Silent moments ticked by and Lian began to wonder if this attempted rescue would be their first to fail, when the girl finally nodded and stood. Her bones seemed to creak with every move, but her cold fingers closed around Lian’s as soon as she was close enough. Lian offered the girl a small smile and a nod. The teenager motioned to the others. One of the girls took Vera’s hand and slowly rose to her feet, encouraging the rest to rise with her.
Lian led the way out of the cell, gripping the scared-but-brave girl’s hand as Vera followed with a chain of weeping females behind her. It didn’t take long to reach the end of the corridor, to the most dangerous cell—known as the Ledge. The only cell that was never locked because spending more than a few minutes inside—or rather, outside in the elements—would practically freeze anyone.
There was no keypad on the wall beside the cell—no knob or handle on the door itself, just the smooth surface of cool metal. Lian kicked the door and it opened all the way.
The young girl holding her hand clung tightly to her side when the freezing air swooshed around them.
“We better make this quick,” Vera said, trying to keep the worst of the wind from hitting the others by standing in front of them.
Lian nodded as she stepped onto the icy Ledge, which was wide enough for only three people to share. The edge plunged into a mountain range of endless snow and rock.
She shivered in the flimsy dress, feeling her skin prickle with gooseflesh. Her bare feet were cold, but hardly freezing. She’d always had a resistance to the icy weather that she supposed was from being born in Shiver. “Come on, come on. Where are you, Hogan?”
As if in answer, a large blue, metal transport suddenly rose over the outcrop, silent in its approach. As soon as it was level with the Ledge, the side door slid open and Hogan appeared. He was holding on to the handgrip and extended his free arm toward the group.
Lian’s gaze lingered on him for just a moment, taking in his cocoa-colored skin, handsome features, and tall, muscled frame. She missed him so much. They’d been friends long before they developed deeper feelings for each other. But time and distance had made her heart close off and she no longer felt that spark for him, but she’d always love him as a friend. She often wondered how he felt about her now, and what had happened between them.
“Get them on, quickly!” he called as the wind whipped around them.
Lian nodded, trying not to get distracted. She prompted the girl holding her hand to move toward the transport, but she wouldn’t let go.
“No, get the others first.” The teen’s teeth were chattering.
“Okay.” Lian squeezed the girl, and to Vera, she called, “Get them on, hurry!”
Her accomplice was already on the move, leading the chain of youngsters to Hogan. When they reached him, they recoiled as one. Vera whispered in the ear of the closest girl. The thin girl listened to whatever Vera was saying and finally nodded, releasing Vera’s hand and allowing Hogan to help her into the transport. She dragged the others with her until he had them all safely onboard.
“Now it’s your turn,” Lian said to the girl she still gripped.
Her green eyes shone with unshed tears. “Thank you, may the Goddess bless you.”
Lian quirked a smile, but didn’t release her until she’d safely handed the teenager over to Hogan.
He flashed a grin. “Don’t worry. They’ll be safe.”
“I know.” They always were. Lian didn’t know where Hogan took the rescued prisoners, who the transport belonged to, or even who the pilot was, but he always risked his own life to ensure the safety of these innocents. “Thank you.”
He nodded and ducked back inside, shutting the windowless door behind him.
How did he manage to summon and board this transport without leaving the boundary of the estate he was tied to? She’d have to ask him some day. Until Vera told her, Lian hadn’t known every staff member within the cold confines of the mansion was a slave. She’d assumed each one was hired, chose to work here. Not that her mother forced them to stay and then kept them on a tight leash with silver perimeter collars.
Lian took Vera’s hand and dragged her back as the transport’s thrusters kicked in. The pilot maneuvered the metal monstrosity away from the Ledge before suddenly diving into the mountain range. It was the only way to avoid detection from the surveillance bots because this side of the building wasn’t monitored. Meiling was too egotistical, or perhaps naïve, to think someone would attempt a breach from the mountains.
“You better get back to dinner, Lian.”
“Yeah.” Yet standing on the freezing outcrop seemed a much better way to spend her evening than in the dining room with a piranha. She held Vera’s hand as they headed back inside. Vera shut the heavy door behind them.
“You handle the cold better than most, but your skin is freezing,” Vera said, rubbing Lian’s bare arms with her gloved fingers. “She’s going to know you weren’t in the bathroom.”
Lian shrugged. “I doubt she’ll notice. She’s too busy hanging on to every word that jerk says.”
“Give me your hands.”
“What?”
Vera pulled off her own gloves. “Let me put these on you.”
“I don’t—”
“Lian…”
“Okay, okay.” Vera fitted the thick gloves over Lian’s hands, then continued to rub her arms. She felt warmer already. “Thanks, this is helping.”
“Good, because if you don’t get up there soon, Boss is going to send someone to find you…”
“You’re right, we don’t want that.” She pulled off the gloves and handed them back. “I wish you wouldn’t call her that.”
“Lian, it’s what we all call her.” Vera frowned.
“It doesn’t mean I have to like it.” She refused to get upset with Vera, though. “Thanks.”
“It seems to have worked in warming you up—”
“No, I mean thanks for everything. We both know Meiling will figure this out sooner or later, and when she does…”
Vera shrugged. “Someone’s got to stop her.”
“Yes, and I’m glad it’s us.”
“You know, you should start calling her what she really is. Wicked as she is, she’s still your mother.” Vera mentioned this at least once a day. “Calling her by name and not title is a blatant show of disrespect and isn’t going to make your life any easier.”
“As long as she’s in my life, it’ll never be easier.” And she doesn’t deserve any respect. “Besides, if I should be calling anyone mother, it should be you. You’re the bravest woman I know.” Lian leaned over and kissed Vera’s cold cheek. “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Vera.”
“You’re a very sweet girl, Lian.”
She spun on her heel and raced along the corridor before her emotions overwhelmed her. When she reached the stairs, she paused for just a moment to catch a glimpse of Vera’s rueful smile and the shine of tears in her eyes.
She’d meant it. Meiling might have given birth to her, but Lian could only remember Vera being there every time she’d needed a mother. When she had nightmares and couldn’t go back to sleep, or when she’d wanted someone to read her a bedtime story. Even when she needed to talk to someone about embarrassing growing pains, Vera had answered all her questions and listened to her problems. She never insulted, degraded, or made her feel stupid—all things Meiling did on a daily basis.
Vera hadn’t shared much about her life before she was dumped in the Shan Estate, or even how she got there years ago, but she’d told Lian bedtime stories she suspected were actually fragments of her former life. Stories about a young woman marrying the shifter prince of a forest moon after they met by chance and fell passionately in love. Tales of having the perfect baby boy who grew up to be a strong man, until both husband and son were taken and the woman was whisked away to a foreign planet, where she became a servant.
Lian knew Vera desperately wanted to help these innocents from being condemned to a fa
te like hers, but she never asked any more than Vera was willing to share. She respected and loved Vera too much to cause her pain. The memories she passed off as stories were enough. Either way, Lian loved her like a mother.
It didn’t take Lian long to reach the top of the stairs. By the time she got there she’d regained her composure, but almost lost it again when she collided with someone. She looked up and found her father, who grabbed her arms before she stumbled.
“Li, where are you running to?” He flashed a genuine smile, dressed in his usual denim shirt and jeans combo.
“Hey, Dad,” she said, catching her breath. “I just went to the bathroom and have to get back to the latest pointless dinner party Meiling organized.”
A frown darkened his features. “You better get back, then.”
“Can you come with me? I’m so bored.”
“You know I’m not invited.” He lowered his voice and added, “Besides, I’m too busy to waste time meeting rich folks.”
Lian rolled her eyes. “I hate these dinners.”
“You know your mother is only trying to make you happy.”
She was about to say that marrying a stranger wouldn’t make her happy, but held her tongue. It wasn’t fair to drag him into this and put him in the middle. “Okay.”
“I think they’re serving eel tonight—one I caught myself.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She didn’t like eel, but always felt better after talking to her father. She got on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “See you later.”
Lian continued on her way, light-footed as she jogged the rest of the way to the dining room. At least she had another excuse lined up if Meiling bugged her about taking too long.
“And you’re sure she’s still pure?” Lian heard Sergei ask as she entered the dining room.
“Of course she is,” Meiling answered with a small giggle. “I promised you a pure bride, and that’s what my daughter is. And you’re prepared to ensure she takes your surname? This is not negotiable.”
“Certainly,” Sergei said. “I make sure all my wives take my name.”
Lian could barely contain the rage from boiling up inside her. Thanks to her mother, she was pure. She’d been ready to give her virginity to Hogan last year, when they’d just about done everything but have sex. When her mother caught them, she’d ensured they never got a chance to be alone again. Hogan disappeared for a while, and these potential husbands started showing up. It was also when the dreams had started, as if promising hope.
Sometimes Lian wished she could jump onboard that heavy transport to escape this life. Vera and Hogan had suggested it countless times, but they all knew she wouldn’t go anywhere without them. The guards were physically tied to the estate by collars, but Lian was bound by blood.
We’re all prisoners here.
She tried to force her anger away and took her seat. Sergei’s leering smile spread along his thick, pierced lips. He didn’t stand, but his predatory eyes followed Lian’s every move. She wanted to smack that greedy glare off his ugly face.
“I’m so glad to have you back,” he whispered near her ear. His breath smelled like fish and wine.
Lian cringed at the blatant possession he already displayed, but kept her cool. She hated these fake dinner parties.
“Yes, so glad you decided to join us again.” Meiling didn’t sound amused, so Lian avoided meeting her gaze.
“So, what did I miss?” She picked up her fork and started toying with the food on her plate—a tiny portion of sautéed eel with a tangle of spring onions. Gross. Vera would deliver her a plate of real food later—red meat, potatoes and chocolate cake. That’s what she called a meal.
“We were discussing potential wedding dates and locales,” Meiling said with a chuckle. “Sergei’s home planet has summer all year round.”
“How wonderful,” Lian said with fake enthusiasm. “You must be uncomfortable here, then.” She hoped he was uncomfortable in this snowy terrain.
“Not if I have someone to keep me warm.”
Lian’s skin crawled.
“He also owns a space station, which happens to orbit his planet. Isn’t that exciting?”
“Yes, very.”
Sergei took another bite from his fork, while ducking his other hand under the table to squeeze Lian’s knee.
She gritted her teeth, trying not to react, even if the fingers holding her fork twitched. The urge to plunge the tines into his roving hand made it almost impossible to keep herself under control.
“A summer wedding sounds exhilarating—sun, fun, flowers, summer fruits…”
Lian lost her concentration and let her mother’s chatter become an annoying murmur while all her attention zeroed in on the feel of Sergei’s thick fingers trailing up her thigh and under the hem of her dress. If he only slid his hand back and forth from knee to thigh, she could pretend it didn’t repulse her. If his fingers hiked any higher, she would lose it.
She glanced at Sergei and found his gaze pinned on her. His thick tongue poked out enough to flick the metal piercings along his bottom lip. If she wasn’t so disgusted at this feeble attempt of seduction, she would have laughed. Instead, she willed him not to do what she anticipated he would do next.
Don’t do it. Don’t do it.
His hand moved higher, index finger caressing the outside of her panties.
She pushed her chair back and it tumbled with a thump. Sergei’s hand reflexively went to the table as if he had done nothing wrong. That was when she stabbed the fork into the back of his hand, making sure the tines went deep enough to pierce his fleshy skin.
Sergei screamed and the bodyguard sitting next to him stood, weapon drawn.
“Lian!” her mother yelled.
She couldn’t continue this bullshit charade any longer. She turned her back on the pathetic display, ran out of the dining room and up the stairs, craving the safety of her bedroom. As soon as she got there, she stopped at the large window and peeked outside. Her fingertips pressed against the cold glass, which at her touch processed and magnified the view outside. She sighed and the window fogged up.
It didn’t take long for Meiling’s heels to echo near her bedroom. She counted down the steps—five, four, three, two, one—while watching the doorway
“Lian, you’re acting like a child!” Meiling stormed into the room like a winter breeze and waved at the light dial by the door, turning it from dim to glaring bright. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I couldn’t play along with that pathetic dinner anymore.”
“You stabbed Sergei with a fork, like some kind of savage.” Her almond-shaped eyes shone with anger. “After taking a long bathroom break and keeping your suitor waiting, stabbing him isn’t going to impress him.”
“I don’t want to impress him, and I certainly don’t want him to be my husband. I’m sick of you trying to fix me up, Meiling.” In spite of how much she respected Vera, calling this woman mother was one thing she didn’t agree with.
“You’re acting like an immature child.”
Lian glared at her. She was sick and tired of going around in circles. “Do you know what that pervert tried to do while we all sat around the table? He was putting his hand up my skirt.”
“Right, like the one who tried to force himself on you last month?”
That particular asshole had gone home with a black eye and a sore crotch.
“I’m not making this up,” she spat. “What do you expect? You’re practically pimping me out to these men. So they want a little taste of the goods before buying. That’s what you intend to do with me, right? You’re going to sell me to one of these assholes.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I wouldn’t sell my own daughter.”
Lian couldn’t help but snort. “You stopped seeing me as your daughter a long time ago.” She could almost pinpoint when it happened. Lian couldn’t have been more than six or seven when a man her mother called Jenks dropped by. When she had noticed Lian watching from the top of t
he stairs, she’d paled and made a move for her to hide. She’d run to her room. Meiling never talked about the incident again, but she’d changed that day.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I just want you to succeed.”
“By getting hitched?” Meiling placed so much importance on being married, as if it was the only thing women should aspire to. Even though she treated her own husband—Lian’s father—like crap.
“Why aren’t you the least bit grateful?” asked Meiling. “I’m trying my best to find you a good man and all you want to do is accuse them of being perverted fools, after you assault them. Don’t look at me like that. You know you’re not acting like a lady.”
“If acting like a lady means I’m forced to spend the rest of my life with some pervert I don’t even know, I don’t want any part of it.”
“You’ll soon come around.”
“You just don’t get it, do you?” She wanted to close the distance between them and scream in her face, tell her how infuriating it was to have to go through this bullshit at least once a month—sometimes more.
“I don’t understand the dramatics, no.”
“Were you really so busy playacting that you didn’t notice what he was trying to do under the table?” A mother was supposed to protect her child, not put her in harm’s way. She had to have suspected something was going on. The gleam in Sergei’s eye should have been enough of a clue. Maybe all she cared about was sealing the deal.
Meiling’s face hardened. She opened her mouth to respond, but shut it instantly.
“He’s a disgusting, pierced asshole and I don’t want to see him again.”
“The piercings identify him as being someone of wealth and high social stature.” Meiling stepped closer, but Lian moved away until she was staring at her own ghostly reflection in the window. “It’s how his race measures worth.”
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