AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Because that’s not how things work. Now, enough questions. We have to prepare you. Clothes off and on the table.”
Awkwardness assailed me as I stripped off my tunic and my pants. The metal table pressed coldly into my bare flesh.
“Lie on your stomach first. Let’s see the mark.” I flipped and shivered at the chilly surface and uncomfortable squishing of my breasts. Fingers palpated a line down my back, and Serena uttered a low sound. “Goodness, looks like you’re not going to be claimed by just anyone.”
I turned my head to the side. “Are the markings on people different?”
She turned around and raised her hair to show a set that formed a rectangle on her nape. “No two sets are the same, but you can tell general items by the number of symbols and positioning.”
“Who makes the marks?”
“The Cabal.”
“What is the Cabal?”
“That’s a question too complicated to handle right now. Lie still while we examine you.”
Bywe, she meant the very invasive machine that poked me, prodded me in intimate places and measured everything about me.
It pricked me, flashed lights in my eyes, even had me open my mouth wide. By the time the exam finished, I wanted to hide in my bed.
A bed I’d never see again. Oddly, I wasn’t upset. Rather, I found myself invigorated by all the new things I’d experienced.
“You are in excellent shape, with some fine birthing hips, which will make the doctors happy. They hate damaging the womb of a good breeder by slicing them open.”
My eyes widened.
She laughed. “Don’t worry. Unless you try and birth a child with a giant head, you’ll be fine.”
I still didn’t like the sound of that. “Where does it come out?”
She winked. “Let’s save that for another time. You need to get ready.”
In the cubicle, the cleaning unit took a short moment to remove any dirt from my body. That proved to be the easy, most recognizable part. The process Serena then took me through, with the help of women dressed in pale green, had more steps than the highest stairs I’d climbed.
My skin was scrubbed with something she called a loofah. My feet were tickled and my toenails shined. My fingernails got the same treatment. A cream removed all the hair on my body from the neck down, except for that over my mound. That got a short trim that I protested.
The hair on my head also got cut, an intricate dance performed by a woman with scissors and an intent expression.
Then came the outfit, or lack thereof. The filmy skirt of white clung to my waist but split high on each thigh. The top didn’t cover my midriff and left half my arms bare. It was also thin enough that my agitated nipples poked through. The women who’d prepared me left after fitting my feet with sandals.
I waited for someone to return with the rest of my clothing only to realize they were done when Serena said, “Don’t you look fantastic? We should hurry. Don’t want to be late.”
I glanced down at myself. “I can’t go anywhere like this. I’m almost nude.” Which was against the rules outside of my cubicle.
“You’re perfect.”
“Why can’t I wear something like you are?” I pointed to her sensible outfit with its snug trousers and billowy shirt.
“Because you’re supposed to be enticing with that body, not hiding it.” She grabbed me by the wrist and tugged. I had no option but to follow as she led me through the massive structure. She talked along the way.
“I know it’s not considered protocol, but I’ve found it’s been better to give the Marked some warning as to what to expect when you’re chosen. As a female with excellent genetics who can breed, you’ll only be offered to the higher-ranked males. Some might give you time to acclimatize to life on the surface, but given the lack of Marked lately, most likely you’ll end up with one that expects you to fulfill your breeding duty immediately.”
“How will they infect me with the children?” Did males have a stinger I didn’t know about? While I knew of men, I remained unsure what made them different from women, other than they usually grew bigger, sprouted facial hair and usually no globe-like breasts.
“Impregnation happens during intercourse.”
“What is intercourse?”
