by Susan Hayes
3013: SCARRED
3013: THE SERIES
A 3013 Novella
Susan Hayes
The 3013 Series
Books in the 3013 Series: (in order published)
3013: MATED by Laurie Roma
3013: RENEGADE by Susan Hayes
3013: CLAIMED by Laurie Roma
3013: STOWAWAY by Susan Hayes
3013: SALVATION by Laurie Roma
3013: MENDED by Kali Argent
3013: TARGETED by Susan Hayes
3013: CHAOS by Laurie Roma
3013: ALTERED by Kali Argent
3013: FATED by Susan Hayes
3013: GENESIS by Laurie Roma
Novellas
3013: SYNERGY by Laurie Roma
3013: SCARRED by Susan Hayes
3013: ASYLUM by Kali Argent
3013: SCARRED
Laesa Fen left her home planet, Tartarus, in search of a new life. A recently freed harem slave, she is finally traveling the galaxy and visiting the places she could only dream of while she was the property of a Tarin warlord. On her own for the first time, she is finally free to pursue her art, and to discover who she is and what she wants out of life.
Helios brothers, Rhen and Sabar Torven, are merchants with a knack for finding new markets. The twins came to Alliance Station: X21 with hopes of expanding their business, but once they meet Laesa, their plans change. Deals come and go, but a female like Laesa comes along once in a lifetime, and they’re not leaving the station without her at their side.
Can Rhen and Sabar help Laesa find the closure she needs to move on with her life, or will she let the scars of her past deny her the happiness they know she deserves?
An Erotic Romance Novella.
3013: SCARRED by Susan Hayes
Copyright © 2016 Susan Hayes
Kindle Edition
First E-book Publication: March 2016
Cover design bySW Graphic Designs
Published by Black Scroll Publications
ISBN: 978-0-9940495-9-9
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. It is fiction so facts and events may not be accurate except to the current world the book takes place in.
DEDICATION
This story is dedicated to everyone who bears the scars of the past on their skin or in their hearts. Wear them with pride. They are signs of strength and reminders of what you have already survived.
And as always, my thanks go to my parents for believing in me, and to Karen, for her unwavering friendship, support, and a decade’s worth of laughter.
PROLOGUE
The year is 3013.
Earth barely survived the Alien Wars that have ravaged the planet, and an unknown virus had nearly wiped out the entire population. On the brink of extinction, humans struggle to rebuild their civilization, although nothing would ever bring back what once was.
Enforcing martial law, a new age of mankind is born, where warriors rule and women are the ultimate prize. Only the elite earn breeding rights and are granted leave to claim a woman in pairs. Men dream of the day that they will be able to claim a woman to love, but for those chosen being claimed means the end of their freedom and a beginning to a lifelong bond with two strangers. The warriors may have the choice, but the battle for their woman's heart has only begun…
CHAPTER ONE
Laesa Fen hummed to herself as her brush flew across the canvas. She was trying to capture one of her childhood memories—watching one of Tartarus’ many storms roll in from beyond the mountains that surrounded her family home. She could still recall the way the black clouds would blot out the dark red sky as the rumble of thunder grew louder with the passing seconds. She had spent hours watching the storms rage outside her bedroom window as a girl. She’d loved the way the red lightning danced and flashed overhead. The brilliant explosions of light and color and the constant roiling motion of the clouds had held her rapt for hours.
Even as a girl she’d been fascinated by light and colors. Her parents had always known she’d be an artist one day. They’d supported and encouraged her every day of their lives. Lives that were cut short when a Lord broke the treaty with his neighbor and invaded the valley Laesa and her family called home.
Their deaths had happened more than a year ago, now. Enough time had passed that the memories of that night no longer tore at her soul, but Laesa doubted she would ever be able to think of her parents without a pang of grief and loss. Time healed all wounds, but the scars left behind were a permanent reminder of what she’d survived, and what she’d lost.
The dark memories killed her creativity, and left her staring at the canvas. She set down her brush with reluctance, but she knew better than to force herself to continue when her mind wasn’t on her work. The painting would suffer for it. Besides, her shoulders ached, and she’d been sitting still so long parts of her lower body had gone completely numb. It was time for a break.
She checked the time and winced. She’d sat down to paint almost five hours ago. Time had gotten away from her again. She needed to get out of her chair, stretch, and find something to eat. At least obtaining sustenance would not be difficult. The shopping area of the newly established Alliance Station: X21 was far from full, but there were several food vendors set up to provide meals to the ones who lived and worked onboard.
Her favorite restaurant of all happened to be located right next door to her temporary gallery and workspace. She’d gotten permission from the station’s Commander, Olivia Jacobson, to unofficially occupy a vacant store on a short term basis. It gave her a place to store her art supplies, and she’d managed to create a small but well-lit studio at the back. She’d come here to paint a single mural on the wall of a friend’s new business, but others had seen her work and hired her to do various projects, including a few commissions and portraits.
On the way out, she stopped to rearrange the paintings she had on display. Landscapes mostly, images of Tartarus, her home world. She hadn’t expected people to be so intrigued by the planet she’d left behind. To Laesa, it was simply home, with nothing extraordinary about it.
To others though, it was a place of legend. After years of being nearly inaccessible to off-worlders, Tartarus had become a mystery, a place only a few had ever visited. Her paintings were the first images many of her visitors had seen of her planet, and their curiosity drew them in. It was ironic that she’d left Tartarus months ago in order to escape her past only to sell paintings of her home world in order to afford her new life.
The universe was not without a sense of humor.
She walked to the doorway and took a moment to enjoy the view. The station was so new that everything still gleamed. Alliance Station: X21 was primarily populated by Alliance personnel at the moment, but there were Krytos on the station, too. They made their home in Asylum, the bar and Krytos sanctuary on the far side of the shopping area. She could see a pair of Krytos males outside the sanctuary doors at that moment and recognized them as Zade and Axton, the owners of Asylum. While she’d never actually been introduced to the brothers, they were impossible to miss with their massive size and powerful presence.
Laesa liked the Krytos she’d met so far, though they’d frightened her at first because they reminded her of Tarin males. As she’d gotten to know them, she’d come to understand that the Krytos were very different from the males of her species. They wer
e both fierce warrior-races, but that was where the similarities ended. Krytos males generally treated their females as equals, while many Tarin males considered the females of their species to be weak and inconsequential outside the bedchamber.
After spending several nightmarish months as a harem slave owned by a Tarin warlord, Laesa was painfully aware of how little regard some males had for the females under their care. Recently change had come to Tartarus, the result of a civil war that had finally put an end to the old ways. Because of that war, females who had been enslaved were now free. Many Tarin females had chosen to leave their home world and seek a new, better life for themselves elsewhere, just as Laesa had done.
“Hey, Laesa. I was about to come in and drag you next door for something to eat,” a cheerful voice announced.
Laesa turned and smiled down at her human friend, Sophie. “Good day, Sophie. There is no need for you to drag me anywhere. I was on my way to your restaurant to buy something to eat. Not that you could have truly dragged me anywhere. I am far too big for you to do that.”
The petite blonde shrugged her shoulders. “You have a point there. You’re so tall…and all those curves. There was a time I would have been jealous of you, you know. You’re gorgeous.”
“As are you, Sophie. An opinion I know your bonded would agree with. One day, I am going to get you to sit for me so I can paint your portrait. Then you will see what I see when I look at you.”
Sophie started to shake her head in refusal, then stopped. “Do you think Jake and Dan would like that? I mean, if you did it, and I gave it to them as a gift? Our anniversary is coming up next month and I have no idea what to give them.” She lifted a hand to her face, touching the star marking beside her eye. “Could you paint me without this?”
Laesa nodded. “I believe they would like that, yes. I would be honored to create such a gift for you. And I could leave your marking off if you wish me to. You’re lovely with or without it, my friend.” Laesa knew the star tattoo Sophie wore bothered her. It was a stark, permanent reminder that Sophie was infertile. Among the Alliance’s female population, the mark was common, though in Sophie’s case it had not prevented her from being claimed by a pair of Alliance elites who loved their chosen without reservation.
Sophie beamed with delight, her emotional response strong enough to make her personal energy field surge for a moment. Like all Tarins, Laesa could sense a little of an individual’s energy. As an artist, she translated what she sensed into light and colors, and worked them into her portraits, imbuing her paintings with traces of her subject’s energy. When she looked at Sophie, she could sometimes see hints of the female’s warmth and kindness. It would be a pleasure to be able to show Sophie that part of herself.
“We’ll talk details later, but thank you! And not a word to the guys, okay? I’m going to surprise them.”
Laesa nodded. “They will not hear of this from me. You have my word.”
Sophie threw her arms around Laesa and hugged her with surprising strength considering her size. “Thank you so much! Oh, I’m so excited. I have to pick out something to wear. Maybe that dress they like, the blue one. And my hair, what am I going to do with my hair?”
Laesa returned her friend’s hug and laughed. Sophie’s exuberance was contagious, and Laesa was happy to have the female’s friendship. “You know you should wear it down. I have heard them say many times that they like it that way.”
“So true. They really are opinionated, aren’t they? It’s a good thing I love them, or I’d have throttled them by now. C’mon, I came over here because I know you must be starving. I set aside some of my lasagna for you. I know that’s your favorite.”
“You are an excellent cook, Sophie. I like everything you prepare, but it is possible that lasagna is my favorite. It reminds me of a dish my mother used to make.”
Sophie perked up, her eyes alight with interest. “Is that so? Do you know how to make it? I could always use a new recipe, and so far, I don’t have any Tarin dishes on the menu.”
“I would be happy to tell you how to make it, but if you want to prepare Tarin food, you are going to need more spices. I’ll prepare a list for you while I eat.”
“No, you won’t. You’re going to eat and relax. You work too hard, Laesa. You’ve been looking tired lately. Are you sleeping enough?”
Laesa activated a program on her wrist unit that would alert her if anyone entered her workspace. The device been a gift from Sophie and her bonded. They’d presented it to her not long after they’d become friends. Laesa cherished it, as both a powerful piece of technology and as a token of friendship from her first non-Tarin friend.
After securing the shop, she let herself be led into Sophie’s café as her friend continued to express her concern about Laesa’s well-being.
The truth was that no amount of sleep would solve her tiredness. Laesa knew what the problem was, but she wasn’t ready to address it yet. Tarins ate and drank like other beings, but to remain strong and healthy, they needed to consume energy, as well. Usually, they fed off the energy of a sexual release. They could feed off of bloodlust and battle frenzy as well, but Laesa was no warrior. She’d been raised to be an artist, and the females of her race were no longer trained to fight the way they’d once been.
That left her with only one way to feed, and after her time as a harem slave, she was reluctant to do so. In fact, she had postponed her next feeding for longer than she should have. Soon, she would have to give in to her body’s demands and choose a partner to feed from. At least she could now choose who she laid with.
It was a freedom she would never take for granted again.
* * * *
Rhen Torven walked half a pace in front of his twin brother, Sabar, as they made their way across the station’s shopping area. They’d finalized the last few details required to officially lease space in the brand new station’s cargo bays, and some office space to go with it. It had taken a few favors, all their charm, and some good luck, but they’d managed to get the space they needed despite the Alliance’s concerns about having civilian businesses onboard what was technically a military base. At least, it was for now.
While the station was not a hub of commerce yet, they wanted to establish an early presence in the area. One day, relations between the Alliance and the newly discovered Xenon race would improve enough that trade would begin. When that day came, they would be ready.
This new expansion was a milestone accomplishment for their trading company. The two of them had started out with nothing but a few crates of goods from their home planet of Helix, and a lot of determination. After years of work and more than a little good fortune, they had a booming business buying and selling goods from a variety of worlds and cultures, along with a small fleet of ships dedicated to transporting their product anywhere it needed to go.
Life was good, and it was time to do a little celebrating.
“We really did it,” Sabar said, grinning.
“We really did. Now we need to organize the business side of things. Set up a small office, bring in a manager to live here and oversee things. You sure you don’t want to stay here and run it yourself?” Rhen asked.
“And escape having you as my roommate? Believe me, I considered it.” Sabar said with a smirk.
“I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten. Remind me again which one of us left a half-eaten meal in their quarters so long it set off the bio-hazard warning?” Rhen retorted.
His brother merely glowered at him. “Stupid thing malfunctioned. A little mold never killed anyone.”
“Comments like that are why I’m grateful we have a chef and a top of the line food console onboard to save me from your cooking. And while we’re here, we’ve got other options, too.” Rhen gestured around them.
“Mhmm. Plenty of choices in food, drink, and pretty females. So many lovely creatures who have yet to have the pleasure of my company,” Sabar said.
“The poor, deprived things,” Rhen replied with droll humor.
The truth was that neither of them had much time for socializing outside of work. Torven Traders had been the focus of both their lives for years now. Despite the fact they had finally reached a point where they could leave more of the day-to-day decisions to their highly talented staff, neither brother had slowed down much. It wasn’t in their nature.
In the few days they’d been on the station, neither of them had spent much time in the shopping area. There had been too many other things to do. They’d passed through it, but this was the first time Rhen had taken the time to look around. The stores were mostly vacant spaces, but there were a few shops selling a variety of goods and services, and he made a mental note to track down a list of vendors. Each and every one of them were potential clients, and he had no intention of letting his competitors get to them first. They’d only learned about the Xenon and X21’s new destination by sheer luck and a few well-placed connections. It gave them an advantage Rhen wouldn’t squander.
A flash of red caught his eye, and he turned to get a better look. Paintings? He pointed out the small display of artwork to his brother. “Do you see what I see, brother? I think those landscapes are of Tartarus.”
“Really?” Sabar turned to look in the direction Rhen was pointing. “You might be right. Never seen anything like that before.”
“Me either. I think we should delay our celebratory drink to take a closer look. Agreed?”
Sabar nodded. “Agreed. I know better than to argue with your hunches, even though you know as much about art as I do about astronavigation.”
Rhen shrugged. “I don’t need to know art. If it looks good up close, and the artist is actually Tarin and not merely painting copies of existing images, then we’ll have no trouble finding buyers.”