I was free to stay or leave.
I wanted to stay.
Was it love? Was that the warm, gooey feeling in my chest? I refused to be without Ruush, but I still doubted my emotions. Since arriving on the Promontory, I had been in a constant state of anger or fear. On Avalon, I worked myself so hard I left anger and fear behind. What was left?
Coffee on the beach at dawn. That was what.
I didn’t understand the fluttering in my stomach. Ruush made me want to scream in frustration half the time. The other half, he was sweet and tender. But it was worth staying just to see where the relationship went.
But Malik waited for me on Galax One. Malik gave up so much to smuggle me off of Talmar. I could not abandon him now, no matter how giddy and fluttery Ruush made me.
“So,” Hilly prompted, “tell me everything.”
“No way.”
“I told you about my love life.”
“No one can avoid hearing your love life,” Rise said, sourly.
After the mandatory teasing, I finally got the real story out of the crew. The Promontory’s crew existed mostly on mercenary work and running in bounties for the Interstellar Union. They only did enough smuggling to maintain their credibility. Dashle was their contact.
“So are you IU agents?” I asked, hands wrapped around a mug of coffee.
Resolve’s laughter was a slight purr in her chest. “We’re their dirty little secret. When their Enforcers can’t do a job because of red tape, we get the call.” Right. The smuggler ship didn’t have to play by diplomatic IU rules, like breaking in to a quarantine zone to apprehend a wanted fugitive.
One week later, the Promontory docked at Kile Moon Base. The week went fast. Mostly because I spent it in bed with Ruush. I had no complaints; far from it. I was one very satisfied kitten.
Once at Kile, the crew handed Adram over. He was the IU’s problem. The crew gathered at Dashle’s bar to celebrate and squander their good fortune. Beer and laughter flowed like the cheep booze served at the bar.
“Was it the spirit walk? Is that how you were caught cheating?” I asked.
“It was a three day wilderness survival test and no. I am capable of keeping myself alive for three days without cheating.” Ruush’s thumbed stroked the underside of my wrist where I had inserted the new chip. “Did you settle on a name?”
“Meyet,” I said. Hated and insulting, it was still the only name I had known.
“Any surname?” he asked, voice low and tempting.
“Just Meyet for now.” The family name stumped me. I was reluctant to take his name, even though he offered. The idea seemed so foreign. Maybe I should try to locate my bastard of a father.
I sensed him before I saw him, the way prey senses a predator with lots of teeth. The hair stood on the back of my neck. Ruush’s large hand rested in the small of my back. I jerked away, not waiting them to see me like this. Fraternizing. Taking one more swig of my beer, I turned my head.
A light grey Tal man watched me from across the bar, his yellow eyes vicious and empty. Gentle. His grey tail whipped from side to side.
The glass slipped from my hand, shattering on the floor.
“Hey! You’re paying for that,” Dashle said.
“Don’t yell at my mate,” Ruush immediately replied, chest puffed out and stepping towards his brother.
I ignored them both.
The crowd parted for Gentle as he moved towards me. I tugged on Ruush’s sleeve, trying to get his attention but he was having too good a time squabbling with his brother.
“I did not imagine you would be so foolish as to return here,” Gentle said, voice a hostile growl. “I’ve been chasing you all over the system, little one.”
“I’m free now,” I said, willing my voice not to tremble. “My contract ended with Calmness.”
His hand reached out and forcefully turned my head, exposing the tattoo behind my ear.
Ruush finally caught on to what was happening. He squared his shoulders and stepped between Gentle and myself, creating a barricade with his body. “You should rethink the wisdom of touching my mate,” he warned.
A feral grin broke over Gentle’s face, sharp teeth against his smoky complexion. “I see you ran away and found a protector, Meyet. You were always hiding behind others: my father, Malik.”
The way he said my brother’s name, like he tasted a fine wine, chilled me. I knew a threat when I heard one. “You should leave, Gentle.”
“I will,” he said, casually leaning against the bar. The crowded surged away from in one motion. “But it seems my brother misses your charms.” He gave me a long look, sweeping from head to foot and lingering on my charms.
“Swift can go to hell,” I said quickly, not weighing my words.
Gentle’s tail thrashed in agitation, beating against the bar in a rhythm that matched the pounding of my heart. His words, thankfully, were more measured.
“Brothers often require us to make sacrifices,” he said. “For example, mine sent me to fetch a mouthy little Terran with a fat ass because he wants to fuck her.”
Ruush moved as if ready to pounce but I tugged on his elbow, holding him back. Gentle refused to fight with words. Gentle fought with tooth and claw.
“And yours is pulling you back home,” Gentle said.
“What?” I asked, but I already suspected.
Gentle sat a tablet on the bar and slid it towards me. Unaware, Vex and Rise crept up behind him, moving silently, ears flat and tails still.
My heart sank as I picked up the device, hands trembling. I knew what I would see. The moment I left Talmar, I realized what would happen to Malik, but I left anyway because I was a selfish creature.
A video played. Malik, hands and feet bound, on a bare concrete floor being kicked and pummeled. The camera was careful not to show the faces of the attackers, but focused instead on the glazed look in Malik’s eyes. Empty. He was already broken.
Ruush snatched the device from my hands and cracked it in half, throwing the pieces at Gentle’s feet. “How do we know that’s real?” he demanded.
“It’s real,” I said. Gentle wouldn’t fake what he could do easily with his fists.
The tablet’s destruction did not concern Gentle. He placed a golden collar on the counter. The metal was thin and finely crafted. I recognized it immediately: a slave collar. Ornate and fragile in appearance, the collar was nearly indestructible and could deliver a shock to the wearer. Voltage ranged from a mild sting all the way to a devastating shock that caused loss of bladder control and blacking out. I could guess what setting Gentle preferred.
“You will put the collar on and return with me,” he said. No threat. There was no need. I knew the consequences of refusing.
Malik would die.
I reached for the collar. Two actions happened at once. Vex and Rise pounced on Gentle, one smashing a bottle across their target’s back. The other swept his legs, making the man tumble. The bar erupted into a brawl. Ruush picked me up like I weighed nothing and tossed me behind the counter, then he leapt over the bar with ease.
We crouched behind the bar, hidden from the brawl. Glass shattered above and Ruush pulled me in, tucking my head against his chest.
“Help me,” I said. “We have to go back to Talmar and save my brother.”
Ruush stroked my head in a soothing manner. “I don’t know the man in that video. I don’t even know if it’s real. I’m not risking my crew to chase a shadow.”
“Gentle and Swift aren’t the kind of men who bluff,” I said, pulling away from his embrace. My heart sank into my stomach with his words. I was going to be sick.
“This isn’t your fight anymore, kitten. You left all that behind.” I refused to believe the words coming out of his mouth. Ruush had no honor. I saw that now.
“Malik is my brother! He sacrificed himself for me. I have to rescue him.” I had to. Couldn’t Ruush see that? It was a matter of honor, valor, and loyalty. Then again, Ruush failed to understand the im
portance of me upholding my medical oath. Curse the man. Choosing to ignore my brother’s abuse was not an option.
We were startled by the solid thump of a body slamming into the bar.
“Help me. I helped you on Avalon,” I pleaded.
“That was different.” His hand scrubbed his face, weary.
“Different because it was your bounty? I put my professional credibility on the line for you.” Anger bubbled up within me. He was only interested in his profit. “And I’m your mate. Unless those were empty words.” I was ready to beg. Ruush claimed me as his mate but Malik was my family. Surely he understood.
“Please, Ruush,” I begged.
“We’ll figure out something,” Ruush said, pressing his forehead to mine. Normally the affectionate gesture made me melt, but not anymore. Figuring something out was code for doing nothing.
Oh, screw that noise. My hands gripped the collar. I already had a plan but he would hate it. It was wrong of me to enjoy Ruush taking care of me, anyway. It was as fake now as it was on Avalon. The only person who was going to take care of me was me. And the only person who was going to save Malik was me.
I climbed onto the bar. “Gentle!” I shouted, capturing his attention. Shrugging off Vex and Rise like they were bothersome flies, Gentle reached for me. His hands wrapped around my waist and he placed me on the floor.
“Why the drama?” I asked. “Why not jump me in the dark and take me?”
Gentle reached out to stroke my cheek, a claw lightly scraping down my skin. My hand, still clutching the collar, trembled. “Because the defeat in your eyes is sweeter when it’s your choice.”
Ruush surged forward, knocking away the Tal’s hand. His large blue palms pushed against Gentle’s chest. He did not stumble backwards but rocked slightly and retaliated with a jab to the stomach. Ruush doubled over. Gentle gave a quick kick to the knee and Ruush was on the floor. Gentle drew his foot back, to stomp on his back while Ruush scrambled to stand.
“Stop!” I shouted, tugging on Gentle’s tail. He spun towards me, snarling. Nope, he didn’t like that but it got his attention. “I’ll come with you.” I placed the collar around my neck. Once closed, the clasp formed a perfect, impenetrable seal. Nothing would remove the collar except the controller.
Gentle purred in triumph. Ruush got to his feet and pulled me towards him. “I’m not letting you,” he said possessively, like a child refusing to share a toy.
I hit his chest with my fists. Ineffective but satisfying. “Not letting me? I’m not your plaything.”
“You’re my mate.”
“And he’s my brother!”
“Stay,” he said, voice pleading. His eyes searched mine but I looked away.
“I wouldn’t want to endanger your crew by chasing a shadow,” I said, spitting his words back at him. Ruush was no different than Gentle. He was dishonest, untrustworthy, and entirely dishonorable. He was selfish to the bone. It was better for me to understand that now than later.
“We leave now,” Gentle said, hand gripping my arm, claws digging into the soft skin. “No one follows us or I slice her to ribbons.” Five pinpricks welling bright scarlet illustrated his sincerity. I submitted as he jerked me away, barely able to keep up with his long strides.
“Meyet!” a voice shouted, desperate and in anguish.
I kept my eyes straight ahead, tears blurring my vision. At least that rogue didn’t have a chance to break my heart.
Chapter Seventeen
Meyet
I was furious with Gentle. With Ruush. Mostly with myself. He suckered me good and hard. I trusted a smuggler with a charming face and wild hair. Why? Because he had a sexy smile. And for what? He took my professional credibility and my virginity and I ended up right back in the same awful situation. Except this time, I had a slave collar around my neck and Gentle pressing a gun to the back of my head. Fucking awesome.
I was an idiot.
Ruush never said he loved me, not once in the long month we spent together. He desired me, craved me, adored me, and covered me with kisses, but never loved me. He said I was his mate. But those were hollow words. When it came time to put up or shut up, he was silent as the most desolate level of Hell.
I was such an idiot.
The only person to ever help me without expecting anything in return was Malik. He loved me unconditionally. He was my family and he needed me.
The collar fit snug against my neck. Not tight enough to constrict my air, but just enough to never let me forget its presence. Gentle hauled me into his ship, claws digging into my arms. Designed for speed, the small craft only had one berth and minimal storage under the floor. Impractical in so many ways, the ship was Gentle’s favorite. He cared more for it than another living being.
Gentle shoved me towards the empty passenger seat. “Strap yourself in,” he commanded. “Don’t try anything clever.” His lip curled on the last word. He hated clever. Gentle hated many things in the universe but clever topped the list.
I bit back my instinctive reply that as long as I wore the collar, I wouldn't try anything, but saying as much smacked of being clever. No sass mouth with the angry, violent man.
Gentle ignored me while he launched the ship. I strapped myself in dutifully. The domes of Kile Moon Base gradually receded on the view screen. Once withdrawn at a distance, the ship jumped into hyperdrive. The screen went black with streaks of starlight. The scenery in hyperspace was monotonous. Setting the ship to autopilot, Gentle focused his attention to me.
He folded his arms over his chest and frowned, eyes narrowed. His tail thumped against his leg. “You stink of that Fremmian bastard,” he said spitefully.
My eyes were fixed to the floor. I said nothing.
“I can’t understand why my brother wants soiled goods.”
I flinched at his words. Soiled. I didn’t believe Ruush soiled me, as if my virginity was my only worth, but then he refused to help me save my brother. He got what he wanted and he was done with me. Shame flooded me. Shame I had been so ill-treated. Shame I had been taken in by Ruush’s act. Shame that I craved him with a mad desire. My hand fluttered up to the collar, the metal warm against my skin. I wouldn’t look back. The only way to survive was to go forward. No more wallowing. Focus. Save Malik and then myself.
“He’s wanted you for so long and you broke his heart when you ran away,” Gentle said. “He refused to touch another female.”
Swift heartbroken? He needed a heart first. Again, I held my tongue.
Gentle grabbed my chin and raised my head until we locked eyes. His gaze burned into me. For one terrifying moment, I feared he could sense my thoughts. He said, “You know what he will do to you. What we will do.”
I nodded. Claim me. Mate me. Swift said as much right before I ran away.
Gentle gathered my hair and lifted it from my neck in a surprisingly tender gesture. His free hand stroked where my neck joined my shoulder. “He will bite you here. Mark you as his mate.” He stroked the other side, this time his claws scraping harshly against my skin. “I will bite you here.”
I swallowed hard. Gentle planned to mate me. That was new. Something changed with the twins. Gentle never cared one way or another about me.
Gentle leaned in close, his lips nuzzling my neck. “And when Swift has had his fill of you, when he’s bored and disgusted by your frail little Terran body, you’ll be my plaything.” He opened his mouth, fangs pressing against my neck but not puncturing. Bile rose in my mouth at his promise.
His mouth claimed mine, parting my lips with his tongue by force. He raked his claws across my stomach, causing sharp points of pain.
I screamed into his mouth.
Ruush
I wasn’t exactly making the best choices. The first bad choice was agreeing to play cards with Rise. The Tal had a tooth for gambling and trouble followed him around like his own tail. I saw the concerned look Jonee gave Resolve before Rise and I left for the card tables. I wasn’t a child and I didn’t appreciate th
eir worry. Vex saw nothing. He only had eyes for Hilly. Frankly, I couldn’t stand to be around him right now. If Vex didn’t stop being so damn happy, I was going to leave him behind on Skygge Station.
Fine. Going to Skygge Station was my first bad choice. The Fremm-controlled station was a hotbed of over-muscled blue men who couldn’t stand me or my deformity. But I had a paying customer who wanted passage from Kile to Skygge and I was not going to turn down easy credit. Did it matter that I was persona non grata at Skygge? I didn’t care a chooha’s fluffy ass about the Fremmian military and their bitter words: freak, deformed, half-breed.
Maybe I was looking for a fight.
Finding a fight was easy. Finding a satisfying fight was tough. A basic bar brawl wasn’t going to do it. I needed to knock clarity into my head by pounding a few skulls. But when I was accused of being a card cheat? Simply because the idiot broadcasted every idea rattling around in his head? I found complete satisfaction when I sank my fists into the gut of a big blue fool who moved too slow.
And that’s how I ended up in the brig with Rise and a freshly broken nose. The nose would heal crooked because I didn’t have Meyet to set the bloody mess. I’d have a reminder of my worst bad choice every time I looked in the mirror.
Dammit Meyet.
Now I got to the truth. Coming to Skygge wasn’t my first bad choice. Letting Meyet leave with that psychopath was the start of my downward spiral. I deserved every bit of misery coming my way.
Misery walked through the door, with her dark brown tail swishing and arms folded over her chest. She studied me through the electrified barrier. Rise slept off the booze in a different cell. I was all by my lonesome.
“Are you done with your temper tantrum yet?” Resolve asked.
“I could do without your smart mouth,” I said. I stretched out on the narrow metal cot, arms casually above my head. Look at me and my devil-may-care attitude.
Alien Rogue's Price: Alpha Alien Romance (Alpha Aliens of Fremm Book 4) Page 11
