Tor
Rage consumed me,fiercer than the void, faster than the emotional whirlwinds. Like a wildfire it burned me from the inside out. I wanted nothing more than to tear apart the bastard’s throat with my teeth. His disgusting pebbled eyes bulged from his head. He clawed at my forearms, leaving red slices in my skin.
I felt nothing. Nothing but the fires within.
“Put him down. Please, put him down.” Heat surrounded my waist.Jane.Her golden arms were wrapped around me. “You can’t do this. We’ll never get out of here, if you do.”
I glanced around the room at her words. The lustrara tempara continued, but the capo’s guards were cutting a path through the crowd. I could take them down, but would we make it off the outpost?Crex.With more strength of will than I’d imagined possible, I placed the capo on his feet.
He stuttered and coughed before coming to himself. “For the stars, Rhonar, you are a surly flok.” Straightening, he grabbed his com unit from his belt—which he hadn’t bother to do away with during his earlier dalliance—and spoke into it. “Stand down. A minor tiff during negotiations.”
The guards stopped in their tracks, eyed the capo, and then returned to their prior posts. I crossed my arms over my chest, not wanting to give way to my surprise. No matter my actions, this Mangox didn’t seem phased.Why?I hadn’t consciously used my power while holding the bastard by the neck, but the sensations flowed through me, nonetheless. The male had few strengths, beyond ambition that took the form of ample greed, and several weaknesses, such as coveting others. I suspected the truth, but now with my abilities, his intentions crystallized in my mind.Jane. He wants to claim Jane.I struggled not to let my ire show. I’d not allow him to succeed.
“Truly I’ve never seen a male so attached to his slave.” Mulo waved back toward his harem. “Not that it doesn’t happen. I was quite fond of Parla there.” He glanced at the Mangox female on his seat. Hatred shone in her eyes, but the capo didn’t appear to notice—or care. “She was loyal for so long, until she started an affair with one of my guards.” He sighed. “The poor male had to be put down, of course. And now she must be punished regularly. It’s such a shame.”
I bit my tongue at the disgusting display. Jane gasped behind me.
Misunderstanding her reaction, he said to her, “Oh I know, my dear! Awful, isn’t it?” He shifted to the side, trying to capture a view of her. “You would never behave so reprehensible, would you?”
“My ljona is loyal to me.” I sidestepped to block her from his sight.
“Yes, Master.” The little captain rose from the swinging chair but kept behind me. “I am only yours.”
Drav it.I could not be affected by her words. It was an act to save us in this situation. But crex it all, if it didn’t heat my blood, replacing the fires of rage with pure desire. “You see, Capo? She is mine.”
The twisted grin pulled his snout toward the ceiling. “Yes, yes. I can see that.” He snapped his fingers, and the music which had quieted during the “main event,” as he called it, rose to a steady beat. The attendees’ moans grew louder too. “But since you deny me a sale, I must insist on your participation.” His beady-eyes narrowed to slits. “No one comes to my party and stands idle.”
“Yes, Capo.” Jane stepped to the side, revealing part of her body to the Mangox. I growled. “Master, Iwantto join in.”
My jaw dropped. I whirled around to face her. In the time I’d known her, I’d learned that while she was a fierce fighter, when it came to more intimate matters, she was on the shy side. While I’d happily take her anywhere, in any way she desired, I doubted she’d want the same. And it was not that simple. She was my mate, my Truxoria. Although, I’d denied claiming her, if we slept together, if we crexed, the bond would solidify.
I haven’t told her the truth.I struggled to keep my growl at bay.And I don’t want these crexers seeing her.“No, little…” I’d almost called her captain, which would not do for a slave. “Little female. You are not for their amusement.”
“Rhonar,” the capo used my species name in a deadly threat, “do not test me.”
“Please, Master,” she pitched her voice higher and clapped her hands, “it looks like so much fun.”
Lies.The brightness in her eyes told the truth far more than her words. But my little captain was putting on a brave front, pushing herself out of her comfort zone to save our skins. I had to come up with a plan to honor that courage. “Hmm, my ljona,” I brushed my knuckles across her cheek, “you want me then?”
The scent of her arousal filled my nose, an aroma more enticing than any in the universe. While she might not like the situation, she could not fake her desire. “Yes, please. I want to participate in the capo’s party.”
“Hah!” Mulo barked behind us. “You see, then? Your slave wants to enjoy herself.” He slapped me on the back. “Make it a good show for the gods.” His words were like poison to my ears. “We’ll be keeping an eye on you.” He tapped his com and did a slow take of the room, letting his gaze linger on each of his guards. Then, he headed back toward his harem, pushing the next female into line on his seat.
“Crexer,” I cursed as my hands balled into fists.
A ragged breath sputtered from Jane. “It’s okay, Tor.” She put her hands on my chest and rose on her tiptoes. “I can…” She shook her head. “No, we can do this.”
“My little captain.” I held her by the waist, wanting both to pick her up and push her away. The emotions warred within me. “You don’t know what you’re asking.”
She guffawed at that. Her arm swept around the room. “I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“No.” I picked her up so that she had to wrap her legs around me. “You don’t.”
Her fingers dove into my hair. She yanked my head back to meet my eyes. “Then, show me.”
* * *
JANE
