by Lily Harlem
“I know, and you’ve said we have a future, which makes me the happiest Athion alive. Really it does. But are babies really in that future?”
I twisted to look at him.
He was staring at he ceiling as though he’d braced himself to ask the question. “Babies. Children. A family.”
“I understand how important it is for you to contribute to repopulating your planet, I absolutely do, Anki.”
He was silent.
“And I do want children someday.”
Still he said nothing.
“So I guess…”
He turned to face me. Through the dim light, I could see the tension on his face.
“So I guess, yes, there are babies in the future, but not for a while yet.”
“Thank you.” He smiled, just a little.
“That doesn’t please you?”
“Of course it does, but…”
“Go on.”
“But can the baby be mine and not Gavyn’s or Mateo’s?” He squeezed my hand. “I know I have no right to ask that, not really, you’ve said you love and care for us all equally, and I understand that Earth men also want children, but—”
“But your planet is desperate.”
He swallowed. It was more of a gulp. “Yes.”
I propped onto my elbow and tugged my hand from his. I stroked his cheek. “I love you so much. You’re incredibly special to me, and I want to be with you, always. And believe me when I say I understand that carrying your child would be extremely important to you. As would carrying Hurin’s or any Athion’s.”
“Hurin? Is there something between you?”
I hesitated. It wasn’t a subject I’d intended to bring up. “Would it be a problem if there was?”
“No, of course not. Hurin is an amazing man, but he’s…”
“What?”
“But he’s different. The Southern Tips are.”
“I know, but that shouldn’t stop him finding love.”
“Do you know how he’s different?”
I nodded. “Yes, actually, I do.”
He was quiet. “I wouldn’t want him to hurt you.”
“He’s big, but he knows his strength, and I’m sure he’d be gentle.” I laughed softly. “Anyway, I wasn’t saying I was about to jump into bed with him, we’ve just gotten closer lately, that’s all.”
“Good, because right now you’re in bed with me.” He squeezed me close and tucked my head beneath his chin.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For always saying the right thing. It’s one of the many reasons I fell in love with you.”
He kissed my head. “Try and get some sleep now and know in your dreams I am here, and that I will love you always.”
Despite what he’d said, when I woke, Anki was gone. He’d left a note on my screen.
Gone to the bridge to see if there is any news. Love you, my one and only.
I smiled and did a quick check of the livestock control panel. Then, sipping a coffee, I stared first at Magic’s empty cage and then at the hole in the ceiling.
If only he’d come back while I’d slept.
But he hadn’t.
After my coffee, I showered and put on white underwear, light-blue pants, and a white t-shirt. My hair was still damp when I scooped it back into a ponytail. It would have a kink in it later, but I didn’t care. Refreshed after my time with Anki and a sleep, I was back on my mission to find Magic.
And I felt more positive about it now. I would find him. How hard could it be to find a macaw on a spaceship?
Slipping from my room—Magic’s little lead and some sunflower seeds in my pocket—I headed toward the goats. I couldn’t neglect them, despite my hunting mission.
The corridor was empty and quiet and my footsteps faint. Knowing I was walking beneath a vent, I tried to breathe quietly and listen out for Magic.
Nothing.
I rounded a corner, and the all-glass door to the isolation pod came into view.
Julian was standing there. But rather than staring outward as he usually did, he was facing away. He appeared to be holding something, and his head was bent and shoulders hunched.
I frowned. What had he gotten hold of?
I kept on going, not surprised that neither Sai nor Ezekeil were standing outside. I was sure Gavyn would have a fit if he realized how slack they were.
And if he knew they spent so much time satisfying each other?
I didn’t know the answer to that.
Julian’s figure grew larger as I got closer. He didn’t turn around, which was odd because usually he seemed to have inbuilt radar to know where I was.
Eventually, I reached his door. I’d planned on heading quickly toward the livestock pod, but something made me pause.
The cover to the air vent in his room had been replaced, and he stood directly below it. His right shoulder was shifting a little, as though stroking something.
Quickly, I pressed my hands on the door and peered in.
Could it be?
Was it?
“Julian,” I said. “What have you got?”
“Uma, you’re here.” Still he didn’t turn. “Thank goodness.”
“Tell me. Did Magic come through the vent?” I went onto my tiptoes to see what he was holding. Was that a glimpse of red? Blue?
Slowly he twisted around, his gaze instantly hooked on mine. Perched on his right arm was Magic.
I snagged in a breath. My heart leaped. “You’ve got him. Is he okay?”
“He came through the vent about two hours ago. I heard him along the shaft, a few meters away, so I talked to him. I had to build up his trust.” He stroked Magic’s head. “I had to get him to believe in me.”
Magic stretched for a chin tickle. He appeared at ease cozying up with a Trad.
“I won his trust,” Julian went on. “Made him see that I’m a kind man, not someone who ever wishes to do harm to a human, Athion, or animal. I’m not like the others.”
“Is he okay?” I ached to hold him, to feel his soft feathers on my cheek.
“I think so?” He frowned and looked at Magic.
“What do you mean you think so?”
“He’s got a few feathers missing from his left wing. Seems to be a bit of blood, too, as though he caught it on something sharp.”
“Oh no, really.” Wings were so delicate, and birds only needed to lose a little bit of blood before they became critical.
“Actually…” He frowned as he peered closer at Magic, creasing his perfectly smooth brow. “It’s quite a lot of blood.”
“Is it? Show me.”
He stepped a little nearer, being steady and careful.
“I can’t see.”
“It’s under here.” He ducked to examine beneath Magic.
“Bring him to the door.”
He stopped. “This doesn’t look good.” He held up his fingers. They were stained bright red.
“Shit.” A bolt of fear crashed through me, replacing the relief I’d felt moments ago. “That’s too much blood.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Julian said. “I’m no expert on Earth’s animals.”
“It needs pressure, and a dressing. Is there something broken, do you think?” I spun around. “Sai, Ezekeil, are you there?”
No answer.
“Marshalls, where are you?” Damn it. I rushed to their dormitory. It was empty. “Why are they never here?”
“Uma,” Julian called. “I’m worried. Very worried.”
I peered down each of the corridors. There was no one in sight.
“I don’t know what to do,” he said. “Really, I am concerned.”
“Reach for something, that bit of cloth by the tray. Press it on the cut.”
He rushed to do as I’d asked.
“Fuck it.” I glanced at the control panel. All I had to do was key in Gavyn’s birthday and I’d be in there. I could help Magic.
No. You can’t do that.
<
br /> “I’m not sure if I’m doing it right, he’s so fragile,” Julian said. “His bones are like small twigs. Ohh, and he’s biting my arm. I think he’s in pain.”
He had his back to me, stooped as though concentrating on what he was doing.
“It’s okay, buddy, don’t be scared, I’m doing my best.”
I hopped from one foot to the other. Magic was so delicate and precious. Julian didn’t know what he was doing, that much was clear.
The sleeper pod was so far away. The bridge farther? Did I have time to get Anki? Was there an alarm button in the dormitory? I didn’t know.
“Oh no!” Julian said, alarm in his voice.
“What?” I pushed up against the glass. “What is it?”
“It’s not working. He’s bleeding…a lot.” He turned to me, Magic no longer perched on his arm but seeming to have sagged within his hold. “See this, it’s not good, is it?”
I gasped.
Julian had held up his free hand. It was dripping with blood.
“Oh no, that’s too much. He’ll be dead in a minute, maybe less.”
“Do something, Uma,” Julian said, panic in his voice. “I can’t. I don’t know. I don’t know what to do.” He shook his head and stroked Magic. “This is tragic.”
“No, no, it’s not.” I steeled myself. I’d have to go in there. It wasn’t as if Julian could whisk me off to Tradrych from here. All I needed to do was grab Magic and get out. Then I could work on saving him.
If it isn’t too late.
“Uma, please,” Julian said. “We can’t let him…not after he trusted me.”
“I’m coming in.”
Julian didn’t appear to have heard me. He was obviously panicking about the situation.
I keyed in the code, and the door slid open. I raced in, arms outstretched.
But to my horror, Julian slipped around me, placing himself between me and the door.
It happened so fast it was a blur.
“What are you doing?” I spun around and came to a halt.
Magic wriggled and squawked. He tried to flap his wings as though wanting to get away.
“Julian.” I frowned, and a surge of fear slammed into my chest.
“Stay right there,” Julian said, backing up and banging his free hand on the control panel to close the door. He then pressed the keyscreen several times. “Handy, this internal lock, don’t you think.”
Fear turned to panic, then anger.
“Let me out. Let me and Magic out. I need to tend him.”
“Oh, I think he’ll live.” Julian dropped his arm, and Magic scrabbled to get away from him. His wings mercifully worked fine as he glided up to the highest point in the room—a long pipe running above the bed.
“No, he’s lost too much blood.” I rushed to stand beneath him. “Please come here, Magic. Let me dress that wound.”
“He’s perfectly fit and well, you can see that, dearest Uma.”
The way Julian said my name sent dread slicing through me like ice.
It was the sound of someone who’d gotten what he wanted. I was now a fly caught in his web, and what was worse, I’d walked straight into it.
He held up his hand. His palm was coated in blood, and a cut sat in the center.
“It was your blood?” He’d tricked me.
Of course he did, you fool.
Chapter Twelve
I glanced at Magic. “If you’ve hurt him by holding him so tight, I’ll…I’ll…”
“You’ll what?” Julian pressed the scrap of cloth over his cut. “What will you do? What could you do? A helpless Earth woman against me. Ha!”
“You have to let me out of here. Magic, too. The Marshalls will come in a minute. They’ll be furious. You’ll be cuffed, shackled for the rest of the journey.”
He laughed. “Yes, they’re probably coming right now, but not to help you. They’re probably coming in each other’s asses or mouths.”
His deep chuckle sickened me. I had to get out of there. He meant me harm. I knew that in a very deep, instinctual part of me.
But he was standing right in front of the door, blocking my way. And goodness only knew what the code was now.
“What will you gain from this?” I asked. “You’ll anger the crew, and I’ll tell you, they’re big guys, not afraid to fight, and if you hurt me, I dread to think what they’ll do.”
“Not much they can do from out there.”
“They’ll soon get in; they’ll override the lock.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You really think they can? It’s designed to protect the person in here as well as whoever is out there.”
“I know they can override it.” I had no idea, but I hoped I’d sounded convincing.
“You see…” He tipped his head and studied me, his eyes sharp and glacial. “I was thinking you and I could have a fun time in here together for the rest of the journey to Planet Athion. There’s a bed, food, and drink, and, of course, you have your beloved parrot.” He huffed. “Not entirely sure why you like him so much, sharp beak and claws.”
“Claws. Claws. Oh. Oh. Let me go. Pretty boy. Who’s a pretty boy, then.”
Julian’s eyes widened. “He talks.”
“Yes, of course he does.”
“Wow.” Julian appeared in awe. “He didn’t do that all the time I had him in here.”
“Wow. Wow.” Magic said, bobbing up and down. “Uma. Hello. Treat time. Treat time. Oh…yes…yes…yes…more.”
Making the most of Julian’s distraction, I dashed to the right. I had to get to the door. And if I couldn’t unlock it, I had to shout and bang for help and get one of the guys here…fast.
“Oh no you don’t.”
A firm grip surrounded my right upper arm. I was yanked to the side then collided with a hard body.
The breath was knocked from my lungs as Julian pulled me close, pressing my back to his chest and winding his arms, python-style, around me.
“Get off.” I writhed and wriggled, shoved at his steely forearms.
“No point fighting the inevitable,” he said, his breath hot on my ear.
“Leave me alone.”
“I have no intention of that. You’re mine. All mine.”
“Bastard.” I rammed my heel down on his right foot and jabbed my elbow into his stomach.
“Stop that,” he snarled, clamping me tighter. “You’re making it worse for yourself.”
Adrenaline pumped through my veins, and I threw my head back, trying to land it on his nose.
He dodged and slid his thigh between my legs, unbalancing me.
Magic was squawking, long, high-pitched shrieks that ricocheted around the room.
“Keep still, Uma, we need to get this done.”
“Get what done?” I was breathless, my hair hanging over my face. I tore at his skin with my nails, but he didn’t appear to notice.
“You know what.” His hard cock wedged between my buttocks, and he gripped the waistband of my pants.
“No, no…” I dropped my weight and twisted. Fear turned to white-hot horror.
“Insemination won’t take long,” he said. “You might even enjoy it.”
“You fucking bastard, leave me alone. They’ll kill you for this.”
“And will I care about death once I’ve achieved what every man on Tradrych wants? Offspring.”
His steely cock was sickening, and the thought of it inside me…his seed…his child…was gruesome.
“What the hell?”
Anki’s voice.
“Anki!” I shouted. “Help.”
Julian stopped fiddling with the waistband of my pants. “Ah, you have an aspiring rescuer.”
“Get off her.” Anki was fiddling with the keypad. “Damn it, why isn’t this working?”
Julian chuckled, a stomach-turning sound that made me want to gouge out his eyeballs. “It’s a new code. I changed it.”
“What? How?”
Julian shrugged and stepped up to the door, dr
agging me with him.
“Leave me alone,” I said, still trying to twist from his grip.
“If you hurt her, even one hair on her head…” Anki flattened his palms on the door. “I’ll kill you myself.”
“I’m sure you will.” Julian ran his hand up to my chin and cupped it, forcing the crown of my head into the crook of his neck. “But I’m up for the death penalty anyway, so do you think that kind of threat scares me?”
“It should.”
“Maybe I’ve decided to have a little fun before I go.”
Anki’s cheeks were dark and his mouth a flat line. Suddenly he disappeared.
“So much for a knight in shining armor.” Julian laughed.
A red flashing light came on beside the door, an alarm, and Anki appeared again. “You have one minute to end this, Trad. Because once the captain is here, there’ll be no going back.”
“One minute of fun doesn’t sound much for a dying man, not when I could have a few months locked in here with this Earth woman whose fertile body will be perfect for my needs.”
“I don’t want to carry your child,” I said, struggling to talk as he was holding my chin so tight.
“You don’t get a say in it.”
I was so scared, but also so angry. It was hard to tell which was the most compelling emotion.
Magic let out a sharp shriek.
Anki glanced at him, then at me.
In that instant, Anki knew how I’d been lured in.
“Open the door and let her out,” Anki said, his voice a little calmer now, persuasive almost. “And we can keep this between us. No one else needs to know about this drama.”
Julian said nothing. His cock was still solid in the crack of my ass.
“You could even be a hero for helping get the parrot back,” Anki said. “It could get you some favors, books, an entertainment system, extra food.”
I knew Anki wouldn’t provide any of that, but I kept quiet. His tactic might work.
The clatter of footsteps echoed through the speaker.
Mateo and Gavyn.
They were running full pelt down the corridor.
It was too late for Anki’s negotiation.
Julian tensed his grip, his arm around my waist squeezing the breath from me, and pain shot down my neck.
I whimpered.
“Jesus Christ,” Gavyn said, coming to an abrupt halt and tapping at the keypad. “What’s going on? Why won’t this open?”