by Ruby Dixon
“Why not indeed,” I say smoothly, straightening the cuffs on my long-sleeved jacket. “Please feel free to help yourself to whatever you desire.” My appetite is long gone, but I’m not surprised to see that he picks up a few more canisters of refreshments from the table before the mechanized table putters back to the bar. “Shall we get down to business, then? The crystal?”
“In a safe place,” he tells me. “My credits?”
“Ready to be handed over at a moment’s notice.” I sit back in my chair, relaxing, and pat my pocket to indicate that I have his money. I have no such thing, of course, but he doesn’t need to know that. I pretend to scan the crowd, but I’m looking for Tarekh. Sure enough, he’s watching from afar, pretending to lurk on the edges of the throng gyrating near the center of the floor. He nods at me, acknowledging that he’s aware and ready. I turn away, because there’s no signal to give. Not yet. I tilt my head and consider Jth’Hnai. “Let’s talk about…acquisitions.”
I can’t help but look over at the human female when I say that.
She’s watching me, her dark eyes narrowed, a tiny furrow in her brow as if she’s trying to figure me out. She’s magnificent. My cock responds with a surge when she scowls in my direction. I love that. I love that she’s still fierce, even when her life is in danger.
She’s my kind of female.
“What kind of acquisitions?” Jth’Hnai asks, clearly bored. “I’m not interested in anything but credits.”
Spoiled slab of filth. “Credits are exactly what I wanted to discuss,” I tell him smoothly. I lean in, letting my body language tell him that I have something exciting and secretive to bring to him. “My buyers are interested in more crystal.”
He slows in his eating and chews on one last refreshment bubble. “How much more?”
I shrug. I can’t ask for the full amount. Not yet. I have to play it easy. So I grin and tilt my head. “How much have you got?”
The ooli considers me for a long moment and then pulls the female against his side, stroking her hair in a way that makes my gut boil with rage despite the relaxed smile on my face.
I’m glad she slaps at his hands, no more patient for his petting than I am. “Piece of shit, don’t touch me,” she mutters, and the words come through loud and clear in my translator. I pretend to study a refreshment bubble. It’s either that or burst into laughter.
“I have more lethiul crystals,” Jth’Hnai says after a time. “But it will cost.”
I spread my hands wide. “You know I’m good for the credits.”
“It will cost quite a bit more,” he tells me, the look on his face shrewd.
“How much more?”
“Double.”
“Double for double the crystals?” I give him a genial nod. “I can do that.”
He shakes his head. “Double per crystal.”
Keffing ooli. That’s robbery and he knows it. I pretend to consider it, scratching my chin before giving a small shake of my head. “That’s a little too rich for my blood.” I act crestfallen. “Unless you’d…I don’t know, play me for it?”
Jth’Hnai lights up. I knew he would. “Sticks?”
I scratch my brow and lie, “I don’t know. I’m pretty bad at sticks.”
Actually, I’m really keffing good. Really good. It’s the gold standard for gamblers and cheaters everywhere. A good con man knows just how to twist his wrist to ensure that his sticks land just the right way to scoop up the other guy’s points and still make it seem like an accident.
But the last time I met Jth’Hnai for a trade, we played sticks and I lost badly on purpose. You never know when you’re going to need to hoodwink a ooli in the future, and I considered it an investment.
Besides, I wasn’t playing with my own money last time anyhow.
I feign reluctance even as Jth’Hnai eagerly taps the entertainment button on the table and a box of game pieces appears from a hidden compartment. He gets out the set of ornately carved sticks and begins to deal them out on the table. “We shall play, you and I. Perhaps you will win enough money from me to buy some extra crystals, hmm?”
I mock-groan. “I don’t know…”
“Come, do not be hesitant,” the ooli says, gleeful. He’s expecting to clean up like last time, and I can see the greed shining in his beady eyes. “Play me. Let us see how fortune treats you this night.”
“Maybe one hand,” I agree reluctantly, secretly pleased this is all working out exactly as I intended.
3
KIVIAN
A few hours later, I shake my fist and then cast my sticks down on the table for what seems like the dozenth hand. “Kef! Another loss.” I fake-moan and then rub my brow. “There goes my fuel money for the next run. My crew’s going to murder me.”
Jth’Hnai croaks with glee, scooping the pile of credits towards his chest. At his side, the slave has taken to sitting on the floor, pulling at the collar on her neck. She looks exhausted, her pale face strained. Not too much longer, I want to tell her.
“That’s it for me,” I tell him, making a great show of putting away my playing sticks. “I’m almost tapped out.”
The ooli grabs my hand. “One more round. Perhaps your luck will turn, eh?”
I hesitate. “I’m not sure.”
“One more,” Jth’Hnai insists, and I give in, picking up my sticks once more.
Three hands later, he’s not smiling. I’ve won two of the last three—giving him a token win just to make sure he doesn’t realize that I’m snowing him. I’ve also recaptured enough money that he can’t back out now. His betting has been foolishly high for the last few hands and he’s starting to regret it. Good.
I win the next hand, though I make it close enough that he thinks he could have won it.
And then I win the next.
By now, the pile of credits in front of him is dwindling rapidly, and I can see the stress appearing on his face. I continue to play it easy. Too much feigning of surprise will set him off, but no reaction will as well. You have to know just how to handle a situation like this, and I’ve done such a thing a dozen times before. I know how to play my audience.
Others have gathered around the table, watching our increasingly high-stakes games with interest. Amongst the onlookers is my crewman, Tarekh, who’s moved closer to the action.
I let my prey take the next hand, just to keep him hooked. When I win the hand after that, Jth’Hnai makes a sound of frustration, tapping the one lone credit he has left on the table. His betting’s been ridiculous, which was what I wanted. I needed him to get comfortable and then bet wildly, expecting to clean me out of all my credits and then some. Instead, he’s been more and more reckless in an effort to win his money back, and now he’s flattened.
“Perhaps we should end it here,” I say smoothly.
“One more hand,” the ooli tells me, and flicks the remaining credit on the table towards me. “Gather your sticks.”
“I’m not sure.” I pretend to hesitate.
“Come, come. One more hand. I deserve a chance to win back my money.” He flicks his fingers at me, indicating that we should begin.
I heave a sigh. “If you insist.”
By the time the first round is played, he’s ahead. We pause to bet, and I consider carefully before placing a very restrained amount of credits on the table.
“Bah, you can do better than that,” Jth’Hnai says gleefully. “Bet more!”
“You don’t have the credits, friend,” I tell him in my gentlest voice. “I’d be a fool to bet more against what you’re putting up.”
“Then I’ll put up something else.” He gestures at our game with eager hands, sensing victory. “My jewels? My ship?”
This is the part where I’m supposed to tell him I want the rest of the lethiul crystals. I’ll win, walk away with double and my money, and the job’s done. It’s what I’ve come here to do. That’s the plan.
Instead, I find myself saying, “Why don’t you bet that little human pet
of yours?”
The girl turns and gives me the most stunning glare I’ve ever seen. She’s alert now, and it takes effort not to smile at her outrage.
Of course, I’m sure if I turn around, Tarekh is going to be glaring at me, too. I just won’t look. He’ll just have to understand.
Jth’Hnai thinks for a moment and then nods. “All right. If you win, you get her in your bed.”
The female human jerks violently at her chain, trying to free herself. “Are you fucking high? I’m not going into your bed or his! I’m not anyone’s property!”
He reaches over and swats her across the face. “Cease your whining!”
She staggers and drops to her knees, pressing her hand to her face. I can see a hint of bright red blood in her mouth.
I jump to my feet, the urge to protect her overwhelming. I’m going to kill this keffing bastard if he touches her again.
Jth’Hnai gives me a suspicious look. “What?”
I grit my teeth and lean in, forcing myself to be casual. “Not much of a prize if she’s all wrecked, is she?”
He grunts. “Just play.”
I don’t look at the female. If I do, I’m going to get furious once more. I toy with the over-decorated cuffs of my jacket and then sit down once more, feigning a calm I don’t feel. I’m raging inside. He hurt her and I have to sit here and pretend like it doesn’t matter. Death from a thousand poisoned bubbles is too good for this ooli. Maybe a thousand poisoned pinpricks. That might be better.
I content myself with bloodthirsty thoughts of Jth’Hnai’s death and it calms me. Just a little. Just enough that I can play my hand with steady confidence. My colors line up perfectly, giving me the score for that round. Jth’Hnai plays again, but I keep the advantage, and by the time we’re out of sticks, I’ve trounced him solidly. I knew I would. There was no doubt in my mind. I’ve played sticks since I was a child and my father taught me all the best ways to cheat without being noticed…which I’ve employed tonight.
Jth’Hnai’s face swells with anger. “You…you cheated.”
“No, I didn’t.”
I did. But he doesn’t need to know that.
I lean forward and grab the links of the chain that leads to the female’s throat. “I’ll be taking my prize home with me now.”
He slams his slimy hand down over mine before I can lift her chain. “I didn’t say you could keep her. I said you could have her in your bed. You only get one night.”
I narrow my eyes at him, trying to recall exactly what he said. “Just one night?” I echo. “I’m pretty sure I didn’t agree to that.”
“I don’t care what you agreed to. If you want extra crystal—at any price—you’ll abide by the rules.” His face is turning a darker shade of green, indicating his rage.
Hmm. I consider for a moment. Walk away with the female now and lose all the crystal? Or play along for a little longer? I suppose I can continue the game for a while yet. I wink at Jth’Hnai. “I’ll warm her up for you, then.”
The female makes an outraged sound.
FRAN
I’ve been traded. Is there no end to tonight’s indignities?
Granted, if I have to fuck an alien, I’d rather it be this one than the frog.
Duh, Fran.
I don’t want to sleep with anyone, of course, but I’m having a hard time remaining outraged when the big blue brute is so…well…dang. He’s kind of amazing looking. Sure, he’s blue and has an enormous set of metal-covered curling horns that make his head look gargantuan. He’s wearing some ornate clothing with blowsy sleeves that can’t quite hide the fact that the breadth of his shoulders is staggeringly huge, and he’s got thick black hair cropped short and shaved on the sides of his head, laughing dark eyes, and a mouth that looks like a dream.
Too bad he’s such a dickhole.
I can’t believe the guy just bargained to have a night with me. It doesn’t matter how good he looks. These aliens just bet me at a table as if I’m nothing. Any sort of attraction I might have felt for the guy died in an instant at that. I’m not human to him, just like to Froggy. I’m a plaything surrounded by a lot of much bigger aliens, and it sucks. I close my eyes again, hoping desperately that I’m going to wake up from this unending nightmare.
All I get is another jerk on my neck-chain that makes me gag. Froggy tugs on it one last time, releasing me to the blue guy’s care. “She’s yours…for now.”
“Wonderful.” The grin on his face is downright roguish—and displays long sharp canines I never noticed before. He takes my chain and gives Froggy an elegant bow. “I’ll return her to you in one piece.”
Prince Charming he’s not.
“Oh, I didn’t say I was leaving,” Froggy tells him as he starts to walk away. “I’m going to watch.”
Well, this just gets worse and worse. I tug on the chain, trying to break free…not that there’s any place to go. I just know I don’t want to go anywhere with these two.
“Going to watch, are you?” the big blue one says with a laugh. “I’m not sure if I’m a fan of having my technique criticized.” He gives a wave, indicating I should follow him, and when I don’t, he sighs and grabs my waist.
The next thing I know, I’m slung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, my ass in the air.
“Put me down, you bastard!” I slam a fist against his back and then wince, shaking my wounded hand back and forth. Is he wearing armor under his clothes? Because I think I just busted my knuckles.
“Calm yourself, little one,” the big blue alien says, and pats my butt in a rather humiliating show. “Now, Jth’Hnai, I don’t think I’m a fan of you inviting yourself to our little party. I won fair and square—“
“She’s expensive,” Froggy says bluntly. “I’m going to make sure you handle my property correctly.”
“Your property is going to be so well ‘handled’ that you’re going to have a hard time pleasing her once I’m done,” he teases.
I snort and rub my wounded knuckles. “Fucking unlikely.”
The blue alien just chuckles. Seems he’s overheard me. He pats my ass again, and then we start bobbing away through the crowd.
I close my eyes, waiting for all of this nightmare to pass. Hands—or tentacles—grab and touch my bare legs as we cut through the crowd, just like they’ve been touching me all night. I shiver when something particularly slimy brushes my bare foot. Is this what my life’s going to be like from now on? An endless stream of strangers grabbing me and using me? Despair fills me at the realization.
The big alien carrying me pauses. His shoulder jerks, and the crowd gasps. “Did you just touch my female?” he growls at someone nearby.
“I didn’t mean it!” an alien stammers, just out of my line of sight.
“Really? Because I thought I just saw you touch her leg. Should we ask her?” He sounds ferocious, and he sounds pissed.
He’s…defending me? I’m shocked.
“No, no,” babbles the stranger. “I promise I won’t do it again. Don’t hurt me!”
“If you didn’t do it, how can you do it again?” Big Blue says, and there’s so much menace in his voice that I shiver. I don’t know what to make of this.
There’s a soft thump, and then the crowd around us seems to breathe a sigh of relief.
“Anyone else want to touch my female?” Big Blue dares the crowd.
It’s silent.
“Yours only for tonight,” Froggy chimes in, and I want to slap him.
“Mm,” is all that Big Blue says. Then he starts walking again, the hand returning to my butt once more.
This time I don’t kick. I’m not a fan of the ass-grab, but if it saves me from having tentacles sliding up my skirt, I’ll deal with one hand instead of eighteen. His defense of me was…downright menacing. I shiver.
The music fades and I sway back and forth on the alien’s shoulder as he moves down a long, gray corridor. The one holding me keeps up casual chatter with Froggy, talking about how the station’
s changed since the last time he came through, and how he’s surprised at his luck at the game they played, and how he hopes Froggy doesn’t have any hard feelings. A long, blue tail sways behind him as he walks.
Froggy’s pretty silent despite this upbeat one-sided conversation, which tells me he probably does have hard feelings. Lots of them.
Good. Fuck him. Fuck them both.
We go down another hallway, and Froggy makes a noise that sounds like a protest. “Where are we going?”
“Why, back to my ship, of course,” Big Blue says cheerfully. “That’s where my bed is. Though I do admit you’re probably going to find it cramped. I normally don’t entertain in threes, you know.”
“No,” Froggy says. “If you take her on your ship, I’ll never see her again.”
“So mistrusting. I’m hurt,” Big Blue says playfully.
“You’re a pirate,” Froggy points out. “I’d be a fool to think otherwise.”
Big Blue only laughs, and his tail flicks back and forth.
“I have a room,” Froggy says, and pushes ahead. “Follow me.”
“If you insist, though I promise I’d treat her well if you gave us some privacy.” He caresses my backside with one of his enormous hands.
I make a sound of protest and slam my manacled fists against his armored back. “Dick.”
That earns me a second pat on the ass.
We turn down hall after hall, sometimes passing other inhabitants of the space station. Occasionally someone will exclaim surprise at the sight of me, and it makes my stomach sink. If they’re so startled to see a human, does that mean my chances of ever getting home are nonexistent? I don’t know if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that I’m so unfamiliar. I don’t like the thought of a bunch of other slaves wandering around…but I like the thought of being the only one even less. That means I can’t count on anyone or anything to help me.
“Wow, you’re really in the bowels of the station here, aren’t ya, Jth’Hnai?” the alien holding me comments. I realize a moment later that the tangle of sounds must be Froggy’s name. I can’t pronounce it. “Can you even contact your ship from this pit?”
