by Sabrina Kade
“For now, I say we give these guys a chance. Look at Blythe. She’s alright, isn’t she? Lacey? Devyn?” My eyes trail to the doorway. “And that big guy? He—”
“Azan,” Prince hisses.
“R-right,” I stammer, trying to keep my own blush from forming. No one’s going to take me seriously if I come down with a crush as obvious as Blythe’s. “He hasn’t done anything, right?”
“Like I want to be a Sidyth’s Chosen.” Alaska crosses her arms, glaring at me from across the room. “You all seem to forget what that means.”
“Don’t,” Prince hisses.
“Where are the hunting grounds, eh? Where are you planning to kill us? What was the price? What was the bounty, huh?” Oh God. Not this again.
“Kill? Hunting grounds?” Sloane gasps, apparently suffering from short-term memory.
I thought we covered this already.
“Or haven’t you heard?” Alaska says, spinning away and facing Blythe directly. “Once you consent to a Sidyth male choosing you, he’s going to kill you. You know that, right?”
“That’s for Sidyth females.” Blythe stammers slightly, making me worried.
“No. That’s what Prince-y told you. The truth is, that’s what Sidyths do. They choose a female, and they woo her, simply to prove how simple we are. They get off on it. And when you choose them? When they hear you say the words that you want them as much as they want you? That’s when they kill you. They dump you in some open area and hunt you for sport.”
“That’s different!” Blythe squeaks.
“You may have tricked her, but you’re never going to trick me. If I don’t say I choose any of you, I’ll be able to live. I know your so-called customs, and I’m not going to die.”
Arguing continues, and as much as I want to believe we’re not going to be hunted for sport, it’s hard when Blythe’s been with a Sidyth for days and immediately questioning his motives for wanting her. I want to believe in her. I do, but it doesn’t help that Alaska has a friend who was killed by a Sidyth and a prince who hasn’t told us what we’re supposed to be doing here if not spreading our legs and carrying their offspring.
“I’ve seen others hunted.” Korben’s voice rumbles deeply into my earpiece. His friends step closer for support, but it’s not like he needs it. None of us are going to stand up to him. We’re used to being mistreated.
“Humans?” Alaska asks.
His silence gives any answer we’d need.
“You see?” Alaska sneers, launching into another dramatic speech.
Geezus, I don’t understand how anyone can stand being around her. Her reputation says she’s supposed to be submissive to the point of being bored, but she’s been mouthy and cranky since the trip here. Maybe Sidyths did kill Washington.
“Are you going to kill us all or not?”
Sloane squeaks, and more of the girls shuffle to the back of the room.
“You have to trust me,” Blythe says. “Korben and the others aren’t going to kill us. Korben’s been nothing but kind and protective. And in our line of work, there isn’t much more we can hope for. I think if they wanted going to kill us, they wouldn’t go through all this nonsense. No one rents out a planet to hunt Human Whores. We’re not worth that much. I know you’re all confused and frightened by this assignment, but I promise you it’s nothing like you’ve had before. Korben may be a Sidyth but he’s a good one. He’s here because he’s not like the ones we’ve been with.”
I narrow my eyes, still looking to see if one of them, or both, is lying to us. It wouldn’t be difficult. Blythe might agree with him to save her own skin, and if there’s one thing I learned about Blythe from the others, it’s that she only thinks about herself. Some of the stories Celeste told me made the hairs on my arms stand on end. And now, suddenly, Blythe wants us all to believe in her, amd that one of the most feared races in the galaxy is nothing but good?
My eyes find the masked Sidyth, Azan, and his gaze meets mine with such a piercing look that I almost don’t catch Blythe’s next words.
“Once you get to know some of the others, I bet you’ll feel the same way I do.”
“And they will get to know you,” Korben hisses.
I can’t tear my attention away from Azan. He’s completely in the Gathering Room now, and for some reason, I want to talk to him. What does his voice sound like? – either in his language or in my translator? And though he hasn’t said anything to me directly, I can’t help but think if he wanted to hurt me – or any of us – he would have been able to do so with ease. But instead, he’s brought us water from hollowed out roots. The fugly one’s asked if we want food or if the temperature in the room is too hot. No one’s pulled us away as Korben did with Blythe. That has to count for something!
“They have been kind,” I say, exaggerating a bit, so Blythe doesn’t feel isolated. It’s not her fault the prince chose her first. “The one with the mask? He’s nice. He’s gentle. I know he’s paying special attention to me.” I look at the prince, daring him to negate me, but he merely lowers his head, shifting an uncomfortable gaze towards Azan – who of course, remains silent.
Korben doesn’t argue. I bet he knows what I’m doing, and I’ll bet he’ll appreciate it.
“See?” Blythe squeaks, getting a bit of her confidence back. “Things aren’t as dire as Alaska’s making it out to be. What did Phoebe say on the ship? Maybe, at the end of the day, all people are good or some shit? Well, maybe that’s not completely true, but until Korben – or any of the others – prove there’s a hidden agenda, I’m going to go with the flow. Let’s face it. This may be as good as it gets for us.”
Her speech sucks until she tacks on something extra.
“You’ll all have a chance to find out what I mean because Korben’s not going to force any of you to stay in this room any longer.”
“I’m not?”
I can’t help but smirk. Prince boy sounds completely befuddled.
“Can we go to the rain?” Ellis starts to sound excited again.
“I wouldn’t mind seeing the skies again,” Sloane agrees as more nervous chatter fills the room.
I feel two Sidyths looking at me, and though Blythe seems completely clueless, I think she realizes things are getting a little crowded in here and asks her prince to leave. For a moment, I don’t think there’s any way he’ll go, but he merely drops a kiss to her forehead and turns his frowning face in my direction.
“I see I was right to have him watch over you.”
My nostrils flare with annoyance. He doesn’t have to say it. Of course, he’s asked Azan to watch over me. I should have known it was more than attraction. Disappointment blossoms in my chest.
Suddenly, I want Korben to go. Azan too. All of them.
I feel strange. Let down. Hurt, but not shocked.
Maybe I’m numb because this entire flirtation thing with the masked one was all in my head the entire time.
CHAPTER TWO
York
The next few days are a blur. Every night Blythe comes to the Gathering Room and goes over what’s to be expected. There are always promises of meeting the others, and though she notices me glaring at Azan and him watching me, she seems too nervous to ask. I want to believe Blythe is more than a damsel in distress, and Korben has come to take away her problems, but it’s not that easy. At the end of the day, I think all girls want to be rescued, even when we all signed up to be intergalactic entertainers, and now there’s a chance we could all find happiness – on a planet full of Sidyths, no less. The whole thing is quite terrifying and new.
It’s different, and nothing gets me more excited than something new.
But I’m kind of upset the masked Sidyth has been forced to watch me.
Still, if we’re willing to give the Sidyths a fair shot, there’s a chance Korben could work something out for us to stay. And though I don’t like the idea of still being owned because a Sidyth prince has bought out my contract, I do like the idea of having
plenty of time to get to confront the masked Sidyth.
And today is the day we’re going to be getting to know them because they’re all standing outside of the doorway to the Gathering Room. Blythe pushes her way to the front, and when I stand on my tiptoes, I catch a glimpse of Azan standing in the back. As though feeling my presence, his attention shifts, and he finds me in the crowd, locking his wild golden eyes on mine.
This can’t be only an obligation. He looks like he feels something. I know I sure do.
“Let them come.” I wave my hand in hopes that Azan will force his way to the front, cradle me in his arms and have his way with me. Hell, I don’t know what my problem is lately, but sex with Azan is all I can think about, despite what his motivations may be for looking at me. “Back up, girls. Make room for them. Some in the back are considerably bigger than the prince, but none as big as…” I stop short when Azan shifts to draw closer, and I quickly duck back under the curtain before he makes any more moisture appear between my thighs.
Sloane and Ellis openly smirk, and Blythe looks absolutely freaked out.
Oh God, does she know? Did her prince tell her? Can Scary McScary speak and maybe he told the prince about having a thing for me? Does he have a thing for me? Can he feel anything for humans at all?
“How’s everyone?” Blythe chirps in her new-found happy mood since getting pleasured on the regular by a Sidyth prince. “Anyone want to back out?”
“Of what?” Sloane asks, shooting another annoying smirk towards me. “Freedom? No thanks.”
“A lot of these guys think they’re going to find their Chosen today.”
“And if we don’t want them, we say no, right?” Ellis says. “I’m not looking for a fuck buddy today. I want to walk around outside of this room. Go outside.”
Blythe shifts uncomfortably and looks over her shoulder. Azan’s still in the back of the group, and there’s plenty of Sidyths who are more than ready to push ahead for the possibility of a human toy of their own. It’s a little annoying. Maybe I read into the situation entirely wrong. Maybe Azan’s only watching out for me because he believes I’m dangerous. After all, Alaska said I have a reputation for trying to escape. Stupid Entlas.
“I don’t think we’re going outside today. It’s more of a meet and greet for everyone to feel each other out,” Blythe says.
Fuck me twice over. Not only does the scary Sidyth not have a thing for me but we may not even get out to see some honest to God rain? “We’re not going outside? You signed us up for some intergalactic dating service?”
“No! It’s so everyone knows everyone—” Blythe squeaks.
Oh God, she’s taking me seriously. “Chill. I’m only messing with you. They’re guys, Blythe.”
And though I’d love to keep joking around, there’s a shifting sound behind me, and when I turn, Sidyths slowly shuffle into the Gathering Room. Azan’s still in the back. I’m so embarrassed and humiliated that I might have imagined all this flirtation in my head, that I talk out loud to try and calm my nerves.
“It’s only natural for a guy with a dick to want to stick it somewhere. We all know that, and we talked about it already.” It’s a lie. I don’t talk to the others that much. There’s not much to say after all, but Blythe nods. I hope she doesn’t think we’re having secret meetings. She hustles and bustles around the room, probably trying to make sure that we haven’t forgotten her, and once she circles back to me, she looks uncomfortable.
“Alaska and Kansas are still being difficult,” she pouts. “Lacey, too.”
“I have no idea what’s up with that girl. I guess she’s too cool for school.” I turn towards the pale, black-haired beauty, who looks like something straight out of a teen drama, then back to Blythe. “I wouldn’t worry too much about Alaska and Kansas. I told them you promised they could see Arizona and Dakota soon, but I’m not sure if they believe me. I bet they’ll come around once they know the others are okay.” I lower my voice, hoping to God Blythe has the answers I need. Ugh, there’s always something else I have to ask. I’m desperately trying to keep my mind off Azan and how much it’s pissing me off that I care about why he’s watching over me. “Are the other girls okay? Phoebe and the ones at the second lair?”
“I don’t know.” She shifts uncomfortably as Korben comes up closer to her and rests a large hand on her shoulder. Korben’s not small by any means, but Azan is definitely bigger and more terrifying. I wonder what Azan’s hand would look like on my shoulder.
If he wants to touch you. Which he probably doesn’t. Maybe he wears that mask because the scent of humans makes him sick.
I suppress a snarl, hating myself for taking my anger out on Blythe. It’s not her fault she’s happy and has someone who makes her smile. “You should do that. It would ease a lot of attention in here.”
“Right.”
I want to slap myself for being such a bitch. I’m awful and terrible, and Blythe’s only trying to help. Despite my discomfort about touching others, I reach forward and cup her cheek in my hand.
“Hey, girl. Relax.” I try to smile as gently as I can, and I swear her eyes water. Oh man, this is too much. I pull my hand away before I start crying. If Azan thinks humans are gross, then he’s going to puke if I start blubbering like a baby. “I’m uh… I think I’m going to go over there for a bit.” I point towards the opening of the doorway where the last of the Sidyths are slowly filling in and finding girls to talk to.
And apparently, even Sidyths like to set up their friends with mates because before I’m against the wall, Korben’s called Ellis and the fugly one over – which is the weirdest pairing I’ve ever seen in my life. Ellis is only an inch or two away from being a certified little person, and the fugly Sidyth must be well over seven feet tall. But he doesn’t look ashamed to be near her. In fact, as they start walking around the room, the Fugly one starts to move, so he’s standing on the inside of the path. Overexcited Sidyths can’t bump into her as they move to find partners. It’s adorable.
I lean against the nearest wall, watching everyone mingling and talking in low voices. Lacey, Kansas, and Alaska continue to be difficult and stick to one corner of the room, but I guess I’m no better because I’m standing at the front. This isn’t going as well as I hoped it would be. Suddenly, I’m dying to be outside in the rain, instead of pretending I’m cool with being hooked up with a Sidyth. Maybe I am cool with it, but not with any old Sidyth.
There’s a sudden a grunt next to me, and I jerk in surprise.
Shit. It’s Azan.
My eyes widen when I realize how close he’s standing next to me, our skin almost touching. He doesn’t say anything at first, but I can tell by the look in his eyes, and the dip of his chin that he’s trying to greet me. Don’t ask me how I can tell, I just know.
“Hey,” I mutter, making sure he can see my lips move. I’m not sure if he can understand English or if he has one of those state-of-the-art translators Human Whores are given, but he nods back. And that little motion alone is enough to bring heat to my cheeks and I instinctively pinch my thighs together. It’s incredible that a man – an alien, no less – I’ve never spoken to and who I’ve convinced myself in the past twenty minutes is disgusted with me – has only bobbed his chin and I’m already horny.
The silence between us is intense, and though no one says anything to us, I can tell there are some watching. Azan remains quiet and alert.
Maybe I’ll try and break the ice.
“I don’t know if you know my name, but it’s York,” I offer in what I hope sounds like an innocent introduction. I don’t exactly want this guy to know I’m dripping from my thighs. I can smell him, so that doesn’t give me much reassurance, knowing how Sidyths use their tongues to taste the air around them. He reminds me of the woods, Christmas trees, and cinnamon with a hint of orange and lavender. He smells like everything I miss since leaving home.
When Azan doesn’t answer, I slowly lift my head to see if he’s paying attention, and once o
ur eyes meet, he nods but offers no words. I’m not sure why but I’m a little disheartened by this, but not enough so to move away from him. I can’t get over the way he looks at me. There’s no way he can be disgusted by me, right? Not with so much heat in those yellow eyes.
“And uh… you’re Azan, right?” I try next, hoping he doesn’t get bored and walk away. Sure enough, he nods again. ‘Nods’ is actually a bit of an overstatement. He lowers his jaw and lifts it. Only once. I lick my lips. “You know, I kind of got here first, but if you want me to move, if I’m bothering you in any way, I can find someplace else to stand.” I glance nervously up at him. “Would you like that?”
I expect another nod. A simple gesture to send my heart crashing into the stratosphere.
Go away, stupid human. Can’t you see I’m only trying to be polite?
I picture the words in my head, and despite receiving no answer, I’m already uncrossing my arms and starting to move. I’m tired of making a fool of myself, but no sooner than my back leaves the wall, a large hand reaches out and grips my upper arm. It’s a strong grip, but not a painful one, and I stop in my tracks.
Azan’s grabbed me. And though he doesn’t say anything else at first, his eyes say all I need to know.
Don’t go. Stay. I don’t mind you.
My shoulders relax as I stare up at him. I want him to say something. I need to know if he can speak. Whatever’s going on behind that mask is fine, so long as I know he can communicate with me. My heart flutters as Azan gently pulls me back to the wall, and I’m back to exactly where I stood a moment ago. And as quickly as he grabbed me, his hand is gone and back at his side.
I swallow hard, nervously feeling a lump building in the back of my throat.
Don’t be a pussy, York. Talk to the guy. Think of him as another sleazy client.
“Can you talk?” I turn my chin towards him.
Chin lowers. Chin lifts. Yes.
“Can you say something to me?”
His eyes blaze. He’s asking me what he wants him to say.