“This conversation is over.” Tears stung the back of her throat, but she refused to let them fall. She stood up and gestured to Tren who immediately came to her side. “Tren, I wish to leave.”
“We have not finished our conversation,” T’ngorzul insisted.
“Yes, we have.”
T’ngorzul glared at Tren. “Officer T’renan, return to your position.”
“No, Commander.”
“I outrank you.”
“Yes, Commander. But Commander T’lan has given orders that his L’chka’s wishes take precedence over any other order.”
The older warrior fumed, and his hand lowered toward his belt. Tren stepped in front of Emily with his hand also hovering over his belt. She had the sudden hysterical urge to laugh because they looked like gunfighters in an old Western. After a tense moment, T’ngorzul looked at Emily.
“We will meet again, Breeder.” He turned to leave and she put a restraining hand on Tren’s arm. She could feel the tension in his muscles, but he obeyed her silent dictate and did not go after the other warrior. As soon as the door closed behind him, her legs gave out and she collapsed back into her chair.
“M’lee, what happened?” Tren knelt next to her. “He was only discussing the water project, but your face was so pale. I could not tell if something was truly wrong.”
“He wasn’t discussing a project. He had this coin-like thing and he said that it would cover our conversation.”
“A disrupter? Why didn’t you call for me sooner?”
“I wish I had.”
“What did he say?” he asked gently.
She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it; I just want to go back to our quarters.”
“I will have T’lan meet you there.”
“No.” Forgetting herself, she clutched his arm again. “No, please Tren, don’t.”
He looked troubled but nodded his head. “Very well.” He covered her hand very briefly with his own before removing it from his arm.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to offend you.”
“You do not offend me, M’lee.” For the first time since he was injured, he flashed the old boyish smile at her. “But I do not wish to lose my other horn to T’lan.”
The entire way back to their quarters, T’ngorzul’s word kept circling in her head. While it was obvious that he hated T’lan for whatever reason, parts of what he said had a ring of truth. All of the Yehrin seemed fascinated by her pregnancy. The looks that they sent at her stomach were first startled and then envious. She could not believe that T’lan was only with her because of it, and yet, he had made the claim on her as soon as he found out she was pregnant. T’ngorzul’s claim that L’chka meant Breeder nagged at her. A’rathia was the only other L’chka that she knew, and she had also had a child.
Could she have been deluding herself that it meant more, that it meant that he loved her? He had never said the words. Had she misread passion for permanence? That passion certainly hadn’t survived the possibility of hurting the baby—which lent credence to T’ngorzul’s implication that her only true worth was the child in her belly. Since the bleeding scare, T’lan hadn’t even touched her—in fact, he seemed to go out of his way to avoid her.
By the time they reached the cabin door, she was on the verge of tears.
“Shall I stay with you, M’lee?”
“No, Tren. Thank you.” She gave him a watery smile. “I would hug you, but I also want you to keep your other horn.”
After a quick glance to make sure no one else was in sight, he placed a finger briefly to her cheek. “I have your honor, M’lee.”
Unable to speak in case she broke into tears, she nodded and stepped into the cabin. Tribs came bustling over and she gathered him close, indulging in a few tears into his soft fur. He whined, and she gave him a reassuring hug.
“Don’t worry, Tribs. I’m fine.” The words didn’t sound convincing to her and apparently, Tribs was not convinced, either, since he whined again and licked her face. Together they walked through into the bedroom. Leaning against the open doorway to the nursery, she tried to make sense of her feelings. She loved her baby already and wanted her with all her heart. She should be happy that T’lan seemed to feel the same way, but was it wrong for her to want him to want her for herself as well?
“I’m sorry, peanut.” She curved her hand around her stomach and bit her lip as the baby pushed back against her. “I know I shouldn’t be jealous of my own child.”
Moving further into the nursery, she sank into the recliner and set it rocking. The gentle motion lulled her into a state of calm and she was still rocking when T’lan appeared at the door. They stared at each other and for a moment, she saw the familiar passion in his gaze, but then the remote warrior mask replaced it.
“I have made food,” he announced.
“I’m not hungry.”
“You must eat, M’lee. The child needs proper nutrition.”
Instant rage filled her. “The child needs? What about what I need?”
He actually looked startled, taking a step back from the doorway.
“Of course, you need proper nutrition as well, my L’chka.”
The term did nothing to help restore her temperament.
“What does L’chka really mean, T’lan?”
“I have told you. It means that you are mine.” The brief flash of hunger appeared again.
“It doesn’t mean anything else? Is it like wife?” She held her breath.
“Wife? No.” He shook his head in obvious disgust and she actually felt a little piece of her heart break. “Your human marriage does not compare. Why—”
His words were interrupted by a blaring alarm. A panel on the wall began to flash a red strobe light.
“That is a hull breach.” He pulled her quickly into the main room. “I must go to assist. You will remain here.”
“No, don’t leave me, please.”
“I must, little one. If the breach is too large, the ship could be destroyed. You are safe here.” He swiftly removed all of the cushions and blankets from the couch, before pressing a series of hidden buttons. The couch reconfigured itself into a large open box that bore an uncomfortable resemblance to a coffin, except for a clear top that hovered above it. “This is a life escape pod.” He pointed to a green panel above the cabin door. “If the damage to this sector becomes too great, that panel will give you warning. Enter the pod on yellow. Close it if the panel goes to red.”
“What then?”
“You will be safe until I come to retrieve you. It can sustain life for seventy-two hours.”
Her heart drummed against her ribs. “What if you don’t come?”
“I will always come for you, my L’chka.” His lips descended over hers for a brief passionate kiss that was so much like the ones he used to give her that she couldn’t help but cling to him and respond before he tore himself away.
“I must go. I will send T’renan to stay with you. Do not open the door for anyone else.”
Before she could respond, he was gone. Emily stared at the couch in horror. It was actually quite large since it was sized for a Yehrin but she wasn’t sure that she would ever have the nerve to enter it. She cast an anxious glance above the door, but the panel still glowed a reassuring green. Placing her grandmother’s quilt in the bottom of the capsule, along with a pillow, she tried to convince herself it resembled a bed.
“That’s not too bad, is it Tribs?”
The small sekhmet pressed closer against her ankles where he had been hovering since the alarm started. “You’re not convinced, either, are you?”
The door alarm sounded. She checked the view screen and caught sight of Tren’s face. Relief filled her. Before she could register that he was shaking his head, her finger had gone to the release. As the door opened, he stumbled forward, and she realized that T’ngorzul had a knife at his throat.
“Run, M’lee,” Tren gasped but T’ngorzul pushed him further inside, block
ing the doorway. Before she could react, T’ngorzul reversed the knife and slammed the hilt viciously against Tren’s skull. The young warrior collapsed, blood seeping from the back of his head.
“No! What did you do to him?”
T’ngorzul shrugged. “He should live. But since you will never see him again, it hardly matters.”
“What do you mean I won’t see him again?” She backed away. She knew where T’lan kept his weapons stored. If she could reach one in time… Before she made more than one step, T’ngorzul reached out and grabbed her arm, fingers digging cruelly into her flesh and his unretracted claws slicing into her skin. She cried out, and Tribs growled and attacked. He managed to take a bite out of T’ngorzul’s ankle before the warrior swore and kicked him. His small body went flying against the wall to land in a broken heap.
“Tribs,” Emily cried, struggling to go to him and uncaring about the blood starting to stream down her own arm.
“Enough,” T’ngorzul ordered, and she felt the cold edge of his knife against her stomach. She froze.
“Now. You are going to walk with me to my ship. You will not look at anyone and you will not speak to anyone. If you make any attempt to escape, the last thing you will feel is my knife ripping the child from your womb. Do you understand?”
Trembling with fear, she managed a nod.
“I am going to let go of your arm. Do not move.” He released her arm and the pain actually increased as the blood flow resumed. Drops began to trickle onto the floor. T’ngorzul took up a position behind her and slightly to the left. His knife circled around to her back where it would be concealed by the loose folds of her maternity dress. “Do not doubt for one second that I can kill the child just as easily from this position. Now walk.”
Her knees were shaking so much she didn’t think she would be able to move, but the knife bit into her skin and she managed to stumble forward. Once they emerged in the corridor, she kept her head down, but she tried to peep out from under her lowered lashes to look for help. The ship was in chaos. Red lights strobed over their head and crew members rushed past them. Despite their speed, she quickly realized that they weren’t panicking. Their movements were rapid but disciplined. Too disciplined, she realized as another one raced past with a grim look on his face. They didn’t have time to notice her circumstances. Only one twisted around after he passed to shout something in Yehrin at T’ngorzul. For a moment her hopes escalated, but T’ngorzul responded easily and the male kept going.
They emerged in a small hangar with two flyers like the one on which she had arrived. Now that they were out of sight of anyone else, T’ngorzul dropped the knife but kept her wrists pulled together behind her back as he forced her onboard. He pushed her down into a seat and fastened something around her wrists to keep them in place. She bit her lips, determined not to cry out as it dug into her flesh. The position thrust her breasts out and he leered at them as he rounded the chair. He fastened another strap across her waist beneath her stomach before nodding in approval.
“That is what I like to see. My female bound and waiting for me.” He bent down and twisted both nipples with a casual cruelty that sent pain streaking through her body.
Determined not to give him the satisfaction of reacting to the pain, she glared at him. “I’m not your female.”
“You are now. Even assuming that T’lan survives the ship exploding, he will never find me.”
Her heart twisted at the thought of T’lan dying. No matter how he felt about her, she still loved him. She raised her chin and glared at T’ngorzul.
“He’s going to live, and he will find me.”
“I doubt that.” He took the pilot’s chair and had them out of the hangar and into space in a matter of seconds. Emily cast a despairing glance at the larger ship, only to see another explosion open a hole in the hull before the flyer turned and it disappeared from view.
“You caused these explosions.” The horrible truth seemed all too clear. “And the one at the United Worlds.”
“Of course. I assumed you knew since you set T’rarchar to searching the scholar’s records.” His mouth twisted as he spoke the Supreme Commander’s name. “You are a little slow, are you not? No wonder S’ram liked you.”
“Sam? You’re his ‘friend?’”
T’ngorzul laughed mockingly. “He was such a trusting soul.”
“But why?”
“I needed a scholar to assist with my efforts. How perfect that he was also T’rarchar’s grandson.”
“He would never help you.” There was no way that Sam would plot against his people.
“Not intentionally, of course.” T’ngorzul smirked. “But, like you, he was the naive type.”
“Like me?”
He ignored her. “I had no idea until today that you were S’ram’s little Em-i-lee. I encouraged him to court you as another way to cause dishonor to his grandfather. I had no idea it would be so profitable for me.”
Head spinning, she tried to keep up with the conversation.
“Why did you do it?”
“Allow scholars to dictate how a planet should be conquered? It was a foolish idea and needed to be removed from consideration. I removed it.” He pressed a button on the console and turned to face her. She could see Earth growing behind his head, but he ignored it.
“There are many of these newer customs that need to be removed.” He scowled. “I had hoped to overthrow them from within, but most of my fellow warriors preferred the established ways. Instead, I shall console myself by becoming a very wealthy man.”
That was the second time he had mentioned getting rich. She had the sinking feeling that she was involved in whatever scheme he had concocted but she didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of asking about it.
He laughed. “You are wondering what that has to do with you, are you not?” She pressed her lips together, but he continued anyway.
“I do not think, M’lee, that you have any concept of just how valuable you are to the Yehrin. None of them bothered to tell you how rare and precious a breeding female, especially a breeder who can produce females, will be. I can demand almost any price for your child.”
Her bones turned to water. “My baby? You can’t sell my baby.”
“Perhaps not. If she can also produce female children, it would be a worthwhile investment to keep her until she is of breeding age. I may decide to sell the next one instead.”
“The next one?”
“Of course. Your true value to me is as a breeder.” His eyes swept over her again and her stomach curled. “Although I am sure I will find the breeding process most enjoyable.”
A sound came from the console and he turned back to the controls, but his dreadful plans continued.
“I understand human females are in constant heat. If the Ancestors are willing, I can get two children per year from you. One to sell and one to keep. The ones we keep should be ready for me to breed them within what, twelve years?”
“You can’t,” she whispered, lips numb with shock.
“Perhaps not,” he agreed. “I wouldn’t want the bloodline to be too close, but I am sure I can find a male willing to pay a substantial fee to be used as breeding stock.”
“No, T’lan will stop you. He will come for me.” Please, T’lan. Please come.
“He will not come for you. Even if he did, do you really think he is going to do anything differently? Perhaps he would not sell the child outright, but he would no doubt use her to advance his career. Just as he would have you with child again as quickly as I would.”
“No.”
“So naive.” He glanced at her briefly and his eyes were almost pitying. “You really have no idea how desperate the Yehrin are for breeding females. Did you even know they have pens of human females on the ship waiting for the Forbidden Cycle to conclude?” He sighed. “Another foolish delay I hoped to eliminate. Instead, I will console myself with all the pleasures that wealth can provide. I am sure that your delightful little bod
y will help to ease the pain as well.”
Tears flowed silently down her cheeks. The picture he painted of her future life horrified her, but the implications he made about T’lan destroyed her. Just like his earlier comments, he spoke with such conviction that she honestly believed that he thought they were true. T’lan had denied that L’chka was anything like wife. Was he just a kinder and less blunt version of T’ngorzul?
They were within the atmosphere now and she stared hopelessly at the screen, noticing that they were heading for somewhere in the Midwest.
“We will be meeting some friends of mine. I am afraid that I promised to share you with them; however, I have no intention of letting that occur until I grow tired of you. Still, I may have to make some concessions.”
Concessions? She had no idea what he meant, but it didn’t sound good and a whole new layer of horror opened up.
The ship landed next to what looked like an abandoned airfield. Two warriors emerged from the shadows to meet them as they disembarked. Even compared to the usual massive size of Yehrin warriors, they were huge, with the swollen look she associated with human steroid users. T’lan for all his size, moved with grace. These two simply hulked.
One of them leered at her lasciviously. “Just as you promised. Looks like a tight little cunt under there.”
The other one simply grunted, and she saw a streak of spittle escape. Bile rose in her throat and she fought to keep it down. T’ngorzul ignored them and kept walking. Inside a deserted hangar, he strode across the open floor, tugging her along behind him. She wanted to fight, but being at the mercy of the two brutes following close behind them didn’t seem like an improvement. At the far side of the space, a door led into a small office. Nothing remained in the space except an oversized desk with a broken leg and, oh God, a cot against the back wall. T’ngorzul pushed her inside and turned to shut the door, preventing the other warriors from entering.
“You promised,” the verbal one protested, catching the door with his hand.
“I did. But she is my prize and I will have first taste,” T’ngorzul said. Even though the other two both topped him by half a head, his icy contempt made them back down.
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