by Hope Hart
“I’m Jessica. That’s Shauna and Ruby. Don’t mind Peyton. She can be a little overprotective.”
Peyton ignores us and moves toward Jessica.
“How are you feeling? Do you want some crackers? Water?”
I almost ask her where she plans to get them from, since she threw the table with all the food across the room, but I manage to restrain myself.
“I’m fine, thanks though.” Jessica gives Peyton a small smile and I realize that for better or worse, we need to get Peyton on our side. She’s the unofficial leader of this girl gang, and while she’s obviously protective of the other girls, it seems like she’s the only one keeping them from losing their shit.
The girl on the couch, Shauna, has started rocking, staring straight ahead, and I wish Jen was here. We need someone more experienced than us to talk to these girls, and I think about asking Harlow to have Jen brought here anyway. Then I think about Jen’s daughter, who is missing because neither Harlow or I were paying enough attention, and I blow out a breath. We’ll see if we can handle this ourselves. If not, we’ll figure it out later.
“I’ll speak with Varian, I promise. For now, how would you feel about letting the healer check you guys out? Jessica, it’s probably a good idea to check on your baby, right?”
Jessica pales, and Peyton aims a killing look at Harlow.
“My baby is a monster,” Jessica says softly, and I open my mouth, but Harlow is in full mama-bear mode.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snaps, and her tone seems to pull Jessica out of whatever dark hole she was heading down. “No matter who the father is, your baby is not a monster. You know, I’m mated to the Arcav King. Many would say that my baby is a monster as well, would you agree?”
Jessica blinks, and an expression like relief crosses Peyton’s face.
“Of course not. It’s different though. The Arcav are… more human-looking.”
“I get it,” Harlow smiles. It’s weird thinking about all the different types of aliens and the interbreeding. And kinda gross if you think about it for too long. Before I spoke to the healers, I was convinced my baby was going to rip me apart with its claws and tiny little horns on the way out.”
I feel the blood rush from my face at the visual and swallow gamely. Peyton catches my eye, her expression horrified, and I have a sudden urge to laugh.
“But,” Harlow continues, “biology just doesn’t work like that. Plus, there are plenty of other options to help you deliver your baby safely. I’m sure you’ll find some peace of mind if you let Kehas give you a scan. No pressure though, you take your time to think about it. In the meantime, would you guys like some more food?”
Harlow is handling this like a pro. In a few sentences, she’s offered help, reassurance, and food, without being pushy. She’s careful not to blame Peyton for the mess on the floor, and she’s taken the wind out of the sails of her tantrum, making it clear that she’ll talk to Varian, but there’s nothing else to be done in the meantime.
It’s impressive.
Peyton clears her throat. “Ruby has been sick. She should probably eat something and have some water.”
Ruby continues to watch us with dark, fearful eyes and I sigh. I wish I could get in a ship and hunt down whatever creature terrorized these women.
Harlow claps her hands. “Excellent.”
She smiles at Kehas, and within a few minutes, cleaners have arrived to pick up the mess, and even Peyton is helping, although she’s keeping a wary eye on the Arcav near the door. Harlow made it clear that human cleaners should be brought to the medi-center, and she’s being careful not to overwhelm the women with too many people in the room.
I make my way over to Kehas.
“What do you know?”
He shakes his head and gestures for me to move outside, his voice a low murmur as we step into the hall where Vazta and Blake are waiting.
“The females stayed in one room on the ship once they were rescued,” he says. “They’re terrified of everyone and everything. They were found on a planet named Cilphi, which is known to be home to slavers. The humans were sold as a group and had one owner, who terrorized them. We don’t know exactly what has happened to them since none of them are talking.
“Fuck.”
Kehas nods his head. “Fuck, indeed.”
The word sounds weird coming from an Arcav mouth. Vazta is shaking with rage, while Blake looks ready to kill someone.
“Tell me the Arcav killed whoever bought the women.”
Kehas shrugs. “I have no idea. All I know is that those females all look like they’re injured and malnourished. The fierce one, Peyton, walks with a limp and likely has broken ribs. The female on the bed has extensive bruising on her throat and is unlikely to be able to eat without pain until she has been healed. And of course, the female on the couch seems to be suffering from severe mental trauma. Not to mention Jessica, who looks to be around five months pregnant.”
“Okay. So, step one is getting them healed, right?”
“Yes.”
I nod and make my way back into the room.
“Okay, ladies, listen up,” I say, using my ‘don’t fuck with me’ voice. “I know you want to go home, and I get it. But you’re not going anywhere until our healers have taken a look at you. Ruby, I know the reason you can’t eat is that your throat is so bruised. These guys have a magic wand that they can fix you with, and I promise they’ll touch you as little as possible.”
Ruby stares at me, nibbling on her lip, while Peyton seems ready to breathe fire. She opens her mouth and I shoot her a look of death, waiting for Ruby’s answer.
“Okay,” she says softly, her voice a hoarse whisper.
I smile at her and gesture to Kehas, who steps forward. I almost snort. The big Arcav is making an effort to look as small as possible, his shoulders hunched, head down. He smiles softly at Ruby, ignoring Peyton, who stares at him like he’s a snake.
“Okay, then,” Kehas says softly, approaching Ruby briskly. I nod. Good choice. Acting like she’s a wild animal will only make her feel more out of control.
Instead, Kehas smiles at her, reaching for his implements and explaining what he’s doing for each step. Peyton is practically shaking with tension in front of me, and I narrow my eyes at her. Can’t she see that we’re just trying to help?
“Don’t be mad at her,” Jessica says to me softly. “She’s the only reason we didn’t break.”
“Jessica,” Peyton says warningly, and I raise a brow. Before long, Ruby is giving Kehas a small smile, rubbing her throat in wonder.
“Hungry?” I ask.
“God yes.”
Harlow grins and gestures toward the table, where a feast is currently being set up. “Please, help yourself. Most of it is human food.”
The women all freeze.
“Human food?” Ruby whispers, and even Peyton seems enthusiastic at the idea.
They begin to eat, Peyton taking a plate to the girl on the sofa…Shauna, I remember, and Harlow blows out a breath, obviously relieved. From the way they’re shoveling food in their mouths, I’m guessing they barely ate anything, if at all on the ship. Dumb move.
Kehas moves toward Shauna, who stares at him like a deer in headlights.
“May I take a look at you?”
After a long moment, she nods, sets her plate aside, and silently allows Kehas to check her over.
“She doesn’t talk anymore,” Peyton says, when Shauna doesn’t reply to Kehas’s questions. “Her wrist is broken, and I’m pretty sure she has a concussion from our escape.”
Kehas simply nods and goes about his healing, while Harlow and Jessica take a seat and talk softly.
I raise an eyebrow at Vazta, who is currently standing in the doorway, as close as he can get to the room without actually being inside. He nods toward Peyton as Kehas finishes up with Shauna.
“Her next,” he orders.
Peyton tenses, eyes darting, and I want to punch Vazta in the mouth. So much fo
r letting the women be healed in their own time.
“I’m fine,” Peyton says, and Kehas simply nods. We all know she’s not fine, and it’s evident in the way she’s standing, hunched slightly over and protecting her right side. I bet flipping that table over hurt like a bitch.
“Female,” Vazta says, and her eyes meet his. “You will allow the healer to examine you. If you do not, I will hold you in place so it can be done.”
All of the women in the room inhale in rage, myself included. Harlow’s head whips toward him.
“Threats are not welcome here,” she says calmly. “Peyton, honey, Kehas could fix up those ribs for you in about two minutes, but if you’re not ready, he can do it later.”
“I’m fine,” Peyton says again, over Vazta’s low growl.
“Vazta,” I hiss. “Do you need a time-out so you can go and pull yourself together?”
He ignores me, and takes a step into the room. Shauna jumps to her feet and backs away while Ruby flinches. Peyton steps in front of all the women, and if looks could kill, Vazta would explode into flames.
“Hey asshole,” Peyton says, “fuck off.”
Vazta simply stops and raises an eyebrow, gesturing toward Kehas. The idiot is making this a standoff and taking control away from a woman who has likely had no control at all in the past few months.
What the hell is he thinking? Vazta is better than this.
“I don’t want you here,” Peyton says, and her voice is shaky. “Leave.”
Harlow nods. “You heard her, Vazta. Leave.”
Vazta ignores her, and my mouth drops open. I make eye contact with Blake, who looks just as shocked. Ignoring Harlow is just not done. For the Arcav, it’s equivalent to ignoring Varian.
Instead, Vazta moves even closer. I stroke a hand along my blaster, considering, but I don’t want to escalate this situation.
“Please,” Vazta says finally, voice hoarse. “Allow the healer to help you. It hurts me to see you in pain.”
Oh shit.
I meet Harlow’s eyes, and she nods. I’d bet my weapon collection that Peyton is Vazta’s mate. This will not end well.
“I’m going to tell you one more time. I am fine. I don’t need your healers, and if you want to help me, you’ll back off and leave me alone.”
Vazta nods. “So be it.”
He moves in a blur, and my blaster automatically ends up in my hand as he leaps forward, dragging Peyton into his arms and lifting her bride-style. She shrieks, struggling, and her face goes white as the movement obviously hurts her ribs. She manages to get a hand free and clocks Vazta in the face.
“Behave, female,” is all he says. “Your friends are worried for you. You must show them that you are safe.”
Peyton’s eyes go blank, and she begins to shake.
“Vazta,” I say, conscious that Blake also has his weapon out. “Bad move. Put her down or we’ll stun you.”
He ignores me, and simply gestures to Kehas, who gives a long-suffering sigh.
“Why would you do this?”
“Heal her,” Vazta orders.
“Wow, you’re in so much trouble,” I say.
Harlow is staring at Vazta like she’s never seen him before, and the other women look ready to attack. Jessica has reached for a knife that some moron left behind on the food table. I dart forward and nip it out of her hand before she can do something stupid.
Kehas makes his way to where Vazta has crouched on the floor, Peyton in his arms like a doll. Any hope Vazta had of a happy mating has died with this action, and from the firm set of his mouth, he likely knows it.
All of his protective instincts have likely been triggered after hearing about the abuse his mate has suffered. Add in the fact that she’s obviously hurting, and the guy lost his shit. I’d feel sympathetic if he wasn’t currently holding a traumatized woman against her will.
Peyton tenses even further as Kehas approaches and I groan.
“Vazta, stand up. No one wants to be surrounded by giant Arcav males while they’re on the ground.”
Surprisingly, he listens and sits on the sofa, holding Peyton in his arms. She seems to be doing better with that position, but her eyes swear vengeance as she glares at Harlow, Blake, and I. Any hope we had of cooperation has just disappeared. Thanks, Vazta.
Korva
I am about to leave Varian’s quarters after finalizing our travel details when the door slams open, revealing Harlow, Eve, and Blake.
“What is wrong?” Varian is across the room in a second, taking Harlow in his arms.
“It’s the human women at the medi-center. They want to go home. Please, tell me you’re planning on sending them back to Earth soon.”
Varian steps away. “I can see this will be one more disagreement between us.” His voice is tired, the words slightly bitter, and Harlow frowns.
“Varian, they don’t want to be here. They’ve been victimized. All they want is to return to their lives.”
“One of them is mated to Vazta.”
“How the hell did you hear that so fast?”
Varian gestures toward his ComScreen, and Harlow scowls.
“Look, Varian, it’s not fair of us to keep them here. If we keep those women in Arcavia, we’re no better than their sick owner in their eyes.”
Varian’s eyes flare. “We both know that they need to be tested for mating.”
Harlow’s mouth drops open. “And then what? We’ll keep them on a strange planet when they really want to be anywhere else?”
“We will cross that river when we come to it.”
“Bridge,” Harlow mutters. “It’s cross that bridge.”
“What do you think will happen to that pregnant female on Earth? Do you think your human leaders and scientists will simply shrug off the fact that she is pregnant with an alien species? What if that youngling has specific needs that cannot be provided for on Earth?”
Harlow juts out her chin. “These are all things that can be discussed with the women. So maybe Jessica needs to stay, but the rest could probably go home.”
“It sounds as if one of them is already mated.”
“Vazta ignored all of my orders, Varian. He scared the shit out of Peyton and burned any trust those women were beginning to feel for us. When we left, they could barely look at us.”
Varian sighs. “You know that mating is a volatile time for males. For me to punish Vazta for his actions would be hypocritical. The women stay until they have been tested, and they will then make a decision with the input of their mates.”
Eve steps forward, glowering at Varian. “That’s not fair. Those women wouldn’t even be here if the Arcav weren’t at war with the Grivath.”
He raises an eyebrow, voice mild. “Do not think I have forgotten that you have not been tested,” he says, and Eve bares her teeth, even as her eyes shift toward the door.
Harlow’s glare deepens. “Don’t even think about it!” she snaps at Varian, rubbing at the side of her stomach.
Tested. Eve has not been tested. That means that she could be a mate to someone else. He could be an Arcav that I know. I would have to watch as he receives all of her grins. As he enjoys every word out of her sarcastic mouth. As he kisses her lips and touches her skin.
Aulan studies Eve, as if wondering if she could possibly be his mate.
My horns ache with the need to challenge this male, and my claws are suddenly extended. Eve’s eyes widen as she looks over at me, and Varian smirks, obviously well aware of what is happening.
“You may leave,” he tells me, and I stalk out, trembling with the need to throw Eve over my shoulder and take her with me.
I run to my lab, needing the exercise, and my mouth drops open as I see a human female waiting for me.
“I know you,” I say bluntly. “You are—”
“The one who nearly blew us all up a few months ago,” the female says bitterly. “Yes. My name is Cheryl. If you have a couple of minutes, I’d like to talk to you.”
“
Mama, mama, look!”
Two female younglings run toward us, coming to a stop as they approach me.
“Wow,” one of them says, “you’re even taller than the other Arcav.”
“Can I ride on your shoulders?”
“Arabella, what have I told you about pointing out the way someone looks? And Emma, Mr. Korva is busy right now.”
I stare down at the human younglings, so tiny, their grins infectious. I had once thought that I would have this. It is lost to me now.
I reach down and pick up the younger female. “Emma?”
She nods, giggling as I put her on my shoulders and she immediately grabs my horns.
“My turn, my turn.”
I lift up the other female and hold her with one hand, swinging her slightly as we walk into the lab.
“Wheeee, look mama! I’m flying!”
Cheryl smiles, but there is no life on her face.
“You’re very kind,” she tells me.
I shrug, placing her daughters on a sofa close to my workspace. Cheryl sets down her purse and pulls out a paper and some colored pencils, encouraging the younglings to draw.
“I know you were there that night.”
I nod. That was the night I protected Eve. The night that she punched me and broke one of her hands.
“I was hoping that you could help me.”
“What makes you think I can help you?”
Cheryl shifts uncomfortably and strokes a hand down Arabella’s light hair.
“The reason my medication was able to be messed with, was because I was taking medication in the first place. I have depression,” she says, meeting my eyes as if daring me to comment.
“This is a human sickness, correct?”
“Yes. Human scientists still aren’t exactly sure what causes it. There are a number of chemicals involved in the brain, and it’s thought that it could be partly due to a chemical imbalance. Genes can play a part, as can lifestyle. Either way, I was on antidepressants to boost the neurotransmitters in my brain.”
I nod. “These antidepressants helped?”
“Yes. Not long before we left, I went through a stressful divorce. I was spiraling. The antidepressants helped me feel closer to normal. I was still dealing with a lot, but I was able to get out of bed, to function, to be a mother.”
