by Regine Abel
She frowned. “That’s very generous of you, but wouldn’t that inconvenience Jhola? I’m sure she has plenty of other tasks to do.”
“I’ve yet to meet a female who wouldn’t choose shopping over chores,” I said flatly.
“Okay. But I could also shop online,” she said, looking hopeful.
I nodded. “You could. Or you could tell me why you’re afraid to be seen in Capital District, who is after you, and what trouble you’re in.”
She seemed to wilt against her chair. She grabbed a strand of her silken hair and began torturing it with both hands while biting her lips. A sense of déjà vu washed over me that almost softened my resolve. But I wouldn’t be doing either of us any favors by delaying this conversation.
“Y–Yeah… I–I guess I should, huh?” Her voice trembled.
“You’re my mate, Amalia,” I said gently. “For this to work, there can be no secrets between us. If you’re in danger, I cannot protect you when I don’t know what it is.”
“But, what if… What if you think less of me?” she whispered, shoulders slumping.
I untangled her fingers from her hair and held her hands in mine.
“I could never think less of you, Falihna. In the past twenty-four hours, you’ve given me more emotionally and psychologically than anyone else has in the last twenty years. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you. As per our laws, I’m yours until the day I die. It’s my duty to protect you, provide for you and see to your happiness. Whatever happened in your past, whatever you did or were forced to do belongs in the past. Our lives begin here and now. But if your past threatens the future we’re building, I must know so we can fix it. I need you to trust that I’ll always stand by you.”
With a shuddering breath, she nodded. I laced my fingers with hers and waited for her to begin.
“Veredia started dying over a century ago following a violent solar storm and its radioactive fallout. It was fatal to our males. They died by the millions. Those that survived were either sterile or had damaged seeds. There were a lot of still births afterwards. All newborn males died and only ten percent of newborn females survived. Ninety years after the disaster, our last male died. Veredian females were considered beautiful in the Western Quadrant. That we all possess a psi ability made us even more appealing.”
Wait, what? Psi ability?
She stared at me, waiting for my reaction. I nodded, encouraging her to continue, keeping my expression neutral.
“With our army decimated and our males gone, we were ripe for the picking. Slavers and flesh traders swarmed Veredia. My people fought back but were overrun.”
I had heard of the natural disaster that annihilated Veredia. But we’d been told both males and females were barren due to the radiation, thus the death of their race. This was the first I heard of slavers.
“Sixty-one years ago, during the war that destroyed Veredia, my Nana Maheva was captured along with dozens of other Veredians by a young Guldan slaver named Gruuk. She was six years old. Depending on their abilities, the females were sold to private buyers or sent to one of Gruuk’s strongholds for personal use, or for breeding. My Nana was a rare exception. She’s a powerful healer. With a touch, she can mend any bruises, open wounds and broken bones. It comes in handy in Gruuk’s line of work. So he kept her aboard his ship, The Revenant.”
I knew where this was headed and I forced myself to bury the anger that stirred deep within. A large part of my military career had been devoted to fighting the slavers and flesh traders who threatened our weaker allies. To think that my mate had lived through such horror…
“Through his breeding program, Gruuk discovered that mating us with Korletheans yielded the most powerful abilities in his hybrids. With these forced matings, my Nana had four daughters. My mother was first. Once she turned twenty-two, Mom was bred by another Korlethean, giving birth to me. Before I escaped yesterday, I found out that Gruuk had captured a Korlethean for me.”
It took every ounce of control I had not to roar with rage. Pity for her family, disgust at Gruuk’s heartlessness and anger all warred within me. I would find this Gruuk and tear him limb from limb. But I had to rein in my emotions for her sake. Her grip had tightened. I ran my thumbs gently along the side of hers, and she relaxed the tension in her fingers, still interlaced with mine.
“I was born and raised on The Revenant. Like my Nana, I’m useful to Gruuk. I’m a hacker. With a touch, I can use and control any technology accessible via uplink or software. He used me for cyber sabotage and infiltration missions to acquire sensitive data, valuable items or cover his tracks when he kidnapped females to enslave them.”
Of all the scenarios I had imagined, this wasn’t one of them. How dare he use such a sweet female like that – or any female for that matter? Once I got my hands on him – and I would – I was going to hurt him in unspeakable ways. She peered at me warily, no doubt fearing she’d find condemnation in my eyes.
“You were exploited by a monster, Falihna. Forced to do things you never would have otherwise. Do not blame yourself for the crimes of another.”
“But hundreds of females were enslaved because of me!” Her voice was thick with shame and sorrow. “Without me, they’d be free and enjoying normal lives.”
I gave her hands a gentle squeeze. “Without you, they would still have been captured. That vermin would have found another way to achieve his goal, like he did before you. Do not blame yourself, Amalia. I certainly don’t.”
Her lips quivered as she looked at me. She unexpectedly launched herself at me, burying her face in my neck. My arms closed around her, every protective instinct within me surging to the surface.
“I escaped once when I was fifteen, but was recaptured,” Amalia said with a quivering voice. “Gruuk never harmed me physically. For my punishment, he forced me to watch his crew torture and rape the other female captives. Then Nana had to heal them. He promised if I ever ran again, he would torture the captives from the moment they noticed my disappearance. And once I was recaptured, he would continue torturing them for double the time I was gone.”
That any male could be so monstrous defied any logic. Controlling my breathing was the only thing keeping my calm facade from cracking. I caressed her hair, hoping to soothe her. She snuggled deeper into me. My heart broke.
“On Tuesday, we delivered the last three captives here on Xelix Prime. This was the first time in seven years there would be no captive left for Gruuk to use against me. My Nana and I were supposed to escape together, but Gruuk needed her help at the last minute. I was forced to leave without her. With the Fastening, I hoped to find a warrior who would need me, protect me. Maybe he would even help me free my Nana and the other females. I escaped when they were unloading, and here we are.”
Cradling her bronze face in my hands, I held her gaze.
“Yes, here we are. You didn’t just find a warrior, you found the highest-ranking officer of the Xelixian army. I won’t just protect you, I will annihilate anyone who dares to threaten you. We will find and set free your Nana, your aunts, and every other slave and Veredian female we can. As for that piece of shit Gruuk, I will scour the galaxy to find him. I’ll obliterate every single one of his strongholds and then I will kill him with my own hands. This, I swear to you, Amalia.”
She cupped my face with soft, shaky hands. “I’m so glad I chose you,” she said, her lips quivering around a watery smile.
“And I thank the Goddess you chose me, Falihna. Your time of sorrow is over.”
CHAPTER 8
Lhor
It was late morning when Khel barged into my office, fuming. He barked at me that we needed to talk right now and stormed out, leaving the door wide open for me to follow. Stunned, I first thought he’d received another com from Zhul Dervhen with some inane demand that Khel relinquishes the estate for ‘a fair price.’ But Zhul would know that Khel was now mated since his cousin Whil had participated in the Fastening yesterday.
Then it struck me;
Amalia. Had things already gone sideways? Yet, there was obvious chemistry between them. Hastening after him, I tried to block the memory of her standing nervously before us in the Fastening Hall. She had come so close to choosing me. At the last minute, something tipped the balance in favor of Khel. It crushed me. I couldn’t remember the last time a non-related female looked at me like a male and not a monster. When our eyes connected, it had felt like instant recognition, like she was truly seeing me.
I felt ashamed of my covetous thoughts towards Amalia. I had dreamt of this day for Khel from the moment his Taint showed. This was the best possible outcome. But still, it hurt.
Khel didn’t know this, but the same way he could sense my presence within a certain range, I could feel his emotions if he was nearby, which in turn enhanced mine. During the Selection, when Amalia had stepped away from him to look at me, I’d felt his devastation, jealousy, and shame that he would feel that way. If he only knew that my emotions had mirrored his when she turned away from me and back to him.
I could influence Khel’s emotions, both unintentionally and deliberately. In our youth, I’d often been bullied for being scrawny and sickly. Khel’s anger, when coming to my defense, was formidable. I soothed him to prevent him from doing irreversible damage. Khel would have gotten in serious trouble and I couldn’t allow that.
My steps faltered when I realized we were heading for Khel’s temporary HQ. What in Gharah’s name did we have to discuss that involved the First Division? After his parents’ death four months ago, Khel built barracks, training grounds and a situation room on the property so he could continue his military duties while still handling his familial duties. Since then, the temporary facilities had begun to turn into more of a permanent compound.
While I was a proficient fighter, I had never joined the military; it didn’t appeal to me. Law and business were my passion so I ran the ryspak orchards and the estate for Khel. I never came here. What was going on?
I’d caught up with him by the time he reached the compound’s main entrance. His Elite Squad watched our approach while going about their business. They were as curious as I was, but none would question Khel. They trusted him implicitly. He ordered one of his warriors to tell Ghan, his first officer, to join us in the Situation Room. Khel walked into the room and slammed the door behind me. He stomped to the large tinted windows that overlooked the training grounds where his squad sparred. I hadn’t seen him this agitated since his parents’ passing.
“Is everything alright, Khel?” I asked cautiously.
“No!”
“Something wrong with Amalia?”
“Yes! I mean, no.” Khel rubbed his hands over his face.
“I’m… confused.”
“Of course you are. I’m sorry,” he sighed. “Everything is fine between Amalia and me. But everything isn’t okay with Amalia. I’ll tell you everything once Ghan gets here. I want blood, brother. Lots of it. And I’ll need help from both of you to get this done.”
I was relieved to hear things were good between them.
Liar.
Khel deserved to finally have a bit of happiness.
And I don’t?
Khel was Dhak Praghan’s first born son. The true heir to the family’s orchard and estate.
Which he didn’t give two shits about, but I did.
That was a lie. Khel did care about the orchard, just not for managing a business. I was being petty in my jealousy. I glanced around the Situation Room. The last time I came here, it was still under construction. Now, a massive conference table occupied the center of the rectangular room with enough seating for twenty people. Large vidscreens covered the walls, except where tinted windows overlooked the training grounds. A sleek console with various blinking controls and holographic interface rested against a side wall.
There was a stiff knock on the door, followed by Ghan’s entrance. He was a beast; tall, wide, thick, and all muscles. Ghan was fearsome and not just because of his Taint. A vicious scar ran from the middle of his forehead, over the bridge of his nose, and to the side of his jaw, making his hard face even harsher. It was a miracle he hadn’t lost his eye, or life, when he barely dodged the blade meant to behead him. He became a legend among his peers when he disarmed and killed his would-be assassin before slaughtering another dozen enemies as if his face wasn’t split open and pissing blood everywhere.
You would expect that behemoth to lumber about, but his gait was graceful, measured and lethal. He could sneak up on a target so quietly, they’d only notice his presence the moment his blade slit their throat.
Ghan acknowledged me with a nod, then faced Khel. “General?”
“At ease, Ghan.” Khel waved dismissively. “No titles. Right now, I need my friend, not my first officer. Though I can use the skills of both.”
“Alright. What’s going on?”
“Sit down,” Khel said.
Ghan and I exchanged a look, then complied. Khel proceeded to relay the story Amalia had shared with him during breakfast. I now understood his fury. Ghan remained impassive, the twitching near his temple the only indication of the simmering rage beneath his cool façade. Xelixian males were protective of females. It was ingrained in us from childhood. Of course, we knew criminals and slavery existed, but Khel’s own mate being a victim took it to another level. And to top it all, a slave house thrived in our very own district, unbeknownst to us.
“I need all the information possible about Gruuk and his ship,” Khel said. “If he’s still docked – which is doubtful – when he left, his destination, how long he’s been doing business on Xelix Prime and who his business contacts are, both here and off-planet.”
“Word of your mating has already spread, Khel,” I cautioned. “Gruuk must know Amalia is under the protection of the Xelixian General, whom he cannot buy. He’ll hide until the situation is rectified. You also need to be careful about overstepping your jurisdiction or being perceived as using the military for your personal vendetta.”
“It is my fucking jurisdiction!” Khel struck the table with his fist. He stood up, pacing the room. “It fell under my jurisdiction the minute slaves were smuggled onto Xelix Prime. A fucking blood house in my backyard, right under my fucking nose. And it’s been going on for years! How in the Goddess’ name did we not know about this?”
I projected my calm, soothing emotions onto Khel. His breathing returned to normal and he blinked, as if snapping out of a daze. At the edge of my vision, I saw Ghan turn to face me. I looked at him and his eyes narrowed. He couldn’t know for sure, but I believed he suspected my hand in Khel’s emotion. Ghan was far too perceptive for his own good.
“Hunting down Gruuk is merely me putting an end to a slaver’s cartel,” Khel said in a more controlled voice. “That it also happens to avenge my mate is an added bonus. There have always been rumors of illegal sexual slavery on Xelix Prime, but never of blood slavery.”
“It’s still a fine line, Khel, but I’ll look into it. I’ll need to speak with Amalia,” I said with a conciliatory tone. “We need specific details about the dock she landed on. Some noble houses have exclusive transport contracts granting them almost full control over secondary docking bays. We identify the dock, we pin down the likely culprit.”
“I’ll arrange for you to speak with Amalia,” Khel agreed with a stiff nod. “She’ll do whatever it takes to take down Gruuk. Her great mother, the only surviving family she knows, is still his prisoner. And there are also Gruuk’s breeding facilities and slaveholding compounds.”
I smiled. “Actually, that’s your justification. Gruuk’s strongholds grant you the legitimacy you need to make this a military operation. It’s no longer an investigation into a local crime, but a mission to dismantle an interplanetary slaver’s ring.”
“I’m afraid we have a bigger problem,” Ghan said. “I suspect Lhor is right about a noble being involved. If Amalia exposes him, it’s not only his house that falls, the entire network supporting Gruuk will collapse.”
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“That means a lot of nobles and criminal organizations will want her dead,” I said with dread-filled understanding.
Khel clenched his jaw. “They won’t get anywhere near her.”
“You have a lot of enemies, Khel,” Ghan reminded. “Two days ago, your detractors were calculating the profits they’d make once they appropriated your lands. All this, thanks to your family’s overly convenient ‘accident.’ Then yesterday, your unexpected mating ruined those plans. You’re not thirty yet. If something were to happen to your mate before then, it would solve a lot of people’s problems.”
“You think those coveting my lands might join forces with the slavers to eliminate my mate?”
“Not exactly,” Ghan said. “While that’s a remote possibility, I think it’s more likely that combined, their independent actions against her will put a significant amount of pressure on us while creating additional opportunities for them.”
Khel and I nodded gravely at this statement and a tension-filled silence settled over the room, as we each pondered our next course of action.
Khel sighed. “Amalia has nothing but the clothes she wore when she arrived here. We agreed it’s more prudent for now to order whatever she needs online. But I won’t have her be a prisoner in her own home because of those sons of Gharah. Until we have a better assessment of the situation, I want two warriors with her at all times.
“Khel, I’m sorry but in light of these revelations, now as your First Officer, there’s a question I must ask.”
“Yes?” Khel asked, frowning.
“The odds of a Tainted being chosen during the Fastening are slim,” Ghan said cautiously. “Yet you, a severely Tainted male, who is also the highest ranking officer on Xelix Prime, was chosen by a Pearl. She ignored all the Primes and Norms, and can hack undetected into any of our most secured systems. It begs the question, is she truly an escaped victim or is she a mole?”