“My homeworld, Blaitharsha, has a population ratio of two to three females to every male. It put considerable social pressure on males to take in additional mates and provide for them. For some families, it worked out well, for others… not so much. Economic and personal strain that can occur among those not equipped for it. I decided to do our populace a favor. Unfortunately, my family did not think much of my endorsement and funding for relocating surplus females of the lesser divisions of our society off planet.”
Terri gaped at him. “You sold females to other species?”
“Ah, I see that you arrived at the same conclusion that my family did. Naturally there had to be some profit in the enterprise to keep it running. But each of them was sent to males who wanted them. When it came to light, I was stripped of all titles and permitted to take only my personal wealth, a small personal ship, and my flagship to live out the rest of my life comfortably in exile in space. Naturally, I did not leave without taking a little company,” he grinned at Azan, who stiffened, her lip curling in a silent snarl. “But I was otherwise set adrift into the cosmos to wander aimlessly.”
He took another drink and sighed in pleasure. “Unfortunately, having a loyal crew and a personal captive can only be amusing for so long. It is boring in space, and funds run dry if you like… indulgences,” he said with a smirk as he puffed on the tube again. “Needless to say, despite my shrinking funds, it did not take me long to discover that all these trappings that were provided for me could be useful.”
“You used it to attack ships, the way you got ours,” Terri filled in. “You’ve been playacting the stranded royal for a long time, haven’t you?”
“That I have, a role I play very well. But make no mistake, regardless of my noble birth, it does not make me a harmless male. Azan made that mistake, and I slit her throat and let her nearly bleed out until I had medical bring her back from the brink of death. I did this again and again until not even our medics could repair the flesh and her ruined voice, nor the scars that litter her body. I have claimed and branded every inch of her as my own. She thought she could get away from me and misjudged my strength and ruthlessness. Your mate, like so many other males, did likewise to their own peril. Now I possess you and your mate, and you are utterly mine until I decide to release you.”
He chuckled unkindly as her food churned in her stomach. She felt sick.
“Do not waste your sympathy on Azan. I molded her into a ruthless and cruel killer, surpassing even myself, I do think. And once that happened, this female from common stock I gave the most vaulted position in my crew. She is merciless, my Azan.”
He cast her a fond look, and the female Blaithari glared at him but didn’t deny him as he reached and ran his hand over her breast affectionately before drawing away.
Egbor’s humor faded as he recalled the food that wasn’t being eaten. Tucking his tube back into his vest, he gestured impatiently.
“Let us eat and speak of more entertaining things—like what we can expect when we get to the planet.”
“Jungles, vast rivers… and likely wildlife and predators lurking within both,” Terri muttered as she turned her attention back to the cooling food in front of her. She wanted to reject the food. To say that it wasn’t worth another minute in his company. She had gone days without eating before. The only thing that stopped her was the tiny life growing within her.
Hissing silently to herself, she grabbed a chunk of bread, slathered it with meat dripping with a gravy before taking a huge bite of it. It was delicious, savory, and juicy, but some part of her still had to choke it down as she forced herself to take another bite and another.
All she could think of was getting the meal over with so that she could get away from the disgusting Blaithari captain.
8
Veral glared at the bars of his cell. The meats, breads and savory foods did not tempt him. The small platter sat abandoned on the ledge that survived as a table to his left. Instead, he was watching the nervous movements of the small Blaithari male who had brought him his food. The youngling swiped the back of his sleeve nervously over his nose, his body trembling as he was pinned in place with fear.
Narrowing his eyes, Veral remembered that his mate had once said that he was terrifying without even trying. He did not wish to frighten the youngling. He wanted information. More than anything, however, he wanted to choke the life out of whatever male had allowed his offspring to live in such a deplorable state, scrawny—near starvation—with oversized worn clothes. At least he was not dirty, which, given the state of the lower levels of the pirate ship, was something of a miracle.
He must belong to someone higher up in the crew. Though the youngling was noticeably only half-Blaithari, he clearly belonged to someone with the means for basic, if inadequate, upkeep. He did not want to know what would happen to a youngling born in the lower levels of the pirate vessel. Some of the crew might have found an opportunity to eat him before he was even weaned. The thought of the male being raised in such an environment sickened him.
Cocking his head, Veral attempted to school his features into what he thought might be a sympathetic expression. The male backed away, his eyes widening in terror.
That did not work.
Veral hissed a curse beneath his breath, his mandibles clicking in agitation—which naturally did nothing to comfort the youngling. He then cursed whatever male sent him low into the ship to deliver him food. The small male was of an age where he should still be with his mother.
“Do not fear,” he grumbled. “No harm will come to you from me. What is your name, and why are you not with your mother?”
The youngling hesitated and slid a cautious step forward. “Garswal. Mother died last year. One of the Igwin caught her when she was working.”
“Your sire cares for you?”
He nodded. “He killed the Igwin and took me to the upper decks with him. I still have to do my job very well, but he makes sure I have some food and a warm place to sleep on the floor at the foot of his bed.”
Growling, Veral turned away so he did not frighten the young male again. He had heard before how Blaithari males treated offspring born outside of a mating union, worse younglings born of mixed heritage. They were not considered Blaithari or legitimate offspring. This male was acknowledged only because his mother died, and his father took him in as one might a pet.
Stripping a large hunk of meat from his platter, Veral turned and held the offering out through the bars. The youngling’s eyes widened, and he took another few steps forward before reining himself in reluctantly.
“I am not supposed to take anything without my father’s approval,” he mumbled miserably, his eyes latched forlornly on the food held out to him.
Veral admired the youngling’s self-restraint, uncommon for his age.
“That might normally be a sensible instruction, but there is no reason to not accept it from me. Argurma do not harm younglings, nor will I harm you. I am only disturbed by how small you are and wish to provide you with some sustenance that you so obviously require and desire.”
Garswal swallowed, his expression filled with longing. “My father would not be happy with me taking some of your rations when I ate mine.”
Veral’s brow dipped in a heavy scowl, his vibrissae twitching around him in irritation. This did not make sense. “But you still hunger.”
“He says that it is enough and as much as I have earned.”
Clearly the youngling’s sire was a male he would have to deal with personally once he escaped. A low growl rumbled from him, making Garswal twitch nervously. “Who is this male?”
“The… the captain. It is not so bad. His room is the best in the entire ship. It is more comfortable than what I had with mother, and I eat every day.”
The cell filled with the deadly sound of vibrissae rattling and whipping as Veral’s fury grew, instinctively searching for any weakness in the cell. That a male, especially one in a position to do much for his offspring, could
treat his own youngling in such a way… With a deep breath, he clamped down hard on his anger, drawing it back under his iron control. He was frightening the small male. Still holding the meat out, he gave it a jiggle.
“Small males need far more to eat to grow healthy and strong. Eat. There is no surveillance in this room, and I will not speak of it to anyone.”
Garswal crept closer, curious. “Is it true what they say about Argurmas? Do you have tech implanted within you that makes you super strong and gives you the ability to be aware of active tech around you?”
“It is true.” In part. “But it is very painful and begins when we are young. I would not recommend the process for other species.”
The youngling let out a breath in fascination but nodded as he hastily reached forward and snatched the dangling meat from Veral’s hand. He scurried back, no doubt driven by instinct as much as caution, before consuming the meat with his sharp teeth in several quick bites. The moment it was gone, he bobbed his head in thanks before darting out of the room before Veral could say anything more to him.
Drawing back into his cage, Veral settled on the sleeping pallet in the corner, his back sliding against the wall, the sharp horns on his shoulders scraping loudly against the metal. His vibrissae twitched from the sensation. He curled his lip as he took in his surroundings. The brig was rundown like most of the lower ship. It was clear that the captain was not invested in maintaining that part of the ship. It was disgusting.
Ignoring the food waiting for him, he closed his eyes and touched on that familiar pathway in his mind that connected him to his cousin. He knew that Kaylar would have been waiting for word since receiving the emergency alert. As expected, Kaylar connected with him immediately on their private communication frequency.
“Veral, where are you? The council is very displeased and have alerted the retrieval units. This is very serious, cousin.”
The condemnation from Kaylar was so thick that he felt a wave of hostility curl through his systems from deep within him.
“Do you still have them fooled into thinking that you are not defective?” Veral shot back.
“And it shall remain so. You were unwise to mate and alert the council as to your emotional instability.”
“I sincerely hope that you remember those words when you find a mate.”
“It is fortunate that I am reasonable enough between the two of us that I will not risk such danger. Why are you transmitting to me? I estimated that it would be some revolutions before I heard anything of where you were hiding with your primitive mate.”
“I was, but I require your assistance.”
“This is ill timed, Veral. The council is very curious about the species you discovered a compatible mate in, as you likely are aware. I have been tasked with finding the location of the planet. The operatives who tracked the signal of your mate bonding disappeared, and with their disappearance, all record of where you were was lost.”
“I am aware.”
Silence greeted his statement as his cousin absorbed the meaning. A snort of disgust followed, proving that the male was in his typical foul temper.
“I assumed you were responsible for that. Must you do more to shame the clan? What exactly is it that you need?”
Veral snarled in frustration. He disliked admitting to his cousin that he had been captured, but it could not be avoided.
“My mate and I have been captured by pirates.”
“Pirates…”
“Yes!” he growled.
“That is equally unfortunate and disgraceful. As I said, I have been tasked already with an assignment. I do not see how I will be available to help… unless…”
Veral gritted his teeth with a renewed aversion to the male firing through his processors. Terri was not going to be happy about this, but he would do whatever he had to in order to ensure the safety of his family. He had not even alerted other salvagers to the wreckage available on the planet as not to further disturb the species in whatever path they were bound to take, whether to extinction or evolution.
“I will give you the coordinates of Earth… the homeworld of the human species.”
The silence fell heavily on the line, leaving nothing but empty static for such a long period of time that Veral wondered if he lost his cousin.
“Kaylar?”
“These terms are adequate. I accept. I will write the expenses off as part of the assigned mission. Send me your coordinates.”
“I am transmitting to you now. We will be arriving on the planet in just a few days. I will attempt to slow the pirates down as much as possible until you arrive.”
“Planet?”
“Yes. We were on assignment to salvage when we intercepted those that we assumed were stranded travelers.”
“That was a grievous miscalculation on your part… What are the conditions?”
“Prepare to camouflage in dense foliage.”
Kaylar hissed. “Water?”
“In plenty.”
“You are attempting to jest…”
“Argurma do not possess much of a sense of humor that I am aware of.”
“I hate you… Calculated route estimates my arrival in seven rotations. You are fortunate that I am close to that system.”
“I thank you, cousin.”
Kaylar growled but then let out a long sigh. “Is it true that you bred with your mate?”
“Terri carries my young,” Veral confirmed.
“This is a blessing to our clan, no matter what anyone says. I will see you in seven days. Hold their position there. It would be to our advantage to destroy our enemies from the ground rather than attempt to recover both of you from a ship.”
“Agreed. I will be waiting.”
Their connection went silent without another word exchanged between them. It was no different than other times he spoke to his cousin or any other member of his cursed family. His time with Terri had softened him that he felt affronted at all by the efficient termination. Shaking his head, he leaned forward and drew his food close to him. He was going to need his strength for what lay ahead of him.
9
Terri frowned at Azan as the Blaithari cleaned her claws with a short blade.
“Did anyone not tell you that staring is considered rude among many civilized species?” the female said, boredom heavy in her voice.
“And didn’t anyone ever tell you that picking your nail… uh, claws—beside someone who’s eating is disgusting?” Terri retorted over the bowl of some kind of stewed meat and bland white vegetables.
“You are awfully mouthy for someone I can snap in half with ease,” the pirate pointed out. Her blade, in emphasis, lifted and pointed in Terri’s direction as she spoke.
Terri set down her spoon and rolled her eyes. “Garswal, that would be—what?—the thirteenth time she’s threatened me today.”
“Fifteenth,” the boy answered with a tiny, shy smile.
“Your point, little human beast?” Azan asked, her brow rising.
“Your behavior is predictable. You threaten me to get a reaction. It’s childish. I’ve decided I’m not going to give you the satisfaction anymore.”
“Is that so?”
The Blaithari female leaned forward and grinned, her yellow eyes gleaming.
“Yes,” Terri replied flatly.
She didn’t expect the pirate to lift a foot and kick out her chair from beneath her. It was just hard enough that the chair moved back several inches and jarred Terri. She fell forward with a startled gasp, her chest catching the bowl and splashing the contents everywhere. Stew dripping from her hair and down her nose, she looked up, leveling her nemesis with a hard glare. Bringing one hand up, Terri swiped the liquid from her face.
A low chuckle escaped Azan, surprising Terri. While often malicious or sneering, she had never heard a genuine laugh from the pirate before. The sound soon transformed to a fully belly laugh when Terri flung what was left in the bowl onto the female.
Wiping her own face
, Azan grinned at her, her smile, for once, lacking bite. “You may be a soft, helpless little thing, but you have heart. I have to give you that. Not many would dare to throw their meal at me out of fear it would be their last. And in most cases, they would be right. But I like your spirit.”
Terri raised an eyebrow, her expression guarded. “Thank you… I think.”
Azan nodded as she stood and rooted around until she found some small cloths. She tossed one at Terri as she began to clean her face off. She shot Garswal an arch look. “I suspect that you found that entertaining.”
The boy’s laughter continued to bubble out of him freely as he nodded, his typically somber face—often far too serious for a boy so young—split with a wide grin. To her surprise, Azan didn’t lash out at him. Instead, she ruffled his hair and smirked down at him.
“We will just keep this between us, though, yes? I do not want the other pirates to think I will not skin them alive if they try to disrespect me. This instance, I perhaps deserve. I just had to see if I could push the little human into reacting.”
Azan’s smile widened, her attention redirected at Terri as Garswal nodded in amusement and slipped out of her hold. She maneuvered around the table, her movements as silent and deadly as a predator.
“Watching you with the captain and the way you face every threat that constantly surrounds you here with barely a flinch confirmed that you are resilient, not easy to crush. True, you have the Argurma guaranteeing much of your safety, but he is not here to protect you from the little things that could easily happen. I notice all of this. At first, I thought that it might be a fluke, but you never fail. Seeing you stick up for yourself, I have decided that I like you, human. If you are an example of humanity, so strong despite being so fragile, it is a credit to your species. Do not mistake me. If it comes right down to it and I had to choose between the two of us, I would kill you if I must… but I would actually feel regret for it afterward.”
Pirate's Gold (Argurma Salvager Book 2) Page 7
