I pleaded. “It was the angle,” I tried to explain. “I can swallow bigger…” I stopped myself before saying anything more.
That was not the best route for an apology. I’m sorry I almost bit at least one of your cocks off, it was because I gagged, not because they’re so big. I’ve worked with bigger.
Yeah, not the best way to win over an egotistical asshole like Derkhed.
“I should blast you into space with the rest of the trash on this fucking ship.” He reached into a back pocket and retrieved a small flick knife.
He would kill me right there.
I huddled myself into the corner as best I could, knowing better than to even try to reach for my tunic. I was naked, afraid, and all I could think of was that I’d never see Elgan again.
“Please…” tears turned my sight wavy before I blinked again, but the image before me was still as horrifying. Derkhed paced back and forth, back and forth, the knife’s silvery reflection catching the light as he moved.
“Please don’t kill me.”
I squealed in terror as he lunged towards me, curling into a tight ball as much as I could. One swipe of his knife later and the restraint fell away from its railing, but still bound around my wrists. He pulled on it, like my old master’s daughter had done so many times with her pet Ereilas, forcing them to follow her as she walked.
“Come with me.”
He led me at speed along several corridors. I tried to keep track, tried to remember something, anything, about the doors and archways we passed. But this ship was vast and everything felt like it was racing. My heart pounded an unforgiving beat into my ears.
We passed several maintenance crews, some with heavy welding masks and others doing simpler jobs with diagnostic devices. None of them so much as reacted to seeing their captain taking a Terran, a naked one, for a walk. I begged them to help, but their response was the same: not one of them so much as looked at me.
What hold did Derkhed have over them that even the female crew didn’t react to this?
We turned a corner and came to a large sealed door. I couldn’t read what the red sign on the door said, but given it was red and in huge letters, and the seal around the door, I was sure it wasn’t the ship’s canteen. No, this would not end well.
Derkhed muttered to himself, of the words the translator had time to pick up and translate into my ear, the context made no sense, but I could get the general meaning: words about wasted money and how he’d have to deal with angry customers, how I was cursed or sold as a Trojan Horse.
Turns out he owed money to someone, a name I couldn’t pronounce. So, he couldn’t afford to just kill me - he’d tied too much money up in buying me. He’d sell me onwards to recoup the credits. Maybe that person would take me as part repayment instead? Yes, he liked that idea.
The sealed door squealed open a little, a slow creaking sound slowing its movement. Yep, I’d guessed right. This was an airlock. Or at least it had been an airlock at one point, now it was a makeshift cargo area. He yanked on the restraints, then pushed me in past the half-open door.
As he followed, he kept hold of the lead, and tied it around a strut high above me. Gre
at. At this height, I’d never be able to sit down.
A crew member rushed in, and from the translator in my ear, I knew that they needed him on the bridge. A suspicious craft had come near and wasn’t responding to his ship’s hails.
Suddenly I was alone again.
In frustration, I pulled at my restraint and found that it gave way. It fell away from the strut. He hadn’t tied it properly.
Now, I just needed to get the wrist restraints open. I scanned the room, feeling hope well inside me as I spied a sharp, jagged edge on another strut - a broken one, that should slice through the rope.
I hurried. It was unlikely anyone would peer into the room through the small window in the door, but there was something about the other doors, the hatch doors that separated me from being inside the ship and being sucked into oblivion that made me nervous.
The rope fell off, and I rubbed at my wrists. A cacophony of alarms sounded and I looked to the door in shock. No way could cutting the rope raise an alarm like that! Could it?
I felt a low rumble before I heard it, the sound reverberated across the floor, and through the entire ship, I’d guess. The enormous boxes of cargo shuddered and rocked. One fell from a height, barely missing my head.
Then an ear-piercing boom came. Whatever it was, light shone into the room from beyond the hatch door. I glanced for more falling boxes and rushed to peer out.
They returned fire, dazzling white and white-blue light streamed across the distance as their shots all tried to hit us. The ship’s shields slowed the damage that the other ship was trying to cause: my translator helpfully relayed the tannoy message that our shields were at 96%.
Another booming noise and I saw what it was for myself. Derkhed was firing at someone. He’d missed. But the light from his fire towards them lit the other ship up.
A third and then a fourth, fifth and sixth boom came, and I watched in horror as two of them connected with the other ship’s shields.