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Somewhere behind me, I heard Roan yell something about a tranquilizer and a soft click echoed before something jabbed me in the back of my neck. My eyesight wavered, the edges of my vision turning gray before everything started to fade until eventually, it all went black. Someone caught me before I fell to the ground and I was quietly thankful.
At last, I finally found peace.
* * *
When I awoke, I was in some sort of tent. Surrounded by thick beige canvas, I could tell it was daytime outside as the light peeked through just a little bit. I blinked, my eyelids still heavy with sleep. My limbs felt especially languid and I made no effort to move them. I kind of just wanted to go back to sleep. I hadn’t dreamed at all and maybe for the first time in weeks, I’d slept through the entire night without waking up screaming from the nightmares.
The toll of such little sleep had been rough. That and the little food and constant beatings. I groaned softly, finally convincing myself to stretch and move a little bit. Yawning, I arched my back and closed my eyes and heard someone clear their throat.
Fuck. I wasn’t alone.
I hesitantly opened my eyes and slowly pressed my arms down on the bed, pushing myself up to a seated position. Four Vakarrans were sitting at a table on the other side of the tent, just watching me.
I curled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I was still in my dress from last night. Against the stark white of the sheets, I looked filthy. With horror, I realized how dirty I had made the pristine cloth.
“I’m sorry about the bed,” I said softly. I flinched, wondering if they were going to hurt me for soiling them. Beat me like the rumors said they would. I wondered if it would be terrible to be their slave. My eyes darted around, looking for a whip or something meant to hurt me.
Roan, the leader of the four, stood up and walked over to the bed, sitting beside me with a gentle smile on his lips. His movements were hesitant, almost like he was holding back for my sake. That couldn’t be right, could it?
“How are you feeling? You looked so peaceful sleeping that I didn’t have the heart to wake you,” he said softly.
His kindness left me speechless. I hadn’t expected that. Neil and his goons definitely would have beaten me for less. And they had. Many, many times.
I bit my lip, confused and unsure. I half expected Roan to slap me, but he never did.
Roan sighed and brushed his thumb against my cheek and I could have sworn that my heart stopped. My skin tingled, electrified. My entire body warmed, a pulse of desire shooting straight to my core.
He didn’t hit me.
“You don’t care about the sheets?” I finally asked, still unable to process the fact that he hadn’t struck me or anything for dirtying their bed with my filthy body.
“Not at all. I’ll have them washed after we get you all cleaned up. Now come. Take off your dress and we’ll get you in the bath,” he said.
I blinked. Take off my dress? Be completely naked in front of four alien men?
I think not. They were crazy to think I’d just disrobe, just like that.
“No.” I replied nervously.
“Danika,” Roan warned, his voice rising with an unknown threat. “We’ll be patient with you, but in something like this, we can’t. We have to see the damage those humans did to you, for your sake. Do it now, or Xandaar will slice your dress right off of you.”
I shivered, my eyes passing to Xandaar, who grinned at the prospect of being the one to take my clothes off. Roan offered me a hand and I took it hesitantly. He helped me stand up, for which I was silently grateful since my legs felt weak.
“Did you drug me last night?” I asked, yawning again.
“We tranquilized you for your own safety. We couldn’t have you hurting yourself in such a fragile state. Now, don’t change the subject. Take your dress off, so we can get you clean. We’re off to the medical tents after that so that we can give you a full examination and any treatments you need,” Roan replied. He was used to being obeyed. Now I was sure he was holding back before. Keeping himself calm, his voice gentle.
“I don’t want you to see,” I murmured softly, playing with the fabric of my dirty beige dress.
“You don’t have a choice when it comes to your welfare. Take it off, or we’ll do it for you,” Roan commanded, his voice firm. Something about its tone made my stomach clench. Like a bad girl in trouble. “If you don’t take it off now, we’re going to punish you once you’re medically cleared. And I remember everything, little human, so don’t test me.”
“You’ll punish me?” I croaked, my terror creeping back in. Memories of Neil’s boots kicking my ribs and the men slapping my face tore through me. Deep fear rooted me still.
A slap echoed in the tent and it took me a long time to realize that Roan had smacked my ass. Not my face. My ass. My mouth agape, I stared at him in shock. I hadn’t expected that.
My right ass cheek stung a little.
“You spanked me,” I said in disbelief.
