Krygor’s Hope: Braxians 3

by Abel, Regine

  Gatina mumbled words of greeting with obvious reluctance. I didn’t sense any animosity from her, only a borderline obsessive infatuation and wounded feelings over his unwavering rejection.

  “I trust their quarters are prepared?” Faolen continued.

  “Yes, this way,” Gatina said in a resigned tone.

  We followed her to one of the side doors. It opened onto a fancy room fit for royalty. From the imposing bed dressed in luxurious bedding, to the elegant dressers and embroidered cushioned benches, no expense had been spared. Large windows gave a breathtaking view onto the large landscaped park outside, the busy streets framing it, and the walkways where the local population strolled leisurely.

  “This is the Nymph’s quarters,” Gatina said in a friendly tone. She walked up to an inconspicuous section of wall and waved a hand before it. The hidden panel immediately opened revealing the hygiene room. “Each quarter has its own private hygiene room, although a pool is accessible through the main doors at the back of the common room.” She walked up to the dresser and gently tapped the pile of clothes on top. “Please put these clothes on while I go show your mother her quarters.”

  Siona frowned, an antagonistic expression descending on her features. She opened her mouth to retort but caught herself at the last minute before looking up at me. I almost said no as well, a quick glance at Faolen told me he would compel us with his power if we attempted to resist. Still, I didn’t want to give him the impression I was whipped and could be easily bullied. I reached for the dress, unfolded it, and then held it up before me. To my relief, it wasn’t the overly revealing outfit I’d feared they’d try to force onto my baby. Although a little short, the dress would fall right above Siona’s knees, and the round neck provided a more than respectable and demure cleavage.

  I extended it to my daughter with a stiff nod. Her frown deepened, but she didn’t argue.

  “Gatina will stay with you while I have a quick talk with your mother,” Faolen said to my daughter before gesturing for me to exit the room.

  Giving him a suspicious look, I hesitated for a second, a million paranoid thoughts crossing my mind. Would Gatina use that to mess with my daughter’s mind? Did Faolen want that private time to mess with mine again?

  He doesn’t need your consent to lure you away.

  Helpless anger burned within me at this reminder. I hated this mind-control bullshit with a passion. I needed to figure out a way to make myself impervious to it. Turning to Siona, I gave her an encouraging smile and caressed her left horn before following Faolen out of the room. He took me to the adjacent bedroom, similar in size to the one assigned to my daughter, but with a décor clearly more mature, with deeper colors, simpler lines, and more subdued lighting.

  “Thank you for not making things more difficult than they need to be,” Faolen said with gratitude.

  “I’m not doing it for you,” I snarled, allowing my anger to show.

  He gave me that insufferable amused smile that made me want to smack him.

  “I’m well aware, but thank you, nonetheless. I take no pleasure forcing my will upon you.”

  “Then don’t!” I snapped back. “We’ve met before, haven’t we? What did you do to me? What did you make me do?” Faolen’s slightly embarrassed expression further made my stomach knot painfully. My hands fisted by my sides. “Answer me, damn you!”

  The Sarenian waved a dismissive hand. “What does it matter? It’s done and—”

  “I want to know how you fucking used me to trap the only other man to have shown me kindness and treated me with respect,” I gritted through my teeth, getting up in his face. “I want to know how you violated me.”

  “I did not violate you!” Faolen exclaimed, a look of outrage—anger even—descending on his far-too-perfect features. That took me aback. “Yes, I did use you, but that avoided bloodshed on all sides. I am a Hunter. My job is to bring back my quarry as smoothly and painlessly as possible.”

  “Bring back your quarry to be raped and murdered,” I retorted bitterly.

  “You will not be raped, my Beauty.”

  “Do NOT call me that. Now show me what the fuck you did!”

  I expected him to tell me off and just explain what he’d brought me into this bedroom for. Instead, he sighed heavily and gave me a frustrated look laced with something akin to shame.

  “Remember,” Faolen said with that vibrating voice I so hated.

  And then memories of Luther luring me into the alley and what followed flooded my mind. But the worst were the ones of me getting up in the middle of the night after the chime of my former collar had rung. I’d removed the fake gem Faolen had attached to the collar and connected it to Krygor’s com, allowing the Sarenian to hack into it. I sat there helplessly watching as Faolen ripped all the codes and relevant data that he could from the device and established a backdoor access to the ship through the com. After Faolen had—in appearance—disconnected, I’d returned Krygor’s device to its place and affixed the gem back into the collar. The chime had once more resounded, leaving me dazed and confused, all memory of my betrayal erased.

  I stared at the Sarenian through the tears of rage blurring my vision. “I hate you,” I hissed with all the vitriol I could muster.

  “No, you don’t,” Faolen said, lifting his chin in defiance. “You can’t.”

  “Excuse me?” I asked, disbelieving.

  “We are Attuned, Hope. You may be angry with me—rightly so—but you can never hate me, just like I could never leave you behind,” Faolen said in a soft voice, a tender look descending on his features. “We are meant to be together.”

  I recoiled, staring at him in horror. “You’re insane! I will never be with you. I’ve already given my heart to another. And, anyway, only Korletheans feel this Tuning business.”

  “Wrong,” Faolen said, taken a step closer to me. “Most Veredians can’t see a soul’s frequency but will clearly feel the tingling sensation at their nape when in the presence of their soulmate. Dantorians also feel the Tuning. And we, Sarenians, can see the wavelengths of a soul. Not as accurately as Korletheans, but clearly enough. I assure you, my Beauty, we are Attuned.”

  I shuddered and took a couple of steps back, moving away from him, only to have the Sarenian advance to close the distance between us.

  “Do not fear me, Hope. You are scared and upset right now, but in due time, all will be well. On my life, on my honor, I promise to make you happy.”

  “If you want to make me happy, then free me, my daughter, and my man!” I said angrily.

  Faolen’s face closed off. But it was the glimmer of pity in his eyes that worried me. “I am needed elsewhere. Gatina is a bit spoiled, but she has a good heart. Learn all that you can from her. It will make your assimilation to Sarenia a lot easier.” Although gentle, his matter-of-fact tone creeped me out even more. “We will meet again in two days. Whatever you may think of your current situation and of me, know that I do want your happiness. The Braxians’ fate is out of my hands. Their story will not end well. It is best you start making your peace with it. And remember, Hope, I could take your mind from you, but I have not. Truth will be the foundation of our relationship. But, should you ask for it, I will gladly take away your pain.”

  He means take away my memories of Krygor.

  “What are they going to do to him?” I asked in a shakier voice than expected.

  Faolen looked out the large windows at the building I’d remembered him calling the Arena. Cold dread washed over me. And yet, a sliver of hope blossomed in my heart. I’d seen my man fight. Despite his massive frame, he moved with the swiftness of a krillik, and his strength struck me as godlike.

  “My giant will defeat anyone in the Arena,” I said, lifting my chin with defiance. “He will crush their bones and feast on their flesh.”

  Faolen snorted and raised an amused eyebrow. “Time will tell, my Beauty. And heed my advice; learn all that you can from Gatina.”

  With a final nod, the Sarenie
n turned around and left my room, his gait so smooth and graceful he almost appeared to glide. And yet, there was something lethal to it, like contained power and fury that could be unleashed in a heartbeat, devastating everything in its path.

  And that predator had set its eyes on its prey: me.

  Chapter 12

  Krygor

  Sitting on the far too narrow wooden platform that also served as my bed, I strained my ear to listen to the steps approaching down the corridor. The cells where they held us were meant for wild beasts, some of whom we shared the holding area with. Although they clasped our wrists and ankles with magnetic shackles, we weren’t currently restrained in our movements. To make sure my men and I didn’t join forces to break our way out, they had put us in separate cells with an empty one in-between. I would have expected some vicious predator instead to make sure we didn’t try anything.

  I had no clear idea of how much time had gone by since they’d brought us onto the surface. Based on the light cycle, we’d been caged here for at least one day, and it was now mid-afternoon. We’d only received two meals yesterday—if the measly portions could even qualify as such. Although, to be fair, they would have likely been deemed generous for most other—scrawnier—species. Still, being in an arena meant an upcoming battle for which I needed to save my energy.

  The muffled sound of two voices rose above the three sets of approaching footsteps. I exchanged a glance with my men, one on each side of my holding cell, indicating for them to be on their guard but to remain seated.

  My heart skipped a beat as, through the bars of the cells, I caught a first glimpse of the newcomers entering from the right. Shock quickly gave way to a seething rage. While I made no effort to hide the murderous glint in my eyes, I schooled my features into a more neutral and contained expression.

  The three males stopped before my cell: two Sarenians and a Guldan. One of the Sarenians, clearly of noble status judging by his traditional black robe made of fancy fabric embroidered with a shimmering blue thread, stood slightly behind the other two. The second Sarenian stared at me with a malicious glee that threw me for a loop. It took me a second to realize the oddness of his gaze stemmed from him having mechanical eyes. The cruel smile on his face spoke of a personal score to settle. And yet, I’d never met that male before. But as confused as his visible hatred made me feel, it was the silver-haired, black-horned, and blue-eyed Guldan Ambassador Hartuk Tellin that retained my attention. The hard glint in his cold gaze left no doubt he intended a painful death for me.

  “Councilor Aldriss,” Hartuk said in his usual polished and articulate fashion. “It’s been a while since our last meeting.”

  “You mean since we kicked your sorry ass off Braxia,” I said dispassionately. “I didn’t think you’d be so foolish as to mess with us again.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed,” Hartuk said, his voice hardening, “you’re in no position to make threats. If you were wise, you’d try to get on my good side and back into the good graces of the Guldan Empire.”

  “Your good side will be the one I will have crushed into a pulp with my fist,” I deadpanned. “And I will fuck your Empire in the ass… no lube.”

  “Cocky little shit,” hissed the Sarenian by his side. His voice sounded strange, unnatural. “As arrogant and self-righteous as that half-breed bastard you sired. I’m going to enjoy hearing you scream.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “What crawled up your ass, you scrawny blue rat? I don’t believe we’ve met.”

  “You don’t know me, but I know everything about you and that vermin son of yours,” the Sarenian replied, his voice filled with venom. “Everything he’s done to me, I will do to you a thousandfold. No one will find your remains, except for that thick Braxian cock of yours, which I will send prettily wrapped to that son of a diseased whore you sired.”

  I stiffened, understanding suddenly dawning on me. My gaze flicked to his crotch, hidden by his fancy robe, then moved back up to his left shoulder. It appeared normal beneath his clothing, but then modern medicine could repair a badly damaged limb. Although I’d never seen the male, I’d heard of the incident back on Venus Hive when a Sarenian had cornered Grace at the opera house and attempted to rape her. From all accounts, Anton had intervened just in time and smashed the male’s shoulder.

  My son had made a brutal example of that Sarenian. He’d castrated him, burned his retinas, and slashed his vocal cords, ensuring he would never rape another female or use his ability to mesmerize anyone ever again. Afterward, Anton had put the Sarenian on display in a cage at the main junction between the Commons and the VIP sections of Venus Hive, the busiest area of his space station. It had served both as a warning to other patrons, and as a means to further humiliate the male who had dared go after his woman.

  I couldn’t have been prouder of my son.

  “Ah, you were the idiot who couldn’t keep his cock in his pants,” I said in a conversational tone. “Funny, I would have expected your voice to be higher pitched after getting relieved of your cock and balls. But then, getting your vocal chords slashed would mess with things. No wonder you sound like shit.”

  “I will fucking kill you!” the Sarenian screeched, his voice finally hitting the high notes I’d imagined. “But before I do, you and all of Sarenia will watch me destroy your Guldan whore’s ass in the middle of the Arena, and then fuck that cunt into a pulp.”

  My blood immediately began to boil upon hearing the threat to my woman. My pulse picked up as the first tingles of battle rage reared their heads. I called upon all my willpower to rein myself in. Going berserk right now would do me no good. Even with my enhanced strength, I wouldn’t be able to break through these bars. I needed to bide my time and wait for the right opportunity.

  However, I didn’t miss the frown of the noble Sarenian at the back, and the severe glance he cast upon his companion at the mention of harming my woman.

  “You don’t have a cock,” I replied to the castrated Sarenian in an icy voice.

  He gave me an evil grin. “You’d be surprised what Guldan technology can do these days.”

  Rising to my feet, I slowly advanced towards the bars of the cell. The nobleman at the back didn’t move but the other two men took a couple of steps away to keep out of range from me.

  “Anton should have put you out of your misery the first time,” I said in a dangerously soft voice. “I will rectify that omission before I leave this rock. See that you stay away from my woman, and I might make your death a little swifter and more painful for a shorter time.”

  “You little—”

  “Enough, Juntel,” Hartuk snapped, interrupting the Sarenian. “I didn’t come here to listen to your ramblings. You can settle your score with the Braxian after I’ve completed my business with him.” Turning back to me, the Guldan Ambassador gave me a hard stare. “You certainly fail at making friends, Clan Leader. It also seems you will bear the punishment for both your mistakes and those of your inner circle. You see, Emperor Ardrak is quite displeased by your people throwing his alliance back in his face. And moreover, he’s quite angry at the treatment your Magnar has inflicted upon one of his greatest scientific minds, Ambassador Lorik Zorak.”

  “That freak was insane,” I said in a growl. “He killed the child our Dagna was carrying and would have surgically transformed her into a fucked-up copy of her deceased brother who Lorik was obsessed about. You should thank us for having rid you of that headcase.”

  “Rik had his issues, but he was nonetheless a Guldan envoy, and a brilliant mind,” Hartuk said with a shrug. “As a Braxian, you understand well revenge to restore one’s honor. You will be made an example of. You are but the first of a long list of Braxians who will learn their proper place in the greater scheme of things. Your barbaric people will serve the Guldan Empire. Too bad you won’t be around to witness it. See you tomorrow in the Arena. I, too, will enjoy your pain.”

  Without another word, Hartuk and the freak Sarenian called Juntel turned
on their heels and walked away. After a few steps, the Guldan Ambassador’s stopped to look at the noble Sarenian who had remained in front of my cell.

  “I’ll catch up,” the noble said in a distracted voice, gesturing for his two companions to keep going.

  The others hesitated before complying. My eyes narrowed as the noble took a few steps closer, staying just shy of my reach. I realized then that he was much younger than I’d first believed. Tall and muscular—although on the lithe side—he wasn’t in his early twenties as I’d initially assumed but appeared to be in his mid to late teens.

  “You Braxians are even more impressive in the flesh,” the young Sarenian said pensively. “Your presence here is stirring quite a few passions and a great deal of unrest. Tomorrow, half of my people will cheer for your success, while the other will hope for your demise.”

  “And what do you hope for, young pup?” I asked.

  The young noble snorted. “Pup… You certainly are irreverent,” he said, looking amused rather than offended.

  “Prince Zerien! Please step away. It isn’t safe!” a male voice exclaimed followed by the pounding of multiple feet running towards us.

  My curiosity as to his identity and the reason for his presence here immediately faded, replaced by murderous intent as understanding dawned on me.

  “You so much as touch my daughter and no amount of guards, no arenas, and no beasts will keep me from tearing you apart, limb from limb,” I said in a low, growling voice.

  “Step back, Braxian!” one of the guards that had come to escort the Prince shouted at me, his blaster trained on me. “I said back off!” he yelled.

  “Enough,” Prince Zerien said in a calm voice. “Clan Leader Aldriss will not do anything silly. I am expected elsewhere, anyway.”

  His cool demeanor despite my threatening stance commanded a begrudging respect from me, especially in someone so young. Zerien turned and started walking away before stopping after only a couple of steps.