by Ivy Barrett
“There is a similar belief system on Earth. It’s known as karma or reincarnation. But you said that without a life-bringer a Yashonty cannot achieve immortality. Why is that?”
He released her hair and shifted his gaze back to her face. “Our eltreenis, our life force, flows from one generation to the next. Without that connection anchoring us to this reality, most become lost during the transition. That is why offspring, and therefore life-bringers, are so vitally important to the Yashonty. Immortality is impossible without them.”
She nodded, but an overwhelming sadness crept over her heart. All the rebels believed their lives were over. They could not pass on their eltreenis, so they would never progress to the next stage of existence. All they were good for was killing their enemy so the fallen could continue their journey. That was even more depressing than being a comfort-giver.
“I’ve been more than indulgent with you.” As he spoke, Belton loosened the belt on her robe and parted the overlapping sides, exposing her body without bothering to fully undress her. “Now you will tell me why you carry so much guilt regarding your sisters.” His hands slid boldly over her skin, exploring and teasing without pausing to stimulate.
Lorna moaned, her eyelids drooping as he continued his transitory caress. “I was only nineteen when my parents died. Just like that,” she snapped her fingers and widened her eyes, “my youth ended, and I was suddenly responsible for a massive inheritance and two devastated sisters. If I hadn’t petitioned the court for guardianship, they would have become wards of the state. There was no way I would let that happen, so everything changed.”
“There were no male relatives to protect and provide for you?” Both his hands were on her breasts now, kneading gently.
“No.” Damn, it was hard to concentrate while he played with her so casually. “We only had each other.” Her voice dropped to barely above a whisper as she said what she really meant, “They only had me.”
“And you had no one.” His hands slid to her waist and lingered as his gaze searched hers. “You felt abandoned and trapped by a situation you had no control over.”
She nodded while the all too familiar rush of shame and frustration crashed over her composure. Her lips trembled, but she stubbornly blinked back the tears. “I was about to start my junior year at the university of my dreams. I was supposed to be carefree and irresponsible while I figured out what I wanted the rest of my life to look like.”
“Instead you were forced to put your life on hold and finish raising your sisters.”
Again, she nodded, but the compassion in his eyes helped her stabilize her emotions. “I didn’t blame my sisters, or at least I tried not to. They were victims too, but that didn’t change the reality of our situation. I had financial advisors and lawyers begging to ‘help’ me, but none of them cared about me personally, just the money. I didn’t know what the hell I was doing, and by the time I learned enough to realize how badly they were taking advantage of me, a large portion of our inheritance was gone. I was humiliated and furious. I lashed out at everyone and drowned my sorrow with booze. The angrier I became, the more ashamed I was of my behavior. It seemed so selfish and pointless. I knew I was stronger than that, or at least I wanted to be.”
He pressed his hands to her cheeks and kissed her forehead. “You never should have been left in that situation. Your parents should have arranged for someone to care for you as well as your sisters. Even if their deaths were sudden, they were derelict in their duty to you.”
“I know that now, but I felt so useless, so lost. And so unbelievably helpless. How could I protect my sisters if I couldn’t protect myself?”
“It is not a female’s job to protect herself, much less other females.” He threw up his hands and shook his head, long hair brushing his shoulders. “Humans make no sense to me.”
Rather than arguing, she placed her hands on his chest and continued her retrospective. “That’s why I joined the FBI. I knew they’d toughen me up, make me self-sufficient. I needed to feel safe again, and no one else was going to do it for me.”
“It must have worked.” He ran his hands down her neck and rested them on her shoulders. “You’re certainly not insecure now.”
She offered him a fleeting smile, but she was tired of the past, tired of talking, period. She wanted him to act on the desire smoldering in his gaze. “I felt much better about everything—until the Skarilians arrived.”
The main door rolled up, and Moxtel strode into the living room.
Lorna sprang away from Belton and quickly closed her robe. She scrambled off his lap like a guilty teenager caught necking.
Belton chuckled and pulled her back into his arms. “Why so jumpy, pet? Have you done something naughty?”
“Not today,” she insisted, sounding almost as guilty as her overreaction made her look.
“She just used the soothing pulse, so she should be ready for a good hard fuck from both of us.” Belton reached for the belt on her robe, but Moxtel stopped him.
“We need to talk first.” He lowered himself onto one of the backless chairs with a heavy sigh. “I have news about Brianne, but not all of it is good.”
Lorna scooted away from Belton as she rearranged her robe to cover her legs and cleavage. “Is she all right? Do you know where she is?” Her eyes widened, and she sucked in a breath. “Has she already been auctioned?”
“Not yet,” Moxtel assured her then looked at Belton. “You told her about Xarr?”
“Not specifically, but I explained when and why females are auctioned.”
“Who is Xarr, and what does this have to do with Brianne?” Pushing to her feet, Lorna moved closer to Moxtel. “Please, Master, just tell me.”
“Xarr is a talent scout for a massive company called Exotic Pets. As the name implies, they specialize in the acquisition and training of lesser known species.”
“Like humans?” Lorna forced the question out, though her mouth had gone completely dry.
Moxtel nodded, then went on, “Brianne was sold to Xarr, and I have set a plan in motion to get her back. It could take a few days, but I’m confident it will work.” He moved his knees apart and pulled her into the space between his legs. “You’ll be with her soon. I promise.”
This softer side of Moxtel was only accelerating her worry. It seemed more honest, more natural when he glared and made demands. “What aren’t you telling me? You said I wasn’t going to like it. None of this is bad.”
The males exchanged a strange look, and then Belton said, “The sort of pet owners who frequent Exotic Pets expect fully trained females. She has been gone long enough that it’s almost certain her training has begun.”
“If they harm her they can’t sell her,” Lorna argued. “And she’ll only command top dollar—or the most credits—if she’s still a virgin. As long as we get her back before she’s auctioned, she—”
Belton placed his hands on her shoulders and moved in close, warming her back with the heat of his body. “As we’ve demonstrated since your arrival, there are many ways to motivate a reluctant female without damaging or reducing her value.”
Guilt and grief washed over Lorna, flooding her eyes with tears. Her knees went weak, and sobs threatened to wreck her composure. When Belton fucked her ass, the punishment had been so intense it left her shaking and sobbing. Enduring something like that would shatter Brianne. “It doesn’t matter,” she insisted, more to herself than her masters. “I’ll help her deal with whatever they did to her. As long as she’s alive, Celeste and I will help her through the rest.” Moxtel was staring at Belton again, and it snapped her last nerve. “God damn it! Stop telling secrets. If you have something to say, say it to my face.”
Moxtel scowled as the warmth bled out of his gaze. “I just arranged your sister’s return. It was not easy, I assure you. I am now obligated to an extremely unpredictable person, and I did it for you!”
“I’m sorry, Master. I just—”
“You repaid me with disresp
ect and a complete lack of gratitude.”
She immediately lowered her gaze and softened her voice. “Thank you, Master. How can I demonstrate my gratitude?”
“That’s better, but it comes too late.” He pushed her back and closed his legs. “I intended to explain my plan in detail. I know how worried you’ve been and wanted to ease your mind. I have forbidden Belton from telling you, so don’t bother asking either of us. You either trust me, or you don’t. Now take off the gown and bend over my lap. We’ll begin by warming your ass.”
Accepting that it was going to be a long and difficult night, Lorna whispered, “Yes, Master.”
Chapter Seven
The next four days passed with remarkable speed for Lorna. Knowing Brianne’s rescue was in the works took some of the pressure off the situation. She was still determined to gather information, to learn whatever she could in an attempt to end captivity by the Yashonty for females of every species. Moxtel had disabled her comm-cluster, but the signal booster had its own transmitter. As soon as she learned something important, she would risk discovery and punishment to send it to Celeste. Until then, she’d bide her time and try not to forget why she was here.
After the first two days of carnal excess, Belton and Moxtel regained enough control to resume their regular work schedule. A dour-faced medic showed up one morning and performed a cursory exam to make sure Lorna hadn’t been harmed by their excessive use. He also collected blood and tissue samples, which made her extremely uncomfortable. To her knowledge, the Yashonty were unaware of the Rh-negative anomaly, so why did she get the feeling they were testing her for genetic compatibility?
Tarn visited Lorna at least once a day and became more friendly and talkative with each visit. The spanking Tarn had endured because of Lorna’s panic was long forgotten, and the two were well on their way to becoming friends. Tarn explained that she was the only comfort-giver who had been claimed by a high-ranking officer, so the other comfort-givers resented her. Tarn was just as isolated and lonely as Lorna.
Lorna had been on the ship seven days when Tarn arrived beaming with a secretive smile. Lorna had expected to share breakfast with her new friend. Instead, Tarn handed her a gown similar to the ones Tarn wore and matching slip-on shoes. Though still designed more or less like a bathrobe, this dress was longer and constructed of much thicker material. After Lorna ducked into the bedroom and switched into the more modest outfit, Tarn motioned her out into the corridor.
Was this a belated payback for the undeserved spanking? “I don’t think I’m supposed to leave?” Lorna objected. Her behavior had been perfect for the past few days, and she wasn’t in a hurry to experience more of her masters’ discipline. Moxtel hadn’t been exactly affectionate, but he’d definitely seemed more emotionally connected to her. And the flashes of pain in Belton’s gaze were becoming less frequent.
“Master Noj cleared this with your masters. Master Noj insisted that continual incarceration wasn’t healthy. He is prime medical officer, so they had no choice but to agree.”
Lorna really was stir-crazy, so she smiled and stepped through the doorway. Two armed guards flanked the door but stared straight ahead as the females passed. “Where to?” Lorna asked Tarn, wondering if an armed escort was mandatory for all the females on board or just those belonging to officers.
“You shall see.” Tarn headed down the hallway purposefully.
Lorna lengthened her strides to keep up with Tarn and wasn’t surprised when the guards followed at a discreet distance. Were they there to protect the females from the rest of the crew or to ensure that the females behaved appropriately? Probably both.
They walked down one corridor after another. Lorna looked around curiously. The passageways on Ventori ships were all the same light gray color, making it hard to navigate if one couldn’t read the symbols marking each intersection. The Yashonty ship seemed to be color coded. The shift in hue was subtle from one corridor to the next, but Lorna quickly noticed the changes. They used a ladder rather than an elevator to change levels, yet the technology was obviously highly advanced.
They finally reached their destination and Tarn ushered Lorna inside a smallish room. Lorna’s gaze immediately locked onto the spectacular view presented by a massive window or view-screen that spanned an entire wall. Against the utter blackness of space, a large reddish-brown planet dominated the scene. “Is that actually Mars, or just an image of it?”
“Does it matter?”
Lorna looked at Tarn, annoyed by the question. “Not really.” Then she turned back to the amazing view.
“If I answered the question, it identifies our location,” Tarn explained. “I’m supposed to be more careful about what I say to you.”
“I see.” Lorna relaxed her expression but remained alert. Their location would only be revealed if they were actually orbiting Mars. If it was just an image, they could be anywhere. Her pulse kicked up a beat. Tarn didn’t realize it, but she’d just tipped her hand. “I’ll try not to be so nosey. I really don’t want to get you in trouble again.” She meant the last part, but being nosey was the nature of her job.
After spending several minutes soaking in the view, Lorna turned around and looked at the rest of the room. There wasn’t much to it. Three round tables, each designed to seat eight, were arranged in a line, filling the oblong space. Those seated on one side of the tables could enjoy the scenery while the other would have their backs to the window.
“Thank you for getting me out of that cabin and this,” she motioned toward the window-wall, “is amazing. But is there any way I can get a mug of tea and something resembling food? I’m really hungry.” Her masters had dragged her into the bedroom as soon as they entered the cabin last night, and by the time they had satisfied their hunger for her, she fell into an exhausted sleep. She had been just as ravenous for them, but it left her with a more conventional form of hunger this morning.
“This is the officers’ dining hall,” Tarn announced. “We are still going to share breakfast. It will arrive momentarily.”
It was late enough that the officers most likely had eaten and begun their day, or the guards outside the door would ensure that they wouldn’t be interrupted. There was no way Moxtel would have agreed to this if it would expose her to other males.
“I can print you a mug of tea while we wait.” Tarn motioned toward the beverage dispenser inset in the adjacent wall.
“That would be great.” Lorna sat at the middle table, the massive window to her left. If she showed no interest in the view, it would seem suspicious, but she was more interested in what Tarn might inadvertently share. The close-up view of a once distant planet really was breathtaking. However, the fate of the captives was more important than the topography of Mars.
“Here we go.” Tarn sat directly across from Lorna and slid one of the two mugs she’d printed across the table. “I like mine on the sweet side. Hope that’s alright.”
Lorna took a sip then smiled. “It’s great. What is this called? It’s different than what my masters keep giving me.”
“They’re probably giving you lessit tea. This is lornisit, which is a different variation of the same plant. Lornisit is milder and sweeter.”
“I like it better too.”
A soft buzzing interrupted the conversation, and Tarn called out, “Visitor approved.”
The door rolled up, and two females walked in, each carrying a large metallic tray. Dressed in solid black robes, they both had light brown hair and gold-tinted skin. Their features were angular, yet well balanced, and their eyes were solid black. Lorna had never seen their species before, even in Celeste’s library of images. One was almost a head taller than the other. They chattered away in a language Lorna had never heard before. Tarn seemed annoyed by the fact that they were paying more attention to each other than the task they performed.
It took a moment for Lorna’s translator nano-bots to lock on to their language. They were halfway across the room before she could understand wha
t they were saying.
“...can’t be good for the Ventori,” the shorter one said in a soft yet urgent tone.
“I can’t decide which side to cheer on,” said the tall one. “The Yashonty are selfish pigs, but the Ventori aren’t any better.”
“Are you sure the Tavorians were who Stagin said? If Minister Nomani and Prime Gatekeeper Karsath instigated a meeting with Ram, the Ventori are about to be betrayed.”
“I didn’t say the Tavorians instigated the meeting,” the smaller female stressed. “Stagin wasn’t sure about that part. He just flies Ram wherever Ram wants to go.”
“Speak Yashonty or remain silent,” Tarn snapped. “You know very well conversing in Melmon is not allowed.”
Melmon? Wasn’t that the species that helped enslave Belton? If they were allies of the Skarilians, what the fuck were they doing on Ram’s ship? They were slaves! The Yashonty had probably wiped out the males and forced the females into sexual servitude. The realization made Lorna intensely uncomfortable.
Tarn didn’t seem upset about what the Melmons had said, just that they spoke in their own language. Tarn couldn’t understand them. That’s why Melmon was forbidden. Desperately hoping the young fools would defy Tarn, Lorna looked at them with new interest.
Unfortunately, they both set down their trays and dropped their gazes to the floor. “Yes, Lady Tarn,” they chorused. “Very sorry.”
Lady? Was this another reason the other females resented Tarn? It didn’t matter. Lorna must remember the names the two had rattled off in Melmon. Minister Nomani and Prime Gatekeeper... Shit! It was Karth or Karsit. That didn’t matter either. Celeste could find out who the prime gatekeeper was. Minister Nomani and the prime gatekeeper were meeting in secret with Ram. There had to be a way Celeste could barter that information for Ventori assistance. Or maybe she could use it against the Tavorians. Threaten to expose them if they didn’t help her. That might work even better. The Tavorians were rumored to have magic powers. Maybe she and Celeste had been focused on the wrong species all along.