by Sabrina Kade
York and Azan. Ellis and Hujun. Were they next?
Maybe. But would they even want to stay here if asked? Would they be as open to the idea of carrying an alien baby like me? I don’t know because I didn’t talk about anything with them other than meeting other Sidyths. I could have asked. How could I have not known about York and Azan?
They’re still not in the room, and I decide Layla’s right – he doesn’t want to share. But why didn’t he say anything? (For reasons other than the obvious). And why didn’t Korben say anything to me? Good, God! Maybe Korben didn’t even know. But I guess he’s going to find out soon enough.
“Things are going well other than Dolan’s overbearing tendencies.” Korben appears out of nowhere. “I told him it would be best if he retires for the evening. So the women have a break. Is the black-eyed one okay? You said her name is Lay-la?”
“Yes, she’s okay.” The questions about York and Azan beg to be asked, but Korben looks too pleased. I don’t want to spoil the moment, and I’m not even sure if he’s noticed that the masked Sidyth has gone missing.
“This could be the beginning of something spectacular,” Korben rumbles, looking more pleased than ever. “A world better than either species has ever known.”
“Try not to get ahead of yourself. Some of them might not even want to be Chosen, or whatever.”
“It is an honor to be Chosen. And if anyone wants to stay, I will make sure they are kept here and safe.”
“You make promises like that so easily,” I grumble, not wanting to get into a fight, but unsure how not to have one. “You make it sound like a fairy tale. Like everyone here is magically going to pair up and make babies and stay here forever in this blissful little utopia you’ve created out of a prison. Look around you; not everyone’s enjoying themselves.”
Korben finds Alaska and Kansas on the other side of the room. One of the dark haired girls is sitting now too. Many of the Sidyths eye them up, but no one is brave enough to act out after Korben sent Dolan to his room.
But Korben is not to be dissuaded. “Are you telling me you would rather return to your previous occupation?”
My frown deepens. “I’m going to let that slide, but no I don’t. But that’s me. There’s no telling what the other girls are going to do. Some of them like what they do. Some of them don’t even fully understand what they’ve gotten themselves into yet, so they can’t fully appreciate what’s being offered to them here. You can’t force things, Korben. Not on me and not on anyone else.”
He arches a brow. “So what are you saying? That you don’t want to stay here?”
“Of course not,” I all but snarl. “I’m saying others might not want to stay here. Chosen or not. You may have bought us, but that doesn’t mean we’re for sale.”
I don’t want to be angry with Korben. He’s trying his best, and I should respect that, but I don’t appreciate the smug look on his face. Like he’s offering them the best they’ll ever get. And while that may be true for me, I’m sure not every girl wants to be rescued and carried off into the sunset. Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, and Dakota will never want to be separated, man or not. And Taya – back at the other lair – seems entirely too young to be paired up with any Sidyth, let alone carry a child. More and more questions build, and I don’t have all the answers.
I want to be with Korben, though. Arrogant prick, or not.
“If the girls decide to stay here, they will never have to worry about being hurt or taken advantage of ever again,” Korben says in a low voice. “I know you think I don’t know the life of a human entertainer, but I do. I’ve seen humans before. I know how others in the universe treat them. It’s like Sidyths but in a different way. All I’m saying is everyone will have a chance to create something better, and if I can push happiness closer to my brothers then I am going to do so. I am not forcing any woman to spread her legs, and I am not forcing any man to spread them apart for her. I am simply doing what I think is best.” He lowers his eyes, looking surprisingly crestfallen. “If I am acting in any way that makes you uncomfortable, Blythe, I will stop immediately. I just…” he cups his hands to my cheeks, pulling my chin to him, “… I want everyone to have a chance to be just a percentage of how happy I am with you. Especially my closest brothers. I want them to have what I have with you.”
“But not everyone is like me,” I say, softening. “You act like I’m so wonderful. Maybe your brothers don’t want what we have.”
Korben barks out a laugh. “Oh, believe me, they do.” He lowers his voice, kissing my temple. “Your cries for the deities are not quiet, Blythe.”
My cheeks grow red as I pull away. “You mean people can hear us?”
“I have been asked many times on how to please a human woman as much as I have pleased you.” He beams proudly. “Believe me; they would love the chance to try.”
“You’re such an asshole,” I say, losing all my anger as he kisses me softly on the lips. I can feel the others watching with interested expressions, but most leave us alone. My knees turn to jelly as his kisses deepen. “But being with you sure beats being a whore.”
“You’re not a whore,” Korben reminds me. “You are mine.”
“And you’re mine, right?” I ask, glancing around the room as he nods into my mouth.
It’s time to shoo all the Sidyths away and give the girls some breathing room, especially for those who want it. But Korben’s kisses… I’m getting wet. I want to take him back to our room so I can show him how annoying he is by giving him the best blow job ever. I snicker into his mouth, and Korben pulls away with an adorable expression on his sharp features.
“Did I do something funny?” Korben asks.
I shake my head. “No, but it’s time to end this little meet and greet. Layla isn’t the only one that’s overwhelmed with a bunch of seven-foot aliens trying to woo them instead of fuck them,” I say with a laugh. “You get them out, I’ll talk to them for a bit, and we’ll come back together in your room. Come back together. See what I did there?”
“You are unbelievable.” Korben quirks a smile at me. “But since I am already greedy to have you again, I will do as you ask.” He pats my butt before he turns. “As if I could deny you anything.”
How can I possibly stay mad at him when he says things like that?
***
Later that evening when all the Sidyths are gone and the girls are back in the Gathering Room, we all take a seat in our usual circle. Even Alaska and Kansas seem to be more interested than usual, not sitting in the circle, but not sitting alone in a corner either. Progress, I suppose.
“So what did everyone think?” I ask carefully. “Any problems? Any red flags?” I steal a look over at Layla in particular, but she seems pretty satisfied. Maybe that humanoid looking Sidyth was kinder than the looks he passed earlier.
“They’re not terrible.” Ellis blushes slightly. “The big one isn’t as scary as I thought he would be. He’s… uh… kind.”
“Most of them are,” Sloane adds. “I don’t have anything to complain about.”
“I don’t think anyone does.” York scans over the group. Her eyes land on some of the girls. “What about you, Celeste?” she asks the Indian girl with the thick, long braid.
“I’m not looking to fall in love or anything, but I am excited at the prospect of going outside and seeing the rain. I mean, even if we don’t get to stay here forever, I’m happy to spend some time with guys who aren’t going to rape me the entire time.” She looks away then, realizing she’s said too much, but I’m happy to work with something. I’m still shocked by how detached I was with her just a few months ago when she was hung in the Pleasure Room by her hair. And I stood there and said nothing. Celeste’s young, but she’s already broken by the system.
“No one’s going to hurt you,” I say, and she offers no other words.
“Right. And you guys?” York turns to the two dark haired girls who look alike all the way down to their athletic builds. “Rene? Devyn?
Any issues?”
“Just looking forward to getting outside, right Devyn?” Rene says.
“So long as we can go outside and do a little training, I’m happy to stick around. The big guys seem to trust us.” She turns her dark eyes towards me. “Good job there, Blythe. You’ve got the prince wrapped around your finger. We’ll be out of here in no time.” As though sharing a small joke, Rene and Devyn smile.
What the hell are they up to? But as long as they’re playing by the rules set, I guess it’s not my place to get in their business.
The rest of the girls don’t offer much more, but I mentally take note of their names and faces, so I don’t make the mistake of asking for them again after all this time. York already knows everyone.
Rhyan, the tall one with blond hair and green eyes. Kind of looks like Alaska but doesn’t say much.
Aoi, the one with dark hair and red streaks. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes are always taking things in. Like Rhyan, she doesn’t say much, but she always seems to be listening.
Krista is the dark-skinned one, and though she’s gorgeous and looks like an African princess, she also has a mouth on her, one that would rival York’s – if York wasn’t so smitten and happy.
Lacey, Kansas, Alaska, Sloane, Ellis, and York.
I think that’s everyone.
“So what about you, Blythe?” York asks suddenly.
I spin around to face her. “Me?”
“Yeah, you. You’re the one who’s been pushing for us to give the big guys a chance, and we’re all curious. Are you happy with him? Does the prince make you happy, or is this all some scheme to save your ass at the end of the day?”
My eyes widen. “Is that what you guys think?”
“It’s not a crime to ask questions,” Alaska speaks up suddenly. “Pardon us for wanting to know if you’re not trying to make a deal with these guys to save your skin. I’m not the only one who’s worried about it, am I?”
York blushes and lowers her head. Sloane, Ellis, and Celeste do the same thing. The rest stare right back at me, but the answer is written all over their faces.
“No,” I stammer. “No, that’s not it. I’m like you guys. I came here assuming the worst when we saw the Sidyths and when Korben grabbed me. I assumed this was going to be another assignment. But he didn’t do anything I didn’t want. I believe he wants to stand for something different than the rest of his people.”
“And the rest of them?” Krista asks skeptically. “You think the rest of them are like him?”
“I… I don’t know,” I admit. “But Korben does. And I’m sure some of you have talked with them enough to know that if they wanted to take advantage of you, don’t you think they would have already?” I frown and turn to York. “Some of you have been talking to them and yet, I haven’t heard about anything terrible happening. This could be an amazing chance for us, guys. If we keep an open mind, we may be able to find happiness here.”
“For as long as the assignment lasts,” Ellis says. “Then it’s back to work.”
“I don’t know.” Is this something I want to talk to them about? But I want to prove I can offer something to the conversation other than how Korben’s been giving me life-changing orgasms. “Listen, guys, Korben is a prince, we all know that. So let’s say he has money most of our clientele have never seen.” I press my lips together. “He told me if I want to stay, he would make it happen.”
A hushed silence falls over the group. York is the first to fill it.
“Stay here?” she asks shakily. “With them? For how long?”
“Maybe forever.” It feels good to let the girls know about this opportunity. Maybe it will make some of them more open to giving the Sidyths a fair chance. “Korben says he wants to create a world that’s better than the one he’s from and the one we know. And I don’t know about you guys, but I’m kind of interested in taking that chance.”
“How could he do it?” Kansas chirps.
“I don’t know. It sounds like Korben has some intergalactic trust fund. I mean, look at everything around us. We’re not exactly living in squalor here. And these guys do want to keep us.”
“What if they get to go home?” Alaska asks. “What happens to us then? I’m a fifty-year-old whore with nowhere to go? Do you know what they do to whores when they’re over the hill? They don’t send them to a retirement home, I’ll tell you that much.”
“Which is why, more than anything, we should give them a chance,” I say. “We have an opportunity here that we’ve never had before. At least I haven’t.”
“Me neither,” York admits.
“Same,” Sloane agrees.
“I can’t say this place is terrible,” Celeste mutters.
And they all seem to agree.
“So Korben could work something out?” York asks again. “If we wanted to stay… if there was someone we wanted to be with… could he make it happen? Because if he can, I have to say it would be stupid to want to try my hand at getting something better.”
“I believe in Korben,” I say quietly. “If he says he’ll be able to keep us here if we want to stay, I want to give him the chance to prove himself right.”
“You like him, huh?” York’s eyebrows push together. “He’s won you over?”
I take in all the different faces around me. I think about the years I’ve spent with my legs open on a bed with a dead-eyed alien. I remember the tentacles, the collars, and the leashes. I remember eating out of what looked like dog bowls and fighting others for amusement.
And then I think of Korben’s massive frame and his intimidating but kind eyes. His rumbling, warm laughter. And the way he holds me. How easily he can cup my ass, lift me to the wall and take me any way he wants. But he doesn’t. He takes me in in a way that makes me feel comfortable. He pushes me and makes me feel more beautiful each day. And some part of me would love to see what he’d be like as a father.
“I’m falling for him,” I say quietly. “I know it’s only been a few days, but—”
“No, I get it. These guys are showing us kindness we haven’t seen in years, some of us for decades. It’s hard not to want to fall in love with something like that.” York crosses her arms and leans back against the wall. “I say we take a vote.”
“What is this, grade school?” Alaska asks. “Not everyone is here.”
“So we’ll take a vote for now, and when the others come, we’ll vote again,” York says dismissively. “So let’s do this thing. We vote. If you vote to stay, that means you’re into giving the big guys a shot. If you say no, you’re left to figure things out for yourself.”
“Oh, that’s fair.” Alaska rolls her pale blue eyes.
“I'm just honest. Personally? I’m looking forward to giving this whole experience a fair shot. It’s got to beat the alternatives, right, Alaska? You’ve been doing this longer than most of us. Has anything like this ever happened to you or the others?”
She frowns and looks away. York is incredible.
“So let’s vote,” I say. “All those who want to give these guys a fair chance and possibly find happiness, raise your hand.”
York raises her hand almost immediately, no surprise there.
Ellis and even Layla slowly follow.
More hands rise. Devyn and Rene. Aoi and Rhyan. Sloane and Celeste.
Krista, Lacey, Alaska, and Kansas still seem to be thinking this over.
“If I don’t want to fall in love with a Sidyth, can I still raise my hand?” Krista asks, frowning. “Because that’s not why I want to stay. But I don’t want to be raped anymore, either. And if staying here means that won’t happen, I guess you can say I’m in.”
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to,” I remind Krista, who finally raises her hand, and surprisingly Kansas follows.
Alaska shoots her a look. “Seriously? We don’t even know if Arizona and Dakota are okay.”
“We’ll find out in a few days. I can always change my vote.”
“Unless they’re dead,” Alaska snaps. “You morons don’t get it, do you? They’re Sidyths. They’re liars! They’re tricking us because they’re masters in proving women are inferior. And look at you all! Raising your hands at the chance to fall in love; I don’t care what you think you agree to, because that’s all it is. You think that Sidyth prince is going to keep you here if you’re not spreading for one his brothers? Because I sure don’t.” She stands up.
“So I guess that’s a no from you?” York asks.
“Yeah, I guess it is.” She crosses her arms and returns to her corner.
Lacey stands up too, saying nothing, but crossing over to join Alaska.
I guess things could be worse.
“Another thing,” Aoi says. “I want to know if we can see the other girls. That affects my vote, too. I agree with Alaska, I want to see the others and know they’re okay.”
“And I want to go outside.” Rene steals a look at Devyn.
“I can talk to Korben,” I say. “But we’re all in agreement other than Alaska and Lacey?”
“So long as you can convince prince-y to let us see the others and go above ground, I can’t see why anyone would want to take their chances on anything else,” Ellis says.
And I agree. I hope I can convince Korben to agree to these terms sooner than later.
***
“Tomorrow?” Korben sounds incredulous later that night when I’m in bed with him. “You want me to let the women go to the surface tomorrow?”
“And to see the girls at the other lair,” I say, lowering my head. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but they’re not willing to give your brothers a fair shot unless you can prove they’re okay and not going to be trapped underground.”
“Of course they’re not trapped, Blythe.” Korben pinches the bridge of his nose. “But you’re asking a lot of me. And so soon. We’ve only just brought the two races together, and now you’re saying you want me to turn them loose? What if some of them try to run away?”
“Then I guess they weren’t planning to pick a mate in the first place, were they?”