Her excitement over the outing had evaporated. Vaguely, she heard him trying to lure her back to see another “lovely piece” but she had already moved on down the row. She didn’t stop further, ignoring the cry of the barkers and the curious eyes as others became alerted to the Prima’s presence, clamoring for a good look.
Needing time alone, to think and calm her jealousy, she stepped between two tents. Without waiting for Neela, she made her way quickly down the sidewalk toward home. She was up the stairs and inside the main corridor in no time. Near the main stairs, she spied Aylan speaking to Kerr and darted down a smaller secondary hallway out of sight. She wasn’t yet up to facing him, nor answering questions about why she was out unattended.
Making her way through the maze of hallways on the active first floor, she found an empty alcove and collapsed on a bench. Out of the main flow of traffic, she took a few minutes to collect herself.
“Trouble in paradise?”
Shock rendered her speechless. It was Eryn. Looking for her mate, Eva scanned the room beyond the woman. “You’re here alone? I had heard…”
“Ram is nearby. He doesn’t trust me not to go apeshit crazy on him and his fellow slavers.”
“Yet you’re out and about? That’s progress, isn’t it?” She felt a brief glimmer of hope before the cynical guard quickly dashed it.
“Progress,” Eryn spat. “The only progress is that I’ve duped him. He thinks he’s fucked me into submission.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m biding my time.”
“For what?”
“I’m not staying here. If it’s the last thing I do, I’m going on with my mission.” Eryn sat beside her, gripping her hand tightly as she lowered her voice to an urgent whisper. “I want you to come with me, Eva. The rumors going round are that you haven’t transformed. Before you do, it’s your chance to get out.”
“How?”
“I can’t say, but I’ll come for you when it’s time.”
“Eryn.”
Their heads came up in unison at the sound of the familiar voice. Ram stood at the end of the short hallway. His lavender eyes narrowed with suspicion, before shifting to Eva. “I hate to cut this short, prima, but my mate and I must go. We can arrange another visit sometime soon, however.”
He held out his hand and Eryn dutifully rose to her feet.
“I’d like that, Ram, very soon,” Eva said softly, a subtle emphasis on her last words making the underlying message very clear. As Eryn walked to his side and took his hand, Eva marveled at the abrupt change in the woman’s demeanor. She didn’t know it was possible for Eryn to speak in a modulated tone, let alone do meek.
With a last meaningful glance from her shipmate, they were gone.
* * *
Distressed by the events of the day, Eva went home and up to the garden. She tried to find solace in work, but her mind wouldn’t settle. Distracted, she kept knocking things over, making a mess, and doing nothing for the seedlings that needed a delicate touch during transplanting. After an hour of getting nothing done that wouldn’t need redoing, she gave up and made her way back to the residence. She bypassed their room with the big bed and the bathing pool, places that reminded her too much of him and all of his promises, and curled up on a couch in the lounge staring out at the mountains. The colors that usually seemed so vivid were muted by her somber mood. Lost in her thoughts, she sat still and quiet until she heard the sound of her name from outside the door.
“I’m here.”
Kerr appeared immediately. He looked harried, his hair a dark, tousled cloud around his head as if he’d mussed it with his fingers rather than bother with a comb. “There has been an explosion in one of the mines.” Before she could reply, he’d disappeared back down the hallway. She followed, finding him in the huge closet in their room.
Eva’s hand rose to the door jamb, steadying herself, her heart jumping in her chest, thinking of another harrowing time. She looked at him with concern. He had to be remembering that awful day. “Is anyone hurt?”
“The call just came in. I’ll know more when I get there.” Seated on one of the benches, he pulled on heavy boots and retrieved a pair of thick, sturdy-looking gloves from a shelf, then he was up and striding to the door where she stood. He brushed a kiss against her temple. “I’ll probably be late.”
“Please, be careful,” she called after him as he rushed out.
Crossing to the windows, Eva stared out at the break in the mountains through which several of the mines were accessed. She watched for a long time for signs of trouble; there were no flames or billowing smoke as she’d expected. It looked like a normal cloudless day.
A sound in the hallway made her turn. Thinking it was Kerr returning, she hurried to meet him, shocked to see Eryn striding her way. The woman was flanked by Yolanda and Britha, two of the other guards from the Odyssey. All of them were armed.
Robbed of speech, Eva stared at the new arrivals in utter amazement. “How are you here?” she finally choked out.
“They were captured, like us,” Eryn stated plainly. “But instead of hunting them down and carrying them off like barbarians, your king sent a warship. They took control and brought the entire crew here to be mated. I keep telling you, they’re nothing more than slavers.”
Reeling from the news, she staggered back a few steps, laying her hand against the wall to steady herself. As she tried to process what she’d learned, Eva shook her head in disbelief, but she couldn’t deny the two women standing in front of her.
“It’s true,” Britha said. “They used some kind of paralytic gas, boarded us, and took control of our ship.”
“And by doing so,” Yolanda said, rage in her voice. “They doomed our world. Which makes them murderers, too.”
“No.”
“Yes,” Eryn insisted. “Think of the temptation we posed, Eva. These men need fertile women. We dropped into their laps like manna from heaven. Smaller, easily conquered, we’re compatible, and then, as if that weren’t enough already, they find out some of us are submissive and like what they’re packing. Why settle for a measly eight females when you can have a starship full of three hundred young women of childbearing age, ripe for the picking?”
“How did you know about this? And how did you get weapons?”
“In lieu of shackling me to his bed, which he tried for days in the beginning to make me compliant, Ram decided to try a different method. He started taking me with him everywhere, thinking constant interaction would hasten the transformation. Since then, he’s barely let me out of his sight, keeping me quiet with this damn collar.” Her fingers curled around the smooth metal around her neck. “I can’t get it off! Believe me I’ve tried. Along the way, I decided being joined at the hip with the big barbarian could work in my favor. I began watching, listening, the whole time faking submission. He was suspicious of the sudden change, but I can put on quite a show. Thinking me cowed, he let down his guard and underestimated me.”
Eva gasped, thinking the worst.
“I didn’t harm the big brute, although he deserved a taste of his own medicine. I
did acquire a lot of useful information though, like how to access his weapons store in his residence.”
“To what end?”
“Our escape. While Ram, your king, and most of the warriors are occupied in the mines, we’ll reclaim our ship.”
“He said there was an explosion… what did you do?”
“Just a small diversion.”
Eva glanced at the mountains in the distance, concerned. Despite what she’d just learned, she had feelings for Kerr. After the past few weeks, how could she not?
“These are not good men, Eva. They’re ruthless, doing whatever it takes, no matter the cost.”
“Isn’t that what we’re doing, Eryn? The sole goal of our mission is to save the human race.”
“We haven’t done the despicable things they have,” she shot back.
“Yet. To what lengths will we go wh
en we run out of time, especially if faced with extinction?”
“Not this.”
“You’re very sure of your self-righteousness.”
“You’re defending them?” Eryn demanded, incredulous. Suddenly, her gaze softened. “What happens to you, Eva?”
“What do you mean?”
“When he gives up? When you don’t transform into his perfect mate and give the Princep his precious heir, what becomes of you?”
A horrible thought occurred to her, one she didn’t want to give credence to. She asked anyway. “What does one have to do with the other?”
Eryn’s eyes widened. “He didn’t tell you? Lying bastard.”
“Tell me what?”
“Primarians can only breed with a transformed mate. Their seed isn’t viable unless the chemical reaction has taken place.”
Viable. Jarlan had used that same word.
Oh. My. God!
A wave of nausea rolled through her as the truth hit her smack in the face. All the tests, and the collection of bonding fluids finally made sense. She wrapped her arms around her waist and bent forward, breathing deep to keep from getting sick.
“You are worthless to him, unless you become like him.” Eryn moved closer, pity in her eyes. “He lied to you, Eva. Think what else he hasn’t told you?”
An image of Zalina wavered in front of her eyes.
“How long before he casts you aside because you can’t bear his child?”
“He said they mate… for life.”
“You’re not truly bonded until you transform, Eva. It’s too late for the others, but we can still escape — and save the rest of the crew from the same fate.”
“If we keep standing around yacking, it will be too late for us too,” Yolanda said. “We need to go.”
“Come with us, Eva,” Britha urged, adding her voice to Eryn’s plea.
Confused, grappling with a riot of emotion and indecision, she gazed out the window again. “The mine. Was anyone hurt?”
“An ally started a fire in an unoccupied shaft. All smoke and mirrors to buy us time. No one was there to get hurt.”
At least she knew he would be all right. “How will we escape?”
“We?” Eryn glanced at the women accompanying her.
From the beginning, Eva had known something wasn’t right. She couldn’t stay. Her decision made, she swallowed painfully. “Yes, I’m coming with you.”
Eryn laid a hand on her shoulder, “We’ll explain on the way. Let’s go.”
* * *
Making their way to the landing port in the less populated area of town, Eva and her fellow escapees walked unhurriedly down the streets as if out for a leisurely stroll. She found it odd that no one questioned that they were unescorted, some of the people out and about even waved in greeting, nodding respectfully to the prima. Then she recalled she’d had no trouble earlier, at the market or the square, until Kerr’s grandfather came upon her, thinking her ill.
“Why aren’t they suspicious of us,” Eva wondered aloud, pitching her voice low as she smiled at a pair of citizens waving from across the street.
“Because women here are docile and mindless. Not to mention they fear being beaten.” Eryn’s voice was filled with sneering disgust. “None of them would dare rebel against their men.”
This made Eva frown. The two happy shoppers they’d passed didn’t seem mindless. They also didn’t give the impression of being miserable. Kerr’s Aunt Neela had been bright and bubbly, and very independent, like the host of other women she’d met. As far as being beaten, she hadn’t seen anyone bruised, or cowering from their mates. This made her consider the spankings she received from Kerr. They’d stung, certainly, but she wouldn’t call them beatings. And the aftermath had been soothing, but mostly passionate. But she had to consider the woman being flogged in the square that morning. Her cries of pain had been disturbing. Valkerr had made some valid points about social order, as well. Things here seemed much more tranquil and well-structured than the chaos she’d left on Earth.
The comparisons were striking. Did she want to return to such disorder, and frankly, misery? A nagging pressure erupted behind Eva’s eyes. It was all so confusing, especially Kerr with Zalina. That had been the impetus for her impulsive decision to leave. Maybe she should allow him to explain.
Not to mention, did she really want to experience the transporter again, and the disturbing disorientation and dizziness that swamped her afterward?
Her steps slowed as they passed another small group of citizens, strolling leisurely in the warm sunny day. Greeted by smiles and nods, like the others, none suspected three of the four Earth females they passed so cordially were in fact armed to the teeth with lethal weapons strapped to their thighs beneath the flowing gauzy dresses.
Eryn noticed her lagging steps and waited for her, wrapping a hand around her wrist and spurring her forward.
“Come on, Lieutenant. Before one of the sheep become suspicious and tells one of the horny shepherds.”
Indecision still whirling in her aching head, she picked up the pace. After making it the three blocks to their destination without being stopped or questioned, the four women entered a small building set off to the side of the landing port. Once inside, they rushed through the empty hallways to the transport room. As they entered, Eva was shocked to see two Primarian males manning the controls. Along with them was one other, a female — with a very memorable face.
“Good, you convinced her,” the beautiful brunette said as she gazed at Eva.
“Zalina.”
“You’ve heard of me? From Kerr?” Her pleased smile a bit was too smug for Eva to bear.
“No, a merchant in the market told me how he dumped you when you didn’t match. He needs a perfect mate, evidently.”
“That leaves you out, so the rumors go.”
“And you, so says Kerr.”
“He is mine,” Zalina spat, stalking to stand over her, eclipsing even Eva’s above-average height.
“If that’s true, why have I been sharing his bed for the past few weeks?”
“With you gone, he’ll come to me. No matter the numbers, better to mate with a Primarian woman who wants him — and wants to become one with him. A Primarian to bear his sons and daughters instead of an alien bitch who can’t, and fights him at every turn.”
“Enough,” Eryn barked. She looked at the man at the controls. “How many have gone up?”
“We sent the final wave remotely from the med bay only a few moments ago. You four are the last of the bunch. Take your places.”
The other two guards moved into the lighted chamber, followed by Eryn. When she stepped onto a lighted circle on the floor, she turned and faced forward. Seeing one of their group wasn’t ready, she sighed heavily. “Come on, Eva. Get in the transporter.”
But she didn’t, instead looking toward the two males. “I understand why she is doing this,” tilting her head to the side, she indicated Zalina without actually looking at her, “but what’s in this for you?”
The males stared back at her coolly, but didn’t reply. Zalina, however, was happy to supply the answer. “They are purists who don’t believe in interspecies breeding. They believe that the Maker will protect us from dying out. We don’t need or want your kind here.”
Eva flinched at the hatred in Zalina’s eyes, and took a lurching step back. What was the right thing to do? Who should she believe? Her teammates, aided by a jealous woman and coldly xenophobic Primarian soldiers, or Kerr, who had held her in his arms with an unwavering belief that she was his, that fate had brought them together across the galaxies?
If she went, she’d never again feel his embrace, the gentle touch of his lips, or the hunger of his kisses. She’d never hear his laughter again, or see his broad smile, the same smile that ignited the golden glint in his gorgeous eyes. An image of Kerr formed in her head, and at the same time a wave of dizziness and intense anxiety overwhelmed her. Her heart stuttered painfully in her chest,
a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. Then, like a flashfire, a familiar burning ache returned, scorching the back of her neck.
“Eva!”
She looked up, blinking at the gun Eryn pointed at her chest.
“He’s brainwashed you,” Eryn said. “The Eva La Croix I know wouldn’t have wanted this.”
Yolanda shook her head. “Leave her.”
“No,” Eryn barked. “No one is left behind.”
“Then stun her, and I’ll haul her ass over here myself.”
Eva stepped back.
“You’re not predestined to be his, Eva,” Eryn said. “You’re just a functional set of ovaries and a womb to them. If you don’t deliver on that promise, you’re nothing. As are we all to them. On Earth, we have people counting on us. Our people. This is your last chance to go voluntarily.”
“I need to… think.”
“Time’s up on that,” Britha replied, raising her weapon.
“Wait! You’re taking my choice away, which makes you no different than them.”
“Wrong,” Yolanda replied. “At least we won’t demand that you fuck us.”
Eva sensed movement behind her, but she turned too late to defend herself from the pain that seared into her side from Zalina’s weapon.
As if from a great distance, she heard the Primarian bitch’s malicious laughter, then there was nothing except blackness.
* * *
Miles away beneath the planet’s surface, in a smoke-filled tunnel, Kerr dropped to his knees as a jolt of fire stabbed into his side, like a searing hot knife sinking between his ribs. He grabbed his chest as the air rushed from his lungs, apprehension coursing through him.
Eva’s image flashed in his head. With a strong sense of foreboding, he knew something was very wrong. He felt it as certain as the sudden nausea churning in his gut, and the burning heat that ignited along his neck and upper back.
“Max Kerr,” one of the men called, others rushing to his side.
“Eva,” he rasped. “Send someone too her, now.”
Blackness swirled before his eyes as he stretched his hand out to Trask. Kneeling beside him in the dirt, his friend leaned forward to give him aid. With his strength rapidly fading, Kerr whispered, “Protect her for me.”
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