by Abel, Regine
And she was worth every single credit of it.
What I wouldn’t have given for Anton’s mother to be as devoted to our child as Hope was to hers. For that alone, whatever the future held, I would make sure Hope and her daughter would be safe and cared for.
She walked up to me, and I drew her to my side, passing a possessive arm around her waist. Hope leaned against me, a happy but timid smile on her face. It was endearing considering what we’d been doing for the past three hours.
“I hear you’ll be taking care of my friend for the next few days,” Roman said gently to Hope.
She nodded shyly, an emotion I could only interpret as gratitude shining on her face as she looked at the broker.
“I’m happy for you,” Roman said with a sincerity that moved even me. “He’s a good man. Grumpy, especially in the morning, but a good sort nonetheless.”
Hope chuckled and looked up at me affectionately. “I can handle grumpy.”
“I will show you grumpy,” I mumbled teasingly at Roman. “See you tomorrow.”
“Have fun,” Roman replied, nodding at me before winking at Hope.
She smiled at the broker then we left, my arm around her shoulders and hers around my waist. The heavy stares of the other patrons and of the women working there amused me. I could only imagine how horrified they must be, thinking I’d split poor Hope in half if I bedded her as they all thought her to be human, as I had.
“Let’s go to your house so that you can take whatever you need for your stay with me,” I said, hailing a hovercar.
They were the only vehicles allowed for public transport on the streets inside the station. However, an underground network provided free public shuttles that allowed patrons to quickly reach the various sections of the massive station.
“Thank you,” Hope said. “That’s quite thoughtful of you.”
While undoubtedly grateful to get some bare necessities and a fresh change of clothes, I was ready to bet that being able to see her daughter first mostly fueled that joy. After we settled in the back of the vehicle—a little too cramped for my liking—Hope gave the driver the directions to her place before turning her luminous eyes towards me. I leaned forward to kiss her, and she melted against me.
The wretched female was turning me into putty in her hands.
“We need to make arrangements for your daughter,” I said softly after breaking the kiss.
“I’ve already contacted my friend Tamika,” Hope said. “She will come spend the night at the house with Siona after her work shift.”
Hope spoke the words with the same fake enthusiasm she’d used earlier when our time had run out. The current arrangement didn’t suit her at all, but she made do with what she had. After closing the privacy window between the driver and us, I turned back to Hope.
“And during the day?” I insisted.
“She’ll be in school, and then she’ll go straight home and lock herself in until Tamika arrives,” she said. “It’s what we already do until either I or Tamika can get home to her.”
Yes, but Luther made that barely veiled threat tonight.
I grunted my assent before looking out at the changing landscape of the station as we left the VIP section to enter the Commons. The contrast between the two areas was so sharp it made my head spin. Where the VIP section was elegant, with muted colors and discreet signs, everything about the Commons screamed at you, from the psychedelic mishmash of colors, bright and oversized animated signs, and criers outside the establishments calling to the passersby, trying to lure them inside. Where relatively strict dress codes were imposed on the walkways in the VIP section—meaning no S&M attire or naughty bits hanging out—in the Commons, it was pretty much a free for all in the adult entertainment areas. Other neighborhoods that focused on more general arts—such as music concerts, dance, theater, and art galleries—enforced the stricter dress code.
Although Hope resided in the more muted area of the Commons, I still didn’t feel comfortable with her living here at all. After telling the driver to wait, I exited the hovercab then walked up to her place; the ground floor apartment of a three-apartment building. Hope unlocked the front door using a bioscan lock then, to my utter shock, she opened it to reveal a second reinforced door with five additional locks on a timer which needed to be unlocked in a randomized sequence each time.
What in the Ancestors’ name is this madness?
She gave me a sheepish look over her shoulder as she finished unlocking the second door before stepping inside and inviting me in. Despite the sparse furniture limited to the bare basic required to function, the humble interior was clean and welcoming. I scanned the room, noticing the drawn shades on every window and the utter silence within the house.
After checking that both doors were properly closed, she quickly checked what I assumed to be the two bedrooms and the hygiene room before coming back to the main room that served as both kitchen and family room. Hope cast a nervous look towards me, chewing her bottom lip as if she was trying to make a decision about something important. She gave me a shaky smile before crouching behind the slightly worn leather couch.
“Siona, you can come out. It’s Mama,” she said loudly at the floor.
My jaw dropped as, seconds later, a group of wooden slats on the floor slid open, revealing a small hidden room, high enough for a child to stand in. It appeared wide enough to contain a small bed and a narrow desk with a bit more room left to walk around. Despite the anger burning like acid in my gut, I kept a neutral expression on my face as a breathtaking, smaller version of my woman climbed out of the chamber. My throat tightened at the expression of pure love on her face as she gazed at her mother. They embraced, Hope pressing a tender kiss between the delicate black horns on her daughter’s forehead.
They parted and, as Siona opened her mouth to speak to her mother, her head suddenly jerked towards me, having finally noticed my presence. She recoiled, her jaw dropping in shock, and her eyes widening with fear.
“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Hope said quickly, caressing her daughter’s hair in a soothing gesture. “This is Mama’s friend Krygor. He will take me away from Bacchus for a week so that I don’t have to deal with Luther.”
Siona’s head jerked back towards her mother, staring at her in disbelief before looking back at me. Despite her youth and obvious innocence, Siona was no fool. She understood what kind of ‘friend’ I was to her mother, and with my fearsome face, the poor child had to be traumatized. In spite of that, she forced herself to school her expression.
“Hello, sir,” Siona politely said with a slightly trembling voice.
“Hello, Siona,” I said with my gentlest voice. “Please call me Krygor.” I carefully approached them, and she fearfully pressed herself against her mother. Remaining at a non-threatening distance, I crouched so that I would no longer tower over her. “Do not fear me, little one. I would never hurt a female, least of all Hope’s daughter. You remind me of my best friend’s son, Garruk, although the boy calls me Uncle Krygor.”
Siona slightly recoiled before scrunching her face, slightly offended. I suppressed the smile wanting to stretch my lips.
“I remind you of a boy?” Siona asked.
“Not in your features,” I conceded gently. “Anyone can see you are a beautiful little girl. But he has the same silver-blond hair as you and your mother do as well as similar black horns.”
“You know other Guldans?” she asked, curiosity taking over her fear.
“Actually, he’s a hybrid. The young prince of my home world, Braxia. His mother is half-Guldan and half-Veredian.”
“Wow, a prince…” Siona said wistfully.
“Half-Guldan?” Hope exclaimed, looking flabbergasted. “I thought the new Dagna was just Veredian? That’s what they said on Guldar about Magnar Ravik’s queen.”
“Disinformation,” I said smugly. “Your Emperor would hate to admit that his plans to enslave my people were thwarted in large part with the help of a Guldan female.�
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Hope snorted at the thought.
“Is this where you stay after school while waiting for your mother or Tamika to come home?” I gently asked Siona.
The atmosphere slightly tensed again, and she cast a questioning look at her mother.
“Yes,” Hope answered in a slightly defensive tone. “It is well ventilated, and she has food and—”
“I do not question that you have accounted for her comfort,” I interrupted with a gently chiding tone. Hope’s face heated, and she gave me a sheepish look. I caressed her hair in a soothing gesture which earned me a strange assessing look from Siona. “The hovercab is waiting,” I reminded her in a gentle voice. “Go pack what you need, and for her as well. Siona can sleep in the guest room in my suite at the hotel. I do not want you stressed and worrying about her welfare.”
Hope gaped at me with disbelief, then her emerald eyes misted. “Oh, Krygor,” she breathed out before throwing herself into my arms. “Thank you! Thank you!” pressing her cheek to my chest while holding me tightly.
I chuckled and gently embraced her before kissing the top of her head. Siona stared at her mother and then at me, her reservations towards me giving way to something akin to hope.
“Thank you, si… I mean, thank you, Krygor,” Siona said timidly.
“My pleasure, Siona. Now, go on, both of you,” I said, gesturing with my head at the bedroom. “Bring the essentials for the next couple of days. We can come get more later.”
The two females nodded. Siona retrieved her school bag from the hidden room and resealed it seamlessly. Taking her by the hand, Hope led her daughter to the smaller bedroom first to help her pack. I picked up my com and called the hotel to have them prepare the room for a younger girl in her early teens and set up a proper desk for Siona to do her homework. I then called Yulan and Zartag to confirm our extended stay on Lilith Hive.
But even as I discussed with my men, my eyes remained locked on the now hidden chamber Siona had been holed up in. Such excessive security spoke of a far more complex situation than I had anticipated.
Chapter 4
Hope
The next couple of days were nothing short of a real-life fairy tale. Krygor’s penthouse suite at the hotel was three times the size of my entire apartment, and even more luxurious than the mansion of my former fiancé Harlak on Guldar. The staff treated my daughter and me like royalty. We only ate the finest foods instead of the cheapest, basic meals that I could normally afford after sinking most of my meager revenue on defenses around the house for my baby.
Even now, my throat tightened, and my heart filled with gratitude for Krygor letting me bring Siona with us. It had been a gamble which I’d feared might backfire. What if seeing the lengths I needed to go to in order to protect my child had scared him off and made him call off the whole deal? But, as I had suspected, Krygor didn’t have a fearful bone in his body. The gentle and protective way he’d interacted with my daughter only further made me melt for the sweet giant.
I shuddered thinking back on all the ways Luther would have made my life a living nightmare had Krygor not kept me as his Escort for the week. But time was slipping away too quickly. I only had today and the next four days to make him want to buy my Indentured Servant contract. We hadn’t brought up the subject, and I hadn’t had the opportunity to speak with Roman to know if Krygor had discussed it with him. Many a time over the past forty-eight hours, I’d been tempted to just lay it all out in the open before systematically wimping out. I didn’t want to come on too strong.
However, Krygor had often been staring at me pensively, as if attempting to solve an enigma. He had questions, but I couldn’t figure out if he was hoping I’d volunteer the answers to them or if he was biding his time for the appropriate moment to ask them. Considering the last two days had been filled with multiple business meetings for him, that he’d prefer spending a quiet, relaxed evening with me—and fucking me senseless—hadn’t been surprising.
Today, however, he had a much lighter schedule. We were having lunch at a five-star restaurant after which he would take me to visit the Braxian shop that had recently opened on Lilith Hive as part of his Braxian Councilor duties. Krygor never ceased to blow my mind. Finding out he was the big boss’ sire had taken my breath away. I had no idea Roman had planned on matching me with such a powerful male. Then learning that he was not only close friends with his king—well, Magnar as they called that rank on Braxia—but also sat on the Royal Council left me speechless. No wonder he had such a commanding presence.
And he seemed to genuinely like me.
That made me feel all fuzzy inside. Granted, his attraction for me was first and foremost physical. The Braxians’ reputation for being in an almost constant state of arousal was legendary. Considering Krygor’s voracious sexual appetite, I could confirm its veracity. I didn’t mind though: no man had ever made me come so hard, so many times or made me feel so respected and cherished. My giant was wild and savage in his lovemaking. But even when he pounded into me with apparent reckless abandon, I never felt afraid. Krygor always remained in control, always handled me with care, never pushing his roughness beyond what would be safe or comfortable for me.
I was falling hard for my mountain of a man. I wanted to believe he was also falling for me, if only for the way he loved to have me snuggling against him while he watched the news or read a Council report or business proposal. Krygor seemed to simply enjoy my presence and the slightest display of tenderness or affection. The Goddess knew I had plenty of that to give to a good man like him.
The pitter-patter of Siona’s steps snapped me out of my musing. Coming out of her room, she beamed at me, dressed in her navy blue school uniform comprised of a sleeveless, just above-the-knee-length simple dress, with short white socks bearing the same school insignia as the one prominently displayed on the left shoulder of the dress. She adjusted her schoolbag on her shoulder while submitting graciously to my inspection.
Even after four years, I continued to pay extra attention to the holographic mask—which was actually a set of rings attached to her horns to make them ‘disappear’—to make sure it was properly installed and wouldn’t slip or give away my baby’s true genetics. However, I refused to clip her pointy ears, so we had to be ingenious with her hairdos.
By law, Guldan females were not allowed off our home world except to accompany our mate as part of a diplomatic mission abroad. But even then, we were supposed to remain under the constant supervision of a male relative or an appointed male guardian. If the Empire discovered our presence on Lilith Hive, they would do everything in their power to drag us back to Guldar. With Galactic Law now banning all non-consensual slavery—meaning slavery imposed instead of freely entered into via Indentured Servant contracts—my people couldn’t force me back home against my will. But that wouldn’t stop them from abducting me.
This meant that even should I manage to free myself of Luther, finding a safe place for my daughter and me to live would be another challenge in and of itself.
“You look perfect,” I said, kissing the tip of Siona’s nose.
She giggled and kissed my cheek. Taking her hand, I led her out of the luxurious suite, and we made our way to the underground public transport hub, which had a stop right outside Lilith Hive’s Academy. This had been one of the greatest additions to the Hive Network. After marrying a human who gave him three children, Anton Aldriss had made a number of modifications to his Hives to better support the needs of families, with safe parks where drugs and lewd behavior were forbidden, free healthcare and education for minors, and free breakfast and lunch for students. Without these programs, we never could have made ends meet.
On Guldar, females weren’t allowed to pursue a higher education. My daughter would receive everything that I had been denied.
“I like Krygor,” Siona said almost wistfully as we rode the escalator back to the surface. “He’s nice with you, and you’ve been smiling a lot lately.”
My throa
t tightened, a sliver of shame washing over me that I’d allowed my baby to see some of the distress that had been choking me for the past few years. The Goddess knew I’d tried to shelter her, but Siona had always been too perceptive. For her own sake, I’d also been forced to warn her of some of the threats lurking around her so she’d beware of overly friendly strangers.
“He’s a very good man,” I said with a smile which was hopefully not too stiff. “I like him a lot, too.”
“And I like staying with him at the hotel,” she added, making a face. “Having my own hygiene room and not having to worry about how much hot water I use is amazing.”
I burst out laughing, despite the little pain in my heart. Siona loved water and swimming. Our bathtub at home was tiny while the ones in each of the rooms of the suite were massive. The humongous pool on the roof of the hotel would have become Siona’s domain if not for her horns.
“I hope he wants us to stay with him for a long time,” my daughter said, sobering.
All traces of amusement faded from my face. I stopped walking and cupped Siona’s face in my hands.
“Krygor is going back to his home world in a few days,” I said gently.
“I know,” Siona said, her face taking on a mulish expression. “But we could go with him, if you wanted. I see the way he looks at you like you’re the Goddess herself. He likes you! Maybe if you tell him…”
“Hush, child. Hush,” I said pressing two fingers to my daughter’s lips, distraught by the pleading tone her voice had taken at the end. “We cannot force someone to want us. I like him very much, and I want to believe he likes me, too. But it has to be his decision if he keeps us or not. Just continue to be your adorable self. No one can resist you,” I added, tapping the tip of her nose with my index finger to lighten the mood. “There are still a few more days to go. The Goddess has been good to us by putting him in our path. Keep faith. She will not abandon us.”
