Page 36 of The Dalgur’s Pet

“Giselle, please. Vrix made a mistake. I will make sure he does not do it again. We have learned our lesson. We will not harm you.”

“Learned your lesson by killing people! Brutalizing them for your own sick pleasure!”

Her screech echoed through the small room.

The aliens glanced at each other, as if communicating without words, pupils narrowing and widening.

Sobs wracked her body, the fear of death and inevitability of her destruction pressing down on her like a weight, making her body shake.

“Precious one, please. I am sorry. I won’t do it again, I… it was too much, it was overwhelming. I won’t do it again.”

Vrix was crying, tears streaking down his purple skin as he pleaded with her.

“How can I trust you?” she asked, her voice wavering.

Thase eyed Vrix, then answered.

“Giselle, we do not wish to lose you. Please believe us. We want you to stay with us. We… care about you. Our special little human.”

His words were calm, so gentle compared to the harsh way he normally spoke of humanity.

But her mind was spinning, unable to focus, the room going blurry as tears distorted her vision. How could she know if they were telling the truth?

Vrix took another step towards her and she slid to the ground, making herself as small as possible. He reached a trembling hand down.

“Please, sweet one. Forgive me. I will be good. I will not hurt you again.”

He was begging her, but she ignored him, unable to absolve the abuse he’d just committed against her.

Thase stepped up to her as well, holding his hand out, his eyes pleading.

“Giselle, my dear, come to bed. You will feel better after you rest. I will not let Vrix hurt you.”

Fuck. She was so dizzy, so weak, and she needed something, anything, to stop the world from spinning. She grasped his hand tightly and serenity flowed through her, though no tentacles extruded from his skin. It was his touch that calmed her, despite how Vrix had brutalized her a moment ago. The swell of panic eased, the look in the eyes of the two Dalgurs so sad, so desperate.

Thase lifted Giselle to her feet, pulling her flush with his chest as Vrix trembled at their sides. After a few tranquil moments, Thase took both of their hands, drawing them towards the bed.

He got her settled in the middle, Vrix and him flanking her on either side, squeezing her between them as they’d done back on the Starlet.

“It is alright, dear one, you are safe. We will keep you safe,” Thase said, wiping her tears away with a gentle hand.

“We will take care of you,” Vrix assured, brushing clawed fingers through her hair.

She had no choice but to let them hold her, their words soothing the icy dread that still clung to her.

CHAPTER 12

GISELLE MUST HAVE FALLEN asleep, because she awoke with a start, squished between the two aliens. She pressed her palms against a solid chest, looking up to see Thase gazing at her.

“How are you feeling, dear one?”

Her throat still burned, her head dizzy and aching. Vrix gripped her from behind, her back flush to his chest, prickling her skin with anxiety.

“I need some air,” she said, trying to shrug out of his grasp, though he refused to let go.

“Vrix. Release her,” Thase ordered.

There was a deep sigh from behind her, but after a moment, Vrix obeyed.