What valour was there in this?
What strength?
He was weak and shameful. It was little wonder that he hated himself and the things that he had done. They haunted his sleep, pervading his dreams. Every face of those that he had helped sell into a life of hell had stayed with him, lived in him.
The thought of seeing Miali's face amongst them was too much to bear. He couldn't live with the idea that he had traded her life for his sisters. She wasn't a stranger to him. No stranger could make him feel this way.
Staring into her dark eyes, he could see how easily life as a slave would break her. The thought of Sasue touching her had frightened her half to death. How would she survive the touch of a master?
"I only wanted to save my sisters,” he whispered and hung his head forwards. His eyes unfocused. “I have no right to call myself Minervan."
Burying his face in his hands, he asked Arkus for forgiveness, strength and guidance. He couldn't allow them to send Miali to her death but he couldn't sacrifice his sisters either. He had to find a way to save them all.
"Do you know where your sisters are?” Miali said, her voice smooth and coaxing.
Kosen looked up at her, into her eyes, and wondered how she could bring herself to look at him after what he had done to her. He should have saved her just as he had wanted to back on her ship.
The sight of her sleeping, so unaware of her fate, had made him consider moving her to one of the escape capsules and setting her free. He wished that he could set her free now, but he couldn't think of a way. If she escaped, Nostra would know that it had been his doing. Nostra would kill him. His sisters would never be saved.
"I know,” he said, thinking about the last time that he had seen them. “I have been to their master's home on Minerva Seven. I have watched them but couldn't find the strength to save them."
A hint of sympathy touched her expression, shining in her eyes. “A Minervan bought Minervan women for slaves?"
He nodded.
"What is the universe coming to?” she said on a sigh and then tugged at her wrists. “Will you help me?"
"I cannot,” he said. “And you should not think about trying to break those bonds. Only Nostra can open them."
"I see."
She had changed. Her fear was gone. In front of him now was a woman who was in command, one raised to be strong and get things done. Looking at her now, he could see why she was an ambassador for Lyra. Few males would stand in her way.
"How long until we arrive at the markets?"
"If they don't discover from our contact that you're royalty, then we will reach the open auctions in two days."
"And if they do?"
"Tomorrow, and it will be the black market."
Her face paled. “You mentioned a contact."
Kosen stood when the door behind him opened and Nostra walked in. When their contact stepped out from behind Nostra, Kosen turned to look at Miali. Her dark eyes were wide with shock and her skin was the colour of stars.
Tears shone in her eyes.
Her mouth opened and a single word left her lips.
"No."
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Chapter 5
Miali stared at the man who was evidently Nostra's contact. The only other survivor of her ship.
"Eryc?” she said and shook her head in disbelief. It couldn't be true. They were friends. She had known him since they were both children. She had been falling for him. She had cried when she had thought that he was dead.
He couldn't have sold her into slavery.
Anger overcame her initial disbelief and she lunged forwards, growling with effort as she tried to get her wrists free so she could attack the man who had betrayed her. The metal cuffs bit into her wrists but she didn't feel any pain. She only felt intense anger. Hatred.
"Restrain her, Kosen, before she damages herself,” Nostra ordered in Minervan and the younger Minervan moved towards her.
Miali fought him as his hands caught her upper arms and then stilled when his chest pressed against hers.
"You'll only hurt yourself,” Kosen whispered in Lyran and she looked at him. He was incredibly close, his mouth barely inches from hers. A smile touched those lips, sending a flush of heat through her. Her hair threatened to rise but he smoothed it down, surprising her, and acted as though he was checking her neck. He gathered her hair and twirled it into a knot at the back of her head, restraining it. “Not a word."
She dipped her chin and then looked past him to Nostra and Eryc.
"She isn't eating,” Nostra said in Minervan as he crossed the room and picked up the discarded protein pack.
He threw it at Kosen, hitting him in the face.
"You had one order. Make her eat. If she doesn't eat and her price goes down, it comes out of your share!"
Miali leaned away when Nostra approached her. Instinct made her turn towards Kosen and hide her face. Hope bloomed in her chest. If Nostra tried anything, would Kosen protect her?
She had come to realise something.
She wasn't the only one feeling something. Kosen felt something for her too. If she could only be alone with him again, she was sure that she could convince him to help her. It was terrible to use his attraction against him, but if that was what it took to escape a life of slavery, then that was what she was willing to do.
A quiet voice at the back of her mind said that it wouldn't be so bad. If he touched her, she would enjoy it. There was no denying that. Her whole body responded whenever his skin grazed hers or their eyes met and his were holding a hint of desire.
"I will,” Kosen said, so close to her face that his warm breath washed her skin. Her body heated with the feel of it. “I returned here to see to it that she ate."
"Then see she does.” Nostra bent to pick up the protein pack.
Miali lurched forwards, managing to hit Nostra in the head with her hipbone. He growled and his fist slammed into her stomach, knocking the breath from her and sending a shockwave of pain ripping through her body.
She collapsed forwards as much as she could, her hands jamming into the tight cuffs and the metal collar scraping her jaw. Kosen's hands shifted to under her arms and he lifted her, supporting her body so the restraints no longer bit into her skin. Why was he doing this for her? Nostra would surely notice that Kosen's actions went beyond stopping her from damaging herself.
Nostra tossed the pack onto the crate that Kosen had moved to be in front of her. He paused and looked over his shoulder.
"And Kosen?"
"Yes, Captain?"
"If you touch Sasue again—"
"He was trying to get to her.” Kosen interjected and Nostra's eyes darkened. Miali shrank back, afraid that the two men would fight. Pure anger twisted Kosen's handsome face, turning it dark. “If he tries to break this door down again, I will see to it that he won't be fit to leave sickbay let alone touch a female."
Nostra held his gaze and Miali expected him to put Kosen in his place. Surprise claimed her when Nostra grinned, turning him even uglier as his scars pulled against his skin and his sharp teeth were revealed, and then laughed and clapped a hand down heavily on Kosen's shoulder.
"I am seeing a new side to you, Kosen, one which I think I prefer. Make sure she eats. We must be ready for market tomorrow."
Kosen tensed at the same time as her.
"Tomorrow?” he said. His expression betrayed none of the shock that she knew he must have been feeling.
"Eryc has informed me of something he had neglected to mention before."
"Now, Nostra. I was not sure until I intercepted a contact she sent out a few days past.” Eryc smiled at Nostra in a winsome way. Miali struggled again, filled with a dark urge to hit him. Kosen had a knife. If she could get out of the restraints and get hold of it, she could kill Eryc. Her father and brothers had trained her well.
Kosen's body pressed against hers. She stilled when she realised that their hips were touching and his thigh was between h
ers.
Her cheeks flushed when he moved and his thigh brushed the apex of her legs.
She hoped that the knot in her hair was holding because right now it felt as though she was flying.
"Take care of our little princess,” Nostra said as the door behind him opened.
Her heart sunk into her stomach.
Eryc shot her a wide smile and winked before he walked out of the door. She watched Nostra leave, the door close, and then looked at Kosen.
They were going to sell her on the black market. Panic rapidly filled every inch of her and she did the only thing that she could think of to convince Kosen.
She kissed him.
Before he could move away to lock the door, she clumsily pressed her mouth against his and kissed him. Inexperience made fear pound in her heart. She was still opening and closing her mouth, gaping like a Gavaelian carp, after he had backed off a step.
Miali slowly opened one eye and then the other, dying inside when she saw that Kosen looked as though she had slapped him. His eyes were wide but their black irises held anger. Not quite the reaction that she had expected.
Perhaps she should have taken her brothers up on their offer to get her a couple of men from Lyra Six, the pleasure planet, for her coming of age present.
Maybe then she wouldn't have felt like such an idiot right now and Kosen would have been putty in her hands.
"I'm sorry.” She looked down at her feet but could only see her cleavage. Her heart was pounding so hard that she could see it beating. A blush of shame coloured her cheeks and she felt as though she was red from head to toe.
What kind of romantic idiot was she that she thought she could sway him with a kiss?
Especially a kiss as pathetic as that one.
He was probably going to tell her how much more she would be worth now that she had proven herself an innocent and was a princess to boot.
She tensed when his hand came into view. He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing across it. Her cheek was damp. She had been crying. The galaxy had started to look a little blurred. She blinked and sent the tears running down to her jaw. His thumb continued to lightly caress her face as he raised her head. She looked out of the corner of her eye at the wall, too embarrassed to look at him.
"I'll help you,” Kosen said and her gaze shifted to meet his. “Although I'm not offering because you kissed me. Just so we're straight."
"Oh,” she said and bit her lip. Why did he have to add that? For a moment, she had thought that perhaps her kiss hadn't been that bad.
"Although...” He dipped his head and her eyes went wide when his lips grazed hers in a light kiss. Her heart thumped so hard that she was sure he would be able to feel it against his chest.
His hand held her cheek as his other claimed her waist. Her eyes slipped shut when he tilted his head and deepened the kiss, his tongue brushing her lips. She tentatively brought hers to meet it and a jolt ran through her when they touched. A moment later, she melted into him, no longer aware of their surroundings.
She was only aware of this kiss, of the feel of his body against hers and the incredible warmth that was filling every inch of her as their tongues stroked one another, their mouths fused as though they were one.
His lips left hers and she stayed there, her head tilted, eyebrows raised, eyes closed and mouth open.
Her breath left her in a sigh.
That was definitely a better kiss than the one she had given him.
"Kosen,” she said and opened her eyes. He smiled at her, revealing sharp pointed teeth that left her wondering how she hadn't cut herself when they had been kissing. “I'm royalty. Whatever money you need to gain your sisters’ freedom, I can give you it, in exchange for my own."
He nodded, as though he had already figured out what she had been about to offer him earlier.
"I can't get you out of here though,” he said.
She looked at the restraints and remembered what he had said.
Only Nostra could open the cuffs.
"When?” Miali said, hoping that he wasn't about to change his mind. He looked worried, as afraid as she felt, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Her brothers had that look sometimes, and her father. Normally it was before they did something ridiculously dangerous and heroic.
"Tomorrow."
"At the market?"
He nodded.
He was going to wait until the market to set her free. But surely Nostra, Eryc and the others would be there to guard her. She wouldn't be alone with Kosen. How was he planning to help her escape?
"I think now might be better—"
"Not a word,” he said and silenced her with a brief kiss that sent her head spinning. He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered against her lips, “Tomorrow. Only one person is authorised to enter the medical examination room with you."
"A doctor?” she said and her breath bounced back from his lips. Her heart skipped a beat and she was thankful that most of her genes had come from her father. Right now, she couldn't imagine how dizzying the beat of two racing hearts would be.
"That would be me,” he whispered and reached around behind her. His wrist brushed her neck as he loosed her hair and then ran his fingers through it. “We'll need to move fast. I'll plan it all tonight. You must eat to keep your strength up and to silence Nostra. I'll lock the door with a new combination and keep an eye on everyone to make sure no one comes down here."
The thought of him leaving her alone again made her want to protest but she knew better than to say anything. He was doing all that he could to keep her safe. He had even fought one of his comrades. If he didn't go back to the others, they would become suspicious of him. She could only wait and pray.
"We will drop to sub-space again."
Those words made her feel sick. He opened a pouch on his belt and took out a yellow pill.
"Swallow this. It will ease your nausea and help you sleep through the journey."
She opened her mouth, willing to take the pill if it meant that she wouldn't be ill when they went into sub-space. Kosen had no reason to lie to her about it or try to poison her. She could see in his expression that he only wanted to help her.
When she had swallowed the pill, he turned away from her.
He picked up the protein pack and bit into the corner. The thought of having to swallow the disgusting liquid made her stomach turn but Kosen was right. She had to keep her strength up.
She closed her eyes when he brought the pack to her lips and grimaced as she swallowed down its contents. The gooey liquid made her want to retch but she held it down. When the pack left her lips, she opened her eyes to find Kosen smiling at her.
He really was handsome. His smile made her heart flutter and sent warm tendrils outwards from it. They stretched through her until her whole body was hot, yearning for his touch and the feel of his lips against hers. Her hair floated upwards and his smile widened when he stroked his fingers through it.
"This is beautiful, honest,” he said in a low voice as his gaze followed his fingers through her hair. Her breath left her when his eyes met hers and he whispered, “You're beautiful."
"Kosen, I...” There was so much that she wanted to say but, when she thought about it, it all sounded so ridiculous. She wanted to tell him that she thought he was handsome, that a male had never affected her this much before, and that she wanted him to kiss her again.
"Try to get some sleep,” he said and she nodded.
She watched him leave, her heart heavy with regret. Now that he was gone, the words came easily, but it was too late to say them. She held them inside, thinking about them and wondering if they were real and not just a reaction to her situation.
The door locks clicked into place.
The lights dimmed.
With the darkness came the creeping doubts but this time the chill didn't reach her heart. She stared into the darkness, at the point where Kosen had stood not moments before. Tomorrow they would take her to market.
>
She closed her eyes when she felt the ship shift into sub-space and was relieved when she didn't feel sick. Her head felt strangely heavy and she yawned as a sudden wave of tiredness broke over her. Unable to fight it, she began to drift off, wondering what Kosen was planning and whether it would work.
In the comforting blackness of sleep, her mind surrendered its fight against her feelings and her heart took over. She realised that she hadn't kissed Kosen purely to make him help her. She had kissed him because she was attracted to him, because she saw a good man in him, one that she was falling for. She wanted to help him too. She prayed to Iskara that Kosen's plan worked and they would both be free.
One fear settled in her heart and wouldn't leave.
Would he stay with her?
Or would he leave her once he had his sisters?
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Chapter 6
The cuffs bit into Miali's wrists, holding them behind her back. Her eyes darted around the dark market. Stalls draped with tattered rich brown and dirty grey coverings packed the large space. The air was thick with the smell of spices, food, and medicines. An acrid stench wafted from one of the small tents that they passed and she glanced in, only to choke and turn away when she saw a big fat blue Sekarian male dissecting a young child and dropping pieces into a flaming pot.
Kosen's grip on her right arm tightened, as though he was silently asking if she was all right. She tensed her arm to try to tell him that she was. She had never imagined how horrifying the universe could be. This was worse than any report she had ever read or anything she had ever seen. And she was about to become a part of this darker side of the galaxy, if Kosen couldn't save her. She kept her head turned towards him for a moment longer and then glanced to her left.
Her other arm was held by a man that had to be Sasue. He was at least a head taller than Kosen, and as broad as Nostra. Patchy black matted hair half hid his ugly scarred face. The long strands were each the width of her finger and shifted as he moved, swaying side to side with his heavy gait.
Heart of a Mercenary [Daughters of Lyra Series] Page 4