No Refuge (Known Universe)

by Annie Nicholas

  “Liar, you’d do anything to protect him. Where is he?” If he only knew.

  I broke eye contact and searched the dock area for anyone watching us. “Somewhere safe.” The less Stoffin knew, the better. I couldn’t waste any more time on chitchat.

  “He’s not with you?”

  I scowled at Stoffin. “He can’t be with me. If I get caught then so will he. I’m in a suit without a helmet, Stoffin. Can you help me get off station or not?”

  “Why do think I’m here? For my health? The Ko ain’t stupid. They’re watching this ship. I’ve seen them with my own eyes. If you thought of stowing on the only live cargo ship on the dock and I thought of it, then you know they’re waiting for you to make a move.” He took me by the shoulders and gave me a small shake. “And you almost walked into a trap. You gotta be smarter than ’em.”

  “I don’t see any Ko.” I tried to peer around the hulking Kandarian.

  “And they haven’t seen you. Yet. I’ve been watching the place, waiting to spot you. Instead, I’ve seen the Ko creeping in the shadows of the hold. Why do think those animals won’t go in?” He raised his non-existent eyebrow.

  I glanced around the dock behind him. There were all manner of folk moving around. A Ko could be dressed as one of those beasts, for all I knew. “What should I do, then? I don’t have many options.”

  “I thought about hiding you in my quarters, but the Ko are crawling all over the ship.” Sighing, he came to stand next to me and joined in staring at the ship. “The station won’t let anyone undock until you’re found. I don’t know what to do either.”

  “Maybe you should have let me get caught. The easiest answer is for me to die.” There, I’d said it, and I hadn’t fallen to the ground wailing like a babe. Yay, for not being a total wimp.

  “The thought crossed my mind.”

  I gasped and tossed him a daggered glare.

  He grinned. “Those monsters destroyed my culture. I couldn’t let them have you too.” He rested his arm around my shoulders. “Watch out for that ship of Jurranians as well. They’ve been asking too many questions about you even before this craziness started. It makes me uneasy.”

  “The whole fucking station is searching for me. What’s a couple more?” I took his hand and squeezed it. “You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a friend besides Brody.”

  “I have some silvered iridium saved. What if I rent a room? You can hide there for a few days until we can come up with another plan.”

  “That’s a great idea.” No, it wasn’t. The Ko would be monitoring all the crews’ financial activities. As soon as the room came across station records, the Ko would be breaking down the door. “I’ll stay here while you make the arrangements.” I watched Stoffin stroll off the dock. My heart grew heavier with each of his steps. I wish I could have said a proper good-bye, but he would never let me do what had to be done.

  6

  I left the dock area as soon as Stoffin was out of sight, and headed for the market place. Like I’d said, there was only one sure way I could appease the Ko, get the station to let the ships undock and the human transport off in safety.

  How long before the Ko demanded to do a ship-to-ship search and discovered the others? Many vending tables lay empty, and few shoppers wandered around the market area. That wouldn’t last long. Steeling my spine, I dropped my cloak and walked the aisles. Being caught by the Ko would be my sacrifice so Brody could live his dream and the other humans could escape. As long as I walked free, Brody’s ship to the human colony was trapped at the dock.

  A tremor ran along my legs. All I wanted in return was a quick death. Jumping out an airlock would be the easiest, but no one would know I was dead and the Ko would keep tearing this station apart. I had to give myself up. They needed to see proof. Maybe a Ko could come from behind and snap my neck before I knew it, but I doubted I’d be that lucky. Most of the tents I passed appeared empty. The vendors must have closed shop early after my narrow escape.

  Nobody wanted to deal with the Ko. Better to leave the area and let them search at will.

  Someone snatched my hand.

  I choked as my heart jumped into my throat, but didn’t fight the pull that drew me into a tent. I wouldn’t fight. The faster it was done, the better. I closed my eyes and let the probable flesh trader take me. Material rustled around us and I was set on the floor.

  “What are you doing?” a female with a familar voice asked.

  I opened my eyes and found the elder Jurranian female, who had offered me and Brody possible sanctuary on her ship before all this trouble. She loomed over me. Sitting up, I took in our surroundings. The tent was empty except for a few of her crew, all of them female but one. I scratched my head. “What?”

  “Are you slow in the head, female?” a young male asked. “What are you doing out in public? The Ko and flesh traders are combing the area for you.”

  “You think I’m dense? I know what’s hunting me. They’ve been doing it all my life. You should get away. They’ll kill all of you if they find you with me.” They’d probably jump to the conclusion these kind folk had been harboring me.

  She knelt and touched my fake ears. “Who do you think makes these things?”

  I blinked. “Jurranians? You knew we were human when we met on the dock.”

  “Yes. Our people have a very fine sense of smell. Some of us know what humans smell like, though you are growing rarer every year.”

  All this time I’d thought I’d been hiding in plain sight, yet the Jurranians had known. They had aided my people in hiding? Pretending ignorance so the Ko couldn’t retaliate was genius. This took courage on a grand scale and I couldn’t express the weight of gratitude settling on my shoulders. “I—I.” I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”

  “We help in small ways. Where is your mate?”

  “On a ship waiting to undock.” I patted myself on the back for keeping the tremor out of my voice.

  Her ear-tips stood straight. “He left you to face the Ko by yourself?”

  I shook my head. “It’s not like that. He wanted to follow but I left him.” I stared at the metallic floor, imagining how pissed Brody would be once he woke.

  The elder patted my hand. “It’s for the best and will make helping you easier.” She popped my fake ear tips off, then gestured to some of the younger females gathered in the back of the tent. “Undress her and apply the skin dye. Shave her head first.”

  I gripped my hair in my hands. “No.” Brody loved it.

  The elder slapped my hands away. “You want to die?”

  “No,” I repeated. “But the station won’t let anyone undock until I am dead.”

  “Stop being a fool.” She handed me a pair of clippers. “I’ll take care of the station hub. Once you’re ready for public viewing, I make a call, then everyone will undock with or without the station cooperating. We ship haulers have to stick together. The Ko get away with too much bullying as it is.”

  Staring at the clippers, I finally understood what she wanted to do. The Ko were searching for a human in a Jurranian disguise, so we’d change my appearance.

  The first cut was the hardest. I watched the strands fall into a bag, then took a deep breath. I did want to live. It would be without my man, but I’d have the treasure of his memory forever and the knowledge that he was safe. As I cut the long pieces of my hair, another shaved until only smooth scalp showed. I undressed, my modesty a casualty in this fight to survive. “Can you tell him to stop staring?” I pointed at the only male in the tent.

  They helped me apply the violet color to my blushing skin. It only took seconds to absorb into my pores, turning me the color of a Kandarian slave. I dressed in a scrap of cloth, which barely hid my important bits, and tugged at the hem.

  The elder tapped under my eyes. “Contacts.”

  “Oh.” I’d worn them for so long I couldn’t remember what my real eyes looked like. Popping them out, I handed the glassy disks to her and blinked. Tears leaked
from under my eyelids as I adjusted to not having anything against my eyeballs.

  “Here.” She gave me a fresh set. The irises appeared big and pink in color.

  I set them on my irritated corneas. “How’s that?”

  “Good.” She then clasped a collar around my neck and handed the leash to the young male.

  I glanced from her to him, sensing my eyes getting wider. The reality of what my new identity meant sank in. I’d have to act like a slave from now on. How long before the act became habit?

  “What would an old female like me want with a pleasure slave? He’ll bring you to our ship. Then we go.” She left with the other females, leaving me alone with him.

  I fidgeted with the hem of my tiny skirt and edged toward the exit until the leash was taut.

  He didn’t bother hiding the appreciation in his gaze as it traveled over my body. “You act well. Even your anxiety smells real.”

  I laughed. “Because it is real. My mate never let me be alone with other males.” Not to mention I was wearing a rag as a loincloth and another for a bra. I rubbed my upper arms for warmth. The Jurranian females had taken my jumpsuit and backpack with them. “What now?”

  “We give them time to reach the ship. Then I accompany you to your new home.” He smiled. “It won’t be so bad. We’ll find you another human to travel with soon enough. Or you can stay with us.” He brushed a knuckle along my bare shoulder.

  My stomach clenched and I wanted to throw up. “Humans mate for life,” I whispered with a rough voice.

  His smile faded. “Well, maybe we can contact him from the ship and he can cross the docks to our ship. Easy fix, see?”

  “No, he needs to stay where he is. It’s better this way.”

  The male shook his head, mumbling something under his breath about females of all races being cold hearted. If it meant Brody could go to the colony, then I’d be the iciest bitch ever.

  “For this to work, you need to act submissive. Walk behind me. Don’t speak to anyone unless I give you permission. If I’m forced to stop and speak with anyone, then you kneel.”

  “You sure know a lot about how a slave should act.” I did my best to stare at my feet and hide a scowl.

  “I like my females submissive.” He left the tent, giving my leash an unnecessary tug. Swaggering along the aisle, he nodded to some of the vendors.

  One of them frowned. “Those tents aren’t meant for that. Go pay for a room. Next time I’ll report you to the station hub.”

  Smiling, he bowed to her and tugged me closer, running his hand down my back.

  I glanced over my shoulder at the abandoned vendor stall we’d just vacated. Had they seen me change? What did she mean about a room?

  The male’s hand landed on my ass.

  Oh.

  My lip curled. Now, I understood what they thought we’d been doing.

  “Stop glaring at me and cast your eyes to the ground,” he snapped.

  I jumped and stared at the freezing floor. They’d taken my boots, leaving me to walk barefoot. I’d never considered the slaves’ plight until now. I’d been too busy surviving mine.

  We were almost out of the market when out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of a familiar set of shoulders rolling as the male stormed into the market.

  Oh shit.

  Brody strode across the place, ears laid back, and shoving folk out of his way as he headed toward a set of Ko exiting on the other side of the market.

  I grabbed the Jurranian male’s arm and whispered, “My mate is in the market. He’s going to attack those Ko. We have to stop him.” Not caring who witnessed, I pointed to my crazed mate.

  The male swore a streak. “Is your whole race insane? First you, now him. No wonder you’re almost extinct.” He jumped onto a cleared table and let out an ear-piercing whistle. The marketplace paused, including Brody, and stared at us. “Let’s have a little impromptu auction, folks.” His voice carried over the scant shoppers and vendors.

  People drew closer.

  I retreated until my behind hit the edge of the table. Hands snaked under my arms and I startled as the male lifted me next to him.

  “This fine female is up for use.” He pushed and pulled at my shoulders until I’d done a three-sixty for the audience.

  Torn between keeping my slave-like composure and wanting to clock him like I’d done to Brody earlier, I didn’t know where to look until my gaze fell on Brody once more.

  “You!” The male pointed at my man. “You look like you need a little R and R, brother.”

  The crowd twisted, stared at Brody. Some of them laughed and a Metax slapped Brody on the back, propelling him our way.

  He grimaced. Then our gazes met. His mouth went slack and his fake ears came up.

  “See how pretty she is. Not many in the universe like this one.” The male ran his hand along my back while watching my man. I could almost see steam erupting from Brody’s ears as his glare followed the caress.

  “Seven silvered iridium,” a greenish Tograth called out.

  “I have seven. Do I hear eight?”

  I glanced at the male. Was he really going to sell me off? Then I stared at Brody. Did he even have money to buy me? He’d offered it to the captain of the human ship.

  “Eight,” someone else shouted.

  “Nine,” followed right after.

  “Ten, do I hear ten? She’s young and fresh off the planet.” He spun me to show them my ass.

  I gripped his arm, digging my nails into his flesh.

  “Easy,” he whispered by my ear. “We have an audience.” He nodded to the Ko on the edge of the market watching the crowd.

  I released him before I drew blood. Act. I needed to think like a slave and act. I swiveled and cocked a hip at the crowd, posing like I’d seen the Kandarian slave girl do earlier today when she’d displayed the pink crystal necklace.

  Brody tramped to the table and plopped the heavy bag containing our pay on the table. “I don’t want to rent her. I want to buy her.”

  The bidding stopped and the crowd went still as the male bent and counted the contents. “Deal.” He handed him my leash. “Watch out, she’s feisty and needs training.”

  “Don’t I know it.” He yanked the leash and dragged me off the table before I could catch my balance.

  7

  Stumbling, I tried to keep pace with Brody’s long strides as he led me by the leash. I wished he had stayed on the ship, safe and sound with a ride to his dream. Yet my traitorous heart wanted to burst with elation that he’d left those important things behind to save me. I’d never felt more loved. He’d come back for me. The great big, wonderful idiot.

  His shoulders rolled with purpose and he never glanced once at me. The crowd parted at our approach.

  I crept closer to his back. “B—Brody?”

  “Don’t speak.” He gave the leash a hard jerk. Passing a vid screen with my picture rotating on it, he paused. “If I didn’t know your body so well, I’d never have recognized you in that get-up.” Then he smirked. “That was good thinking.”

  “It wasn’t my idea.” I knelt by his feet, trying my best to act submissive when all I wanted to do was jump into his arms and steal his breath away with a kiss.

  “Hmm, not surprised then, since you came up with that dim-witted knock-Brody-on-his-ass idea.” He tilted my head back and met my gaze. The anger within his eyes froze the response on my lips. “If you ever try something like that again, I’ll make sure that leash is permanently welded in place. Do we have an understanding?” The soft manner in which his words were delivered sent chills down my spine and popped my unrealistic bubble of joy. I’d never seen him more angry.

  “Yes.”

  He nodded. “Good. Now we need to get back on that human ship and lay low.”

  “They won’t let me on board.”

  He dragged me to my feet and continued to the docks. Crates were lined by the exit where he shoved me into the tight space between them and pressed against
me. “They’ll be changing their minds.” He held a machine part in his hand. “If they want to fly, they’ll be needing this.”

  “Brody.” I spoke his name on a sigh. “You are the most cunning, devious male I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting.” The grin on my face made my cheeks ache.

  Brushing his fingertips along my jaw line, he lifted my face until our noses touched. “I meant what I said. Don’t ever, ever leave me like that again. When I woke and found you gone, it took years off my life.”

  “I didn’t have a choice. I want you safe and this is my mess.” I frowned. “Part of me still wishes you’d stayed on the ship.”

  “Well, we have better choices now.” His gaze flowed from my face, caressing along my body, and lingered on the curves of my hips. “Come along, slave.” And he gave the leash a tug. “I’m starting to like this disguise…and the outfit.”

  Fire ignited under my skin. Could all human men inflame their mates with one look? If yes, it shouldn’t take long to repopulate the universe. I gave him a small shove. “Let’s get on the ship already. I have some apologizing to do.”

  “To who?” He laid his arm around my shoulders as we strolled.

  “You.”

  “Ah, you sure know how to motivate a man. First, we need to open coms with the captain to bargain our way back on board.” He opened the pocket on his chest. Wires and clips bulged from it. “I grabbed my gear from the backpack so I can patch into the system and bypass the station hub. Then we have to figure out how to get the station to let us undock. That won’t be so easy. The Ko will be making bigger threats the longer you’re on the lam.”

  “Actually, I have a solution to getting undocked.” I grinned at his skeptical expression. “The Jurranian elder who helped me with this new disguise said she was arranging something with the other captains. She was waiting for me to arrive at her mooring before implementing it.” I gave him a shy smile. “We hadn’t planned on you jumping ship, the auction, or my returning with you.”

  “Lucy, you should have said something sooner. What if they undock while we’re wasting time talking?” He grabbed my hand, forgetting the leash in his haste, and raced to nearest the communication console. “Stand here.” Setting me next to him to block anyone’s view, he popped open the panel and dug out his gear. “Try not to attract attention.”