A small, cold hand crept into Aidon’s. He looked down to see Hanna biting her lip.
“It’s a terrible thing to be a slave, to be taken away from everything you know,” she whispered.
He covered her hand with his own. “I know.” The memory of those first few months after he’d left Pardor for the first time washed over him. Fuck.
“You just want me to get her out of there?”
“If she is willing to go.”
“Don’t worry. If she’s foolish enough to want to stay with a bastard like Chotgor, I’m not going to risk my neck for her. Where is he?”
“He rented a large establishment on the outskirts of town. You should have no difficulty gaining entry—he holds a party every night. Gambling, females, liquor. Anyone with sufficient credits is welcome, except for Hothians, of course. We already tried a more conventional approach. I doubt he would take kindly to a Kaisarian priest either.”
“That won’t be a problem.” Or at least, he hoped it would not.
“What of your female? She is welcome to stay here with us.”
“No!” Hanna’s hand tightened around his. “I want to go with you.”
“They will assume you’re my slave.”
“I don’t care.”
He didn’t like this. Based on Njkall’s brief description, he already knew it was not the kind of place he wanted to take her.
“You would come to no harm with us, human,” Njkall said quietly.
“Thank you, but…” She looked up at Aidon, big eyes pleading. “You’re the only alien—the only male—who has treated me as a person. You make me feel safe.”
“Safe?” Didn’t she realize that he could kill her in ten different ways without leaving his seat? No one came to him for protection. They came to him because they wanted their enemies eliminated. But something about her instinctive faith in him caused an unfamiliar warmth in his chest. He sighed. “You won’t like it.”
“But you’ll take me? Oh, thank you.”
For a brief moment, she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her soft little curves fully against his body. His cock sprang to attention with unexpected enthusiasm before he pushed it back down and gently disentangled her.
“If you intend to appear wealthy enough to attract his attention, those clothes will not do,” Njkall said calmly.
“Agreed. Looks like we’re going shopping, pet.”
“If I may make a suggestion? I expect your female would like to bathe. I can arrange to have suitable attire brought here while she cleanses herself.”
Pink washed over Hanna’s cheeks and down her chest. Fascinating. He had no idea that humans could change color.
“I’m sorry. I know I’m dirty, but there wasn’t anywhere to wash, and I didn’t want to be clean for that bastard anyway.”
“You did well,” he assured her. “But it’s time for a different kind of disguise.”
She nodded meekly. “Yes, Aidon.”
“You mentioned a bathing facility?”
“This way.” Njkall led them through the door at the rear of the room and through a set of tunnels that sloped gently downward.
Somewhat to Aidon’s surprise, they were dry, warm, and softly lit by small collections of glowing crystals. Not crystals, he realized on second look as the cluster shifted. Some type of living organism instead. Despite the circuitous path, he would have no trouble retracing his steps, and he gave Hanna’s hand a reassuring squeeze when she looked up at him anxiously.
The Hothian finally led them into another chamber, much larger than the entrance chamber but similarly attired with low couches, small tables, and a central firepit.
“The bathing rooms are through there. She will be undisturbed.” Njkall looked at him. “You have my word.”
Hanna hesitated, giving him a pleading look. “Can’t you come with me?”
A brief vision of her naked body, gleaming with water, danced through his head, and once again, he had to force his cock under control. He never had this much trouble restraining himself around a female, and his voice was harsher than he intended when he spoke.
“No. Go cleanse yourself.”
She looked so stricken that he immediately regretted his words.
He put a hand on her cheek and softened his tone. “Go on, pet. You’re safe here. No one will get past me.”
Her small shoulders straightened, and she nodded, heading for the archway Njkall had indicated.
“Do you need assistance with the controls?” Njkall asked.
“No, thank you. I’m quite capable of using an indoor bathroom.” Her chin lifted, and he felt another flash of pride. Despite her obvious fear, she faced the Hothian directly. Then she disappeared through the archway with her head held high.
Njkall also nodded approvingly as he turned back to him. “That one has courage.”
“No doubt. But she is not your concern,” he growled. “I will also need clothing.”
“Very well. How do you intend to disguise yourself?”
Keeping a watchful eye on the opening through which Hanna had departed, he allowed himself to be drawn into a discussion about the advantages of various personas.
Chapter Four
As soon as she was out of sight, Hanna leaned against the rock wall and forced back a sudden wave of tears. Damn, she was tired of this. Of feeling so helpless. But was it any better to place her trust in an unknown alien, no matter how kind he had been to her so far?
Perhaps it was because when their eyes had first met, she’d felt as though he’d truly seen her. He was the first alien to have done so since the day she’d been captured. Even Khuda, as kind as she had been, had only seen her as another slave. But it was more than that—he made her feel safe. Despite his gruff words, she had absolutely no doubt that he would stand between her and whoever threatened her. She also had no doubt that he would do so successfully.
Her thoughts traveled back to his broad shoulders, long, strong legs, and the big hands that closed so comfortingly around hers. To her shock, she felt a warm flutter of desire low in her stomach. Up until today, she would have sworn that she would never have felt the least interest in any of the endless variety of aliens who had poked, prodded, and leered at her. She had been supremely grateful that it hadn’t gone further than unwanted touches. Thank goodness Aidon had come along. Maakin had started making noises about selling her to one of the local brothels even though he didn’t seem to think she would fetch much. Every night when he’d placed her back in her small cell, she had been grateful that at least he had shown no sexual interest in her.
The sound of water penetrated her unhappy memories, and she was suddenly desperate to get clean. Following the sound, she turned the corner and gasped in astonishment. The room appeared to be hewn out of the native stone, the walls left rough and unfinished. A wide variety of mosses and ferns grew in the cracks of the rock, and more of the small lights were scattered among them. A waterfall cascaded down over the back wall before landing in a rocky pool carved out of the cave floor. The water steamed gently, and the air was full of the scent of growing things.
A second wave of tears threatened. She had missed this so much. Even before she had taken over her aunt’s florist shop, her life had always been full of plants. But the barren metal of the spaceship had been followed by the icy wasteland of the planet, and this was the first time she had seen living plants since she’d been taken.
As enticing as the pool looked, she had other pressing needs to attend to first. After a short search, she found a surprisingly modern facility hidden behind one of the rock outcroppings. The controls were not quite as easy to decipher as she had hoped, but she persevered, feeling a flash of triumph when she managed to get everything working.
Throwing aside the ragged clothing Maakin had unwillingly provided, she stepped under the waterfall. The heated water poured over her head, and she tried to let it wash away not only the surface dirt but the horror of the last month.
A l
ong time later, she finally thought to look around for soap and found a depression in the rock filled with purple berries. Some plants had naturally cleansing properties, so she picked up a berry and cautiously crushed it between her fingers. A minty scent arose as it dissolved into lavender foam. Perfect.
She scrubbed her body until her pale skin was flushed and glowing and then proceeded to work the foam through her long hair. The foam actually helped smooth out some of the tangles, but she really needed a comb. Or a pair of scissors, she thought ruefully. At least the length of her hair had provided some concealment.
She gave the pool a longing glance, but time was passing, and she didn’t want to take the chance of Aidon leaving without her. As she stepped out from under the waterfall, she searched for a towel. Just as she was about to give up and use her discarded clothes, she spotted a stack of thin cloths. Each one was barely larger than a hand towel, but as she passed the material over her wet skin, it completely absorbed the moisture. It was even more miraculous on her hair, wringing all the wetness from the long strands, and she decided that it must be perfectly suited for drying fur.
“Hanna?”
She squeaked and tried ineffectually to cover her body with the skimpy towel as Aidon appeared at the entrance to the bathing room.
“I have the clothes—” He broke off abruptly at the sight of her. Once again, his eyes turned solid black as they drifted down over her body.
He’s seen you naked before. But the reminder didn’t make it any less unnerving. Unnerving—and yet she could feel her nipples thrust against the small towel and felt that same pulse of desire deep inside. He took a step toward her, and she waited, an odd combination of nerves and excitement fluttering in her stomach. When he stopped and placed the clothing on a rock, she was almost disappointed.
“Here.” His voice had the same low growl he had used earlier, and it sent another wave of desire through her. “They’re more revealing than I would have chosen, but they’re better than being naked. You will look the part.”
Her voice seemed to have abandoned her, and she could only stare at him. He took another half step toward her, then turned abruptly.
“Wait,” she called, finally managing to speak. “Do you know where I can find a comb?”
“There is one with the clothing. Also some jewelry. It’s your choice if you choose to wear it.” He hesitated a moment longer, his back still to her, then disappeared back the way he’d come.
She went to investigate the clothes, frowning thoughtfully. He was attracted to her; she was sure of it. Not only had the heat in his eyes been unmistakable but so had his erection. She had felt the heated length of it against her when she had impulsively hugged him earlier, and now she had seen the unmistakable and very large evidence. When the Derian on the ship had shown her his nowhere near as impressive erection, she’d felt nothing but disgust. It wasn’t disgust she was feeling this time.
Still pondering that thought, she sorted through the clothing Aidon had brought her.
“He wasn’t kidding when he said it was skimpy,” she muttered as she held up a handful of blue silk too minimal to be called a dress. But he was right that it was better than being naked. What was more, as she slipped the thin silk over her head and figured out how to fasten the delicate gold chains, she felt surprisingly happy. It was nice to be clean and to feel attractive again—and with Aidon around, she wasn’t concerned about someone taking advantage of her.
The comb turned out to be more like a three-pronged rake, but it worked well enough, and she twisted her almost dry hair into a long braid. The jewelry consisted of sparkling clear and blue stones set in bronze-colored metal. She placed a delicate circlet around her head, a blue gem dangling over her forehead, then stacked bracelets up both wrists. The last thing in the pile was a pair of fragile bronze sandals. She gave them a longing glance, but in the end, she opted for the ill-fitting boots. They might spoil the outfit, but at least her feet wouldn’t freeze.
Taking a deep breath, she headed back to the main room, conscious of the silk caressing her breasts and fluttering around her legs. When she reached the door opening, she froze. The Hothian was still present, but standing next to him was a complete stranger. A tall, muscular alien with dark-blue skin and curving horns was standing there, wearing nothing but a leather loincloth and a furred cloak fastened on one shoulder with an enormous gemstone. Barbaric metal jewelry circled his wrists and his horns, while rows of metal studs pierced his ears, his lip, and his nipples.
Scared and confused, she started to back away, but then her eyes met the stranger’s, and her breath escaped in a relieved sigh.
“Oh, it’s you, Aidon. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”
“How do you know it’s me?”
“Your eyes.” Still dizzy with relief, she darted over to him and tucked her hand in his arm. He was even taller in this form. Even though she had always considered herself tall for a woman, her head barely reached his chest.
“Between the two of you, it seems I have no secrets left,” he said ruefully, shaking his head. But despite his gruff tone, his hand closed over hers.
“I’m pretty sure that how you change your appearance is rather a big secret.” She supposed that she should have been more disconcerted by that, but after everything she had seen over the past month, she was less surprised then she probably should have been. “Do I look all right?”
Those black eyes drifted over her once again, and she felt herself respond to the heated caress of his gaze, but then he scowled.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s too revealing.” The color rushed to her cheeks, and he immediately tugged her closer. “I don’t wish to share your beauty with anyone.”
“A Sarranian warrior would not hesitate to show off his slave,” Njkall pointed out. “You would only cover her if you were concerned about your ability to protect her.”
“Then it’s fine,” she said immediately. “I know Aidon would never let anything happen to me.”
She couldn’t tell which of the two of them looked more astonished, but she raised her chin and stared back at them defiantly.
“Very well.” Aidon looked down at her feet. “But those will not do.”
She wanted to please him, but… Gathering her courage, she blurted out, “I don’t want my feet to freeze.”
“Of course not. There is a cloak and footwear to accompany the outfit.”
Once again, she gave in to impulse and hugged him. “Thank you. I should have known that you would look out for me.”
The heated bar of his cock pressed briefly against her stomach, and her eyes widened. Apparently he was just as large, if not larger, in this form. But before she could give in to the urge to rub against him, he gently set her away from him.
After she replaced the ugly boots with the pretty little sandals, he handed her clear knee-high boots that did nothing to hide her legs or feet but still enclosed them in warmth. Fortunately, the cloak he fastened around her shoulders was fur-lined and did conceal her skimpy outfit.
“We will be watching,” Njkall said grimly. “If Zemma desires to leave, all you need to do is to get her outside the grounds. We can take care of it from there.”
“Without violating your contract?” Aidon raised an eyebrow.
Njkall shrugged. “We have no control over disappearances within the port.”
Aidon grinned, showing an impressive array of teeth and—were those fangs?
“I can see that one has to be very careful about the terms of a contract with you.” The grin disappeared, and he frowned at the other male. “Don’t attempt to play those kinds of games with me.”
“I believe you to be an honorable male. We treat fairly with those who treat us fairly.” Njkall hesitated. “And if you can either free Zemma or assure us of her safety, we are deeply in your debt.”
The Hothian extended a hand. The two males clasped forearms, then Aidon turned to Hanna.
“Are you ready, pet?
”
She reached inside for the courage that had been so lacking recently and nodded firmly. “I’m ready.”
Chapter Five
Aidon strode back toward town, this time choosing the main thoroughfare. Some effort had been made to smooth out the icy streets, and it would be easier for Hanna. He deliberately moderated his steps so that she could keep up, but despite his urgency to return to Pardor, he found he was in no hurry to confront Chotgor.
“Is there anything I should know?” Hanna asked. Her voice trembled slightly, but she was not lagging behind him.
“I suspect it will look like a party—a very drunken, unrestrained party—but it is not. Someone like Chotgor is here for only one reason. He’s collecting fighters for his stable. And if he can’t entice them with promises of wealth and fame, he has less pleasant ways of acquiring them.”
“What do you mean?”
“There will be gambling, and it’s very easy for a youngster to lose so much that his only alternative is to sell himself.” He shrugged. “Or someone might drink too much and wake up in one of Chotgor’s cells. And of course, there’s always outright kidnapping.”
She shivered and pressed closer to him, and he found himself putting his arm around her even though he knew that a Sarranian would never care as much for his slave’s comfort.
“Is that what happened to you?” he asked gently.
She nodded and tried to burrow even closer. “I was hired to provide the flowers for a wedding, and the bride wanted me to use wildflowers. I went down to the lake to gather wild roses. That’s the last thing I remember until I woke up in a cage surrounded by other cages filled with animals, people I didn’t recognize.”
He growled. “Who took you?”
“Khuda—she was in the cage next to me—said that they were Derians.”
“Did they…harm you?” He immediately regretted the words. Of course they had harmed her. But she understood what he meant.
“No, not like that. They threatened it enough, but Khuda said the captain wouldn’t let them hurt me unless I misbehaved.” She looked up at him, her eyes miserable. “I didn’t have the courage to try and fight. I’m almost positive there was another human woman on board, and I think she did fight. I only caught a glimpse of her once, and then she disappeared.”
Hanna and the Hitman: A SciFi Alien Romance (Alien Abduction Book 8) Page 3
